Muslims in Hefei..

Asia » China
June 24th 2005

Published: June 24th 2005


10:00pm Shanghai Railway Station, The day before..
My plan was foiled yet again. I didn't have time to visit hooters! I think God is trying to tell me something. Keep your experience in China spiritual. At the Railway Station, there were so many waiting rooms, i couldn't figure out which one to get into. A man saw me walking back and forth and offered help. I showed him my ticket and he pointed to the right directions. The thing is, i had no way of knowing if he was telling me the truth or just getting me lost. I had no options so i decide to trust his directions and waited in that room. Luck would have it, i sat down next to a guy i knew later as Robert. I flipped through my language assistant book and after 15 minutes of sweating, I finally knew how to say "Am i at the right place?". I couldn't believe it. He replied to me in poor english. But english is english. At least i had communication.

Robert or Mr. Yee grew up at Hefei at Anhui province which was our destination. He knew a LOT about Anhui history. He pratically gave me a whole background on the Honor of Baohe. More commonly known to malaysians as JUSTICE BAO, the tv series years ago aired on malaysian tv.

10:30pm On the way to Hefei, Anhui Province from Shanghai
It was too dark to see anything outside, plus i was tired from all the walking and preparations the day before. I thought i had purchased seat tickets but apparently i had a cabin that i shared with three other persons. All three of them snored. I couldn't sleep. Half an hour later there was a knock on my door. I opened it and there was Robert standing in front of me grinning. He really was a history buff. I spent the next hour, standing at the train corridor exchanging our two countries history. He was excited that i chose such a place as Hefei for few travellers go there. I was worried he was a con artist or wanted to rob me like how the lonely planet warned. But he looked like a businessman and GEEK stamped all over his forehead. He could speak exnglish because he was in Chicago Illinois 3 years ago. Eventually i realized that i shouldn't have had such suspisions from this man. Soon, i cooked myself some maggie cup and went to bed with my passport and money tucked beneath my underpants.

7:00am, Hefei, Anhui Province.
I expected a small town but this town is about twice the size of IPOH man. It looked exactly like Shanghai only without the skyscrapers. I was disappointed. Still, i had to make my trip here worth it. So i visited the Baohe tomb memorial with Mr. Robert and took a few pictures unfortunately Mr. Robert did not want his photo taken, the Mingjiao temple which looked exactly like the Jade Buddha Temple i visited before (by this time i was already by myself) and finally, while walking around town and already started feeling homesick. I saw some chinese muslims and greeted them "assalamualaikum". They greeted back and suddenly i didn't feel all alone anymore.

1:30pm, The only Mosque in Hefei.
I had Garlic Chicken, Soy Sauce Beef with rice. YUMMM.... But i couldn't finish the chicken. The cook put too much garlic in it. When i said "dwo sau chien (how much does this cost)" she got extremely angry and started creating a scene. She took all the chicken, shoved it into a plastic bag and FORCED me to take it. I complied to her demands grinningly and politely. I didn't want to piss off the only friends i have in this town. I think she hates me despite me taking the chicken back. I went behind the muslim restaurant and proceeded into the mosque. I was greeted by the imam there. Although we couldn't understand each others language, we understood each other perfectly. He prodded me into the Wuthu' room, i took my wuthu' and prayed zohor with 5 others. It was really really nice. I felt safe. And plus, these people don't cultivate phlegm in their throat like the rest of China.

2:30pm, I boarded the bus to Bhozhou.
The bus was surprisingly empty. Only I and two others was in it. On the way there, the scenery was much the same as the rest of china so i didn't bother taking any pictures. I wanted to get to BhoZhou to visit the home of Fa Mulan, China's favorite heroin. But unfortunately when i got there at 5:30pm, the sites are closed and now, after purchasing tickets to Beijing, i sit at this cafe and wait for 10:00pm to come. Theres not much to do in this town. It looks just like the town before. I dont want to get a room because it'll cost too much and not worth it. But waiting sucks. I better have better planning next time. In Beijing i have a friend waiting for me. His name is Aik Keong. Khadines friend actually. I contacted him a couple of times on the phone and he sounds more than happy to have me. I can't wait to see the great wall despite the temperature in beijing being more than 36 degrees. I cant post any pictures but i will be sure to add it in as soon as i reach Beijing.

For those of you who have been asking me to take a photo of those people walking backwards, i ask you this.. Would you be able to tell if they really are walking backwards from a photo? Anyway i think the reason why the backward walkers walk that way is a form of excercise i think. I don't know if its tai chi or what. All i know is it made me laugh till my belly hurt. Okay guys.. See you in Beijing..


Muhammad Ismail Kamarul Baharin
Hi guys. Welcome to my desperate attempt to become an efficient writer. This page will include my travelling experience in the 'middle kingdom'. For those of you who do not know what that means, its CHINA. Enjoy.... full info
Joined: June 18th 2005
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Darth VisorDarth Visor
Darth Visor

Everwhere around china, you see people wearing these visors. They dont wear helmets. Just visors that are huge. Hence the name given by my sister. I guess oakley must be out of fashion here..
Masjid at BozhouMasjid at Bozhou
Masjid at Bozhou

I did my maghrib and ishak before the train to beijing here. Unfortunately there were only 4 of us in the mosque.
They had real models. Not just manequins!! They had real models. Not just manequins!!
They had real models. Not just manequins!!

Real models walking behind windows at Bozhou


Comment on Muslims in Hefei..




Comments
Date: 24th June 2005


you make me proud man!!!!

From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..
Date: 24th June 2005


Dont give up writing. We all sit together reading it. Miss u already. Love u

From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..
Date: 25th June 2005


yo, mail....u mean only non-muslim chinese croak their throat and spit all over?? chinese-muslims dont do that?....or maybe just not in the mosque? its culture, not religion man.....u know me, heheh....a bit offended okay! :)

From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..
Date: 27th June 2005

nice get-up
haha wat r u?mail croft izit? check u out in ur tomb raider outfit in the first pic..all u need are a pair of double DDs and some skin tight leather shorts and ure set for showbiz =P theyve got some pretty amazing things goin there dont they..n u seem to be experiencing every inch of the culture..good on u..anyway, keep posting..im having fun laughin at ur silly antics..take care..wslm.god bless.

From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..
Date: 28th June 2005

Respect!
Ail, doing a fine job dude, keep it up, and keep the fun stories coming! Your stories are always nice lunch-break reads. China looks damn cool. By the way, just for yr info, those bamboo sticks they use for construction, they're called bamboo scaffolds. Very strong (and cheap) stuff, very commonly used in Indon also. May the force be with you!

From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..


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