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 1 - A Glimpse of Paloh

Pohon Epu or Pokok Ipoh in the compound of Ipoh Train Station

Break from my travelogue of Siem Reap and Bangkok.

Welcome to Ipoh - the town that built on Tin, famous for its white coffee and one of the most scenic town in Malaysia. Ipoh was established around 1800; first started as small village at the banks of Kinta river.

From left : St Michael's Institution - established by St John Baptist De La Salle, Indian-Muslim Community Mosque - built around 1900's.

Thanks to Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham - the first Resident General of the Federated Malay Stetes that put fourth the establishment of Ipoh Sanitary Board, the development of Ipoh city become more systematic thus attracted major British companies to invest in Ipoh.

Kellie's Castle and the Kellas House - this ruined castle / mansion was built by William Kellie Smith dedicated for his wife, Agnes. Unfortunately this massive mansion unfinished due to the death of its owner of pneumonia and the spread of Spanish flu virus among the workers.

The city was taken it's name from 'pohon epu' or nowadays known as 'pokok ipoh' that famous for its poisonous sap used by Orang Asli to coat their darts.

From left - Ipoh Train Station, District Council of Kinta Barat's office - once the residency of Sir Frank Swettenham when he was British Resident of Perak.

Ipoh nowadays become the capital state of Perak, famous for its beautiful surroundings and tasty foods. Lucky for me to have a chance to appreciate its beauty.

Tempurung limestone cave - one of the oldest cave in Peninsular Malaysia

Our Story not 'His' Story - Past, Present and Future

"to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius ";
"to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared";
"to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history";
Selection criteria I, III and IV of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Istana Lama Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, not a UNESCO World Heritage List but our country's heritage. Steps must be taken to ensure that this and other buildings wil survive and maintain properly.

When I travel, the most fascinating about the country - is their heritage and history. Guess you guys still remember during our World Civilization History in Form 4, High School - where we've been introduced with histories around the world that shaped into our 'story' right now. Given a chance to explore and enjoy it by yourself make you feel appreciate on what our ancestors have achieved and what should we do to improve it and make it better if not the best.

I know that History subject is the most 'boring' subject that been thought in our education system. It's not because of the lesson, but perhaps the way it been thought. I remember during my time, my school teacher just open the text book and read it - paragraph by paragraph till end of the book infront of us. Nothing inspire us even though the topic about Prophet Muhammad and Islamic Civilization. Hmm, I remember that a lot of us fell asleep - "it's a bedtime story what!"

Giza Pyramid Complex; UNESCO World Heritage List Criteria I, III and VI

OK; countries that I've been - Egypt, the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand have histories that influence our life nowadays. The things that impressed me on how the preserved their heritage. They maintain their buildings, educate both locals and foreign tourist and make a lot of effort so that their future / children knows about their past.

I remember one of my discussion with Dara in Siem Reap about Angkor on how the people refuse to remember about Angkor as it reminds them about the horrific past, wars, endless suffering etc. The Cambodians need to pay on high price to regain back their past from the French that 'loot' it and brought it back to Europe and claimed as their history. It's sad to see that the outsiders know better about your 'home' compared to you.

From left : Angkor - UNESCO World Heritage Site Criteria I, II, III and IV; Wat Arun - Temple of Dawn, Bangkok - famous landmark that preserve well but not in the list.

And its even worst when didn't take step to learn about your past and let it destroy by time. From the past that actually we can learn about the glory and mistakes by our ancestors, thus we will help to build a better future.

I do hope that people, the government and others will hell hand-by-hand to preserve our heritage; educate our children so that we shouldn't forget about it and learn from it.

From left, up-to-down : Kellie's Castle with Samawi; St. Michael's Institution - Ipoh; Indian-Muslim Community Mosque - Ipoh; hallway of Kellie's Castle. These buildings eventhough its not grande monuments but still our heritage, thus we should preserve it for the next generation.