Author: farooq Page 33 of 45

5 places to experience in Malaysia

On March 22, 2014

We had an International tour last year around this time and believe me it was the best thing that happened the previous year. Not only it was worth travelling with a bunch of your classmates and friends alike, the locations and travel had its own joy attached to it. We had a three-nation tour consisting of Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore. Although each of them had it’s own distinct flavor, yet for me Malaysia was the best of the three. There were quite a few places we travelled, of course on a very strict schedule, yet almost having non-stop fun in whichever opportunity we could get.

Having said that, there were many places which we couldn’t touch upon, or rather the tour schedule didn’t permit us. But believe you me, given a chance there are some amazing places that I’d like to visit. So, for now I’ll just give out the top5 places that are a Must visit.

1. First on the list is the beautiful Langkawi Island in Kedah.

It is a cluster of 99 islands scattered among them are beautiful beaches, world- class infrastructure, mangroves rich in flora and fauna. Not just this, many of the islanders are actually farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs, which actually gives a unique culture experience.

Lankawi island

One can enjoy the country side with the calm paddy field by just simply renting away a car. From experiencing the village life by not just passing along but even by Heading up to the thrilling new cable car to the summit of Mount Mat Cincang, which will give the entire island’s ultimate view. One can even enjoy trekking through the rain-forest.

2. The next stop should be the nearby Dayang Bunting Lake or ‘Tasik Dayang Bunting’, Langkawi, Kedah

One can come here on a boat tour from the Lankawi Island, Tasik Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant lady), which has legends attached to it.

The island, which is about 20 kilometres from Kuah town, is modestly populated on one side and virtually uninhabited on the other where the lake is situated.

3. Mosques in Malaysia: Malaysia has some of the most beautiful mosques, and the architecture speaks for itself. Understanding a country’s cultural fabric requires understanding the value system on which it is based on. The mosques in Malaysia are a perfect example of how co-existence of religious teachings coincides with the development which the country has achieved. Some of the notable mosques include the National mosque or the previous national mosque which is also called the Jamek Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, this mosque was Built in 1909. The Masjid Jamek, as is called among the locals is the oldest mosque in the city. The mosque sits at the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers, which is also the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur. Its architecture is inspired by Mogul influences of northern India. In 1965, it was officially declared as the National Mosque.

Blue mosque

Another beautiful mosque is the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam is one of the most stunning structures in the country. This mosque is commonly referred to as the ‘Blue Mosque’. This mosque has one of the tallest minarets, while also showcasing its beautiful blue dome as the visitors approach towards it.
Decorative Islamic calligraphy in the dome and prayer halls and the interior architecture exhibits ethnic Malay design elements. Sunlight filtering through the blue stained glass of the mosque renders a bluish ambiance to its interior evokes a sense of peace and serenity.
They not only provide a place of worship but also as symbols of maintained peace and harmony through their presence.

4. The next stop should be the famous Batu Caves

Even though, Malaysia happens to be an Islamic nation, it supports the minority religions and their beliefs, and that is something which is ingrained in the cultural fabric of the nation. The batu caves, and even the annual Hindu festivals, where it is said that roads are kept blocked just so as to let the processions pass, all of this in a country with a minority Hindu population.

Batu Caves is no doubt an iconic and popular tourist attraction, which attracts a huge inflow of tourists especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.

A limestone outcrop located just north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves has three main caves featuring temples and Hindu shrines.
As you may have noticed from the pictures, it has a large statue of the Hindu God at the entrance, besides a steep 272 climb up its steps to finally view the stunning skyline of the city centre. Of course the climb up the stairs is going to make you sweat a lot. But don’t worry, you’ll have monkeys to give you company. But beware of carrying valuables just inviting them to be at their mischievous best. It is a popular spot for rock climbing enthusiasts. Paintings and scenes of Hindu Gods can also be seen in the Ramayana Cave.

5. Gunung Mulu National Park

A huge underground chamber and one of the largest networks of caves, which are apart from being immense in size, are a scenic beauty. It also houses the world’s biggest cave passage, Deer Cave. Another key attraction is Clear Water Cave which is the longest cave in Southeast Asia. The caves are filled with a number of bats, which come alive post-dusk.

Gunung Mulu National Park

Razor-sharp pinnacles, deep-cut canyons, appropriately named The Pinnacles, is what is formed as a result of weathering. If one is interested in hiking, one can even do so.

Nearby, one can even go to the Gunung Gading National Park, which has the famous mountainous rainforest. This place has spectacular Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that can grow up to one metre in diameter.

Initially, the park was a closed conservation zone, but now is open for the world to see the treasure. Jungle trails lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of Gunung Gading (906m). The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the beaches at Pandan and Siar, which are just amazing sights to be a part of.

And with it, I end my Wishlist of 5 places to visit in Malaysia.

Feeling excited and want to know more about the events happening in Malaysia and planning to book a trip , visit Tourism Malaysia website for more information or the Malaysia Tourism’s contest.

I am participating in the MalaysiaJao Blogathon Contest in association with BlogAdda.com

Becoming Nature’s Friend…

By farooq

On March 22, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

I held his hands as we walked across the field towards the trees inside, moving his firm old hands in systematic swings and singing the rhyme out loud as he requested. Passing across the long grasses and occasionally kicking them midway, we went on. Giving me a firm eye whenever he noticed me doing that to the “poor grasses”, Dada and I went ahead only for me to scream out in surprise at the berries hanging down the trees. I left his loosely clenched hands and ran towards the tree.

As I jumped to catch the berries, I realized that I just could not catch hold of even one of them. Making a face that exactly resembled that of the present-day “sad-smiley” and looking at him, Dada approached me with a big grin on his face. He just brushed up my hair, “buddhu kahin ka”, and just did the same to the tree by lightly shaking one of its branches.

All of a sudden, just like some magic, the berries just fell all over me. Some even hit me, right on my head. Suddenly the sad face of mine, gave way to a big grin, more than what dada had on his face. His face, as I can recall, had a content-filled smile spread all over it. In a way, he found joy in making me feel happy.

Just when I had collected almost all the berries and having eaten some of it, while collecting, I asked for more. Who knows, when will I get an opportunity like this again??

Then one very important thing is what Dada told me. He told me not to rush, it is enough for the day, explaining to me how we should not take away everything that the tree has to offer us, and just wait for it to be ready to give it to us. Although I wouldn’t say I understood all of what he said that day, in retrospection, I did most of it anyway.

Especially when teachers taught us how even plants are living things and how beneficial they are for our survival. Also looking at it, the buzzword of sustainable development, which we now hear so often, we have been exploiting the nature and overusing the resources that are given to us as a gift by the Almighty is what we have been doing, but is something which we should have been very careful about in the first place.

That same day, when walking back, instead of kicking away the long grasses, I just looked at them as to notice what are they going to offer to me later. Meanwhile, I was again back to swinging away from my Dada’s hand like before, carrying a bag of berries in my other hand and singing away the rhyme like before.

This post was written in association with Indiblogger for Kissan contest on #NaturesFriend.

Kissa arson ka..

By farooq

On March 22, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

Chahun to chand lamhon me kissa khatam ho..

Taalun to arse beete jaaye…

Chahun to pul lafzon ke bunta jaun..

Jo rok lun to chaukhat bhi paar na ho…

Taareef karun to tumhare kaan dard hojaye..

Jo na bolun to dil pe parten jamti jaaye…

Kehne ko bas do lafz hi kaafi honge..

Darun to bas baaten ghumata hi jaaun…

Chahun to chand lamhon me kissa khatm ho..

Taalun to arse beete jaaye…

Wo halki si daudti tumhare chehre ki lakeer

By farooq

On March 20, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

Wo halki si daudti tumhare chehre ki lakeer…
Daud wo rahi hai, haanf hum rahe hain…

Nazre bachate, nazre jhukate, tumse khudko chupaate..
Taakte tumhe, kisi kone ko pakde hue…

Wo zulf koi ulajhti hui tumhare chehre se..
Wo aankhen ho jaati tumhare kad se bhi badi..

Wo halki si daudti tumhare chehre ki lakeer..
Muskaan wo tumhari daud rahi his, haanf hum rahe hain..

Mango tree and the Girl

By farooq

On March 16, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

Across the river, on the other side of the village, a few steps away from the banks of the river, there was a tree, a big tree, bearing mangoes. There were not many, just this one big mango tree.

It was summer, and green mangoes in chunks were just hanging out, inviting to be taken down and eaten. But hardly anyone walked around. Maybe because of the deserted place the tree called its’ home.

One day, there was this little girl who walked past this side of the bank. Crying about her broken toy, to people whom she imagined were listening. But there was no one there, not a soul, except this big mango tree.

Moving about here and there, she finally ended up sitting under the shade of the tree. The tree didn’t mind at all. A poor little girl, crying about her broken toy to a lonely tree, why would the tree mind ?

This one day, became two and then three and then it continued. Sometimes, it was more than one time in a day. The tree grew fond of the girl as well. More than crying about that one particular toy, now she had more things to talk about. More fruits to eat, more games to play, more stories to be told and more stories to be heard, and again more fruits to be eaten. It was as if she could tell it all to the tree.

The tree was happy, and the girl too was less sad. They both somehow, filled in the missing pieces in each others’ lives. Their loneliness was what bonded them together.

Days went by and from three visits; it became two and sometimes even one. The tree waited almost every day to meet the girl. Her arrival was now greeted with the best of fruits, which the tree would save for her. Now, there were no broken toys to be talked about, but there were many new toys to talk about though. The girl was happy. The tree did miss not being able to be with her for more time, but was happy to confide in her new-found happiness.

Days again flew by, the girl occasionally came to meet the tree. And even when she did, it was for the mangoes. She ate the mangoes, talked a little and bid the tree goodbye. The girl was happy, the tree became sad. She even told once, that she has found a new tree near her home and so there was no need for her to come this far.

Although she did came once in a while for old times sake perhaps, but those visits were far and few.

The mangoes in the Big tree neared their end. The tree didn’t had much to offer. The tree was back to being its lonely self. It complained to the girl, but her excuses were a long list. The tree, waiting for his days to finish just kept listening, without complaining anymore.

The summer was about to end.

The silent goodbye….

By farooq

On March 15, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

The silent goodbye..

Reaching out to the stars…

Aspiring to make them my own …

Plans, which kept pushing me higher…

Dreams that propelled me to imaginary heights..

Only to find it all taken away..

Only to find, it all to be an illusion..

And now, when the lightening of realization stuck upon..

And the walls made of dreams have come crashing down..

A free-fall is what it has ensued..

Falling down the abyss of another uncertainty… silently..

I’ll miss the star, the only star..

But maybe some dreams are meant to be dreams…

Dreams which you aspire..Which you chase…

Only to find.. Those were never yours..

The free-fall continues..

Silently bidding the star, a good bye…

5 ways to kick out your “Writer’s block”

By farooq

On March 9, 2014

In Random Philosophy

Writing a few words on paper and then not finding it to be making any sense, tearing it to throw it off around and in the process making mess around the room. That was how; writers suffering from what many refer to as the “writer’s block” would like to call it can be picturised. Scratching their heads, throwing away their pen and perhaps having concentrated dose of nicotine or caffeine. Some much esteemed ones (or otherwise) even prefer some shots of the compound from the –OH group of Organic chemistry. Fact of the matter is, they are hardly entertained by the chemistry of that kind, but may amuse themselves in developing some chemistry of their characters.

Beherhaal!!

Without drawing too much parallel on those writer clichés or trying to proclaim myself a writer, just because I ram down some sequence of words then and now, I have been facing a similar situation of the same kind. And if you happen to be a regular on this blog space (which I highly doubt, not for being filled with any humility though), you must have noticed how the regular posts have been just a camouflaged attempt to build on this inability to write some valuable content. And adding to that tally is yet another of the same Don’t-have-anything-to-write genre.

Today, languishing in one of the many sorrows of life (which seems to be on a never-ending-spree), I simply retrospect as to how this stop-start writing schedule is to be avoided. There are five keys points, that my mind jotted down in one of those deep introspective sessions.

1. To be on a schedule, make a schedule: First thing first, you have to have a schedule for your writing, be it daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or whatever. But you still need to have one. Believe me, it really helps, when you have fixed on a number, you will try to achieve it. in case you are not able to, that number will still loom on your head, and you’ll try to compensate for it.

2. Focus on just one key area: To get out of this block, you need not diversify your writing genre, you just need to focus on any one particular category and write as many posts as you may. Do this, until you start having varied ideas on different other topics. This way, you are not only back to writing but also you’ll have more and better ideas to write upon. It is like, first limit yourself and then let loose.

3. Don’t think too much before writing, start writing and words flow like a river: The best part about writing should not always be to write well. It should be how good the flow is, let the thoughts flow like a river. Don’t hesitate to commit any grammar mistakes, just write down the draft as fast as you can. Later, read and rectify all of them. It is said, write when drunk and edit when sober. Although IMO, you need not follow it literally.

4. Read your own old posts, and share them with readers: Sometimes, just sharing your old posts which are still relevant to your readers are a major help. This helps you put your writing back into discussion and even spurts you up as well as inspires you to write. Who doesn’t like getting praised?

5. Try to post ASAP: This is one mistake, we all do. Write down a post, but keep delaying the draft completion and never post it. After a few days, the post even becomes irrelevant. So, the best pick up from this would be to write, edit and just post it. (Which I’m gonna do straightway)

In search of that calmness…

By farooq

On February 25, 2014

In Random Philosophy

Calmness is what I seek, in morning, in evening or even in the dark night. I anticipate it as how a hungry stomach does for food. It is not my food. It is just a necessity for my soul. I might assume that this, in general, is true for everyone, but just don’t feel to include anyone else into this personified glory of calmness. Call me selfish maybe, but well I’m also in the process of not giving a damn. Easier said than done? Well, yes it is!!

The prime reason I started typing out this post was the weather today. Strolling down for some coffee, in and around dusk, while the wind striking slowly and the sun in the west bows down for the day. Not too fast or cold. Just the optimum. Just what I needed.

Generally, I’d like myself to believe that a “good time” is when you have a great laugh, eat some amazing food or enjoy a beautifully made movie, mostly in the company of your loved ones. But there’s a part of me that actually waits moments like these to give the soul what it needs.

This evening alone, with this serene weather is not the only occasion. Occasionally, many of these soul-quenching moments camouflage themselves in a walk post-dinner; standing on the doors of a moving train with earphones plugged in and most recently discovered offering prayers before the Almighty Allah or even reading the holy book Quran.

There are numerous examples when it comes to attaining peace and building up of those calm moments. Even writing down a blogpost without having to look for words, when they just flow through as if I am speaking my heart out, is what calmness can be defined as my me.

But I still wonder why I always run towards chaos? Why I am attracted towards the noise or the clichéd avenues of “enjoyment”? When all my soul and my mind needs is peace. A sense of calmness.

Now, asking questions like these are sure-shot spoilers of ruining the moment or it is just another way of reminding myself that over thinking or stressing too much on things is never going to give out any results. So, just let it be. Whatever has to happen, will happen with the grace of Allah. What I can look towards is being calm. This is what I can try. And yes, I will attain it too.

Syahi khatm jo hogayi..

By farooq

On February 22, 2014

In Fiction & Poetry

Syahi khatm jo hogayi..

Kalam ki syahi hui hai khatam..

bhar diye jo panne, likh likhke unke liye….

Panne woh, jo unhone padhe bhi nahi..

woh, jo unhone fenke bhi nahi..

Fenk dete to dil me hota kuch dard..

dekha jo nahi.. to hai himmat hogayi past..

Yun to umr bhar likhne ki chaah thi..

par kambakht syahi hogayi hai khatm ab…

Let’s not be Cry Babies

By farooq

On February 14, 2014

In Random Philosophy

It’s not every day that one ponders upon the past choices and throws themselves back to the horizons of time. Like, if there was a time machine, but only here certain stuck upon memories doing the job for you. Free of cost, you’d think. Eh ? But no, they are a strain on a lot of painful nerves that you may have silenced, or at least tried to. Best way to not do that is either not think about it or keep yourself constantly occupied.

The first option is quite tricky, because the more you try to run away, brush it off, put on a fake smile as if to allow the outward personality to soak in the pseudo-happiness, etc actually makes you remember them more. Just in that tiny little corner of our minds, one little weepy kid is always ready to burst out crying.

The second option is the best and practically possible as well, to keep yourself occupied with the mundane or just about anything specific. Well, with keeping yourself busy, one can surely avoid a lot of things and these memories can just be kept in check. But even then, there are lots of things which just linger around, only to strike you down at your lowest point. Yet again. As if they were waiting for an opportunity. An opening, through which they could all sneak in. Strike when it’s Hot, is the moto they follow perhaps.

Coming back to the choices part. I’ve heard a lot of people rue about missed chances, bad choices, carelessness, etc. I won’t say, I’ve never been a cry baby ever. Still, the only thing I’ve realized is, there are nothing called bad choices.Nothing called missed chances. It was not the proactiveness or the lack of it, resulted into those choices going wrong. It was just meant to teach a lesson. Meant to give us, what they call wisdom. Now, the option in hand for us is not to rue as to why it happened but to learn from those mistakes which we did. Or rather instead of calling them a mistake, lessons we learnt is more appropriate.

So, let us try and not be cry babies.