It was a long weekend due to the Federal Territory Day. We decided to drive to the east coast to Kuala Terengganu since we had not been there for many years. My sister, Liza lives there with her husband, Hadi and their son, Hazwan.
The drive along the East Coast Highway was smooth. Once we hit the old trunk road from Kuantan we encountered quite a lot of traffic. The drive along the coastal road was very pleasant due to the beautiful beach sceneries. We stopped for lunch at Awana Kijal Golf Resort. I just had to be near to a golf course!
Awana's Lobby
There were a lot of street hawkers along the road. One thing about them is they tend to sell the same products at the same location. In one area, everybody would be selling lemang. Then in another, corns, or even keropok lekor. I stopped at a stall selling coconut sapling called nira. It used to be my favourite when I stayed in Kelantan in the mid 80s.
Kemasik Beach
I remember the name Kemasik when we passed through the area. Somehow, it rang in me to stop and check out the beach. When I was working for a local bank in the 80s, somebody mentioned that it was quite beautiful. It was not too late to check it out. It was beautiful all right but there are a lot more beautiful beaches in the East Coast. Somehow, the beach was littered by indiscriminate picnickers.
After 7 hours on the road, we reached Liza’s place. Liza lives in teachers’ quarters near to Sekolah Menengah Sultan Sulaiman where she teaches. It was a five storey apartment close to beach. Even our room faced the beach. I just loved the sound of the ocean and the wind. It invigorated me.
View of the Beach from Liza's Apartment
In the evening we drove to Kuala Terengganu’s most famous beach, Pantai Batu Burok. The place was packed with weekend crowd. It was Friday, a weekend in holier than thou Terengganu.
Hazwan, Anas & Maisara at the beach
Taman Tamadun Islam
February 2, 2008
We had only one day to tour KT. The choice of where to go was clear. KT was launching a place called Taman Tamadun Islam (Islamic Civilisation Park) that includes a beautiful mosque called “Crystal Mosque” and various miniature mosques and monuments of the Islamic world.
The bus that ferries visitors take up the shape of Malay architecture
The park was built on a 23-hectare islet called Pulau Wan Man in the middle of the Terengganu River. It cost RM250 million which was part of the project under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER). The park features 21 replicas of mosques and monuments. They include Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock (Qubbah As Sakharah), Spain’s Alhamra, India’s Taj Mahal, Malaysia’s National Mosque, Brunei’s Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Pakistan’s Badshahi Mosque, Saudi Arabia’s Masjidil Haram and Nabawi, Indonesia’s Almanar Kudus, Uzbekistan’s Kalyan Tower, Nigeria’s Agadez Grand Mosque, Iran’s Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque, Syria’s Aleppo Citadel, Tunisia’s Qairawan Grand Mosque, China’s Xian Mosque, Iraq’s Samarra Grand Mosque, Turkey’s Suleyman Mosque, Thailand’s Central Pattani Mosque, Afghanistan’s Abu Nasr Parsa Tomb, Egypt’s Mohamed Ali Parsha Mosque, and Russia’s Kul Sharif Mosque.
Crystal Mosque
The park was yet to be officially opened by the Prime Minister the following day. When we arrived, the crowd was getting bigger. There were buses to ferry the visitors into the park. Private cars were not allowed in.
Dome of the Rock in Terengganu
The park was hardly ready to be officially opened. The road leading to the park was small and appeared to be hastily constructed for the opening ceremony. The area where the mosque replicas and monuments were located was out of bound. The main attraction was the Crystal Mosque, even that it was closed to visitors. The visitors were limited to taking photographs from a distance. There were some festivities in the area but they were in line with the Islam Hadhari’s concept. No wild parties!
After taking some photos, we decided to leave. We may be coming back for a closer look in the near future. Another “Malaysia Boleh” project.
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