First of all let me tell you about the Edge of the World. It is officially known as Jebel Fihrayn and is part of the Tawaiq Escarpment about 62 miles from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is SO dramatic. I stood on a high escarpment – the land falls away abruptly into an ENORMOUS desert plain. There is a delicious surprise, to know it was once the remains of an ancient sea. So what looks like desert was once marine life and water. THEN I just found out that it it was also an ancient route through Saudi Arabia, people had been traveling along here for centuries. I was not the first. Hahaha
It was so quiet there – well except for me. There was no buildings, therefore no traffic nor city noise – just endless landscape. It almost makes you dizzy thinking I was standing at once was at the bottom of the sea. I was there at the edge of the sea watching the sun go down over the remains of an ancient sea. A total surprise greeted me when darkness arrived points of light appeared throughout the vastness. Villages scattered at some distance from one another – all made possible because of modern technology. You shall see a photo. It was not just pinpoints, it was almost a light show.
It was not easy to get there, believe you me. Needed a high clearance 4 by 4. No roads. As we bumped along, me looking out the window I could not understand the presence of tens, if not hundreds of high tech power lines that were stretching out into what seemed to be, nowhere. It was nowhere when I first arrived, but then the light show.
Now, let me tell you why, and how, I was brought back to the Edge of the World. I will do so by showing you a photo (at the conclusion of the blog) but first telling you what I wrote to my WhatsAppers.
Me: Good morning!! I was FINALLY able to get rid of Mickey Mouse from my Apple Watch. This photo captured me at the Edge of the World on August 6, 2023. The photo an accidental find. Will talk about It on my blog in a couple of days.
I did get one or two amusing responses. Here is one.
She: Good morning. Yay? I didn’t realize you had Mickey Mouse issues with your watch. Hahaha
Me: I did have issues but Mickey is gone from my life. Easy come, easy go. Hahaha 😂
She: And nice, must’ve been an amazing memory.
Me: AND I get to relive it by writing about it. It is SO coincidental that it HAS to be Allah. Alhamdulillah.
After this moment in time was brought back to memory I tried to retrieve it in greater detail. Typed in Edge of the World in the search engine of the blog. Found out that I did not write about it in any detail at all, just included a couple of photos. That is because there is a reel recorded by the tour guide. I do not know if it landed on my YouTube because my YouTube has only brought me grief and I cannot bear to watch it even though it is on television in every room I habituate. I was most enthusiastic as I recall – speaking of how this ‘discovery’ was made more meaningful because of my faith. I tried to hunt it down. I succeeded and think I will put in on Instagram as a Story. Why not?? If so I will let you know. Hahaha
This left me with the desire to know more about the Edge of the World. My recent research revels that this shallow sea came from the Jurassic period, well over a 150 million years ago. There are fossil records which prove this,
Thought more about the experience, trying to recall why I had removed it from my memory bank. It was because I was betrayed, eventually, by the tour guide that brought me there. I will not go into detail as I do not want to remember it all. Briefly it was all a ploy for me to invest $200,000 US dollars into his tour company. I did not as his true motivation and nature was shown to me. His initials, his nickname was FAKE – and it ended up he was. I laugh now at the coincidence. He insisted that he be called AK rather than FAKE – I did but then but now now. Hahaha No idea what happened to him but Saudi Arabia is not a tourist destination, except for the holy sites, because of this war.
I look at FAKE’s betrayal differently these days. This showed up on Instagram, I captured it as a photo and it too will be shown at the end of the blog. “The only reason for Allah allowing people to hurt you, is that your heart does not find solace with them. By means of the hurt caused to you, He sets you free from people so nothing makes you neglectful of your True Master.”
So now I just say PHEW. I am certainly happy I did not invest my hard-earned money into his company. He also used me during my travels – insisting that customers paid for travel guide’s meals at expensive restaurants for example. Too bad, so sad FAKE. I was so surprised, I was a new Muslim and thought somehow that Muslims were honest. I have now learned this. Islam is perfect; Muslims are not. Allah (SWT) will judge him – already has it seems.
He did serve a purpose in my life. It was because of him that I returned to Saudi Arabia from my (then) home in Canada. I was in Saudi Arabia on October 7 when Gaza began. I learned that I would not be safe in Edmonton either because of the rampant Islamophobia. I learned that from the Edmonton mosque, not media. So I gave up my apartment and all of the possessions I had gathered in Edmonton and stayed in Saudi Arabia. Then I ‘accidentally’ and ‘coincidentally’ came to live in Penang. Then with much effort and money was able to obtain a ten year Sarawak visa. I had the money, I suddenly realize, because I did not invest in FAKE’s failing business. PHEW. Allah (SWT) was indeed with me.
Researching further found that the shallow sea came from the Jurassic period, well over a 150 million years ago. There are fossil records which prove this, Finally something older than me. Hahaha
Just think, my watch is carrying a little peace of my life into my Malaysian one. The Edge of the World is keeping time with me. Hahaha
It was with me yesterday, September 28, when I went on a tour around the island. I have lived in Penang for over two years but never done this. What an adventure it was. Sandman was born and has lived in Penang his whole life so he was an excellent guide. Out first stop was the Floating Mosque. I had visited it multiple times in the past because it is near the stay apartment at Paradise Beach resort where I lived for about four months. It is definitely NOT paradise, (rather the opposite) but the place did have a great view and I took many incredible sunrise photos. During my visits to the Floating Mosque I totally bonded with a wonderful woman. I have a treasured photo of she helping me tie my hijab. I will find it and put it on my blog. We had a blessed reunion. I had probably not been to the Floating Mosque in at least a year. I was so anxious approaching the mosque with Sandman, thoughts ran through my mind.
Me: Will she be here? If she is here will she remember me???
But then this.
She: Alaa you are back!! I have been thinking of you!
Me: I am back and I have a ten year visa. I am here to stay!
She: Alhamdullah.
Hunger struck. We drove along the coastal road with its trees and vistas. There are a number of hotels. I had dined at the Shangri-La before. I returned, the service was impeccable. I had rack of lamb. Yummy to my tummy. We drove by the Butterfly Farm, not stopping there. Sandman clearly knows we well. We instead went to the Craft Batik. What a place. Batik clothing and accessories and it was the factory. I watched batik being made, the application of wax and color. I said to one of my WhatsApp friends.
Me: Good morning. I think I will just appreciate the work of others. Visit the factory often and urge others to do so. Such a wonderful career to be able to do that for a living. I will dress in my new batik and make that my good morning greeting and talk about it on the blog and maybe feature on instagram You have inspired me. I do not have the time or talent to learn it myself but can support others.
She: Good morning. That’s lovely to support then. A wonderful career indeed.
Me: I love your attitude and outlook on life! Alhamdulillah.
Back to yesterday, we then traveled to a damn. Asked AI for information about its construction. Then it was back to Lyf. It is going to take about three trips to leisurely see and learn about the sights, have delicious lunches and marvel at my blessings – being in Malaysia at this time of my life. Alhamdulillah
I will tell you more about the damn and the inspiring conversation I had with the blessed woman at the Floating Mosque in future blogs. I dimly recall her telling me that her brother was responsible for the calls to prayer. I promised I would be back to see her often. I am so blessed to have the mobility Sandman provides. Alhamdulillah. I feel more at home here at Penang Lyf then I have ever felt anywhere my whole long life. Alhamdulillah.
Photographs taken at the Edge of the World, my new watch face. Then photos from yesterday and my marvelous blue batik dress – to match my eyes and my finger nails. Hahaha
