Mystical China
Yunnan-China Chinese Muslim Qurban Tour (16-24 November 2010)
By Kamariah Yusoff

The saying that encourage us to seek knowledge till China along with the Singapore government great emphasized on China’s potential – the country being seen as the next mega power –through endless collaborations and partnerships between the two countries (and I suspect the emphasized on the Speak Mandarin Campaign got to do with this too). It made me wonder, is China all about economic benefits – what more does China has to offer?

I would described myself as a ‘backpacker’ traveler; I do not recall any experienced travelling with a group tour let alone a specialized tour for Muslims. Equip with the spirit of wanting to learn along with an open mind and a faint idea of the itenary – an intentional choice towards keeping an open mind – I decided to brave myself to join the Muslim China Tour to Kunming organized by Sister Mariah Mah. Having a friend along for this trip – as someone familiar – had helped to ease my anxiety!
I was pretty surprised when I was informed that there will be more than thirty of us in the group tour and I wondered what is so attractive of this particular tour. My initial instinct was the idea of carrying out qurban beyond our shores is deemed as our own small effort to extend our spirit of brotherhood in Islam – to help our fellow Muslims friends in another country who might benefit more from the ritual was the main pull factor. 

The advantage of being a part of this niche tour group, is to visit  places which I believe no other mainstream tour agencies would be able to provide. Thus providing such great insights which I personally found it to be of valuable learning where I could  get the first hand experience to get to know more of the local community – its people, practices, culture and challenges especially the Chinese Muslim community. Coming from a country that tend to generalize Muslim = Malays, this trip gives a refreshing break and highlighted once again that one race does not dictate one religious belief.

The other highlight of the tour is the opportunity it provided me to reflect how the Chinese Muslim placed a great importance on seeking knowledge through a visit to a female madrasah. The community has taken education as an inclusive approach – a right to all Muslim regardless of their gender and social economic status. It is indeed a humbling experience to learn that Muslim girls came all over the vast country to seek knowledge at one of the country’s fine and reputable religious institution. I am sure it was not an easy decision and experience for both parents and daughters to be separated thousands of miles apart for months and years in pursuit of knowledge at an institution which I would describe as providing only basic needs – no high teach teaching equipment, no elevator serving the four storey high school, toilet which in need of upgrading.  What touches my heart most is to know that the villagers – of whom most are struggling to meet ends meet – contributed financially to the running and operation of this madrasah. Such warm and hospitality values of the local was indeed felt when we were welcomed by the local villagers through their dzikir of selawat nabi. Masyallah, the experience was speechless and one has to be there to understand what I meant! Touching indeed!

Throughout the tour, the organizer’s effort to provide wonderful service to ensure the group had a great experience in China from ensuring our basic needs are met – good food & good accommodation – really came across.  The opportunities to interact with the local guides – Katijah, Ali & Asyiah – who had provided excellent service, added colors to my first group tour experience. Travelling the 8 days with a group of strangers turned friends who are fun and adventurous just made the entire travelling experience a memorable one! A heartfelt appreciation to Sister Mariah Mah for the brilliant idea in coming up with specialized tours for Muslim to get to know our other Muslim brothers and sisters in different countries better.

Kamariah Yusoff
Singapore
kameiren@gmail.com