Highlights Of The Educational Tour To Malaysia

Bunga Mas

The Bunga Mas is a symbolic item which represent the relationship of both country. It is made of quality gold, was a special gift sent triennial by the Sultana of the Northern Malay States of Kedah, Kelantan, Terrenganu and Patani to the once powerful King of Siam as a symbol of friendship. The sending of the Bunga Mas began in the 14th century until the end of 19th century in a colourful ceremony accompanied by four spears with gilded shafts, a keris encrusted with precious stones, a spittoon, a tobacco box, a bouquet of betel leaves, and two rings. The King of Siam reciprocated with gifts of similar value. This show the important of friendship to maintain the peacefulness and harmonies of countries.

Bronze Bell

The bronze bell which may look like some kind of musical bell, but this artefact apparently had a more practical purpose. It was a bell used for elephants. Dating to the Bronze Age, the elephant bell was found in Kampung Pancu, in Muar. This show the creativity of the communities.

Jar or urn burial

The jar or urn burial is a practice among communities in Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu. The form of jar burial practiced among the tribes in Sabah and Sarawak where the remains of more than one individual are interred in a single jar. The cadavers are left to decompose at a site that is safe from wild animals and later, the skull and bones are collected and arranged in a jar that is then placed on the floor of limestone caves. Meanwhile, the Kelabit people of Sarawak are known to gather burial um close to megalithic structures that are raised deep in the jungle. This ritual could show the grieves and respect of the remains in the ancient time.

The exhibited I choose would be the blouse and batik sarong wear by the Babas Nyonyas (Peranakan Chinese) because it represent the combination of culture of the Malay and Chinese. The Peranakan Chinese, also called Straits Chinese and referred it as Babas (men) and Nyonyas (women) constitute a very well known group in Melaka. The Chinese then married the local females and their distinct background, cultures and customs blended together harmoniously and became baba nyonya in “Peranakan” culture. They are the descendents of Chinese people who came to Melaka and settle there, begining in the 15th century. Socialising with local people and marrying with other races led the group to adapt to Malay culture while preserving their Chinese identity, religion and cultural heritage.

The community is famous for the unique character of the culture it developed. Not only do its people speak fluent Malay, but their women folk enjoy wearing a batik sarung and a kebaya (long blouse), complete with kerongsang (brooches) like Malay ladies. The community is also famous for its collection of ceramics in strong, bright colours- red, green and yellow, as well as their skill in making beautiful, multicoloured, beaded embroidery. Apart from Melaka, there are Straits Chinese communities in Penang and Singapore.

The clothing of baba nyonya for me is pretty and attractive because it is a unique blend of cultural influences. The The blouse called kebaya pendek was worn with a batik sarong by Straits Chinese women. The combination was very well known in Melaka, Penang and Singapore early in the 20th century. The blouse is embroidered at the edges and the ends of the sleeves and was worn with three decorative brooches (kerongsang).They also developed their own batik patterns, which incorporate symbol from China. The kebaya enicm fit well with vibrant-colored kain batik pesisiran, which incorporated symbols and motives from China for example dragon, phoenix, peony and lotus.

Although Malaysia is a small country, it consists lots of persistence and laborious on the road to obtain independent. I feel proud to Malaysia because it is not easy to achieve independent because it required a lot of hardship from our forebear. Malaysia is a country with multiracial, I feel appreciate to live in Malaysia, this give a chance for me to interact with different races and we can share our custom and cultural together. Malaysia is a country that rich with natural resources that can increase our economic growth and enable us to compete with other country such as petroleum, tin and more. Malaysia also a country away from natural disaster which can let the citizens to live safely and peacefully.

After this tour, I feel that it is necessary to be a responsible citizen to avoid any misunderstanding of each other to maintain the peacefulness and harmonies of our country. In our daily life, we should practice to be tolerate to avoid any argument with others to maintain the relationship. We should be patriotic to our country, respect and follow the law and regulation to decrease the happening of crimes. We should be generosity and willing to lend a hand for someone who need the help. So that this can create a social that full of warmness.

During the tour, I observe that there was a family of tourist visiting the same gallery with me. Their children were running around the gallery and shout loudly in the gallery, their parents realized that we were watching at them only stop their children. Running in the gallery may disturb other visitors, accidentally injured themselves or cause the damage of exhibited. I think that they should educate their children to behave themselves at the public place.

National Museum provide an excellent introduction to Malaysia’s history, economy, geography, arts, crafts and culture, which is a attractive tourist region. From the tour, I have been given a chance to learn a lot about the historical incident and increase the knowledge about the formation of Malaysia. This was an memorable memories for me because it was my second time to visit the museum and I realized that was lots of change compare with my first time visit. I think that it is convenient to go to there because it near the MRT station. Feel grateful to Miss Sara which organized this tour for us and take care about of all of us.

Conclusion

Times flies, as the time changes human beings are constantly progressing, most of the historical incident, costume and culture is slowly forgotten by the new generation. The newborns generation should be well educated to know about the history of the country so that they will respect and appreciate what they have nowadays. Those historic exhibits and buildings which should be preserve better so it can be last forever. The peacefulness of country required the coordination of Malaysian to achieve it. For a Malaysian, we have to take our responsible to protect and maintain the harmonies of our country. We should also feel appreciate and grateful for the independent of Malaysia.