My 12 - Great Pride for the Land of Grace

"Prayer is the Key to Heaven, but Faith unlocks the door."
- Anonymous.

Ubudiah Mosque
(Built in 1917)

One of the symbol of pride for people of Kuala Kangsar is this mosque. One of the most beautiful mosque in Malaysia - Ubudiah Mosque Perak's royal mosque. It was built in 1917 with the cost of $200,000 during that time.

From left : onion-shaped dome with multiple minarets; the mosque mimbar or pulpit is located to the side of the mihrab for a khatib or some other speaker to offer a sermon (khutbah).

It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a government architect who is notably credited for the design of the Ipoh railway station and the Kuala Lumpur railway station based on Mogul architecture. The construction was interrupted twice when at first two elephants belonging to the sultan's and Raja Chulan were fighting and ran over and damaged the imported Italian marble titles. The second time when the World War 2 broke out, by the Japanese Invasion.

From left : mosque's interior design of windows and ceiling with crystal chandelier.

Me and Ayeesha infront of the mosque

My 11 - Where Leaders Were Born

"When you have all the best students cramped into one place, there is bound to be a lot of jostling to be no. 1."
- Wan Abdul Hakim (Class of 85); ADUN Air Putih, Terengganu.

The Malay College Kuala Kangsar
(Established 2nd January 1905)

I didn't have much entry for Taiping. A lot of places that we planned were eventually have to be ceased in view of weather and other unexpected reasons. Place like Bukit Larut or famous known as Maxwell Hill has to be canceled as we missed the jeep-ride time. But we did go to the Night Safari - the finest zoo in Malaysia, if you ask me.

From left : the school's canteen and the cloaktower; stairs leading to 1st floor.

After a night spent in Taiping, we moved to Kuala Kangsar; a particularly sentimental place for my father. Being one of the 'Old Boys', Kuala Kangsar was a second home for him as he spent nearly 5 years there. For me - being Hamidians, WTH! But I cannot ignore the fact that most our leaders were from MCKK. Only now that the college showed some declined as they're not performed well as they should be.

From left : the main building of MCKK; there're 4 houses in the college -origins name from the previous ruler - house of Ahmad, Sulaiman, Mohd Shah and Idris.

MCKK or Malay College of Kuala Kangsar - often some dubbed it as 'Eton of the East' (based on Eton College, England famously known as the chief nurse of England's statesmen) was establised by Mr R J Wilkinson - Inspector of Schools for the Federated Malay States during that time in January 2nd 1905. It was built as a special resedential for the education of Malays of good family and for the training of Malay boys for admission of certain branches of government services. Well it's seems a long history.

The Clock Tower. The tower and the administration block was opened by the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya Sir Donald MacGillivray in 1955.

My 10 - Staying at the Presidential Suite

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
- Jeremy Irons (b. 1948 -); British actor

The Northam All Suites Penang

Guess it's time to leave George Town. I know it not much of entry but huh - i don't know. I can't blame cause I went with my family but that's what happen.

I know what you're thinking but it is not!

Penang was fame for it's nature, historical buildings and delicious foods. We didn't have much time to cover all of it. Hope that I can be here back in future. So guys - next stop : Taiping.

I definitely need to learn how to swim

Take 5 - Part II

Giggles happily with her aunt

My niece - Hani Ayeesha was so lucky! Being at her age, she has been to several states already. And she do really enjoy it. Hope she will remember the experiences that she gain from the visits.

Lucky her!

P/S : I think my parents did bring us for holiday when we were small. But I can't remember it fully. Guess we didn't take much picture last time. So guys, picture not just worth than thousand words but somehow is some form of your own memory collection. Kinda like hard disk. Hehehe.

She's tired already!

My 9 - Temple of Supreme Bliss

"Where God hath a temple, the Devil will have a chapel."
- Robert Burton (1577-1640); English writer and clergyman.

Kek Lok Si Temple
(Built in 1893)

Next building is the magnificent Kek Lok Si temple is a Penang Hokkien for Temple of Supreme Bliss. Built in 1890, inspired by chief of Buddhist monk from the Temple of Goddess Mercy for the Mahayana Buddhism followers. The temple situated in Ayer Itam, Penang and one of the icon of Penang Island.

From left : this little girl make us carried an extra more - she's running everywhere and made others exhausted; one of the round-door, I wish I had this kind of lovely door - but minus the statue as we Muslim don't believe in idols. Hehehe

From left : one of the prayer hall; I'm not sure what the name of the hall near to the pagoda. It's not like in the Temple of Emerald Buddha, Bangkok where tourist guide and personal audio guide easily available. *sigh*

The temple was built on phases and still some construction are ongoing; particularly at the Statue of Kuan Yin hill. History stated that the temple even received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras.

From left : Koi pond on the Kuan Yin's hill; the 10,000 Buddhas Pagoda from one of the several large prayer hall.

From left : Incline-lift rail - the highest in Malaysia for a temple, that brings pilgrimage and tourist to the Kuan Yin statue; the Bronze-Kuan Yin statue, inaugurated in 2002 and currently undergone major renovation to built the concentric roof that resembles the roof of Prayer Hall for Good Harvest in the Temple of Heaven, Beijing.

Currently, the temple is a focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive: for 30 days following Chinese New Year, the temple remains open until late at night whilst thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light.

One of the Kuan Yin statue guardian

My 8 - Head of Indian Muslim's Legacy

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."
- Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), Lebanese-born America's poet, novelist and philosopher.

Kapitan Keling Mosque
(Built in 19th Century)

There're several other places that I wish to highlight here in the blog from my family visit to Penang.One of it - the magnificent Kapitan Keling Mosque. It is situated on the corner of Lebuh Buckingham (Buckingham Street) and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Masjid Kapitan Keling Road).

The tower only minaret - stunning architecture of British Mogul

The mosque got it name from the head of Indian Muslim Community - Caudeer Mohudeen that credited to build the mosque around 1800. The current mosque was actually upgraded in the 1910s, based on architecture of British Mogul Revival style, with the addition of Mughal domes and turrets, a large minaret and a madrasah. The mosque completed around 1916.

The mosque now is the location for the daily 5-times prayer as well as school and central community place for the locals.

My 7 - Fort that Stand Last

"Law is a fort on a hill that armies cannot take or floods wash away."

Prophet Muhammad PBUH (570 - 632 AD); the last prophet.

FORT CORNWALLIS
(Built in 1786)

I'm sure anyone who had visited Penang will visit this fort. One of the oldest fort in Malaysia, located at the Esplanade; marked as British Empire primary defend of the island during that time. However, this place was actually used for administrative purpose rather for the defense.

From left : various cannon from different ages by the wall of the fort; the place where they kept cannonballs and gunpowders.

From left : cell inside the fort; the fort's chapel - I wonder where is the 'cross' as the usual church? Hmm

The fort open daily except on Sunday (WTH! - I thought numerous visitors will be there on Sunday). It worth of visit since we can learn on how the English during that time able to stand against most of the threat - particularly from the pirates and other European super-power that time.

From left : Fort Cornwallis lighthouse - one of the 2 lighthouses that still exist in Penang, the other one located inside the Penang National Park; the gunpowder room, located at the north-east of the fort.

It was built by Sir Francis Light after obtained the ownership from the Sultan of Kedah in exchange to protect the state from the Siam Empire. It was originally built using nibong tree and later was rebuilt by bricks and stone in 1804. And guess what? - It was built at the cost worth of $ 80,000 during that time. So cheap for a cost of fort nowaday.

The oldest cannon in Malaysia - I think this one was from the Dutch as its inscripted VOC or Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie means the Dutch East-India Company. I remember it has stated that the cannon was captured by the British army during war with the Dutch.

I'm still looking for the meaning of the above motto as I believed it's written in Latin. Anyone had idea?

My 6 - Penang Heritage Trails

"It is not the honour that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind."

Branch Rickey (1881-1965); US baseball player.

Pulau Pinang

Being one of the World Heritage Site - Penang never failed to prevail us their history. It's like a time machine; where we can experience both old world - when the British first set their foot on this strait's island and the new world - where peoples live in modern era. It's not only the physical of the old buildings exist but the culture and harmony relations among the indigenous peoples of the Pearl of Orient.

Both Federal and State government - working 'hand-to-hand' to make sure that these heritage survive and people are well educate into their importance. In Georgetown itself, tourist - whether locals or foreigners able to locate these buildings either by public transport (there are buses that take people around these trails) or just walking around the city.

From left : Municipal Council of Penang Island hall - the oldest local authority in Malaysia established in 1857, George Town become the first city in Malaya (that time) by a royal charter granted by HM Queen Elizabeth II but somehow the status was unsure its exist in view of the merged with the Penang Rural District Council; Cheong Fatt Tze mansion - built in 1890 by Hakka successful tycoon of shipping, opium and mining in SEA during that time, no photo was allowed to be taken inside and we're unlucky not to be inside as we missed the visiting hour. Sigh!

From these buildings - we know that this port (Georgetown) WAS and IS important to the British government and now to the Federation of Malaysia. Being the main entry point of the busiest and longest strait in the world, makes Penang become one of the most vibrant place in Peninsular Malaysia.

But my bad - I haven't got a chance to walk around the city as I was traveling with my family. Traveling during the month of December also not a good decision as it is monsoon here. Apparently it was raining almost every day here in December - sigh. Next time better make a proper plan - insyaAllah.

From left : Cenotaph - situated at the Esplanade, erected in 1914 in the memory for those who died during World War I when a Russian ship (Zemschug) was sank by German ship (Emden) at the Penang Harbour; the Penang State Mosque - built in 1970s by Brazilian and Philippines architects, is the biggest mosque in Penang.

My Family infront the Penang War Museum

My 5 - Legendary Icon

"Keunggulan dan ketokohan P Ramlee dalam industri filem tidak dapat disangkal lagi, beliau adalah pengasas pembikin filem Singapura."
- BG (NS) George Yeo, Singapore Minister of Arts and Information on 12th Singapore International Film Festival.

"P Ramlee bukan saja seniman filem, tapi juga satu-satunya pejuang filem Melayu. Seorang pejuang tidak pernah puas."
- Jaafar Wiryo, actor (Kalam Hamidy: P Ramlee AMN - Pujaan Nusantara)

Rumah P.Ramlee
(Built in 13 Dec 1991)

After having a quick nap at the hotel - we decided to go to P.Ramlee House. None of the Malaysian - either Malay, Chinese or Indian - that not enjoying this actor. P.Ramlee or his real name Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh born in March 22, 1929 was a great entertainer. His contribution in the Malaysian and Singaporean flm industry highly recognized not by both countries but even in Asia. His films have achieved multiple awards from the Asia Film Festival.

P.Ramlee
1929 - 1973

He was an actor, director, singer, song writer, composer, and other multiple roles. Even after his death in May 29, 1973 - his films and songs were still remembered and enjoyed by the Malaysians.

Rumah P.Ramlee, Jalan P.Ramlee, Penang

Situated in Jalan P.Ramlee, Penang; his house was rebuilt by Arkib Negara at the same spot of his old house - based on the exact model of his old house. Items on display at the house include his life history, personal memorabilia related to his life in Penang, and items belonging to his family.

Some of the house's collections - personal things that related to the life of P.Ramlee