Of Peace and War

Recently, I came across an article written by Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf on the Star Paper ‘ The Common Enemy’ which I found it to be very well written and fantastic!

In his article, he addressed the issue of the anti-Islamic film which has been aired worldwide and provoke the Muslims from various Islamic countries as well as the death of US ambassador to Libya Christiopher Stevens in Benghazi.

He claimed that the death of US ambassador has nothing to do in the name of Islam. Having spend a lifetime  studying Quran and Islamic Law, religion prohibits taking innocent life.The Quran equates the killing of innocent with killing all of humankind.

Can peace be achieved if this situation continue to prevail?

In fact, he said that no American officials would have anything to do with something so ile and degrading to a religion. News report has identified that Nakoula Basseley, a Coptic Christian living in Southern California as the driving force behind the film.

Extremists of all religions excite the worst, most extreme reactions from others. It takes only one extremist action to set off a chain reaction to go around the world.

The real conflict is not Christian vs Muslim or Muslim vs Jews. It is a struggle between extremist and moderates of all religion.That is why the moderates among us in all faiths must work together to combat extremists.He also urged Muslim to recognise that the  best way to oppose hate speech is to ignore it. Reaction is precisely what a hater wish to provoke.

We must embrace the Global Movement of Moderats mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib that seeks a just peace not through violence but by promoting justice, excellence and equilibrium.

We can show the falsity of their messages simply by turning our backs.

War is definitely NOT the solution!

Happy Malaysia Day!

It has been 3 year since our Malaysian Day on 16^th Sept declared as a public holiday. It should be a holiday for all to appreciate the value and importance of this day where it celebrates her people, her land, her future.

As we celebrate Malaysia Day, it is heartening to know that there is still a lack of awareness and ignorance still reigns among Malaysian about Malaysia Day.

Among the common misconceptions were:

1)  16^th September 1963 is the date where Sabah and Sarawak join Malaysia, and hence Malaysia Day.

In fact, Sabah and Sarawak did not join Malaysia! They came together with Malaya and Singapore on Sept 16 in 1963 to become the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore left the federation two years later.

So, do not ask question such as ‘when did Sabah and Sarawak join Malaysia?’ or you get explosives answers especially from our fellow Malaysians from East.

2) Penisular Malaysia is larger than Malaysian Borneo.

I know our somewhat distorted map would make many think that Penisular Malaysia appears larger than Malaysian Borneo, but in fact the Malaysian Borneo territories make up 61% of Malaysian land mass. Sarawak and Penisular Malaysia are roughly the same size.

3)     Malaysia Day is Sabah and Sarawak Day celebration.

This is so wrong. It must be stressed that Malaysia Day is a national celebration and not Malaysian Borneo one. It is not partisan issues. It is about us – Malaysians. I feel proud that Sabah and Sawarak are part of Malaysia! Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak is just plain Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. The addition of Sabah and Sarawak has made our Malaysian culture more diverse and unique.

So, as we celebrate Malaysia Day, I wish Malaysia to be prosperous, peaceful and more importantly united in celebration.

Selamat Hari Malaysia!

Andong Hahoe Village

We APLs are very lucky as we have an opportunity to visit Hahoe village in Andong. 

Hahoe village is a Korean traditional village and is especially well known as the birth place of Ryu family who have lived together for 600 years. It is a place where tile-roofed and straw-roofed houses have been quite well preserved for a long time. Hahoe has conserved the Byeolsingut Mask Dance Play performed by the general public. Many other cultural heritages can also be founded there. We had the chance to try making the Korean traditional paper mask ourselves, with a very reasonable charge. It was really a fresh new experience for us, and the mask was brought back as a memorial souvenir. 

Before heading there, we had our lunch at this restaurant.

Deliciously served food

Our Ikan bakar！

Korean food is always well equipped with other side dishes such as Kimchi, yellow radish, peanuts etc

The Menu

After lunch, we went to watch Byeolsingut Mask Dance Play

Byeolsingut Mask Dance Play

Byeolsingut Mask Dance Play

We are on the mask!

Jeena and me

Before Painting

After painting

Hahoe Village

Hahoe Village

Hahoe Village

We just had a short tour around Hahoe Village due to short of time as we have to rush back to KNU before 6pm. Overall, the field trip to Andong Village is a fruitful one, as it is very much full of historical values of Korea! =)

Andong Folk Museum

Andong is popular for being a vital center of Confucianism and has been holding onto its traditional roots even in the present times. The Andong Folk Museum is a quintessential cultural museum that throws light upon the traditional way of life and how Confucianism has blended into the day to day life of the region. The museum is segregated into three indoor exhibition halls, two of which delve into the prime Confucian ceremonies, viz, coming-of-age, wedding, death and funeral. The third exhibition space is meant for folk life, exhibiting traditional games, farming tools and other folk relics, accounting to nearly 3700 artifacts. Since the Koreans are just a little organized, the museum has footprints you follow around so that you see everything in the order it was meant to be seen.

Let the photos speak the thousands words.

We often associate Korea with Ginseng, either Garyeo ginseng produced in Poong-gi 20 miles north of Andong, or Keumsan ginsengm which comes from Cholia Province. Ginseng belongs to the Aralacease family. It is perennial plant and grows in areas between 30-40 degree latitude north such as Korea, China, and some parts of Russia.

Kimchi, another essential part of Korean diet,is a highly seasoned and fermented vegetables. Red hot pepper is one of the ingredients for Kimchi seasoning. Red pepper in Andong is of the best quality and very popular among the housewives throughout Korea. It is called 'Yung-yang Red Pepper'. The leaf tobacco produced in the mountanious dry field od this area is acclaimed for its unique and natural taste.

The dishes on display

Everybody is busy getting their names written in caligraphy by this sifu!

After this short visit to Andong Folk Museum, we have our next visit in the afternoon to the Andong Hanok Village -The Traditional Korean Village, in which I will share in the next post.

Andong Souju

Okay, I will continue my rambling during the moment spent in Korea.

In 3^rd August 2012, we went to our third field trip at Andong. The first place we stopped by during this trip was the Andong Souju museum. Andong is particularly famous for high alcoholic content Souju, which is a kind of 45% distilled fold liquor. These soujus are said to be handed down from Shilla Dynasty. A visit to Andong Souju Museum exposed us to the history and cultural importance of Andong Souju.  In the museum, we could see the origin and manufacturing process of Andong Souju and a display of liquor bottles in chronological order. What matter the most was that we were given chances to try the souju for free. The taste was really strong compared to normal soujus selling in the convenient stores around Korea. Besides that, this museum has also exhibited many Korean traditional food and ceremonies rites. 

Korean Traditional Food in display!

All of them look yummy and unique!

And this Korean traditional food is called Kujeolpan. It is somewhat quick similar to our Chinese traditional cookies served during Chinese New Year.
You may wonder what actually make up this Korea dishes named Kujeolpan. Well, Kujeolpan consists of wrapped vegetables and meat, abalone, sea cucumber which arranged evenly around the edge of 9 sections woodenware dish with jeonbyeong (thin fried wheat cake) placed in the center section. The exact content may vary according tpo the ocassion and table setting.
So, when does it normally served?
It is an offering of friendships between family who eats together and a chance to savor rare delicacies.

Kujeolpan

 The Local Food in Andong

Serena and Grace trying out Soju!

 A drinking table should be set according to the liquor being offered and the tastes of your guest. Liquor may be served with dried meat, dried slices of fish or spawn (often seasoned with spices), pan-fried food, slices of boiled beef, steamed dishes, bazier-cooked food, meat and vegetable casseroles, hot stew, raw vegetables, kimchi, fruits or traditional Korea sweets.

Drinking Table

Caleb and me with the drinking table in display!

Everybody is trying out the free souju!xD

Next destination: Andong Folk Museum in which I will share in the next post! =)

Graduation trip -- Langkawi Island Hopping

Fly off to Langkawi! Departure Time: 1305, Arrival Time: 1320.

First destination upon arrival: Pantai Cenang

Nidya at the beach!=)

The typical Kampung house

Beras Terbakar. Can't really see the beras, but only coins. ><

The Malay house near the Kampung Beras Terbakar

Telaga Tujuh Water fall! My favourite place. =)

Have to climb that high to reach the peak of the waterfall.

Near the waterfall.

Enjoying the chilling cool water at Telaga Tujuh.

Lots of people bathing and playing around the waterfall.

Next is the Oriental Village

The bridge at the Oriental village

The bridge at the Oriental village

The primary attraction of the Oriental Village is Langkawi Cable Car!

The view from inside the cable car! I am fine with the height, thankfully! xD

The cable car finally landed!

The view on the peak

Telescope is provided.

Lucky view: The moment we reached the peak when the sunset!

The 'balcony' for viewing

The sunset view is just so nice!

Me! xD

At night, went to Dataran Lang..The eagle was looking at the moon! xD

Magnificent EAGLE!

Day 2: Went Island hopping to 3 main Islands: Pulau Dayang Bunting ( Pregnant Maiden Lake ) , Pulau Singa Besar , Pulau Beras Basah ( Wet Rice Island )

The view while on our small boat.

The view while on our small boat.

The view while on our small boat.

The first island we went: Pulau Beras Basah. I became the sandy man there! T.T

The second island we went: Pulau Singa Besar. It is the place where we could see lots of eagles as their habitats are somewhere around that area. Lots of boat stopped while tourists busy catching a nice view of the eagle preying on food!

The boats

The last island we explored: Pulau Dayang Bunting

At Pulau Dayang Bunting.

At Pulau Dayang Bunting.

At Pulau Dayang Bunting.

The island hopping souvenirs bought by 6 of us!=)

Xue Yan before Parachuting!

FREEDOM: Flying in the Sky! =)

Last but not least, the group photos of us at Pulau Beras Basah!

3 days 2 nights Langkawi Island hopping trip  for our graduation trip is short but fun!
Graduation doesn't signify separation, It signifies a time to celebrate our accomplishments. It’s not only when good things come to an end, but when a new chapter in our life begins.
Thanks my dear coursemates for the 3 years memory! May we blessed in everything we do and all the best in our future endeavour! Stay in touch! =)