MALACCA PART I

Nov 22nd, 2015

We had a smooth journey from International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak to Malacca World Heritage City to perform a task given to us, which is a site visit!

We need to do observation on ‘Tourism and Hospitality Practices in the UNESCO World Heritage Site – The case of Malacca Historical City’.

I am with my sweet and lovely partner, sister Awin! 

and in doing the 'site visit' task,

We chose to focus on Malacca Tourism Hotspots Attractions.

When we arrived at Malacca World Heritage City, we were asked to gather at Malacca Coronation Park for briefing.

Hmmm, I looked around and ... I could see there were two coaches trains, been there since few years ago. Yeah that two coaches trains were still there since I last visited Malacca with my friends in 2011.

We were briefed about the site visit by our instructor and after a few minutes we were released and allowed to start our tasks. During the site visit we were not provided with any transports but if we have extra money we could rent a car, take a cab or use any transports to ease our tasks (Public transport were almost everywhere). However for my group we chose to walk because we wanted to know how does it feel to be like the backpackers. At first I did think that it was a really daunting task for us to walk all over Malacca World Heritage City by foot because we often travel by car, but we took it as a challenge for us.

We started our site visit at Jalan Kota and from the Coronation Park we took the road on the right side which headed to Porta de’ Santiago (A’Famosa) which is one of the main attractions in Malacca World Heritage City. Along the road we could see another tourist attraction which were Trishaws that have been decorated attractively and we were offered a free ride to A’Famosa.

However we didn't take much time at Porte de’ Santiago as we were eager to go to another places. We walked along Jalan Kota which headed to our gathering place at Coronation park which is also one of the tourists hotspots with a displayed first airplane of the Malaysian airforce and a couple coaches of train. We passed by Malay and Islamic World Museum, Old Museum, People’s, Kite’s Museum and Enduring Beauty Museum, UMNO museum, Malaysia Architectural Museum and Stamp Museum. Near the Stamp Museum we stopped by at a shop that were selling hats and merchandises as we could see many people were there looking for goods to be bought.

After a while we continued our journey to the Dutch Square at Church Street (Jalan Gereja) and we could there were many people buying goods, wandering around, taking pictures, resting near the Victoria Fountain and so on.

In our observation, Dutch Square could be one of the best views amongst the other hotspots of Melaka with its Town Hall which also known as The Stadthuys, Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, Christ Church, Youth Museum and Art Gallery and The Queen Victoria Fountain.

(While my partner was taking a picture of me, I heard a chinese tourist told to her husband that I am pretty in their language ~Well I did understand a few words ya know hekhek~ Then they suddenly asked for permission to take photo with me. Beauty is in the eye of beholder hehehe)

When we were at Dutch Square we didn't miss a chance to top up our knowledge of ‘ancient’ Mela- ka by visiting Stadthuys Museums Complex. In 1650, the Stadthuys used to be the official resi- dence of the Dutch Governor but nowadays it became a complex known as Stadthuys Museums Complex that places the Historical Museum and Ethnographical Museum. Ticketing cost for enter- ing Stadthuys Museums Complex is only RM5 for adult and RM2 for kid.

We also visited Christ Church which is the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia that built in 1753 to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca, it is one of the most notable heritage sites in the city and hotspot for non-Muslims tourists and when we were there, local people and tourist were holding a prayers ceremony in the church.

Then we decided to start walking to Jonker Street and on our way before crossing the Jonker Street Bridge we stopped by a Cendol stall with many customers were buying the Cendol. We guessed it is also one of the hotspots in Malacca World Heritage City as the location is right in front of Dutch Square the center of attraction and just beside the Malacca River. The stall was name “Cendol Jam Besar” and they offered Cendol that come with various flavours and reasonable price.

To be continued ...

Stella Polaris

Author: Lady Niwa @ Starlady Syazwani
Message: I dedicate this to a 'superstar'

Stella Polaris, a lady who always dreaming day and night of being a star. Polaris is the name that she gave to herself since she was a kid if one day she is destined to be a star.  As usual, she was spending her night on the balcony, stargazing and that night, the sky was filled with so many stars and she got to see the moon. She was on cloud nine. She started to dance with a smile on her face. She made small motions and went through her own choreography while breathing out words to share about her days with the moon and the stars.

Suddenly, there was something threw her focus away. 

Cerberus, the landowner’s three-headed dog kept barking behind the gate. 

Then she noticed Chimaera, the lion-goat-snake hybrid monster appeared, it was flying over the clouds in the night sky with Pegasus. 

Her face grew worried because she knew something unusual were going to happen if Chimaera and Pegasus came out and Cerberus kept barking.

She looked around.

She paused. 

There was a beautiful lady smiling at her, “Hi Stella… Stella Polaris …”

Her jaw dropped. She slapped her face a few times.

“Okay that’s a load off my mind… This is real. I thought I had lost my mind. You’re Queen Cassiopeia, the queen of the night sky?” 

“Yes I am. Stella, it has been ages, you never get bored sharing about your life with us.”

Stella smiled at Queen Cassiopeia.

“Stella … If you were given a chance to be anything, what would you like to become?”

“A star. One of the brightest stars in the night sky”

“Why?” 

“Because when I was young, I am in love with this young man, who wants to be like the stars… He told me, it because when in darkness he can try to give out light and help others, when the sun is out, and there is a light, he will disappear and wait for when he is needed.”

“Where is he now?”

“There…” she pointed her finger to the constellation Gemini and she continued, “… Pollux …. it was long ago, when I was a kid, He left me, he chose to die to be with his twin brother, castor… and you know about that right? He begged Zeus to unite him with castor.. After he died, I noticed there are two bright stars that are close together on the sky’s dome. I believe, the two stars represent the twin brothers, Pollux there brighter one and Castor.”

“Stella Polaris, what if it just a myth?”

“No. That was real. Look at you, you are real too, I believe in my heart, They must be real.”

“Stella, what if he forgot you? And what if you lose your memory once you became a star?”

“No, I believe he still remember me. He always winking at me and i don't mind if i lost my memory as long i can live by his side”

The queen Cassiopeia turned her face to Pegasus and made a sign to bring Stella up to the sky.

“Pegasus … bring Stella up to the sky and Chimaera, show Pegasus the way to Scorpio, the Scorpion star. Ask the Scorpio to sting this lady to turn her into a star… and you Stella, don't worry, you will never feel the pain, but Stella will die, only Polaris left.”

Stella met the Scorpio, it stung her and caused Stella to die. After a few minutes Stella’s body swollen and burst, then a bright star appeared. Queen Cassiopeia calls it, Polaris The North Star and it is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor and also the 45th brightest star in the night sky.  Polaris was placed between Cepheus, the legendary king of Ethiopia, and his wife, Queen Cassiopeia. They rotate around Polaris. 

Unfortunately, even though Polaris still has her memory about his love, Pollux, because her love was so strong, but the constellation Gemini, Pollux, didn't remember anything about her and he didn't  care about any other star, he only cared about Castor his twin brother. Polaris lived in grief until today, but The Queen Cassiopeia decided to create three star systems to make sure Polaris isn't living her life alone. The three star systems consist of Polaris A, polaris Ab and Polaris B, Stella is the primary star which is Polaris A. They became the important star to the sailors. However, until today, Polaris lives in grief longing for Pollux’s love. Sometimes she does feel happy because she can help people and makes people who looks at her smile, but she still regrets her decision to become a star because her heart was wrong, Pollux no longer remembers her.

*Be careful with what you wish for.

As You Wish

Author: Lady Niwa @ Starlady Syazwani

An old man, Josh who lost her daughter in terrorist attacks on September 11,2001, is sitting in reminiscing on the bench nearby survivor tree, at National 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. He is recalling his sweet memories with his daughter, Josie. Josh couldn't trigger any pleasant memory that have both of them. Looking at the survivor tree. He frowns.

“14 years ago …. Why didn’t I pick up her call that day….? It was my entire fault”

***

“…. You are the worst daughter I've ever had. I wonder why God took your sister but not you Josie!”

“Let me explain first daddy…”

“… No need Josie. Enough is enough.”

Josh slammed the door leaving Josie alone in her bedroom. Crystal clear fluid was flowing through her cheeks.

***

“Josie, pack your stuff I don't wanna see your face anymore! Why can't you be like your late sister. God should take u, not her”

“Dad…. Please listen to me…”

“… Enough…”

Again, he slammed the door living Josie alone.

***

~ring ring~

Josh was staring at the phone. When Josie calls for the ninth time. Then he left the house ignoring the phone call. After half an hour, he received the news from his bestfriend about the world trade center attack.

~teett teett~

10:15 am,

Brian: “Josh, do you received any news about the twin towers? I hope Josie was at home with you.”

10:25 am,

Brian: “Josh do you know The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed? Make sure your daughter Josie with you at home.”

10:35 am,

Brian: “Josh The World Trade Center’s North Tower collapsed. I hope Josie with you right now even though I know u still… and always mad at her.”

 Josh became very worried.

“Josie….”

He went home and listened to the messages that was recorded in the answering machine. He could hear Josie’s voice, telling him that she was in the world trade center. The ninth message was the last one which it stopped when the building started to collapse.

He fell to the floor.

“It is too late…”

He cried because the moment when he heard the message, the Twin Towers already crashed into a tangle of concrete, iron and rubble.

JOSIE WAS GONE AS HE WISHED.

***

“…. It was all me…”

He looks at the survivor tree. It is a Callery pear tree, the last living thing to leave Ground Zero that discovered with severe damage in the rubble of the World Trade Center, a month after September 11. After it was nursed back to life, then they brought it back here.

He closes his eyes.

“…. Dad…” A gentle voice is calling his name.

He slowly opens his eyes and he is crying in his smile.

“Josie…”

“…. Dad, I will always love you… Here, I have something to give to you…” Josie is holding her favorite porcelain given by her late grandma and when she is trying to hand it to Josh, there is a sudden violent shaking of the ground. The porcelain falls to the ground but it doesn't break, but Josie. Poof! She disappeared.

Josh can still hear Josie’s voice calling his name. After a few moments, everything suddenly become very bright and,

“Josh! Josh!” He opens his eyes and see his colleagues, Brian. Waking him up.

“Man, what are u doing here, are you dating someone or waiting for her? Huh dude, you're too old for that. Look at your hair, its turning grey. One grey hair for one lady, Let me count how much it is” Brian is trying to joke with Josh to make him happy because he knows why josh is there.

"Hahaha! Man… No! I fell asleep, that's normal for an old man like me”

***

At home, Josh sitting on Josie’s bed. His eyes is searching for Josie’s favorite porcelain.

“…. Aha! There you go.” He took the porcelain out of Josie’s favorite stuff box. There is an envelope inside the porcelain and he starts to read it.

Dear Dad,

Over the years, we have never been able to get along together. I wonder why you adore Jessa and in your eyes she is an angel. Sometimes, it drives me insane. I know my performance at school is not good and its like nothing I do is good. Everything. I still remember you compared me with Jessa, always, when we got our report cards and when we did something. Also, when you introduced me to people, you were like telling them I am the worst person ever existed. When there were people who complimented me or told you good things about me, you be like if they were my father or mother they would never can get along with me.

Yes, u started doing that since I was 9 years old. Believe me, that's hurt and I am not that innocent to not understand what you're saying. You made me growing up this way. You never realize you never give me chance to share my feeling or problems with you or help me find way to improve my self.

After Jessa died in the accident. You started to treat me worse than before and wished me to die, you always want me to die when I did a mistake.

It makes me crazy.

Dad, if you found this letter, I want to tell you I'm not hoping for anything else, you don't need to love me but for once all I want you to do is listen to me. Your daughter…

Even though my feeling always telling me you like Jessa more and plus you never tell me you love me, but I know, deep. DEEP in the bottom of your heart. I know you love us both.

Love, Josie.

“ ……. Josie.... Only if I could go back in time....”

Comeback

Assalamualaykum and Hi!

It has been a long time, since I last wrote anything to my readers as I have been really busy and quite lazy actually. Hmm let me tell you guys the truth, I always want to update my blog and I have many ideas, but whenever I started to let my fingers dancing on the keyboard, my mind was like losing all the ideas and ... everything that I have made up my mind with it were all gone, I wrote it halfway and got no ending.

So let me tell you guys, I created my blog on 2010 if I am not mistaken … and I have posted a lot of entries but almost all of it has been deleted. I don’t know why but I have this kind of problem … not really a problem but I don’t know what to call it, habit or just over thinking maybe? 

It is something that makes me feel miserable about things that I have done just like about everything that I have posted, that feeling like forcing me to delete all of it back without any valid reason. 

I know some of you also have this kind of problem or feeling or habit too, it is quite same with the problem when we write something like notes or anything on a paper and you are hoping to keep it and want to read it back for many times in future but then, once u read it again, u will be like 

"arggghhh why my handwriting is so freaking bad?!” 

(Yes I do understand my notes and Alhamdulillah I got dean list even though I’m using that crap, I mean my un-organized notes.) 

Okay back to our topic, you will copy the same thing on another paper just to have another nice note with quite perfect handwriting… but IT HAPPEN AGAIN! U still think that your handwriting and your notes like a piece of shit and u want to throw it away or chew it in your mouth and spit it out far away… but actually… there is nothing wrong with our handwriting and only that 'freak feeling' keep disturbing us. So poof! It makes us to tear down that paper over and over again. 

One more example is when I posted pictures on Instagram, then next few days my mind keep telling me to delete it back. Urghhhh I hate that feeling actually. Really, I don’t want to do it like what I have said earlier, my mind just like kept forcing me. I need a douche bag every time that feeling keep disturbing me. Blarghhhghghghhh.

So anyone, please, if you know anything about that kind of problem or disorder ... whatever it is, please let me know. Sharing is caring (smile). Mm, maybe some of you might say that, hah Niwa is so lazy she actually could find it out herself.

Yeah of course I can, but for now I am quite busy, I have something else to do and for sure I will do it whenever I got time for it. 

Huh what a long entry, I just want to say HI actually but suddenly all the ideas come out of my mind. ~hey brain! Stop farting dude~ that is all for now lah, I am not so good in English, so if you have spotted any mistakes in my sentences, do correct me.

Inna Lillahi Wainna Ilaihi Raji'un

Tak terkata.

Sedang lemah.

Inna lillahi wainna ilaihi raji'un.

Sembuhkanlah Ya Allah.

Mahallah Khadijah,

CFS IIUM.

Agenda Merapu

Assalamualaikum.

Terkena pelali sesat. 

Berat kelopak mata, tinggal sedikit kiraan lagi mahu terkunci dan terbang membawa roh ke alam lain.

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah tiada sebarang kesukaran pada hari ini.

Moga esok tiada agenda merapu.

Pulang

Pemadam pun tak mampu

Momen dulu kekal

Attitude bodoh memakan diri

Parah bila sepintas kenangan membunuh

Diamkan dan nilaikan

Tak terusik kalaupun terus ligat mengira. Tak pandai aku berpuisi. Tapi tak pula aku gemar luahkan terus explicit. Suka aku pada alam. Tapi takut aku bila teruji. Kadangkala aku ini senteng. Akalku ini pendek ditambah interpretasi aku ini kalanya tersesat laluan.

Teraba-raba akan segala untuk bermula lagi. 

Aku mahu ada di sana.

Bantu aku Ya Tuhanku.

Bantu aku.

Cari Jalan Pulang.

Di sebalik meja,

Mahallah Khadijah, CFS IIUM.