Penang Trip

1) Hari Sabtu, 11 Julai 2009; Bermula jam 8 pagi, kami semua berkumpul di Reception untuk program lawatan ke seluruh Pulau Pinang. Kami, seramai 30 orang, yang datang dari pelbagai negara di Asia Tenggara, akhirnya dapat mengadakan aktiviti bersama-sama secara santai dan secara tidak langsung, memperkenalkan Malaysia kepada rakan-rakan seAsia Tenggara.

2) Secara ringkasnya, berikut adalah tempat yang kami lawati, mengikut susunan:-

i) Snake Temple
ii) Penang Bridge (Island – Butterworth)
iii) Penang Bird Park (Seberang Perai)
iv) Ferry ride (Butterwoth – Island)
v) Fort Cornwallis
vi) Thailand Temple (Sleeping Buddha)
vii) Burmese Temple (Standing Buddha)
viii) Teluk Bahang Dam
ix) Penang Butterfly-Insect Park
x) Batu Feringgi
xi) Masjid Terapung
xii) Leh Kok Si Temple (Pagoda)

3) There are some interesting experiences that I personally think, as a Muslim, as a Malay, and as a Malaysian point of view as well. It may sound nothing, or ‘cerewet’, and , maybe it just my feelings of being too sensitive. The question is, What will you think, if you are in my shoes?

4) Well, it happens that it’s raining all the way, from the morning until we got back to RECSAM. The trip actually, went so well, as we went from one place to another. I have to give all credits, and our appreciations to Mr Dominique, our trip supervisor, and our drivers, Mr Michael and Mr Arshad.

5) Frankly, this is my first time visit to any kind of temples; and today, I went into 4 kinds of Buddhist temple! At first, I have hesitation to get involve in this trip because of the belief that Muslim shouldn’t get into any other religous places. I gave big thought about this again and again. I chose to be more open minded, and have faith in the knowledge that I gained about the rationale and the openness of Islam; and not to be drag into ‘Muslims’ and Malays’ culture’, and their ‘taboo’ness.

6) We manage to visit Telok Bahang Dam; these are the water to supply the whole Penang citizen. As we rode along, there’re motorcyclists group brooming’ passing us. They’re youth group, some of them have flags, red and white in colour on their wheels, and most important clue is that they’re wearing black shirt, with ‘1Malaysia’ label!

The activity, can be considered as ‘healthy’, if they had followed some important rules of traffic and have certain disciplines in group! As we stand beside the dam, looking at the group, I just wonder, what will happen in 10-20 years ahead, since these ‘group’ will be leading the nation.

7) During the visit, we had lunch at Batu Feringgi. There’s a nice looking warong (stall). The food is superbly delicious! We ate nasi campur, with various choices of lauk. There’s Makcik (Auntie), maybe the owner of the stall, then gave us the price for each plate of ours. I sat with the drivers as we chat all along. Then, we realized, that we’re the one that left, as all our collegue has done and walking around.

Soon, the Makcik came to us and ask, “Yang pakai baju batik tadi, dah bayar ke?” “Err.. tak pasti la, makcik.” We replied. Then she says, “Dok la.. Hok tu, dia pi ambik 3 ekoq udang. Udang tu, mahai. Makcik ambik malam tadi, teruih masak pagi tadi, Fresh lagi tu. Kalau setakat udang hok 5 kupang tu, Makcik tak kisah aaa” Then, I look for my fellow friend, Meck (from Laos PDR), while Mr Rashid stays with her. Well, actually, Meck, had already paid. His food was RM11, and been paid to the husband. Meck gave RM50 bill, and the husband return RM40. Well, she actually expected another RM1 from Meck, which actually was a treat from her husband. To make her stop babbling, Mr Rashid gave his RM1.

8) We continued our trip to Masjid Terapung (Floating Mosque), near Bukit Feringgi. We also need to go to the toilet as well. Then, some of our women collegue, (from Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar), asked, whether, women are allowed to get into the mosque? Well, I say yes, ofcourse! Anyone can enter the mosque. Then, we walked together, as I do some explaination about Islam, and our responsibility to do prayer, 5 times a day.

As we walked by, one guy came over and shouted, “ehh.. ehh... ni, dari mana ni? Ni, tak boleh masuk ni...” while showing his point finger.
Everyone stunned...
“Err.. sir, they are from outside.. Err.. Can not understand you.” I replied..
“No, you can’t enter here... You just can only walk around by certain perimeters. and, I am strict on you can’t enter. Hang paham, hang habaq kat depa” He replied still fingering us, with angry voice.
Now, everyone is looking at us, and I said calmly, “ He maybe mad because of you’re wearing skirts, and not covering the hair. But, you can still go walk around the corridor, and to the toilet. As for men, we all can enter inside the prayers’ hall. And I’m sorry again on behalf of the guy”

Some of the women, went back to the van, and some proceed to the toilet, while, all men follows me around the mosque, and even in the prayers’ hall. After that, I started to pray as they took photos. I am quite surprise, when I finish my Zohor prayer, my friend, Sithet, from Cambodia actually were taking videos of my rituals of praying. When I asked what for, he said, this is his first time to see Muslims’ ritual, and he is pretty sure that this is also new to the others as well.

9) I’ve written 4 stories that I faced today; that I personally, think it is very significant to my belief, my community, and my responsibility towards the Almighty Allah.

Even this entry is my new part of my life that I feel the need to improve.