Masjid Al-Akram Kg. Balun Bidai, Perak - 1862

“Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby...” - George Bernard Shaw

(Masjid Al-Akram Kg. Balun Bidai, Perak)

4.210569, 100.912163
04°12′38.05″N 100°54′43.79″E

Kampung Balun Bidai is located about 8 kilometers to the northeast of Kampung Gajah Town.

The majority of the residents of this village are Banjars. They are known as the Banjar ethnic group in conjunction with the place of origin of their homeland which is Banjarmasin. They use a language known as Melayu Banjar. Many Banjars migrated to the Malay Peninsula when there was a conflict between the Dutch and the people of Kalimantan.

(Located in a Palm Oil Plantation) 

(Finally, managed to located the old mosque)

(Inspired by the Banjars in the19th century)

The mosque located in Kampung Balun Bidai is an old mosque that is not known when its construction began. The construction of this mosque was inspired by the Banjar people who came to Malaya in the 19th century. At that time, this area did not have a mosque because it was believed that there were no residents yet. The Banjar people are also the group responsible for opening the village here. All the Banjar community is Muslim. The mosque was built based on the characteristics of the Banjar community applying the elements of mosque architecture brought from their place of origin which is Banjarmasin, Indonesia.

(Frontal view of the 3-tier structure)

(Side views of Masjid Al-Ikram)

The walls of this mosque have been painted yellow and have five entrances. It looks like a wooden house. In addition, there are four main pillars that stand majestically in the middle of the mosque. The main pillar of this mosque is made of ulin wood. There are four more smaller supporting pillars. The uniqueness of this mosque is also significantly different from other mosques because it has 35 steps ladder inside the mosque used to access the roof of the mosque for repair and replacement of damaged or leaking roofs. Previously, the roof of this mosque was made of a type of wood brought from Banjarmasin. The roof has been replaced with a more durable shingle roof.

(Learning the history from the care-taker)

(An old historical mosque is standing strong)

Now Masjid Al-Akram has been replaced by the new Masjid AL-Azhar and is now no longer in use. We had the opportunity to meet with the caretaker of the mosque and listen to some of the tales regarding the existence of this old mosque.

(One for the album)

Masjid Al-Azhar Kg. Balun Bidai, Perak – 2014

“Nothing is more honourable than a grateful heart...” - Seneca

(Masjid Al-Azhar Kg. Balun Bidai, Perak)

4.217115, 100.994392
04°13′01.61″N 100°59′39.81″E

Masjid Al-Azhar was built on a three acres site and is capable of accommodating 500 worshipers at a time. The cost of building the mosque was obtained from private and public donations as well as some non-governmental organizations.

(A new mosque in Kg Balun Bidai)

(The gate was closed but not locked)

(Parked our pick-up outside the gate)

The planning of the construction of this mosque began in 2011 to replace the old Masjid Al-Akram which was more than a hundred years old. The construction of this mosque was completed in phases. The pulpit was specially ordered from Indonesia.

(A vast compound around the mosque)

(A modern beautiful mosque)

(A typical tiered roof)

Masjid Al-Azhar has a main prayer room, 3 open prayer rooms and a women's prayer room. Among other facilities are bathrooms, toilets, ablution rooms, kitchens. There is ample parking area in the mosque compound.

(The main entrance of the mosque)

(External view of the rounded pulpit area)

(Ablution area behind the mosque)

(Ample parking space in the mosque compound)

Masjid Lama Kg Gajah, Perak - 1910

“I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying…” - Shawshank Redemption

(Masjid Lama Kg. Gajah, Perak)

 
4.183045, 100.93429
04°10′58.96″N 100°56′03.44″E

Our mission today was to visit a few more old mosques in Perak.

From PLUS highway we exited at Sungkai interchange and drove on the trunk road towards Kg Gajah passing through Langkap and Chenderong Balai. We reached Kg Gajah around 11.30 am and drove direct to Masjid Lama Kg Gajah.

(The posterior view)

(The wooden mosque has been renovated)

(A new look of Masjid Lama Kg Gajah)

(The architecture is still restored)

The old mosque is located in Kampung Tengah, Kampung Gajah. The mosque has been renovated and expanded. Most of the mosque's architecture has been restored. The roof has been replaced but still retains the decorative board patterns. The wooden walls have been replaced with concrete walls. The original pulpit is still preserved in the old mosque.

The interior of this mosque has 34 wooden pillars with cemented base.

(The frontal view of the old mosque)

(The signage of the mosque)

(Jalan Masjid Lama signage)

Dinner at the Pavillion...

“Life is short, and it is here to be lived...” - Kate Winslet 

(Saturday night dinner with the kids)

(Having dinner at Paul's)

(My burger & fries dinner)

(Hana & Amir)

(Iwan & Ella)

(With Hana, Ella and Amir)

Negeri Sembilan State Museum

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” — Paulo Coelho

(Minangkabau design museum)

Negeri Sembilan State Museum is located at the Crafts & Cultural Handicraft Complex along Jalan Sungai Ujong, Seremban within the vicinity of the State Mosque and Seremban Railway Station. The museum building was built using the Minangkabau architecture.

(Learning about Negeri Sembilan's history)

(Malay traditional clothings and weaponry)

(The migration of the aborigines)

(Replica of the megalith stones)

The building known as Teratak Pepatih Building was previously used as a location for the National Al-Quran Recitation Competition. Due to its Minangkabau architecture, it was renovated and officially declared as the new location of the state museum on 14 July 1986.

(The aborigine clans of Negeri Sembilan)

(The uprising against the Portuguese)

(The Bugis Community in the state)

Historical artifacts and handicrafts exhibit filled the upper and lower galleries. While it was raining heavily outside, we spent almost an hour in the Museum.

(Historical events in Bukit Putus)

(An old bicycle on display)

(The stairs leading to the upper galleries)

Within the compound of the museum there are two interesting historical houses, Istana Ampang Tinggi and Rumah Negeri Sembilan. A limited number of visitors are allowed to enter the houses at a time.

(The view of the Museum Complex compound)

(Replica of Megalithic Stones of Pengkalan Kempas) 

(Two historical houses in the compound)

Istana Ampang Tinggi was built during the reign of Yamtuan Udin, the fifth Yang Di-Pertuan Besar at Ampang Tinggi in Kuala Pilah. The palace was built using timber joinery technique. This cengal wood structure is over a century old.

(Istana Ampang Tinggi)

Negeri Sembilan House original name was "Rumah Undang". This house was built in 1898 at Kampung air Garam in the town of Mambau and used to be the house of Tengku Saiyed Ismail. It was relocated to the present premise in the 1980s and has since being accorded the historical building status by the State Government.

(Rumah Undang Negeri Sembilan)