An insightful lesson in Muslim culture

Two little kids posing for me at Merdeka Square
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Loads to tell about today. It all started a bit flat. Woke pretty late and went for 'brunch' at my favourite little eatery 'Kings Cafe' for a Nasi Lamak, some almost like home cups of Tea and further research into coming adventures. I read up loads on Vietnam and planned my itinerary for the two weeks I'll be there. After this, I went on the internet to try and book some internal train tickets to save time while I'm there. No luck. In fact it's all a bit vague and I read on peoples journals that its a real mission to get a ticket on a sleeper train without being ripped off by some chancer. I looked up the exchange rate and considered booking myself into some swanky hotels along the way. Stopped myself in time to remind myself to live the adventure. 'Remember Elaine, this is not a holiday, it's a challenge and a life changing experience'.

A Muslim man can have up to 4 wives (Mary 1, 2, 3 and 4) but can only take a new wife with the permission of the other/s as it can only be done failrly

Ani Kim and I infront of the Mosque
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After all this research, I went back to my windowless room with the flashy light and felt a little stressed. I soon realised that I was over complicating things and that I should take it easy and live the experience as it happens. I need to stop preparing. I've gone from no preparation (following other people) to over preparing. It really is all or nothing with me. As I can never stay still for very long (my how things have changed since my teenage years) I got up and decided to walk to the Masjid Negara (National Mosque) for a cultural injection and a little distraction from bleedin' itineraries. As per ('Elaine and her terrible sense of direction') usual, I got lost on the way, but managed to take some nice pictures of some interesting sights.

Masjid Negara (National Mosque) at sunset
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When I eventually got there, I was amazed at how bloody amazing it is! Islamic architecture is designed around geommetrical shapes and very scientific in it's foundations. The gardens, the building, the fountain, all feature 6 pointed stars and symmetrical patterns. As I attempted to enter, I had a whitle blown at me and a woman signalled to me to take off my shoes and put on a robe and head scarf. It was a lovely little flattering blue number you can see modelled by Moi in the photos. When I climbed the steps I came to the main prayer room of the mosque and as I looked around aimlessly, a lady volounteer approached me and asked if she could help. I explained that I was here to visit, but didn't really know much about Islam in order to understand what I was seeing. Her name is Ani Kim and she is one of the nicest people I have ever come across in my life. She's 53 without a line on her face and unless you see her age in her hands, she is the perfect walking model for the benefits of living a muslim life. We chatted for over an hour and she was so informative and clear with her explanations. She was orphaned by her chinese parents at a very young age and while searching her whole life for a direction and looking into many religions to help her on her path, she came across Islam at 18 years and knew it was right for her. Here are some of the things I learnt from my probing questions. If you don't want a lesson in religion, then skip this bit:

Skyline I captured coming out of Little India
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There are 5 main principles that a muslim should follow:

1. Believe in Ullah (God)
2. Fast at Ramadam to a) Understand and feel compassion for the poor and hungry. b) Give a rest to the environment and save food from the millions of Muslims that do this. c) Give a rest to your body and promote your own well being.
3. Pray 5 times a day to Mecca for 5 to 15 minutes each time: This is not to pray to God as such, but acts as a therepy session to get things off your chest and release your stress so that you can live a true and pious life without the handicap of stress.
4. Give charity: Every muslim gives 2.5% of there surplus (what remains after bills and food are paid for) income that will be given to the poor and people of the community who need a helping hand.
5. Go on a Haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca once in their life: This is done when a person is at peace with themselves and they spend a month on this task. In Mecca there is a rock supposedly placed there by Abraham which they all bundle on each other to touch.

Remains of the old with the new showing through
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Why don't they eat pork?

• Pigs are scavengers whose stomachs contain millions of bacteria in order to fight off disease from the rotten food that they eat.
• You are what you eat (see above also) and pigs are lazy creatures. If you eat a lazy creature, you will become lazy.
• As pigs are lazy, they are full of fat. When we eat fat it stays as fat in our body and fat collects and stores toxins that we digest or inhale. Therefore it is an unhealthy meat. It's not a sacred thing.

Me in front of the geometrical Mosque
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Why do Muslims not drink alcohol?

Alcohol is an addictive substance and humans have an addictive nature. Addictions distract us from living a good and pious life.

What is the Koraan?

Islam accepts the Old testament of Judaism and the New testament of Christianity. They also accept Jesus as a messenger of God. However, according to Islam, Jesus was one of 1000s of messengers and the bible was written hundreds of years after the events took place. Written by people who weren't even alive at the time. The Koraan takes place 600 years AD and is the word for word teachings of Mohammed the Muslims messenger of God (Ullah). Angel Gabriel came to him and bestowed on him all the teachings of God. He was a poor man who couldn't read or write and he was chosen deliberately for that purpose. Apparently, writting things down morphs from mind to paper into something different. Instead, Mohammed spoke the words and many scholars wrote them down word for word. Angel Gabriel would return time and again to ensure that he was remembering it right. The Koraan is written in Arabic and not many Muslims can fully understand it. Even Urdhu is only 50% Arabic and many arabic words have multiple meanings. 1000s of People have memorised the Koraan word for word. Ani Kim has memorised the end.

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Women in Islam

Women are not secondary citizens as all are equal in the face of Ullah. Women are covered to prevent them being seen as sex objects. They are encouraged to get an education and a whole chapter in the Koraan is devoted to Mary (Jesus' Mary) as an important religious figure. In a Muslim household, the woman manages the house and family and the man protects and provides. A Muslim man can have up to 4 wives (Mary 1, 2, 3 and 4) but can only take a new wife with the permission of the other/s as it can only be done failrly. If a woman doesn't love her husband but stays for the security, she may welcome another wife to take on the physical demands.

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Ptayer in the mosque.

The carpeting on the floor of a prayer room is covered in geommetrical shapes specifically positioned to give enough room for people to stand shoulder to shoulder with room to touch their head to the floor in front. 5000 people can fit in this National Mosque. Men stand in the front and women at the back to prevent the men being distracted (women don't neccessarily get distracted by mens bottoms - oh, well I do...) Men must also shower and apply perfume before entering the prayer room to prevent them stinking out the holy place.

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Islam began in a the time when Arabs were basic bastard barbarians and it managed to tame the masses very quickly. If it can do this, it must be very powerfull indeed.

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OK, lesson over. Rest assured, I am not attracted to this religion myself, but I can see how people are and how it might work.

After we'd chatted, I met her daughter who took the photo of us that you see (me looking so damn sexy in the robe) and they gave me pamphlets and Ani Kim's email address if I had any further questions. I'm going to email her my thanks and send her the photo. They asked what I was doing in KL. I told them I was travelling and I told them my concerns about travelling Vietnam alone as a female. They told me to cover up as the Media has given a bad impression of western blonde girls (easy) and people are just not used to the way we dress. They also reminded me to put a wedding ring on so I wouldn't get asked every 5 minutes if I was married (they do that in Vietnam my friends tell me).

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After I said goodbye and took more photos, I walked to little India as for some reason I was feeling the whole muslim vibe and fancied a good curry. I left to the sound of the chanting from the speakers, complimented a woman who took my photo on her headress and she offered to get one for me. I declined saying I was leaving KL but thanked her very much.

On the way to little India, I passed through Mederka Square and realised I'd missed a huge F1 rally! Doh! Nevermind, it was worth it to meet Ani Kim. The curry was fabulous, but I still refuse to eat with my hands...'er...some cutlery please....and a napkin...!' Got lost going home (such a d***k), spent 3 hours online and crashed out. Vietnam Embassy tomorrow for my visa.

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Elaine x x x