Good Evening everyone!

After having a good day with my friends, it is good to reminiscence other lovely memories in a form of throwback. I have been wanting to post this but, I was busy with some other things that I forgot about my idea of sharing one of my travel guide. I hope you enjoy reading it.

A Trip to the Charming British Countryside

25 July 2013

By Haekal Amron

Journey to United Kingdom last year was a very meaningful day for me. It was the first time I took a long aeroplane flight to other foreign country. My family is very careful in budget for the family to survive in the urban area of Kuala Lumpur.

 Therefore, this kind of opportunity is something that I must appreciate till the end of the world. It took me 16 hours of long sleep to prepare my journey to a new world. The first thing that came to my mind when we reached Manchester is my expectation towards the environment. We are going to see sights that were only available on television before.

The highway looks similar to Malaysia, however the surrounding of greenish trees, and unique stones is a new sight for me. From a hazy surrounding in Malaysia due to the haze flew from Indonesia to a clear air environment made this journey the perfect gateway.

The taxi driver was talking with a weird English accent that I only learn in class of Phonetics and Phonology. He came from Huddersfield and his accent was highly influenced by a mixture of Scottish and Huddersfield accent as his parents were native Scotland speaker. A trip to Huddersfield took 30 minutes via taxi from Manchester. Huddersfield is a large market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, halfway between Leeds and Manchester.

It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city. The facilities around the town most are accessible only by cars. There are few bus stops around. Shopping Centres, Markets, University and restaurant are very near to the place we live in. The only problem is to get there; there is only one option, via taxi from Manchester airport. Which might cost you some penny, but it is worth every penny.

My suggestion would be, take a taxi or ask around for tour guide at the counters near the entrance of the airport. If you arrived at London International Airport, It would be easy to get to Huddersfield via bus from London Coach Station. Therefore it is advised for travellers to travel at least with three people to reduce the amount you need to pay for the taxi. Plus, the more the merrier!

My mother’s friend, Mrs Rose mother was married to a Malaysian and lived in Malaysia. This time, her mother cannot accompany her to visit Huddersfield because she is not feeling well. Mrs. Rose asked us to take a trip and have a look around while she took some time to visit her relatives in Huddersfield. Fortunately, mobility and hospitality have been taken care of by her and she is willing to be our tour guide.

We took a walk around the neighbourhood of Quarry Lane to grasp some fresh air. The road sign and the surrounding are well preserved since her childhood said Mrs Rose.

The nature’s touch captured on the green field with two tamed horses.

Mrs Rose lives in Lower Hall Road and often visits here whenever she took a vacation from his work in Malaysia. Since summer season is coming up, beautiful mixture of colourful flowers grew with care. They love to grow trees and flowers because it is a natural remedy.

Signs are up for cautious measure to be taken when walking around. The neighbourhood are very friendly, whenever we passed by the houses, they smiled. Warm welcome and a sense of security is the main attraction of this neighbourhood in Huddersfield.

Windmills are everywhere in this town because they used to depend on farming and harvesting for living.

The flowers are dancing to the song of summer

Yellowish field surrounded with hard bricks of stones. It was said to be dated back during the 1700 says the folks around.

This castle looks similar to a haunted castle somewhere in Warwick. Rumours said that there was previously a Castle Hill Pub near the tower. But it had to be removed because the presence of castle’s keeper ghost was disturbing customers in the pub.

THE VICTORIA JUBILEE TOWER ON CASTLE HILL

 It’s a breathtaking view for anybody at first sight because of two factors. First, the weather is cold and windy. You will be mesmerized by the wind blown scenery as this castle is located at the centre of Huddersfield and at the same time at the highest peak of the town. It was built to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign and was completed in 1899.

My brother and I are catching up with the finest scenery from Castle Hill via tripod.  You can almost see a quarter of the town’s view if you took it from the backside of Victoria’s Tower.

A VISIT TO HOLMFIRTH TOWN

Centred upon the confluence of the Holme and Ribble rivers, Holmfirth is 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Huddersfield and 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Glossop. It mostly consists of stone-built cottages nestled in the Pennine hills. The Peak District National Park around Holme Moss is 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south of the town. We hang around before visiting the Holme Moss Transmitter. Castle Hill can be seen from Holmfirth as it is not far from it.

As you can see they consist of old buildings made of hard stones and bricks. It is a well preserved town with classy surroundings. There are not many tourists outside Europe around this area; it is kind of secluded from the tourist’s hotspots. If you love to take pictures upon old bookshops, cafes and even a witchcraft shop, Holmfirth is definitely the place you are looking for!

Lavender purple flower spotted in the midst of the town! They grew colourful flowers on the sidewalk.

We are lucky to find The Art Market which comprises of various artists from woodcarving, handmade crafts, drawing, statues and art students selling their respective items. It is basically a gallery rented by the organizers for the contemporary artists to promote their crafts and drawings. Unfortunately, no taking pictures allowed inside. It cost me 2 pounds to enter.

Just behind the art market building, an interesting old-looking small house is selling handmade chocolates. They came from various countries of English continents.

 The kind-hearted owner of the shop came to me personally to offer a free tasting session. He even offered the ones that were made using Halal products. He asked me if it is okay for us, to eat any kinds of chocolate. They show respect towards the customers because they do realize that travellers came from many parts of the world have certain things to be considered when it comes to food.

HOLME MOSS

Holme Moss took 30 minutes drive from Holmfirth. There are many cyclists and also tourists came here to take a look at the view and jogging around this mountainous highway which also serve as spectacular lookout point for the National Park.

It feels like the sky is very near to our heart.

On top of the summit, Traditional Ice Cream melts in your mouth and blends with the cold breeze. It will not melt easily because its just too cold even though the sun shines brightly! Just look at her hair, the breeze was too strong that her hair blows as if she had a hair blower and she needs to hold her cardigan tight to ensure it will not fly away. The owner of this stall has been doing this ice cream business for 50 years, and it still taste the same as proved by Mrs Rose. Behind the stall is the famous Holme Moss Transmitter.

In conclusion, the countryside of United Kingdom is a very good place to visit especially for those who seek adventure and those who seek for nature’s calamity. Also for those who wants to run away from the busts of crowded metropolitan. Highly recommended for romantic elements enthusiasts!

It is a wonderful day to write

Hello ladies and gentleman, I decided to write a book review/daily experience at least 3 times a week to improve my language skills as I am still in a learning process even though I am taking English major which most people think that I definitely have an amazing utterances and writings(most English major are stereotyped that way).
As a Southeast Asian guy, I love to explore as much as the surroundings have to offer. Most probably you won't see me writing about the native English speaking world i.e.; United Kingdom, America and Australia. I love local literature because it offers colorful perspective and a sense of pride in one's country. Things that you will probably not see in the modern life.
Today, I want to share a book review i have made during my Malaysian Singaporean Literature class conducted by Prof. Faridah in IIUM.

Isa Kamari, RAWA. Trans. R Krishnan. Kuala Lumpur: Silverfish Books, 2013. 176 pp. ISBN: 978-983-3221-43-1

Pulau Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca is situated where the Singapore Strait meets South China Sea. When Malaysia published a map which showed the island to be within its territorial waters on 21st December 1979, Singapore lodged a formal protest with Malaysia in response to it. They proposed submitting the dispute to ICJ (International Court of Justice) for further resolution. The result on 23rd May 2008, the Court ruled that Pedra Branca is under Singapore’s sovereignty. Rawa requires the reader to confront with the history of the indigenous society being one with nature in the water, free from modernity, igniting the spirit of identity for the next generation. This is the English-language translation of Isa Kamari’s 2009 novel, originally titled Rawa: Tragedi Pulau Batu Puteh.

The setting of this story took place at both Johor and Singapore Straits before the independence, and after independence of both Malaysia and Singapore. Isa Kamari describes the history of Orang Seletar through Rawa, a boy who was born to live in pau kajang houseboat at Seletar River from his childhood days through the generation of modern Singapore.  The title Rawa which is the name of the protagonist in this book literally means the swamp, conceptually as suggested in the book; Rawa is the name of the land, water and the wind, which are the embodiment of the traits of the country. It may also be the portrayal of historical account on Pulau Batu Puteh as title in Malay version suggested.  Uniquely, Rawa is the representative of indigenous Orang Seletar immersed with Malay culture in Singapore whom responds with concern towards the survival of their race and struggle through political changes between Singapore and Malaysia from 1950s through 21^st century back and forth in a form of reminiscence of the past by the protagonist.

Seletar River where Rawa lives are a harmonious, peaceful village where he usually plays with his friend Ayong, Orang Kallang who lives at Pulai River in Johor who often visits him.  His conversation with Ayong made him realize that the way Orang Seletar and Orang Kallang lives are the same even though they have different religion. Orang Seletar believes in the sacred Raja Perempuan and the spirit of Orang Kita. Where they believe they need to live harmoniously and peacefully with the nature. Ethics are taught through the beliefs that every place and the nature have its own guardian who served Raja Perempuan and Orang Kita. In which there are no difference with Islamic teaching on faith that Ayong had. There is a lot of discussion on living harmoniously between races and beliefs in the early chapters. The Chinese came to the rivers for trading purposes, Malay, Orang Seletar and Orang Kallang lives harmoniously. Marriage between Orang Seletar and Orang Kallang also been discussed as one of the aspect of unity between races. Rawa later married to Temah, a Muslim girl and he converted to Islam.

When the news on Ayong’s death arrives to Rawa’s ears, he still think about the challenge that Ayong made for him to explore Pulau Batu Puteh. Pulau Batu Puteh is known for its strong current and many ship tragically crushed on its presence. Rawa realizes that Ayong have stolen his descendant’s ring after Ayong went to Pulau Batu Puteh. The ring symbolizes the hope of survival for Orang Seletar descendants. When the ring goes missing, Rawa had a terrible nightmare about the ring and Ayong gave a hint that he should go to Pulau Batu Puteh. Rawa have struggled with the nightmare for seventy years, trying to find a solution to put an end to his nightmare.

Rawa witnesses and experiences changing of modern and the traditional life when he moved to his daughter’s apartment in Yishun district from Kampong Bakar Batu after his wife’s death. His daughter named Kuntum married to Lamit who works at the ships repairing company. Rawa learns alot from his grandson named Hassan who guides him to walk around the modern Singapore and he sees Hassan as the legacy of his descendants. Rawa’s determination to solve his nightmare about Pulau Batu Puteh gets stronger when he knew that his grandson wants to go for a two-day canoeing around Singapore. Throughout the modern chapter, he always thought about freedom from confinement and rules of the society. The way of life that he used to practice back then has no longer existed through many situations that he encounters in the modern city. Back then during the occupation of the Japanese and the British colony, Orang Seletar who lived in the rivers with their pau kajang and houseboats lived peacefully around mangroves and swamps without having to cope with the political conflict that is happening around in the city.

Rawa is the tragic figure of Pulau Batu Puteh tragedy because he died immediately after he reaches Pulau Batu Puteh with his grandson Hassan. Furthermore, Rawa’s death is a very controversial issue between Malaysia and Singapore because he is a Malaysian citizen and allowed to reach Pulau Batu Puteh without anyone's consent which is still in a major dispute during that time. Both Singapore Marine Police and Malaysian Marine Police trying to find a solution for the territorial dispute involving a Malaysian in Pulau Batu Puteh which was guarded by the Singaporean Marines. Both countries claim that Pulau Batu Puteh was theirs according to history of sultanate treaty or it was in line with their sovereignty borders. In the prologue, Hassan state that it is not Pulau Batu Puteh that matters, but Rawa matters in his heart portraying life of the loved ones as priceless and can not be compared with anything.

The novel strikes at the dispute of Pulau Batu Puteh in a subtle way using the history of Orang Seletar as a key towards the relationship of Malaysia and Singapore. In pau kajang song as taught by Orang Seletar descendants, the last two lines of the last stanza;

Do not dream of too much brightness

Be happy in the simplicity of peace and friendship

This line conveys that, we should not expect perfection, instead lead a simple and prosperous life. There will be problems anywhere in the world, but the way we go through it is the thing that matters. The philosophy beyond this book makes it interesting to read as there are so many things that Orang Seletar learn through nature that they do not need education from school to live. Modernization might ruin the past but that does not mean we should abandon technology and live as our forefathers did centuries ago. We must cope with the future and find a solution towards a prosperous life. One thing that we learn from the Pulau Batu Puteh dispute is that, Singapore gets their Batu Puteh, but the relationship between the two countries is at stake and created hatred on the other side.

            Much thought has gone into the book’s design, particularly the drawings of pau kajang on the front cover. It captures my eye with the drawings using pencil showing the indigenous people unite on the river with their pau kajang. It has some sort of calamity and tranquility feels on the cover of the book. The book indeed look appealing as if it has some mysteries to unfold and histories to be told. There is also no error in spelling throughout the reading of this book.

                                                Muhammad Haekal Bin Amron

                                                International Islamic University Malaysia

The way I live

I'm starting a new semester, this could be a major step in my life, as i will be in a state between study life and work life. Being a Literature major is just amazing because the principles and philosophies in its content transcends human differences and beliefs. We could really relate to our life, even though it came from different languages, and different cultures. Therefore, i'm going to start with few books that i have read. I've been wanting to write book reviews for ages. Let's start with this book:



Muhammad Haji Salleh is a nobel laureate from Malaysia who wrote tons of English and Malay poems, prose and literary translations. I got to meet him personally during a Literary Carnival at IIUM by English Major students. This book looks mysterious, personal and at the same time offers more than it looks. Haji Salleh wrote these poems throughout his journey to Japan described through three seasons: Summer, Autumn and Spring.

Written in Malay language, he delivers his stories deliberately together with the beauty of mountains, nature, flowers, and environmental characteristics which we could conclude that this book contains romantic elements similar to Wordsworth work with some Japanese touch in it. There are three Malay philosophies which makes me think for hours to deeply analyze the usage in Japanese culture.

di desa, anak yang di depan
disanjung dengan kata
dan dideretkan sebagai wira

di kota mereka disanjung ketua
dan diberatkan beban pengalaman

These verses describes different challenges faced by people in their respective places. Sons in villages are encouraged through words and crowned as a hero. While in the cities, they are complimented by their boss and bear the burden of heavy experiences.

We could take it as if he is showing how simple and humanistic the life in the villages compared with life in the cities. Haji Salleh loves nature so much and he even once taught students to learn from the forests/jungle because if you learn from them, you could live in tranquility and peace.

bangsa besar dihitung kdnk
pertukaran dolar
dan muatan kapal usaha

negara besar diukur di makmal
di ruang institut penyelidikan
dan pada ilmu yang diragikan pemula

seperti orang jepun
aku perlukan pulau seberang jiwa
untuk mengimbang hiruk-riuh
kacau-ramainya

Big powers impose hegemony through capitalism, dollar exchange, big countries are measured via laboratories in research institute and the one who started knowledge. Like the japanese, Muhammad Haji Salleh needs tranquility, spirituality to balance the chaos and congested environment.

He is explaining the best of both world inside Japan which offers technology at the same time environmental sustenance and vast environmental elements. Immersed by the mountains, flowers and rivers made him keen to understand and think further in appreciating life and its philosophies.

peraturan memperlahankan gerak
suara asal tercekik oleh adat
semuanya harus berada di jalan bangsa

jalan hanya membentang ke depan
jalan hanya landasan kejayaan
renungan falsafah tercicir
di tepi tali air kota

Rules and restrictions have slowed the progress of people's minds. Since culture was created to give a control towards people, it needs to be within the roads of culture. The road is just a guide to success, but along the road, their thoughts and philosophies were left somewhere in the city's sewer.

According to the word restriction, people must think out of the box to progress together with thoughts and philosophies. The world itself can not flow without philosophies and thoughts. Therefore, he is suggesting rules and restrictions as just a guide, not the very core of life principles.

There are more interesting quotes and universal principal of thoughts and philosophies that might leave you thinking and deeply amazed on his core mind. Overall, a masterpiece and highly recommended to those who are very familiar with Japanese culture. It is written without prejudice and bias, only with humanistic approaches.