Welcome to Terengganu

Thailand was like a big surprise for me after places like Vietnam and Cambodia. From cars driven on the left hand side to mentality and social order. The place is ruled by monarchy's iron fist and military junta followers which is covered by a democratic bundle of fetters.
After I fall asleep in Thailand and almost woke up in Malaysia I looked back with a little regret for that time I could spend there. But the life must go on.

Welcome to Terengganu

[1]

I took the South - East way of Malaysia to the city called Terengganu. The first thing that sticks in the eyes is women wearing hijab and burqa. The second thing was my first morning at around 5am when I was awakened by an impelled outcry by the ascetic mosques that coerced into my ears. In the third people mostly eat with their hands and this was my first experience here as apprentice. With many prejudices in my bag I face kind of shock to see this picture in front of me that fails with everyday I spend in surroundings of Terengganu, good that it is only my prejudices. In almost two weeks that I spent there I probably saw no more than 20 Caucasian people in the city of 1.1 million people[1] and possible there is some reason for that too. First of all, I noticed the prices for accommodation are much higher than in other places I have been before with almost the same level as Japan or Europe and is definitely nothing special or fringe with this place neither life standars or life quality which push the prices up. Although there are many things to see and to explore in the surrounding such as islands, national parks or art. In this place the lack of tourists and competition pegged the high prices in this region. Another reason of unpopularity among western people in this part of Malaysia is the islamic's religious infallible conservative mood.

[2]

Malaysia is quite a contradictory place. In one hand with theocratic structure where islamic religion still today make laws write the constitution and permeate every part of society. And on the other hand the government with democratic system and arrangement for non islamic people. Take for example one case when a Malay muslim, Malay-Chinese atheist and Malay-Indian hinduist born in the same place sit at the same table. Where Chinese and Indian have right and it is allowed to drink alcohol but for Malay muslim is prohibit by the law and is not mere a religios sin but it also a constitutional crime. If before religious people could choose what is good or bad what is sin or not now they don’t have this choice longer because islam religion confined this right from the people by law in constitution. I don't drink alcohol by my self but this wasn't steered by the law of constitution or worst from religion and thanks I don't have one, rather from my own perspective on life, health and sustainability.
Many people I met don’t follow exactly the commandment of religion don’t pray everyday, smoke cannabis or even drink alcohol though still remain hard supporters of the aged islam religion. They don’t even see or realize their double moral belief. At this point they are not muslim longer and fill the lacuna with the new moral and ethics codes that feels right for their own creed.

Cat paradise 

[3]

Oh yeah I almost forgot about the cats. The cats are everywhere: on streets in houses in restaurants on table on shelves even cat eating durian, literally everywhere. Since in islamic religion the dogs are impure[2] you have to avoid them and what more absurd and abstract is forbidden to pet a dog when is wet. To pet a dog it's a sin for certain but no sure if it's a law in constitution for that too, one thing though is clear that in some region is prohibited by law to have pets in apartments[3]. So lets go back to the cats, the cats have a different status and is revered for their cleanliness as well as for being loved by the Islamic prophet Muhammad[4]. Now everything make sense why cats have their position though this two animals have no difference at all in their accuracy in maintaining their hygiene whatsoever. In other places on earth the dog is presented as the best friend of the human for protection and loyalty, so why dog have this inferior rank among islam? Well could be as simple as the prophet have been biten or just scared of the more powerful animal in the early age which left a considerably negative sensation in his personality which he implemented in his new vision of islamic religion. We can't be confident that this argument is true and could be other human based explanations to this phenomenon rather than a divine hatred and impurity of the dogs.

Time for island life

[4]

I left Terengganu on the night bus and arrived at dawn in Mersing. A coast town where I felt again that tourists took over this place for one reason: to take a ferry to the small islands which are spread not so far from the mainland Malaysia. I need a rest from the cities and I want to learn to dive, I don’t need so much sun and beach because I burn to easy but welcome the green jungle with a lot of fruits. For the next two or three months I will spend my time on Tioman island to do volunteer work at a diving center. I will support them with everything they need help with and in return they will teach me for free how to dive.Great deal, right? :)

Juara, Malaysia | August 17, 2019

Source

[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia - Malaysia
[2]. https://www.animalsinislam.com/islam-animal-rights/dogs/ - Dogs in Islam
[3]. https://www.iqiglobal.com/blog/malaysians-did-you-know-its-legal-have-pets-condominiums/ - Malaysians! Did you know it’s legal to have pets in condominiums?
[4]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats - Islam and cats

Pictures and photos

[1]. Photo by me, Terengganu 02.08.2019

[2]. Photo by me, Terengganu 01.08.2019
[3]. Photo by me, Kota Bharu 30.07.2019, Terengganu 03.08.2019, Juara 13.08.2019 , Juara 06.08.2019
[4]. Photo by me, Juara 07.08.2019