Malaysia - It`s a moving experience to watch the sunset from the bridge in Kuala Kedah`s fishing town, the point where the Muslims and the British came up against each other for the first time in history and local Muslims battled to avoid bowing to colonization.
Nevertheless, when they ran short of power, the British invaded the country and stayed there until 1957. Nowadays, fishing boats float on what was once a battlefield. Having drawn their nets and taken their shares out of the nutritious sea, they are slowly returning to their shelters. Kuala means “the point at which a river meets the sea” in the Malay language, and Kedah is the name of the river, making the city`s name “the mouth of the Kedah River.” Here 5,000 people live off the fish they obtain from the river, which shelters 500 fishing boats.
Malaysia is host to various hues of green. The trees are rather radiant, and the dust on them is washed away by the constant rain, allowing you to enjoy observing the magnificent hue of green.
Malaysia is the pearl of the Far East. According to its people, it is Asia itself, truly Asian. Of its 23,000,000 population, 55 percent is composed of Malays; 30 percent are Chinese and 10 percent are Indian. The Muslim population is 55 percent of the total. Muslims rule Malaysia, where Buddhists, Hindus and Christians also coexist with an understanding of democracy, tolerance and dialogue. English is commonly spoken in Malaysia though Malay is the official language.
The temperature is usually around 28 degrees Celsius, while both rainy and rainless summers can be experienced in this highly humid land. The national income per person is $9,000, which is rather high. The country`s economy is also gradually improving. There are palm trees and palm gardens as far as the eye can see in Malaysia. If we consider that 60 percent of the world`s palm oil supply is produced here, the place of this tropical plant, known locally as the “golden fruit,” in the Malaysian economy is better understood. As the greatest palm product cultivator in the world, Malaysia produces approximately 10,000,000 tons of palm oil, some of which is consumed domestically and the bulk of which is exported to Pakistan, Singapore and China. Malaysians use palm oil in the place of both sunflower oil and olive oil.
The federal capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a center of business and trade with its modern and high buildings. The Twin Towers of Petronas, which were started in 1992 and completed in 1996, are symbols of Malaysia`s admirable development and success. Every nation holds its flag in great esteem, and the Malaysian affection for their flag led them to build the tallest flagpole in the world, with a height of 100 meters.
Dinner eaten at street restaurants
In some districts of the city, where dinner is still served in traditional ways, people like to eat out in the evenings because of the tropical heat. In addition to the heat, years-old customs and traditions trigger people to rush out to have dinner. Hence, mobile restaurants (like a trailer) swarm with people. Interestingly enough even halal eating houses have been arranged for Muslims in special areas devoted to them. Muslims enter the department dedicated to them and enjoy their dinners while those seeking for Chinese food head for the eateries nearby.
You may encounter a good number of people requesting rice for breakfast at one of the five-star hotels. Rice in self-service buffets awaits customers at breakfast time.
A local Malay wedding is going on inside a residence near the capital. In today`s world, most wedding ceremonies are conducted in the Western style, making it difficult to observe diversity no matter where you are. The differences can only be felt in ceremonies where families decide to maintain tradition.
The residents of this district are wealthy and one can immediately discern from the ornaments that a wedding is under way. Both the bride and groom are wearing traditional clothes. The groom wears a necklace on his neck and a sword at his waist as a symbol of manhood. After the ceremony, the bride and groom start to head for their home, step by step, accompanied by traditional musical instruments.
Another indicator that there is a festivity or wedding going on in a house is the signs hung that read “Bunca Mangaru,” or welcome.
The main wedding ceremony takes place in the bride`s house, whereas this one is a ceremony specifically for bringing the bride to the groom`s house. Interestingly, baskets of eggs are handed out to guests instead of wedding candies, to symbolize fertility and fruitfulness. Text on the paper wrapped around the tulle eggs attract attention, reading “terima kesi,” thank you. The names of the bride and groom are also signed on the back of the paper.
As in the capital, inter-religious dialogue and tolerance are felt in the other Malaysian cities. Mosques, Hindu and Buddhist sanctuaries and churches prove that people of differing beliefs can coexist peacefully in the same city.
Celebrations
Muslim Malaysians continue festivities even after the Ramadan Holiday, since they perceive Shawwal -- the month after Ramadan in the Hijri calendar -- as the month of joy and festivals. The festivities and ceremonies conducted in Shawwal are called “Hari Raya.” Hari Raya carnivals are even attended by neighboring countries` prime ministers, ministers and deputies, and are organized in cities of various sizes on different days. In brief, the festival is celebrated with diverse festivities and the participation of thousands of people throughout the month. At Bandar Darulaman Park alone, 100,000 persons gather to partake in the joy of the festival. A common greeting heard is “Salamet Hariraya,” meaning “Have a good festival.”
There are many mosques in Malaysia, large and small, and they are built in the nicest and the most striking settings in the cities.
As the largest mosque of the province, Al-Buhari Mosque in Kuala Kedah hosts a nursery for children as well as complexes founded for the elderly without friends or relatives. Dilemmas like the headscarf issue are not a question in this country dominated by tolerance and dialogue, where those wearing headscarves can work at official state establishments just like those that do not wear headscarves. Likewise, students wearing headscarves are able to study at universities freely.
The mosque in the center of the capital is especially cheerful on Fridays because that is when it greets the community and an otherworldly atmosphere takes over the environment. People overflow into the courtyard of the mosque and then onto the street on Fridays. Islam was brought to Malaysia in the 15th century by Arab tradesmen and has since expanded to span more than half the country`s population.
Durian fruit
If you leave tropical countries without having tasted their tropical fruit, you`ve missed out on something. One of the most amazing of dozens of tropical fruits is the celebrated durian, the king of fruits whose shell is covered in thorns, making it difficult to cut and separate the fruit. With the help of a sharp knife, though, it is possible to reach the core of the fruit to be eaten. Lovers of the fruit claim it is delicious, while non-lovers dislike both its taste and its odor. We did not fail to taste durian; however, it is obvious that we will not be counted among its advocates. If you happen to stop by this country, try the tropical fruit without hesitation.
Source: www.todayszaman.com (4 Oktober 2007)
