10 Kembara Ramadhan - KL

"Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health..." - Dalai Lama

(Masjid at-Taiyyibin Taman Bidara)

Day 10: Monday, 10 April 2023
Route: Alor Setar  - KL
Distance: 430 km

Life is too short to stress yourself.

Last night we were informed by the front desk that for sahur the hotel will send packed food to our room. By 5.00 am when there was no sign of our packed food, we went to check. There was a buffet served at the dining hall instead and the guests were not informed. Many nearly missed their sahur because of the misunderstanding.

I was not blaming anybody, but I was blaming myself for expecting too much...   

(Having a very late sahur)

(Empty dining hall at 5.30 am)

We checked out about noon and drove southbound on PLUS highway. We detoured to Masjid Jamek Changkat Jering to perform our solat jamak Zohor/Asar. The mosque is about five minutes drive from Changkat Jering Toll Plaza. It is fully air-conditioned with ample parking space.

After a brief stop at Simpang Pulai we drove non-stop towards KL.

(A cool day for a relaxing drive southbound)

(Detoured to Masjid Jamek Changkat Jering)

(Jemaah waiting for zohor prayers)

(We have been here on a few occasions)

(Spacious and musafir-friendly mosque)

(A brief comfort stop at Simpang Pulai rest area)

Arrived at our Bidara house about 5.30 pm, ample time to unload our luggage and took a refreshing shower before going to our Masjid at-Taiyibbin for iftar and solat terawih.

Alhamdulillah...

(Iftar of Nasi Briyani and chicken curry)

(Tazkirah Ramadhan after Tarawih prayers at Majid at-Taiyibbin)

(Our Bidara house, home sweet home)

👈👈The Tasmanian Road Trip

09 Kembara Ramadhan - Alor Setar👉👉

09 Kembara Ramadhan - Alor Setar

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies..." - Mother Teresa

(Masjid Zahir, Alor Setar)

Day 09: Sunday, 9 April 2023
Route: Kangar - Alor Setar
Distance: 45 km
Hotel: Seri Malaysia Hotel, Alor Setar

By noon we checked out of Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kangar and headed towards Alor Setar.

(Having early sahur at Seri Malaysia Hotel)

We arrived in Alor Star early so we decided to visit the Surau Lama in Langgar. While we were in Langgar we visited the Royal Mausoleum. Maahad Tahfizul al-Quran Langgar is situated across the mausoleum.

(Kedah Royal Mausoleum in Langgar)

(A brief history of the Royal Mausoleum)

(The royal cemetery, dated back to June 1701)

(The first Sultan of Kedah chose Langgar as the Royal burial ground)

(The first PM, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was buried here)

(Sungai Langgar and the Maahad Tahfiz al-Quran)

The Surau Lama Langgar is located behind the Maahad Tahfiz. This surau lama is also known as Madrasah Tok Janggut was to have existed soon after Islam arrived in Kedah with students from as far away as Brunei, Pattani and Indonesia coming here to further their religious knowledge.

(Visiting a century old madrasah)

(Founded by Tuan Haji Ahmat Tua, Tok Janggut)

(Taking a walk in time)

(The remnants of wood carvings of Tembusu hardwood)

After visiting the dilapidated madrasah we drove to Masjid Tengku Kalsom, a new mosque a short distance from the mausoleum. From there we tried to locate Masjid Tua Limbong but were led through small narrow road across the vast paddy fields. We came to a new mosque of Masjid Al-Rahman in Limbong but unfortunately unable to locate the old mosque.

(Masjid Tengku Kalsom, Makam DiRaja Langgar)

(A mossque next to the Royal Mausoleum)

(a beautiful mosque)

We cautiously maneuvered our bigfoot on the small paddy fields narrow road, and were relieved to get out of the paddy field safely unscathed.

(Driving on a narrow paddy field road)

We visited another mosque, Masjid al-Muttaqin in Taman Jayakami before we checked in Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar. We rested in the room until it was time for iftar. Iftar was Zinger Cheesezilla and snack plate combo bought from KFC next door.

(Masjid al-Muttaqin in Taman Jayakami)

Tonight we performed our tarawih prayers in Masjid Zahir Alor Star, the grandest and one of the oldest mosques in Kedah. Located right in the heart of the town of Alor Setar, it gets to be the world's fourth most beautiful mosque .

(Hotel Seri Malaysia, Alor Setar)

(Spacious room, our lodging for the night)

(Iftar with KFC)

This magnificent Alor Star landmark, in its present form, was built in 1912. The five imposing black cupolas symbolise the main Pillars of Islam. Although more than a century has passed, most of the original structure and design have successfully withstood the test of time.

(One of Alor Setar landmarks)

(The main prayer hall)

(Colonial-styled columns and arches decorating the mosque)

(Mihrab area and the mimbar)

(One main and five smaller domes)

(Built upon the tomb and grave of fallen Kedah warriors)

(One of the grandest and oldest mosques in Malaysia)

 (State annual Quran reading competition is held here)

👈👈10 Kembara Ramadhan - KL

08 Kembara Ramadhan - Kangar👉👉

08 Kembara Ramadhan - Kangar

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm..." - Abraham Lincoln

(Masjid Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail)

Day 08: Saturday, 8 April 2023
Route: Pak Bara - Kangar
Distance: 117 km

Hotel: Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kangar

Checked out of Thamalai Resort and headed to Cikgu Joe's place to say hello. He and wife were as cheerful as always.

(Cikgu Joe's house and office)

(Favorite stop for bikers and travellers)

(Catching-up with Cikgu Joe and wife)

Before we drove towards Thailand/Malaysia border we stopped at Masjid Bantolosai Pak Bara for solat Dhuha . We made a few stops along the way to visit a few more mosques, Masjid Banglanga in Langu, Masjid at-Taqwa Kok Pradu, a new grandiose mosque by the roadside, Masjid Darussoliheen in Setol and Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq with Darumaaref School Foundation at the back of the mosque.

(Masjid Bantolosai Pak Bara)

(Performed our Dhuha prayers here)

(The Mihrab and spacious prayer hall)

(Masjid Banglanga in Langu)

(A beautiful clean mosque by the main road)

(Driving towards Satun)

(Masjid at-Taqwa Kok Pradu)

(A huge newly built mosque)

(Masjid Darussoliheen in Setol)

(A huge signage ofthe mosque)

(Located along the main road)

(Our last stop before driving to the border)

(Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq)

(A world globe as the main dome)

(Darumaaref School Foundation)

Before the border, we bought some kekacang, kismis and soaps from the roadside stalls. Business was slow as there are less tourists during the fasting month

(Passing through roadworks and National Park)

(Buying kekacang and kismis)

(Roadside stalls before the border)

Border crossings on both Thailand and Malaysian border were swift. There were a few groups of Mat Salleh crowding the border at the same to enter Thailand. Most probably they were going for a holiday in Koh Lipe, one of the beautiful islands off Pak Bara.

(Less frequented Wang Prachan Thai border crossing)

(Crossing into Malaysia)

(Malaysia Wang Kelian border)

(Leaving Wang Kelian) 

We checked in Hotel Sri Malaysia Kangar for Rm200/night inclusive of sahur for two. Around 6.30 pm we drove a short distance to Pasar Ramadhan in Taman Kemajuan and bought juadah for iftar.

(Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kangar)

(Ramadhan buffet offers at the hotel)

(Our lodging for a night)

Tonight we performed solat terawih at Masjid Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, about 7 km from our hotel. It is a large and spacious mosque. The main prayer hall and outdoor veranda are also spacious. It has full equipped facilities. It was a full house even in the Muslimat prayer hall. We brought back bubur lambuk from the masjid for moreh.

(Masjid Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail)

(The huge green dome from outside and inside)

(A full-house at both Muslimin and Muslimat prayer area) 

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Masjid Alwi for some photo shots. This elegant mosque was constructed in 1931 with Mughal architecture in mind. The mosque was declared a national heritage in 1988 under the National Heritage Act 2005.

Our KKB biking convoy group prayed here during our Kembara 44 Masjid in 2013.

(A visit to Masjid Alwi, Kangar)

(An elegant mosque with Mughal architecture)

(A brief history of Masjid Alwi)

(Street decorations in Kangar town) 

(The bigfoot is taking a rest at Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kangar)

👈👈09 Kembara Ramadhan - Alor Setar

07 Kembara Ramadhan - Pak Bara👉👉