Morning Sunshine

So where is my sunshine this morning? Well, I don't have to go far to get to a misty cool morning where I am greeted every morning with something we look forward in Highlands Resort such as Fraser Hill, Cameron Highlands or the Lochs of Scotland.

It's something I tend to love about being in HOT Kuala Pilah, where it's sunshine and heat in the day and temperatures dropping to early 20s in the night, without any percipitation whatsoever. I don't need to go far to have this common visitor dropping by my doorstep, just to be awaken at dawn by the rubber tappers and odd neighbour getting themselves ready to work.

It's the perks of being in the remote outskirts where the weather is kind and with a clean enviroment of cool fresh air, and the smell of burning trash in the evening (where the fauna,dried leaves and daily trash gets burnt acting as an insect repellant for mosquitoes) with a tinge of fresh produce.

Yeah, sometimes, you get to see them smoking a large piece of meat across the ambering fire of rubber trees or a fruit tree at times, giving the taste of the smoked meat, an acquired tinge of tanginess. Smoked lamb or cattle or the occasional game meat such as wild chicken,deer or local catfish is highly sought after.

That is my local hideout...and well, time to get some grub.

Interesting stuff about town

One of the things I like best living in the outskirts is trying to find the Jewels and Gems of the Neighbourhood and one of which is somewhat lacking nowadays is what is deemed as the Masjid Jamek or usually found in the Indian Community Mosque.

Last I seen something like this was the Habib Nor shrine / Mosque in downtown Singapore and the Malabar Mosque with the old facades and the odd shrine or grave of the benefactor or wealthy donor who contributed to the institution. What makes me like this place is the inside of it, where the old woodwork and mimbar is still in place, despite being somewhat depilated and ancient at times and that it features one of the olden ways of taking the Wuduk or ablution , which is drawing water from a huge water pool right smack behind the main prayer hall.

Where nowadays people take the Wuduk drawn from a water pipe, this is still in a tank and you can scoop the water out, and even if you want, take a bath from it. However so, this mosque follows the Hanafi and Maliki sect of Islam where they are usually practiced in Indian Subcontinent including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Friday prayers start at 1.30pm , somewhat later from the Shafie way and gives me time to think of the past week's happenings and plan ahead, get in touch with my inner self and nearer to God. Plus the lack of school kids making a mockery of the Sermons whom always talk loudly etc is lacking here, so no kids and peace and serene, and you can hear the sermon in Tamil and Malay on alternate weeks.

This is the Masjid Jamek Kuala Pilah, just offside the Public Bank and parking is a bit of a nightmare, so please park with some decency and thought of others. Likewise, I tend to pass this often because I shop at the nearest mart which is the Gedung Sri Minang, where it's still the old Casio cash register without the need of barcodes and such. Personal service and all in one.

Come over for your Friday Prayers if you think you have missed it...cos Allah is waiting for you to report to work.

Salam Aidil Adha

OK, since today is Aidil Adha..and my bandwidth is capped again... I wish you all .. SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL ADHA..

To those who are not celebrating but enjoying the holidays.. Happy Thanksgiving, and Hope you all are in safe hands.

Love and Kisses.

Azrin

Medan, Sumatera Utara

Medan is easily accessible via air and sea link to Malaysia, Singapore, Jakarta and other major ASEAN cities but of which, many places are not known to the foreigners. I went to Medan, Indonesia a long while ago, over a year back actually on a working road trip for business purposes and somewhat I miss the place.

Flying from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur via FireFlyz , the journey took less than 90 minutes and landed in Polonia Airport, right smack near the city center itself. Of course, like any other major city in Indonesia, it is more of a cowboy town, but abeit more subtle and managed, compared to Balik Papan or even Batam.

This photo was taken near the city center, just off the train station and the post office. Of course, everywhere I go, I must get some stamps ( Franko here) and send a postcard or a few to others. Right smack in the middle of the city is the Tugu Merdeka Medan. In the mornings, there will be some hawkers there offering local foods like Mi Bakso ( meatball noodles) and others, which I am not that very enthusiastic.

The picture tells a thousand words, so what does this say to you?

Muara Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka

Kuala Sungai Baru Melaka is one of the least known places by the Malaysian Tourists unless they are just the locals who know where to get a great deal when they see one. Situated on the Masjid Tanah - Port Dickson route, off Highway 5, this place is a jewel among the locals of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka alike as it offers catch fresh from the sea just as the fishing crew pulls into the yard.

Unlike Umbai Fishing Market (Medan Ikan Bakar), the prices are fairly competitive since the locals won't pay a dime more than they should as the property is owned by the state and the fish market , of the West Malacca Fishermen's Association which hosts a sizable restaurant and chalets, and mind you, the sight is a real steal.

Of course, you may see the odd Singaporean once in a while with their fancy cars and red vampire plates (Red vehicle plates/tags-Off Peak Vehicles) especially during weekends and long holidays. Where you see Singaporeans, that place is either dirt cheap, or very tasty or both!





Getting there is a breeze. Follow Directions to Kuala Sungai Baru (ALAM / Sungai Linggi if you are from Port Dickson, don't miss the junction!!!) from Malacca town , off Masjid Tanah (Not LUBUK CHINA route!!) or if you are from KL/, follow the Port Dickson way or PLUS Expressway Linggi Exit (which is a pain in the bum...pot hole riddled roads), but many prefer to take the Tampin Exit to get to Masjid Tanah and then to this place.

The entrance to the location where I took the photo is a bit odd, there is a market just before the river (taxi stand) where this small village road will lead into directly, otherwise, after you hit the hamlet town (note of the BSN!) turn LEFT after the small river from Malacca, using the small medan selera (food center) as your bearing, hitting left into the street there.

Do be careful! You are entering village roads, where townfolk have disregard to traffic laws, with kids running about. Drive straight for about 400 meters, where you will see a road heading right, just keeping your path straight. There will be a high humped bridge where you can get to the new Medan Ikan Bakar or straight on for the old restaurant cum Chalets.

It's worth it..the evening is calm and peaceful. Everything shuts down after dark though..so keep plenty of cash. There is only a 7-11 and a Shell gas station, open up to 9pm! Next service station will be in Port Dickson or Masjid Tanah (if you are lucky!)..with trunk roads riddled with animals and even the occasional elephant or tiger!

Phone reception is GOOD there, Maxis and Celcom giving good signal strength, with 3G coverage by Celcom only. No WiFi as far as I can recall, or fast foods! Breakfast there will be the norm, Roti Canai (that's Roti Prata for Singaporeans) or Nasi Lemak.

Swimming is allowed on the beach, though it's AT YOUR OWN RISK as there are NO LIFEGUARDS!

Do have fun!

BTW, the GPS GeoLoc on Google Maps is at http://goo.gl/maps/jAks with the SatNav location at
 2° 21' 9.98" N  102° 2' 4.78" E  

Batu Kikir Jembatan Besi.......

One of the things I love to do in my freetime is to travel and taking pictures, such as this one off Jeram Tengkek near Batu Kikir, Negeri Sembilan , where the Ujang song of Nogori sounds off with a lyric of Batu Kikir Jembatan Besi (Iron Bridge off Batu Kikir).

This was taken a few days back during my road trip, moving along here and there to get things done and is about 15 Km away from the Batu Kikir Police Station, which is not mapped on the normal maps, other than the Orang Asli village of Kampung Guntur, off a state road on the way from Tampin - Kuantan highway (Federal 9) in Batu Kikir.

The place is quite secuded. Really secuded that the path to the waterworks is quite a tight squeeze, with marsh and reeds all over, and the road going to Kampong Guntur was riddled with potholes and cow poo. Yes, load of cattle and sheep roam about the streets , which surprisisingly is under the jurisdiction of Kuala Pilah municipal council or MDKP. But then, what do you expect when you are in rural Malaysia, it's the price you got to pay.

However, the way going to the stage one waterfall is quite good, with new bridge and walkways as compared to others, which are riddled with pebbleways or tree stumps. I did not manage to snap a good photo off the second stage waterfall which is a very treacherous cement path which is just poured over some blocks of granite which formed naturally there.

I have mapped some of the photos from my Panoramio account, and do have a look see...it's worth the wait. Do not that there are NO FACILITIES there, shops or otherwise, cell phone reception is terrible (none for Maxis)....and well, it's particularly CLEAN!

I'll load the panoramic photo here later on..have fun..

Done!Direct URL is http://www.panoramio.com/photo/42394284

Walking back to SIngapore

Don't get me wrong, looks are deceiving. It's VERY BAD if you got to walk from JB Sentral (City Square / Old Johor Baru KTM Station) to the checkpoint in the Johor Baru side.
It's a twining long route..and it's a killer, almost 300m .

That's the bridge that is supposed to be the crooked roadway to Singapore but nah..I think it will be out of comission for a very long while , at least till 2011 August when the KTM station is moved back to Johor Baru, terminating at JB Sentral instead of going into Woodlands and into Tanjong Pagar station.

What else is not new? Messy eh?