Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor

Sunday, 15 November 2026

MALAY FOLKLORE : SANG KELEMBAI

SANG KELEMBAI — the giantess who turns anything into stone just by speaking to it.

In Malay folklore, she is one of the oldest and most feared ogresses. Her name, Sang, is an honorific title for mythical figures.

What she looked like

She was described as thrice the size of a normal human, ugly and terrifying — thick bushy eyebrows, a big flat nose, huge elephant-like ears flapping, and fangs sticking out of her mouth.

Her real terror wasn't her looks. It was her Sumpahan—the Curse of Sang Kelembai. Anyone or anything she greeted would instantly turn to stone.

Her origin is said to be the hinterland of Pahang, along the Pahang River, but her legend is everywhere in Malaysia — every strange rock formation has a story about her.

The Legend

Before she was cursed, she wasn't evil at all.

She lived on the banks of the Pahang River, eating fruits, meat and the soft shoots at the top of bamboo plants. She loved playing with children, and the villagers liked her, even feeding her.

Then the curse started.

1. The first victims: She greeted a mother elephant and her calf in the forest, and they turned to stone before her eyes. The next day she walked into a village feast and greeted a cook — he turned to stone. She tried to apologise to others, and they too turned to stone.

2. The old man and the word "sila": Once, an old man with poor eyesight was cooking a big pot of broth. He didn't recognise her and invited her, saying, "Sila, sila" — come, come. She didn't want to answer because she knew what would happen. In her haste to run away, she tripped, got a fit of latah (startle), and blurted back, "Sila, sila." The old man instantly turned to stone. In grief and anger, Sang Kelembai lifted his huge cooking pot and threw it into the Pahang River.

After that, she became a depressed wanderer, hiding from people.

3. How the villagers tricked her: Villagers who heard she was coming wanted to scare her away. They put a toothless old woman in a baby cradle, placed tortoises around it, and stuck short bamboo stumps around the cradle.

When Sang Kelembai found it on her way out of the orchards, she thought,

'That huge old woman was a giant baby.'
The tortoises were giant fleas.
The bamboo stumps were sugarcane; the baby was eating

She was terrified — if the baby is this big, how big are the adults of this village? Thinking she had entered a village of giants stronger than her, she ran into the deep jungle and was never seen again.

Her stones are still here — according to oral history.

That's why so many places claim to be her work:

Lata Kinjang, Perak: The giant footprint etched on the rocks is said to be Sang Kelembai's footprint. A large hollow nearby is believed to be where she laid her child to rest. The legend there says her beloved child was crushed by a bayam tree, and while carrying the body, she passed a wedding in Kampar. A guest mocked her; she cursed the whole wedding party to stone — now known as Batu Bersanding (the Boulders Sitting Side by Side).

Kota Gelanggi Caves, Jerantut, Pahang: A complex of limestone caves said to be the remains of an ancient kingdom called Gelang Kiu. The story goes the princess was to marry Raja Usul of Bera, but Raja Mambang of Lipis also wanted her. After Raja Mambang was killed, his father summoned Sang Kelembai for revenge — she cursed the entire kingdom to stone.

In Perak especially, many villages say hills that look like cut animals, or boulders that look like people sitting at a feast, are all victims of her curse.

The moral the old folks always told: Don't mock grief, and be careful with your words — because in Sang Kelembai's world, a simple greeting could be the last thing someone hears.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

15 November 2026: 12:28 a.m.

Saturday, 14 November 2026

FEMALE MUSLIM WARRIORS IN HISTORY

Islamic history has a long line of women who fought—not just as supporters behind the lines, but as front-line fighters, commanders, and rulers who led armies.

Here are the most remembered, from the earliest period to the early modern era:

1. The earliest companions - 7th century

Nusaybah bint Ka'ab / Umm Ammarah — From Medina, one of the early converts. She fought at Uhud in 625, defending the Prophet Muhammad himself with a sword and bow after the Muslim lines broke. Historians list her as fighting at Uhud and later battles.

Khawlah bint al-Azwar — The most famous "black knight" of early Islam. When her brother Dirar was captured by the Byzantines, she put on armour, covered her face with a green shawl, and charged the enemy ranks. Khalid ibn al-Walid thought she was Khalid himself until she revealed herself. She fought at Adnayn, Ajnadayn, and took command at the Battle of Yarmouk in 636 against the Byzantine Empire.

Safiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib — The Prophet's aunt. During the Battle of the Trench, she killed a Jewish spy who approached the women's fort with a tent pole — the first to do so in defence of the community.

Umm Hakim bint al-Harith — Wife of Ikrimah ibn Abu Jahal. Fought at Marj al-Safar after her wedding day, killing seven Byzantine soldiers with a tent pole.

Ghazala al-Haruriyya — Leader of the Kharijite movement in the late 7th century. A feared commander who led troops against the Umayyad governor al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf and was known for her eloquence and bravery in battle.

Aisha bint Abi Bakr led her own forces at the Battle of the Camel (Jamal) in 656, the first civil war in Islam. The battle is named for the camel she directed from.

2. Queens and sultans who led armies

Al-Kahina - Dihya of the Aurès — Berber queen in present-day Algeria, 7th century. She united Berber tribes and led a fierce resistance against the Umayyad conquest of North Africa for five years.

Arwa al-Sulayhi — Queen of Yemen, reigned 1067-1138. Known as al-Sayyida al-Hurra, she ruled for over 50 years, commanded armies, and secured the Sulayhid state.

Razia Sultana—The first and only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate, 1236-1240. She refused to be called Sultana and took the title Sultan, led her troops into battle herself, dressed in male military attire, and administered justice from the battlefield.

3. The sea and the frontier

Sayyida al-Hurra — Pirate queen of Tétouan, Morocco. Ruled from 1515 to 1542 for 27 years, and was one of the most important figures in the Mediterranean. After being expelled from Granada, she built a navy allied with the Ottoman admiral Oruç Barbarossa and controlled the western Mediterranean through privateering against the Spanish and Portuguese.

Lalla Fatma N'Soumer — 19th-century Kabyle leader in Algeria, 1830-1857. Sufi scholar and military strategist who led resistance against French colonial conquest until her capture.

Queen Arawelo — Legendary 15th-century Somali queen in oral tradition, said to have led an army of women and challenged patriarchal structures.

Why they are remembered in Islamic sources

Early jurists made a clear distinction: jihad was not obligatory for women, but defensive fighting was not only permitted but praised. The hadith literature records women like Umm Sulaym carrying a dagger at Hunayn and Umm Atiyya nursing and defending.

Many of their stories survived because of three details historians kept noting:

They used what they had — tent poles, water skins, and headscarves turned into banners.
They fought unveiled or disguised, which broke expectations so much that chroniclers recorded it.
They were later invoked as role models for both piety and courage, not as exceptions.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 November 2026: 7:37 p.m.

MUSLIM FIGURE: KHAWLA BINTI AL-AZWAR, WOMAN MUSLIM WARRIOR

Khawla bint al-Azwar (Arabic: خولة بنت الأزور) was a renowned 7th-century Arab Muslim warrior, nurse, and poet who served in the Rashidun army during the Muslim conquest of the Levant. Often celebrated as one of the greatest female soldiers in history, she fought alongside her brother, the prominent commander Dhiraar ibn al-Azwar.

Background and Early Life

Tribal Roots. She was the daughter of Malik (or Tariq) ibn Aws, also known as Al-Azwar, a chief of the Banu Asad tribe who embraced Islam in its early days.
Martial Training. Her brother Dhiraar trained her from a young age in swordsmanship, lance mastery, and horsemanship.
Other Talents. Beyond her combat skills, Khawla was a skilled poet and served on the frontlines as a medical organiser and nurse tending to wounded Muslim soldiers.

Notable Military Exploits:

Rescue at the Battle of Ajnadayn (634). When Byzantine forces captured her brother Dhiraar, Khawla disguised herself in black armour and a green shawl. She charged the enemy lines alone with such ferocity that Commander Khalid ibn al-Walid and his troops initially mistook her for Khalid himself before she revealed her identity and helped rescue the prisoners.
Siege of Damascus and Escape. After being captured by Byzantine soldiers during the campaigns in Syria, Khawla rallied her fellow female prisoners to fight back. Using tent poles and wooden pegs as makeshift weapons, she led the women in defeating their guards and escaping before reinforcements arrived.
Major Campaigns. According to biographical records on Wikipedia, her military service spanned from 629 to 636, including key engagements at the Battle of Sanita al-Uqab, the Battle of Ajnadayn, and the Battle of Yarmuk.

Historical Perspective and Legacy:

Symbol of Courage. Across the Muslim world, Khawla is remembered as a symbol of bravery, devotion, and female empowerment. Schools, streets, and the first military college for women in the Gulf region have been named in her honour.
Historical Debate. While she is widely celebrated in traditional narratives, opinions are mixed regarding her historical documentation. On Reddit, some users highlight her as an overlooked hero who deserves greater recognition, while others note that her exploits are primarily recorded in the classical text Futuh al-Sham, whose authorship and historical corroboration are debated by some historians.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 November 2026: 4:57 p.m.

MUSLIM FIGURES: MARIAM AL-ASTURLABI

Mariam al-Asturlabi is really al-Ijliyya bint al-Ijli al-Asturlabi – the name "Mariam" is a modern popular name that still needs corroboration. The historical sources just call her al-Ijliyya.

Who she was

A 10th-century professional astrolabe maker who worked in Aleppo, in what is now northern Syria. She was the daughter of a well-known astrolabe maker, al-Ijli al-Asturlabi.

Her only contemporary mention comes from Ibn al-Nadim's al-Fihrist (d. 998). He lists al-Ijli al-Asturlabi, pupil of Bitolus, "and his daughter al-Ijliya, who was with Sayf al-Dawla; she was the pupil of Bitolus."

"Bitolus" is identified as Muhammad ibn Abd Allah Nastulus, the Baghdad craftsman who made one of the oldest surviving astrolabes, dated 927/928. So father and daughter learnt in the same workshop tradition.

"al-Asturlabi" is not a family name - it means "the astrolabe maker", like a job title.

What she did

She developed and manufactured astrolabes – the planispheric analogue computer of the time used to tell time, measure star altitude, find dawn, and determine the qibla direction to Mecca.

She is the only woman Ibn al-Nadim lists among instrument makers of her time.

She worked at the court of the Hamdanid Emir Sayf al-Dawla, who reigned 944-967 in Aleppo. His court was a major centre of learning. The source only says she was "with" him - historians read it as employed at court. The claims online that she was hired for "intricate and innovative designs" are later retellings, not in the old source.

What she did NOT do

She did not invent the astrolabe; she MADE astrolabes. It goes back to the ancient Greek world, refined later by Islamic artisans.
No signed astrolabe by her survives today.

What we don't know:

Birth/death dates, birthplace, and first name are all unconfirmed. Many popular sites say 944-967, but historians say dates are unknown.
No books by her are verified.

Legacy

Despite the tiny source footprint, her legacy is real:

Asteroid 7060 Al-'Ijliya, discovered by Henry E. Holt at Palomar in 1990, was named in her honour in 2016.
Recognised by 1001 Inventions as an extraordinary woman of the Islamic Golden Age.

In short: a trained woman craftswoman-scientist in 10th-century Aleppo, skilled enough in mathematics, metalwork and observational astronomy to serve a royal court – remarkable at a time when instrument making was considered high-status applied science.

References:

Imran Jalna: Mariam al-Asturlabi (al-Ijliyya): The Woman Astrolabe Maker of Aleppo.
Aele Qutub: Mariam al-Asturlabi.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 November 2026: 4:45 p.m.

MUSLIM FIGURES: NUSAYBAH BINTI KA'AB

Nusaybah bint Ka'ab (also widely known as Umm Umarah) was one of the most courageous female companions (Sahabiyat) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and is celebrated as the first female warrior in Islamic history. Hailing from the Banu Najjar clan of the Ansar in Medina, she earned the title "The Shield of the Prophet" for her fearless defence of him on the battlefield.

Here is an overview of her remarkable life, struggles, and sacrifices:

1. Early Conversion and Pledge of Allegiance

Nusaybah was among the earliest residents of Medina to embrace Islam through the teachings of Mus'ab ibn Umayr. She was one of only two women present to directly pledge their loyalty and protection to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during the historic Second Pledge of Al-Aqabah.

2. "Living Shield" at the Battle of Uhud (3 AH)

The Battle of Uhud marked the defining moment of Nusaybah’s bravery.

Initial Role: She originally entered the battlefield alongside her husband (Ghaziyah ibn Amr) and two sons (Abdullah and Habib) as part of the medical and support team, carrying water and tending to wounded soldiers.
Defending the Prophet: When the Muslim army scattered after archers abandoned their posts, the Prophet ﷺ was left dangerously exposed to enemy attacks. Seeing this critical situation, Nusaybah immediately picked up a sword, a shield, and a bow to fend off enemies closing in on him.
Severe Injuries: She sustained 12 severe wounds during the battle, including a deep gash on her neck that took an entire year to heal.
The Prophet's Prayer: Deeply moved by her valour, the Prophet ﷺ remarked, "Whenever I turned to the right or to the left on the Day of Uhud, I saw Nusaybah fighting in front of me to protect me." He then prayed for her: "O Allah, make Nusaybah and her family my companions in Paradise."

3. Participation in Other Major Campaigns

Nusaybah’s dedication did not end at Uhud. She continued to actively participate in several key Islamic events and military expeditions:

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah
The Battle of Khaybar
The Battle of Hunayn

4. The Battle of Yamamah and the Martyrdom of Her Son

After the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, during the caliphate of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, a false prophet named Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab sparked a rebellion.

Nusaybah’s son, Habib ibn Zayd, was captured by Musaylimah and brutally tortured—having his limbs severed one by one—for refusing to acknowledge Musaylimah as a prophet. Habib died a martyr.
Driven by faith and a desire for justice, Nusaybah (who was elderly at the time) marched into the Battle of Yamamah alongside her surviving son, Abdullah.
During the fierce fighting, Nusaybah lost one of her hands and suffered multiple new injuries. Her sacrifice was fulfilled when her son Abdullah succeeded in striking down and killing Musaylimah.

Passing

Nusaybah bint Ka'ab passed away a few years after the Battle of Yamamah, around 13 AH (during the early caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khattab). She was buried in the Al-Baqi' cemetery in Medina. Her legacy endures as a timeless symbol of courage, unwavering faith, and ultimate sacrifice.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14/11/2026: 3:44 p.m.

Friday, 13 November 2026

A SHIP LOST IN HISTORY - THE TALE OF THE FLOR DE LA MAR

The Portuguese Nau, the Fall of Melaka & The Lost Wreck

If you've ever stood in Melaka, looking out at the Strait, you've looked at one of the world's most legendary graveyards for treasure. And at the bottom of that story is a single ship: the Flor de la Mar.

This isn't just a story about a shipwreck. It's about empire, conquest, and how history turns into legend.

The Ship That Built an Empire

In the early 1500s, Portugal was building the most advanced ocean-going machines in the world. The nau, or carrack, was their masterpiece - high-sided, heavy, built to carry cannons and cargo across oceans.

The Flor de la Mar, also called Flor do Mar, was one of them. Built in Lisbon around 1501-1502, she was huge for her time. For nearly a decade, she served as a workhorse of the Portuguese Asian campaign, a floating fortress and warehouse.

Her most famous commander would be the man who changed this region forever: Afonso de Albuquerque.

1511: When Melaka Fell

In July-August 1511, Albuquerque led the Portuguese fleet that conquered the Sultanate of Melaka. It was a pivotal moment. Melaka was the richest port in Southeast Asia, the centre of the spice trade.

When the city fell, the Portuguese seized its warehouses, its palaces, and its treasury.

And they needed a ship big enough to take it all home.

The Final Voyage - 20 January 1512

On 20 January 1512, Albuquerque boarded the Flor de la Mar to return to Goa, India. The fleet left Melaka loaded with what the infographic simply calls "valuable goods and spoils from Melaka" - the wealth of a fallen kingdom.

She never made it.

Somewhere off the northern tip of Sumatra, near what we now know as Aceh, the overloaded ship was caught in a storm. The old chronicles say she was too heavy, too unseaworthy to survive rough seas.

The Flor de la Mar went down between 1511 and 1512. Albuquerque survived, but the ship and most of her cargo were lost.

On the map, it’s marked with a single red X in the Indian Ocean: Site of the wreck (near Aceh).

For over 500 years, that X has moved. Some accounts say Aru; others say Tima and Pedir. The exact location has never been conclusively established.

Fact vs. Legend: Is There a Treasure?

This is where history ends and Hollywood begins.

What history says is true:

The Flor de la Mar was real.
She was built in Lisbon and really did carry valuable cargo and treasures from Melaka.
She was truly lost on the return voyage.

What legend claims:

That she was carrying tonnes of solid gold, chests of diamonds, and the loot of an entire empire.
That a fortune in gold lies intact on the seabed.

The truth?

Later sources greatly magnified the quantity and value of the treasure. The claims of solid gold bars are not supported by contemporary historical sources. The ship was carrying riches, yes, but the image of a seabed paved with gold is a myth that grew with each retelling.

As the infographic puts it perfectly:

"The treasure is a legend. The ship and its loss are history."

Why We Still Look

So why do people still search the waters off northern Sumatra?

Because the Flor de la Mar represents something more than gold. She was there when the world changed. She carried the wealth of Melaka at the exact moment Melaka fell from Malay hands into European hands - the start of 500 years of colonial history in this region.

A great ship, a pivotal conquest, and a mystery that endures.

A ship lost in history — and a mystery that remains beneath the waters of northern Sumatra.

IS THERE ANY SOURCE ABOUT THIS?

Yes – this story is well documented, but you have to separate the primary 16th-century sources from the later treasure-hunting legends.

Here are the main sources:

1. Primary Sources – The image itself

Francisco Rodrigues – Roteiro de Malaca (Malacca Rutter), before 1515

The drawing of the Flor de la Mar in my infographic comes from this. It’s the first atlas / rutter of the East Indies drawn by a Portuguese pilot who was in Melaka right after the conquest. The book also includes maps, nautical rules and an almanack.

Tomé Pires, Armando Cortesão, Francisco Rodrigues (1990 edition) – The Suma Oriental of Tome Pires, 1512-1515

Pires was in Melaka at the same time. His account is used by historians to describe the conquest and the loss of the ship.

Afonso de Albuquerque's own letters/commentaries

Commentarios do grande Afonso Dalboquerque (1774 edition, original letters from 1511-1512) – Albuquerque himself wrote about what was saved: "Nothing was saved except the crown and sword of gold and the ruby ring sent by the king of Siam to King D. Manuel" and mentions the bronze lions from the Sultan of Melaka he wanted for his own tomb.
João de Barros – Décadas da Ásia (1552-59), vol. 3 – the official Portuguese chronicle of Asia.

2. What the modern histories say

Built: Lisbon shipyards, 1502, 400-tonne carrack, largest of its time and
Career: Only completed one full India run, constantly sprung leaks in the Mozambique Channel, then used for the conquest of Socotra, Ormuz, Goa (1510) and Melaka (1511).
Wreck: When Flor de la Mar came out of Malacca in late 1511 and sailed along the northeast Sumatran state of Pasé in the Strait of Malacca, she was caught in a storm and wrecked on some shoals... and sank during the night of 20 November 1511, off Timia Point in the Kingdom of Aru, Sumatra. Her wreck remains undiscovered.
A replica of Flor do Mar is housed in the Maritime Museum in Malacca, Malaysia.

3. Why the treasure story is disputed

Researcher Pascal Kainic at Ocean Treasures sums it up:

"Since her loss in early 1512 and until nowadays, no effort was spared to try to locate her remains and salvage the immense treasures she was said to be carrying."

But he notes the original report actually says, 'Much of the tin money was lost in the Flor do Mar, not tonnes of solid gold.' Later treasure hunters exaggerated it to "more than 80 tonnes of intricately worked gold objects" and tables worth 80,000 cruzados.

Modern salvage attempts – including a reported US$20 million search funded under President Soeharto and searches in 1989-1992 off Tamiang and Pasai – found only old anchors and a WWII wreck, nothing of Flor de la Mar.

The most balanced modern book on it:

Sérgio Luís de Carvalho, A flor de la mar: 1510-1515 com Albuquerque na Índia (1993)
Diffie & Winius, Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415-1580 (1977)

If you want to see the ship in person, the Melaka Maritime Museum (Muzium Samudera) has the full-scale replica built from the Rodrigues drawing.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

13 November 2026: 11:45 p.m.

Thursday, 12 November 2026

THE LAST DAY: LEAVING THE SERVICE

LK KMR Zulheimy Maamor, K.D. LEKIR, 1980-1996

No one warns you about the last day.

They warn you about the first. The shouting, the drill, the seasickness that makes you question every decision you ever made. The first time you climb the brow of a warship and realise this grey steel monster is now your home.

The ship is my home, the sea is my playground and war is my game.

But they don't warn you about the last of you with the navy.

I thought leaving the Navy would be the hardest part. I was wrong.

Leaving the uniform is one thing, but leaving the brotherhood is quite another.

The Duffel Bag

On my last morning, my kit feels heavier. Not because I had packed more, but because I packed less. No more sea bag inspections. No more folding your uniform the Navy way. Just a civilian bag. A duffel that holds 16 years of a life and somehow still looks too empty.

I walk down the pier that I've walked a thousand times. This time, the jetty is wet. Maybe it rained. Maybe it's just the dampness of Lumut Naval Base. Maybe it's my eyes.

Behind me, K.D. LEKIR sits at F26, mooring tight. Radar turning. The young sailors are still on the fo'c'sle, dressed in their white uniforms. For two years (1989-1991), I was one of them. Today, I stand watching, knowing that soon I will be leaving behind a life that has become part of who I am.

The Hardest Realisation

The hardest part was not handing in your ID. Not the discharge papers. Not taking off the cap with K.D. LEKIR on the tally for the last time.

The hardest part was realising that I would never again stand shoulder to shoulder with the men who had became my family.

In the Navy, brotherhood is not a slogan. It's the man who takes your watch when you're feverish. The man who shares his last cigarette during a midnight watch in the Indian Ocean. The man who knows how you like your coffee at 0300 because you've stood that same watch together for years.

You learned to thrust these men with your life. You share the hardships, the dangers, the laughter and the occasional moments of frustration. You celebrate victories together and face difficulties together.

On land, you have friends. At sea, you have family. And on the last day, you leave them.

Two Kinds of Departures

Some ships leave the pier. I had watched them a hundred times. The lines let go, the tug pulls, and the water opens up. A clean departure.

But some memories never do. They stay moored. They don't fade with time. The smell of fuel oil and fresh paint. The sound of the 1MC (loudspeaker system that goes to every space on the ship). The sound of boots on the steel deck. The way the deck moves under you even when you are ashore.

You leave the ship. The ship never really leaves you.

If you served from 1980 to 1996, you served through a different Navy. There were no smartphones, no instant messages, no video calls, no Facebooks, no Instagrams, no WhatsApps, no TikTok, etc.... Letters that took days to write and weeks to arrive. A chart, a compass and trust in the man standing watch beside you.

That era is gone. It was a different navy, a different generation and a different way of life, but the men who lived it carry it forever.

Times have changed. Technology has advanced. Ships have become more sophisticated. But one thing remains unchanged: the spirit of camaraderie among sailors.

Life After the Uniform

Leaving the Navy does not simply mean changing the jobs. It means leaving behind a way of life.

Suddenly, there are no more watchkeeping duties, no more morning musters, no more sailing orders and no more familiar faces waiting for you aboard ship.

Civilian life begins, bringing its own challenges and responsibilities.

Yet, no matter how far we travel or how many years pass, there will always be something inside us that responds to a familiar naval command, a ship's whistle or the sight of a warship sailing towards the horizon.

The uniform may be folded away, but the sailor within never really retires.

Once a Sailor

To the young LK KMR who first stepped aboard in 1980, and to the man who walked off in 1996 — you did not just serve. You belonged.

Sixteen years of service cannot be measured merely by the number of ships sailed, ports visited, exercises conducted or miles travelled across the oceans.

They are measured by the friendships forged, the hardships endured, the lessons learned and the memories that remain long after the uniform is put away.

And to anyone standing on that wet pier right now, duffel bag in hand, looking back one last time: it's okay to feel lost. It's supposed to hurt. If it didn't hurt, it didn't mean anything.

You are not leaving the brotherhood. You are just changing the watch.

The Navy may no longer be your workplace, but it will always be part of your identity.

Once a sailor. Always a sailor.

Dedicated to all RMN veterans, especially the officers and sailors of the ships that I had the honour of serving aboard. To those who sailed together and shared the challenges of life at sea – thank you for the memories.

Fair winds and following seas.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Former Royal Malaysian Navy

1980 - 1996

12 November 2026: 11:33 p.m.

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

MY TRAVEL INFO (OVERSEA)

Travelling abroad during working days can be an exhilarating experience, blending professional commitments with the thrill of exploring new cultures. Whether it's for a conference, a business meeting, or a project collaboration, these trips often provide unique opportunities to network and learn.

One of the best aspects of travelling for work is the chance to immerse yourself in different environments. You can savour local cuisines, visit iconic landmarks, and engage with locals, all while balancing your professional responsibilities.

To make the most of your travel, consider these tips:

Plan Ahead: Schedule meetings and work commitments efficiently to allow for some leisure time.
Stay Organised: Keep all travel documents, itineraries, and work materials in one place for easy access.
Embrace the Culture: Take time to explore the local culture, whether it’s trying new foods or visiting historical sites.
Network: Use this opportunity to connect with colleagues and professionals in your field, which can lead to future collaborations.
Reflect: After your trip, take a moment to reflect on what you learned and how the experience can enhance your work.

Travelling abroad during your working days not only enriches your professional life but also broadens your personal horizons. Embrace the journey!

The following is a list of foreign countries that I have visited:

AUSTRALIA