A KAMPONG HOME DEAR TO OUR HEARTS

Spot turfing, two 'cempa' trees planted in the compound, smoke from burnt dried leaves and the morning freshness conjure the kampong scenery . There were  evenings when smoke help to disperse the mosquitoes and lent a scent not to be forgotten.

 PERHAPS it is one of those refreshing morning, one dreams of. After a late breakfast of 'nasi lemak' wrapped in banana leaf, not one but two 'bungkus' together with hot cups of tea we found myself at our new kampong home waiting for the contractor and his men to  come and start work on the landscaping of the area around the house. You could possibly upgrade the house compound in your own time and pleasure but it would be a haphazard and unplanned sort of way not knowing really how it would look like in its finality.  But with people who know what they are doing, you would see their craftsmanship maturing in no time. Then again, many decades back we could possibly toil away throughout the day but exercise of such nature shy away for the moment.

A comment read recently said the you could take a Malay out of his kampong but not necessarily the 'KAMPONG' out of him. I would agree to such dictum knowing the sentimentality and nostalgia that the kampong atmosphere built within a person. Much as modernity, high rise buildings, furnished homes in the cities and all the sophistication geared towards making live better and happier, it could not take away the nostalgia and the old world charm of yester-years.  Those who have at one time or another lived there would begged to return to such natural splendor. Thus the 'balik-kampong' syndrome and the annual rush every year during the eve of Aidilfitri or long weekends.

The roominess and the richness of wood plus the unique structure of the Malay home, where ceremonies one after another have taken place, games we played as children inside and outside the home, memories of mum and dad, grand dad and grand ma in their  characteristic ways help to conjure times when we grew up in the old home. Alas many of us have lost that touch practically since many of the old homes have disappeared: replaced by modern brick buildings or the old place have been sold off or the family have moved away from their roots.   

           No fence, no gate. Its openness and the mature fruits trees plus the bushes and tall trees with bird chirping away guarantee that the kampong home rebuilt will usher many more years of happiness for the family and the community around. 

The games we used to play under the house! Never far from the caring eyes of the family. All kinds of games were indulged in. Bamboos  from nearby bushes became shooters with paper bullets to scare the hoots of the gang members: 'Fighting" fishes were scouted, kept in glass jars, observed for their beauty and color and even combated for.  It was healthy and safety as everyone was around the home. Alas it is not so now. Playing games would be away from home. 'Futsal' at special arena and never under the house with pillars as sentinels. Laughter , shrieks  and all that bring identity and recognition to the 'kampong' scene have faded albeit disappeared now. Revived even temporarily it would be God sent. 

How it brought back some semblance of the good years to see the grand children frolicking around the house and finding the heap of sand a hit with what they are discovering.

Here's hoping the brief conjures some flashbacks of times you were growing up in the kampong and hopefully the nostalgia can be retained where possible. It also sets on record that the old home that we set out to bring back to life is now completed.

12 RABIUL AWAL MAILADUL RASUL

                                  

Madinah modern buildings with characteristic features of the old.

     An example of 'khat specially with the word "Muhammad" saw. Islamic calligraphy as an ornamental writing would be the decorative features in mosques, suraus and homes.

  The green dome of the Prophet's Mosque at Madinah is a familiar sight to those who have the privilege to visit the city and rewarded a thousand fold for having prayed there.

 Pilgrims on completion of their 'Haj' would be presented with a copy of the 'Koran' each as they depart for home from the airports. The holy book is printed at a large factory in Madinah. We had the opportunity to visit the centre and besides the huge sparklingly clean floor area as from the above photo you marvelled at the well kept garden with thriving greenery and flowering plants.

 MUHAMMAD RASUL or PROPHET his name emblazoned on one of the main doors of the mosque opened 24 hours of the day, seven days in the week and throughout the year.

Pilgrims and visitors find peace, solace and sanctity when at Madinah. Millions during the Haj season take shelter under the canopies that now surround the open courtyard outside the mosque. In the evening Koran classes are held and you will find children in groups with their teachers busy reading and reciting the verses from the Koran. Their readings vibrate in the huge hall alongside jumaah with their prayers.

THAT WOULD BE THIS 15th of FEBRUARY 2011. Next year it will fall on 2 February and in 2013 the celebration falls on 24th January. The occasion is none other than the birth date of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Born  on 12 Rabiul Awal, the third month succeeding Muharam and Safar in the Muslim Hijrah year and that being on 23 April 571 . The Muslim Hijrah year being a lunar system has 354 days in a year instead of the 365 days of the Gregorian year. Thus the different dates of the occasion.

Muslim countries will celebrate the occasion and in Malaysia it is also a public holiday with ceremonies at federal and state levels. Processions and 'ceramah' will surely be part of the celebration to honour his birth with talks of his live and activities as the prophet of Islam. The celebrating nature pervades throughout the country, with district,mukim and kampong levels having their own programs. Not forgetting homes with their own celebrations too. Right through Rabiul Awal and Rabiul Akhir 'Mailadul Rasul' or 'Maulud Nabi' will feel the Muslim community's calender and assure a greater sense of knowledge, attitude, love and respect for Islam and Muhammad s.a.w the last prophet and of Islam too. 

The celebration will renew and strengthen the faith and kinship of the Muslims in their religion while fostering greater friendly (ukwah) with everyone. Many would be enthralled by the singing and recitation of religious songs, nasyid including the rhythmic and melodious 'marhaban','qasidah' and 'berzanji' that would naturally ring out from mosques, 'surau'and homes.

Naturally enough we will recapitulate the past remembering the time and moments when we were part of the celebrations. Unnatural if you have never been touched by such celebrated nature before. 

Right now we are transported back to Madinah al Munawarah or Madinat al Nabi with vivid memories of the city and especially with Masjid Nabi and the mausoleum of Prophet Muhammad itself. At this city too there is Masjid Quba the first mosque to be built in Islam. Fitting that we share some of the photos of this holy city with characteristics of its own which undoubtedly recall you to visit it again and again.

That the authorities have developed Madinah as it is now, turning a desert oasis into a beautiful city with  Muslim characteristics remained a hallmark and pride for Prophet Muhammad  s.a.w and in association with its name Madinat al Nabi. Anyone who has visited the city will notice its dominant softness and respectability oozing from the hearts and souls of its citizen. Then again it is the second holiest city of Islam.    

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Peace and quiet. Clean and neat throughout the day. Everything placed where they should be for the convenience of the devout. Zam-Zam water in its container, carpets spread out on the marble floor; air conditioned oozed from the bottom of the pillars and the holy Koran ready for everyone who wished to read the verses. This is what you will forever remember of Madinah.

Look above and you will discover the decorative treatments to the insides of the domes

In earlier years this would be the only canopy you would see in the courtyard of the mosque. Now it has multiplied giving respite to pilgrims and visitors against the noon day sun while adding a touch of uniqueness to the city itself.

While of course 12 R'Awal 1432 or 15 February 2011 remained marked in the diary, the calendar or the hand- phone as a date not to be forgotten and your attendance at the function on the occasion of Mailadul Rasul is called upon. 

MAY PEACE BE UPON ALL

AWAKE TO A BLISSFUL DAY

No doubt all of us got out of beds wishing for a fine day. It is indeed too. We have all rushed to do what we do likely the other day and yet have other chores charted out or ticked in the diary or whatever note form we used. Yet I cannot just skit off without feeling bad over things that continue to happen. You are peeved over the continuing road- accidents during festive seasons, senseless killing, robbery and drugs abuse etc.

Angry, furious, mad, hateful, ticked off, peeved, bad and call it whatever you want, it is ONE common basic emotions we have come to grasp. Go through a day without getting angry at someone or something? Probably not. Thankfully there are many levels of anger. " I am angry to have missed that visitation" rather than " I am angry that he has accosted off with my RM1000.00" are two levels of anger. Thankfully many of us have learn to depress our anger in many ways than one. Come to think of it "How do we effect it?"

It brings me to what I intended to say about in the first place; i.e to quote a few snippets for this fine day before it gets 'hot' if ever.

" Whenever books are burned, sooner or later men also are burned"  Heinrich Heine

" A thought often makes us hotter than a fire" Henry Wordsworth Longfellow.

"I am glad I don't have to explain to a man from Mars why each day I set fire to dozens of little pieces and then put them in my mouth" Mignon Mclaughlin

" The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer" Victor Borge

" There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them" Ray Bradbury.

THE INTRICACIES OF THE MALAY HOMES AS THEY WERE

                             An exciting find while on a drive at Jeneri Kedah

AS WE hit the Chinese Year of the Rabbit today and while the Chinese friends take their time off for several days with most shops and establishments closed, I find it a good time to search my photo archive and bring about a fitting account of Malay homes especially seeing that recently the blog had had a good following with hits on the 'kampong' home.  

                        A window which opens at both levels with ballastrades

                                                                                        

The Malay houses in the  'kampong' may have unexpectedly nestled in such a surrounding. Notice several homes partly hidden by coconut or large trees interspersed by padi fields. Naturally cooling enough even in the noon time hours when the sun is overhead. Being in the rice-field of  Malaysia, these houses nestled amongst the peaceful greenery and at times changing to gold when the rice stalks ripen.There is space in between.Neighbors don't feel hemmed in.

                   

In earlier times, when roads were the waterways , houses tend to be sited near rivers.Lucky for the owner of this home, he seems to have progressed satisfactorily. He has a road built in front of his home and it too has taken a new and modern feature. Yet he continues to enjoy space and greenery around him. The porch is large enough to accommodate two cars at least; allowing convenience for the larger family that comes home.       

No this is not a long house but it was once a police barrack for the policemen and their families. Noticing the staircases, at least four families resided here at one time. Still it is located around greenery and even with a field right in front of the barrack. Sadly this airy and cool home near the former Alor Setar Airport has been demolished to make way for better accommodations.The large and extensive veranda  plus the high roofs surely allow for excellent ventilation while the veranda offer closer relationship and rapport between families. Yes it is of a wooden entity excepting some necessary parts.   

The above picture and the one below is one section of the Malay home which sadly but surely is disappearing. The carpenters or house makers do not have the skill to produce them or they have excuses of their own. Current architectural designs do not include such artistic portions as part of the house and further good quality timber for such pieces are hard to come by too. Those that are found sadly are on vacant homes, left to the severity of nature and yet the owners refused to be parted by such antiquity. I could only take photos though I would rather dismantle the pieces or even offer to buy the old home. Still the question of the right ownership hugs the issue. Maybe another day may come when the owner decides to part with his old home.   

While driving in Trengganu, I stopped to see this house being  rebuilt and the quantity of wood used as good as your guess and mine. Surely there are many intricate pieces and designs that make up this Trengganu home and to get the right timber and quantity now for such a house would be a disaster. Even the roofs are made from pieces of timber interlocking one with the other.  

The following are recent attempts to build a pavilion, two  homes and  a decorative portion of a super market. Hopefully and gainfully these approaches will help towards reestablishing good timber construction skills and a definitive comeback of the Malay traditional homes though with modern characteristics. 

Alas, though books and periodicals may give us clues, secrets and details of traditional Malay houses, nothing supersedes visitation to those houses still standing. But of course it has to take you on long trails, into out of the tracks zone and by accident you may come across one.There are no guides to available Malay traditional homes except for those at museums etc. For instance the quint pictures of a Malay house at the beginning frame of this article came into the scene when I was at a small town called Jeneri in Kedah. The owner and 'tukang kayu' himself is still alive and I marvelled at the hardworks and skill especially he has put in to build his home in 1957. Believe it or not he even carved the year '1957' which remained a lasting reminder of his passionate work which remained on top of one of his doors. Proud especially to be associated with that auspicuous year.

Perhaps we need to set up a 'Kumpulan Pencita Rumah-Rumah Melayu Tradisional' and those who discover one reports of its existence. You andI would have to scout through out Malaysia if I were to find several. Impossible.But if we have a referance point would'nt that be a starting point?

IT SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS : THERE IS A STORY TO TELL

1. These group of student leaders representing MSA ( Malaysian Students Association of Malaysia in Australia) together with  Dato  Mohd Fuad Stephen the Malaysian High Commissioner of Malaysian and senior staff of the Embassy at Australian National University after an annual Conference of the Association. dated 1972 

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT. The camera shoots, records the scene and acknowledges it for posterity. Imagine the multitude of moments captured of yourself or your family plus activities that have become second nature to you. A camera buff yourself, you would have treasured those moments, not sharing but kept immobilized either in negatives or disks away from other eyes; halting those moments of significance from getting a broader circle of admirers. 

Print them. Download them. They will add patches or missing links to certain slots in time and history. Geared by this concept and understanding, I am tracking back and revealing  some of the photos recorded in the past, unaware that they too have significances of their own, helping to reveal characters, events in the circle of time when you yourself have been an actor albeit of some distinctions too. Truly so when you have achieved so much, traveled widely and seen more in all these calculated years.

Let's dig into our treasure trove, discover the old photos or negatives that somehow have been kept hidden from curious eyes. You will undoubtedly help bring back memories, discover faces, facades, families, beauties or familiarities that  unintentionally have escaped curious yet worthy eyes.Surprisingly there are some worthy of a heritage nature.

2. Always wonder if ever I get back to this part of Spain especially near Zaragozza would I be able to meet these six young boys again. Surely they would have grown and reach senior status too being 53 years ago when we stopped at this corner of the town while on a Vespa ride through Europe in 1957. Zaraggoza being a football centered city could even enlisted any one of them as a player. A return visit would be a great surprise to see the development here and around. Notice the boy with some grapes in hand. Not compulsory for a crash helmet too then . Date August 1957

3. Photographers and news persons around Tun Mahathir and wife as all wished him 'Happy Birthday" 2010 A closer look would show others in the gathering.

     4. Fifteen youth hardly topping their 21th birthday yet, warga negara Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malaya)  clad in their Baju Melayu  with songkok on their heads and braving the English weather somewhere on the outskirt of Liverpool in their first year at a college set up for training of Malayan teachers oversea. Simply unheard of and possibly never attempted by any other governments of the world to set up a college for their youths in a foreign land. To date only ten from  the fifteen till remain. P.S looking for detail you may rightly recognize students from Johor i.e from their local Malay dress. The black pipes in the background then provided the heating system for the college. Certainly things have changed now for the system. (The College existed 1952- 1962) Dated August 1956

Discover what these photos have within them and how like others they have stories untold. No doubt they may not reach the pages of 'National Geographic' or  'Life' yet they are gems or merits of their own. They helped to open the pages of the past and the footprints you have left behind.  

Other pix will follow .......

THE CASE FOR HISTORY TO CONTINUE IN SCHOOLS

Every Aidilfitri in the last few years these former students of Sekolah Menengah Darulaman Alor Star

never failed to invite their former teachers to the Hari Raya gathering. We are pround to attend and many of them proud parents themselves, busy with family obligations of their own never missed  the do. Happily history was taught and part of the curriculum then 1973 - 1980. Thankful that they remember their growing days at the school. 

THERE IS NOW A DEMAND INDEED A DIRECTIVE FOR HISTORY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SPM EXAMINATION ( THE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE). THAT IT WILL BE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT FOR PASSING HAS NOW BECOME A DEBATE.

YET IT IS NOT THE STUDENTS WHO WORRY ABOUT PASSING OR OTHERWISE BUT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY: SO CALLED CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE AXES TO GRIND. NOW QUESTIONS OF TEACHING APPROACH, SUBJECT MATTER COME TO THE FORE.

ARE WE WORRYING THAT HISTORY WITH ALL ITS IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONHOOD, CITIZENSHIP, EMERGENCY, POLITICAL GROWTH, ARRIVAL OF IMMIGRANTS, COLONIZATION, SULTANATE, BRITISH COLONY, FEDERATED OR UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES ETC ETC, WOULD CAUSE UPHEAVAL OR A NEW PERSPECTIVE? RIGHTLY MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR REAL IMPLICATIONS, CAUSE AND EFFECTS. THEREFORE WHY NOT LOOK BACK .

BUT THAT ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF IT ALL. THOSE OF US WHO LEARN HISTORY EITHER AT SCHOOLS OR IN THE UNIVERSITIES WILL REALISE IT HAS BENEFITS BEYOND THE DOORS OF THE INSTITUTIONS. HISTORY ENCIRCLES OUR OWN EXISTENCE TOO.

BEING HERE AT MAKKAH WHAT WOULD I KNOW OF ITS HISTORY, ITS GREATNESS IF I HAVE NOT A WHIM OF ITS STORY? WOULD I BE CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE? WOULD I BOTHER TO READ AND SEARCH FOR STORIES OF NOW AND BEFORE? WOULD I UNDERSTAND THE HAJ AND ALL ITS ASPECTS IF I NEVER CARE WHAT HAS PASSED BEFORE NOW?

BE WHEREVER YOU ARE YOU ARE A STRANGER MORE SO AT A LOSS AND BLIND TO ALL AROUND YOU IF YOU KNOW NOTHING OF THE PLACE. FOR THAT SIMPLE REASON BOOKS, BROCHURES, MAPS AND PAMPHLETS ARE PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATION   TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO NEW PLACES GET A QUICK BACKGROUND OF THE AREA AND THEREFORE FREER TO PLAN THEIR ITINERARY . CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT! ALAS HOW CURIOUS CAN WE GET ABOUT PLACES, FACES, PALACES, CASES, BATTLES ETC WHEN WE DON'T HECK OF A MOMENT BOTHER TO KNOW OUR PAST GLORIES, ACHIEVEMENTS. WHOSE FAILURE IS IT?

THAT MALAYSIAN YOUTH TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY IN INTER-STATE BUSES, TRAINS OR OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE TOWNS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH PLACES PASSED ALONG THE WAY ONLY BETOLD THEIR IGNORANCE AND POOR GRASP OF HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. YES HOW MANY RECOGNIZE 'TAIPING', 'SLIM RIVER', 'MENTAKAB', 'RAUB', KUALA NERANG', 'KUALA PILAH', ' PORT WELD', 'JESSELTON' , 'PORT DICKSON'  ETC FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS? MUCH LESS ABOUT NATIONAL LEADERS OF MALAYSIA. PRIDE FAILS TO SURFACE. ONLY PREJUDICE APPEARS ITS UGLY HEAD. 

LET'S THIS EXERTION, REALIZATION AND PLEA TO INCLUDE HISTORY GETS FULL SUPPORT. NO QUALMS  ABOUT ITS OBJECTIVES.

( A thought that passed by months ago but never saw the light of day or simply got posted lni Kotastar. till now)

PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE

A gazebo or a resting corner by the lake where patients can rest and enjoy the quiet  surrounding and attended by volunteers who have come forward to give their services

FAMILIAR OR DO THEY RING THE BELL?

The two words weren't to me until I started writing this story and discovering some interesting and compounding background to it all. Surprisingly I never realized that 'hospice' is available in Malaysia. Of course not in the smaller cities but the services are afforded  at Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu etc. with reference to the web.

Now! What is 'palliative care'? Admittedly it's new at least here. It has taken us on a short trip to Australia and especially to Canberra ACT to know about it. That too since we were visiting a close friend who is being attended for 'cancer' by her physician thus helping us to realize the services given by  'hospice' and 'palliative care'. Both words refer specifically to cancer and cancer care. Be that as it may, it has enriched us and made us aware of such services and their availability in all countries including Malaysia.

Playground for the youngsters who come to see their elders. There are also jogging tracks by the lakes for those who care to  exercise.

It is paramount that we learn about them less we may not be able to help the needy or sick when such important or crucial service is required. Likewise surely without visiting hospitals, we too may not know the full extensions of its services and being updated with facilities available. 

Cancer cries out in newspapers, magazines, electronic media etc.People suffer in silence, arrested by its calamity and only to be told of its implications by specialists and physicians. Its seriousness depended in degrees and stages. I am not about to focus on this but more on the two terminologies above and of what we saw during our visit to Clare Holland Home, a palliative care centre at Calvary in Canberra. Opportunities come to us in many forms, yet this one has to take us out of the country.

            Facilities for bbq and enjoying valuable time with the patient or resident at the home  

Palliative care is defined as a concept for patients living with advanced incurable cancer. The word is derived from Latin 'pallium' meaning 'cloak' or 'mask' and the aim would be to cover or mask the distressing pain symptoms associated  with advanced cancer and improving the quality of life for the patients and the family. Easier said than done for caring for the sick as anyone knows is no easy task. Any patient or family that gets to be cared at a hospice like the one we visited can be grateful. Its facilities and services promised the full task as offered. What more it is free of charge.

Built on a location next to a lake providing a serene and peaceful calm with facilities you would expect of a hotel or an exclusive home, any patient would be happy to be cared there more so when family members can be around to assist and help. The two reference below will assist:

http://www.normah,com.my/aboutus.location

http://www.hospismalaysia.org/

The hospice by the lake at Calvary Canberra

            An interior view of one of the room for the resident equipped with the necessary facilities

A parting look at Clare Holland Home for palliative care will help to show directions where hospice has progressed and heading. As much as our hospitalization benefits and services have progressed, continuing programs  in health care and medical services will move forward. Improved facilities and changes in other parts of the world help to provide us better medical and health care. In one instance recently Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad commented in his blog of the hospital service at home when he was discharged from the hospital in Melbourne. He alluded to such a service that comes with a developed status of a country. Malaysia too is on its way to reach for that status. Then we will be glad to enjoy the facilities.

At Clare Holland Home Calvary Canberra ACT down under two days before the count down for 2011 while visiting a friend and his family