The Bridge
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
1M ago
Back in the 1950s, the only way for me to get to my school was to cross a canal called Wan Mat Saman Canal.  The canal connects Sungai Kedah in Alor Setar to Gurun  in the south, a distance of 36 kilometers.  36 kilometers may not seem impressive by today’s standards.  However it must be remembered that this canal was constructed between 1885 – 1896, using simple tools during its construction.  Initial diggings were done at night, guided by rows of traditional torches made of dried coconut leaves tied together, and lighted up in a straight line, called “jamung” so as t ..read more
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Travelling Japan & Korea
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
1M ago
Kyoto is synonymous with incredible temples, cherry blossoms, parks, markets, serene gardens, tea ceremonies, traditional ryokan and craftsmanship. It was once the imperial capital of Japan with the finest gardens developed over centuries by many levels of society namely the aristocrats and the monks. Kyoto was voted by travelers as the world’s best city, twice. Seoul, SK is another thrilling city to visit Sacred Spaces in the Garde Figure 1: Another view of the Golden Pavilion, the beautiful Kinkakuji temple It’s common knowledge that Japanese regard religious practices of Japan as ..read more
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The Sanctuary
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
1M ago
I was suddenly awakened by the cold breeze sweeping through the tent.  The  morning was so still  I could  hear the thud of a tiny casuarina seed on the roof of the tent.  The entire stretch of the beach suddenly came alive with squid rigging.  A local boy strutted past happily with his meagre catch of four squids. As I turned to take a peep at the sea, I was greeted by a delightful shimmering  carpet of calm sea in the first blush of the sun. Fig 1: The fishermen’s boat getting a push out to sea to the waiting fishing vessels I was suddenly awaken ..read more
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A Kind of Paradise
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
1M ago
If there is one place I would rather be, it has to be Kampong Mangkok.  Kampong Mangkok sits on a promontory  flanked by turquoise blue waters of the South China Sea on one side and the mangrove river called Sungai Setiu on the other.  On a clear day, you could see the outcrops of  Pulau Perhentian, Lang Tengah and Pulau Redang from a beach called Pantai Penarik (Fig 1) .  The shimmering blue waters reminded me of Hemingway’s fascination with the sea, “The sea is the last free place on earth”. There is something soothing about the sound of ocean waves, t ..read more
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Driving on Karakorum: Not for the faint-Hearted
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
6M ago
Imagine huge brown boulders hanging over your head on one side and a ravine that dropped all the way down 200 feet or so, on the other.   Imagine all you have at your disposal is a mere one foot of space to maneuver your vehicle in-between oncoming traffic.  Slow, decorated lorries laden with goods, as high as the sky, bound for the Pakistan-China borders and impatient tour buses, honking endlessly behind you could send your heart missing a beat or two.  Driving along the Karakorum to get to Hunza Valley, landslides normally happened at least twice a day during that 350 kil ..read more
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People & Places
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
7M ago
People and Places Walk My Journey Many dream of breaking routines and pushing boundaries for that once-in-a-lifetime experience: taking buses, travelling around Turkey in the thick of winter, or crossing Siberia on the Trans Mongolian Express, or enjoying a campfire under the desert stars on the edge of the Sahara, or watching a bullfight in Madrid. “People & Places: Walk My Journey” is part travelogue and part personal memoir. Some of these journeys were geographical ones while some were inner journeys, They were written in a vivid emotive narration and storytelling style that would trans ..read more
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Tunisia
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
7M ago
Tunis in 2014 When the idea of a Mediterranean holiday was first mooted in 2014, Morocco was our destination of choice. Despite having made preparations to obtain a visa, the London Moroccan embassy did not approve mine.  To obtain a Moroccan travel visa, one had to apply from home country… which was not quite what was related to us when we first called the embassy. So my daughter and I decided to visit Tunisia instead. About figure: Walking through the old part of Tunis, reminded me of how alleyways are typical of Middle eastern architecture so are blue windows. Tunisia…? A&nb ..read more
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Vietnam
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
7M ago
Two &Half Days of Saigon Culture When I first flew into Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, remembered fondly as Saigon, the weather was pleasantly warm-820F with some clouds.  Visiting for the very first time, I tried to strike up a conversation with the taxi driver about the city.  It struck me as revealing that taxi cab drivers I came across (at least two out of three), voiced a feeling of nostalgia for the old Saigon under American occupation.  After 30 years of independence, there is still leftover animosity towards the north when touching on the his ..read more
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Romance on Trans Mongolian Express
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
7M ago
(extract from my book“People & Places: Walk My Journey” ) Almost everyone I know dream of going on the Trans Siberian journey.  This iconic trip has captured the imagination of travelers, poets, artists and writers.  Steeped in history, writers still discuss the Trans Siberian railway at length, while travelers still include it in their bucket list.  The railway track  that was built in 1916 by the Russians, said to be “the fairest jewel in the crown of the Tsars” has travelers romanticizing  the journey. The Trans Siberian Railway network covers over 9,288 kilomet ..read more
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Interview
storiesfromtheeast.com
by Husna
7M ago
Interview with Author Husna Kassim: Discussing her Book People & Places and Other Stories from Life Husna Kassim is a chemist by discipline with an MSc in Analytical Chemistry & Instrumentation from Loughborough University of Technology, UK.  She has an overall work experience of 32 years in various fields.  She spent 29 years in Research &Development (R&D) work in the field of agriculture and oil & gas. Her biodiesel research on palm oil methyl ester resulted in an article being written about her as a pioneer researcher in Petronas Resource magazine in 2002. She ..read more
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