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A Call to Travel: Muslim Odysseys
New PB208 pp.
Subjects: Culture, Travel
The delicate sensibility of these stories endows them with a gentle honesty.
-- Colin Thubron, award-winning travel writer and novelist --
The stories are delightful shapes of time that leaves an impression that life is very real yet elusive, shifting between transience and permanence. The reader can choose to observe and ponder, or travel and disappear in the stories.
-- Isa Kamari, novelist, essayist, musician and playwright --
If you're looking for the frenetic, the jangling, the adrenaline-filled tales of so much modern travel writing, you've come to the wrong place. To travel with Rumaizah Abu Bakar is to voyage into a world of the quiet and understated, a place where wonder unfurls in fine detail under a gracious and appreciative eye.
-- Carl Hoffman, author of Savage Harvest (2014 NYT bestseller) --
Subjects: Culture, Travel
The delicate sensibility of these stories endows them with a gentle honesty.
-- Colin Thubron, award-winning travel writer and novelist --
The stories are delightful shapes of time that leaves an impression that life is very real yet elusive, shifting between transience and permanence. The reader can choose to observe and ponder, or travel and disappear in the stories.
-- Isa Kamari, novelist, essayist, musician and playwright --
If you're looking for the frenetic, the jangling, the adrenaline-filled tales of so much modern travel writing, you've come to the wrong place. To travel with Rumaizah Abu Bakar is to voyage into a world of the quiet and understated, a place where wonder unfurls in fine detail under a gracious and appreciative eye.
-- Carl Hoffman, author of Savage Harvest (2014 NYT bestseller) --
- GenresNonfictionTravel
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2015
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Rumaizah Abu Bakar
6 books19 followersRumaizah Abu Bakar was born in Kedah. She wrote short stories and poems as a teenager at the MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Penang. She has a Bachelor in Accountancy degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), a Diploma in Public Relations from the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM) and an Diploma in Islamic Studies from International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA). She has worked for more than fifteen years in public relations, hospitality, banking, a government agency and consultancy. She contributes literary articles and book reviews regularly to a leading English newspaper in Malaysia.
Rumaizah’s prose first appeared in the volume, 'News From Home', published in 2007. Her debut collection of short fictions and travel stories, 'The Female Cell', was published by Silverfish Books in April 2011 and shortlisted for the 2012 Popular Book Award. Her next book, 'A Call to Travel: Muslim Odysseys - Journeys of a Muslim Woman through Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia' was released in January 2015.
Rumaizah’s prose first appeared in the volume, 'News From Home', published in 2007. Her debut collection of short fictions and travel stories, 'The Female Cell', was published by Silverfish Books in April 2011 and shortlisted for the 2012 Popular Book Award. Her next book, 'A Call to Travel: Muslim Odysseys - Journeys of a Muslim Woman through Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia' was released in January 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 28, 2015
This is not the first travelogue I have read, but it is definitely the first travelogue I have truly enjoyed. Rumaizah draws us to places not to 'see' them, but to experience the feelings she faced while in the places she visited -- which includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia (Mecca), and Indonesia.
I have seen pictures and videos of the Kaabah many times, but this is the first time I have felt the sense of awe and devotion that a person of a Muslim faith would feel in such a place -- I now see the Hijrah as a kind of ritual of communion that involves the physical presence of worshipers, crossing boundaries of denominations and beliefs. The travelogue ends in Acheh, another section of the book I found very moving. The only weakness may be the opening chapters in Turkey, when much of the book is spent haggling and avoiding getting cheated by swindlers and scammers. But this is a minor thing.
Beautifully written and evocative.
I have seen pictures and videos of the Kaabah many times, but this is the first time I have felt the sense of awe and devotion that a person of a Muslim faith would feel in such a place -- I now see the Hijrah as a kind of ritual of communion that involves the physical presence of worshipers, crossing boundaries of denominations and beliefs. The travelogue ends in Acheh, another section of the book I found very moving. The only weakness may be the opening chapters in Turkey, when much of the book is spent haggling and avoiding getting cheated by swindlers and scammers. But this is a minor thing.
Beautifully written and evocative.
March 27, 2022
“Wayang kulit has played an important role in the history of Islam in Jawa”, he says. “Wali Songo used wayang kulit for dakwah, to spread Islam in Indonesia. Javanese people love puppet shows. Its part of our culture”.
- Chasing Shadows (May 2012) - A call to travel : Indonesia by Rumaizah Abu Bakar
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Saudi Arabia :
She went there twice. One with her parents because her mother urged her to come along and second time is when she felt she’s truly ready to go for another pilgrimage. Her travelogue here mostly consisted of her prayers rite, the cultural differences and the comparison of her first time going with her second time going. I can appreciate that at least i found one of her commentaries agreable when she mentioned that they have demolished all the holy gravesites of Prophet and others to avoid any dubious activity but replacing it with shopping malls and entertainment hub seems paradoxical.
.
Indonesia :
I would say Indonesia chapter is the most interesting part of the book. From Wali Songo, Wayang Kulit, Dutch colonialism , Japanese occupation and even tsunami in acheh - she penned what she has learned from the trip. Still, she has this obsession of asking people whether they are muslim or not given that in Indonesia, you can be malay but not muslim unlike in Malaysia. I tried to ignore it as it did only appear in some part.
.
.
Turkey :
Oh my god the tone this author have in her writing is so condenscending. Why Malaysian muslims (not all obviously) but generally love to put in a box of whether one is islamic or muslim enough or not based on the standard we have here. Did you just decided to go to turkey one day without even do any research on the country that you want to visit ? I think my eyes rolled unstoppably when she kept on putting these unnecessary remarks : How church-ey looking Hagia Sofia is? How her friend is the first woman she saw wearing hijab even though this is an islamic country? How they can touch dog because they are from Hanafi School? Is the food halal? And to think that she didnt really enjoy visiting Turkey simply because some of the mishaps she faced is due to her fault honestly. I cant help but wondering why she choose to travel as many travel to see the world, appreciating how diverse it is, and not to point out how different it is with Malaysia every single time. 😐
.
Overall, it is kinda an okay-ish travelogue. I did learn few things especially on archeaology and the lineage on the Indonesian Chapter from her book. I think one of the few reasons i am not enjoying it because i am a tad too liberal for this book.
.
- Chasing Shadows (May 2012) - A call to travel : Indonesia by Rumaizah Abu Bakar
.
.
Saudi Arabia :
She went there twice. One with her parents because her mother urged her to come along and second time is when she felt she’s truly ready to go for another pilgrimage. Her travelogue here mostly consisted of her prayers rite, the cultural differences and the comparison of her first time going with her second time going. I can appreciate that at least i found one of her commentaries agreable when she mentioned that they have demolished all the holy gravesites of Prophet and others to avoid any dubious activity but replacing it with shopping malls and entertainment hub seems paradoxical.
.
Indonesia :
I would say Indonesia chapter is the most interesting part of the book. From Wali Songo, Wayang Kulit, Dutch colonialism , Japanese occupation and even tsunami in acheh - she penned what she has learned from the trip. Still, she has this obsession of asking people whether they are muslim or not given that in Indonesia, you can be malay but not muslim unlike in Malaysia. I tried to ignore it as it did only appear in some part.
.
.
Turkey :
Oh my god the tone this author have in her writing is so condenscending. Why Malaysian muslims (not all obviously) but generally love to put in a box of whether one is islamic or muslim enough or not based on the standard we have here. Did you just decided to go to turkey one day without even do any research on the country that you want to visit ? I think my eyes rolled unstoppably when she kept on putting these unnecessary remarks : How church-ey looking Hagia Sofia is? How her friend is the first woman she saw wearing hijab even though this is an islamic country? How they can touch dog because they are from Hanafi School? Is the food halal? And to think that she didnt really enjoy visiting Turkey simply because some of the mishaps she faced is due to her fault honestly. I cant help but wondering why she choose to travel as many travel to see the world, appreciating how diverse it is, and not to point out how different it is with Malaysia every single time. 😐
.
Overall, it is kinda an okay-ish travelogue. I did learn few things especially on archeaology and the lineage on the Indonesian Chapter from her book. I think one of the few reasons i am not enjoying it because i am a tad too liberal for this book.
.
February 25, 2015
Ceritanya senang dan kurang cabaran, tetapi penghayatan setiap tempat yang dilawati Rumaizah diterangkan agak terperinci dan mudah difahami. Cumanya aku bandingkan buku ini dengan travelog yang lain, seperti Titik Nol sememangnya jauh sekali berbeza. Namun, tahniah buat Rumaizah kerana berkongsi pengalaman yang sangat berharga!
October 9, 2015
This is the book that makes you 'travel' with the author through delicate story telling and attention to details. Honest and straight forward, the author includes conversations she made with locals, giving life to the stories and at the same time allow you to understand the character of the author.
December 22, 2015
I came across this book at a friend of a friend's home. The subject is quite promising but the writing lets it down. It reads like a bunch of classroom essays written by kids just returned from their vacation
January 31, 2019
As someone craving to travel, this is a balm to the soul. Casual yet at the same time in-depth, it gives us the perspective of the author well, even her wondering and muses, while traveling alone and with family.
October 7, 2025
Penulis menukilankan pengembaraannya selama 15 hari ke Turkey seorang diri bagi menghabiskan cuti tahunannya.
Daripada aneka makanan dan manisan Turkey yang memikat jiwa.
Keindahan Hagia Sophia.
Hinggalah pengalaman dipujuk secara halus oleh penjual carpet.
Sesat jalan.
Naik feri, tram, etc.
Bhosphorus cruise.
Pengalaman mandi di pusat mandian.
Ditipu pemandu teksi dan sebagainya.
Udah banyak cerita tentang keindahan Istanbul dan Turkey yang den baca.
Pengalaman 2 kali menunaikan Haji penulis coretkan di dalam buku ini.
Kebanyakannya berkisar tentang muhasabah diri dan kesabaran.
The magnificent Kaabah.
Pembangunan sekitar Kaabah.
Penjaja tidak berlesen di sekitar Masjidil Haram.
Ada kisah penulis mengembara seorang diri di beberapa negeri di Indonesia.
Ada juga cerita penulis bersama keluarga berjalan-jalan di sana.
Kalau sebut Indonesia memang tidak sah kalau tidak cerita tentang kesedapan aneka makanannya.
Ada rezeki dapat pak supir yang bagus.
Sekali sekala dapat pak supir yang elok disekeh😅.
Paling terkesan apabila penulis mencoretkan pengalamannya ke Aceh dan melihat muzium yang merekodkan kisah tsunami.
Banyak muhasabah diri yang perlu dibuat.
Daripada aneka makanan dan manisan Turkey yang memikat jiwa.
Keindahan Hagia Sophia.
Hinggalah pengalaman dipujuk secara halus oleh penjual carpet.
Sesat jalan.
Naik feri, tram, etc.
Bhosphorus cruise.
Pengalaman mandi di pusat mandian.
Ditipu pemandu teksi dan sebagainya.
Udah banyak cerita tentang keindahan Istanbul dan Turkey yang den baca.
Pengalaman 2 kali menunaikan Haji penulis coretkan di dalam buku ini.
Kebanyakannya berkisar tentang muhasabah diri dan kesabaran.
The magnificent Kaabah.
Pembangunan sekitar Kaabah.
Penjaja tidak berlesen di sekitar Masjidil Haram.
Ada kisah penulis mengembara seorang diri di beberapa negeri di Indonesia.
Ada juga cerita penulis bersama keluarga berjalan-jalan di sana.
Kalau sebut Indonesia memang tidak sah kalau tidak cerita tentang kesedapan aneka makanannya.
Ada rezeki dapat pak supir yang bagus.
Sekali sekala dapat pak supir yang elok disekeh😅.
Paling terkesan apabila penulis mencoretkan pengalamannya ke Aceh dan melihat muzium yang merekodkan kisah tsunami.
Banyak muhasabah diri yang perlu dibuat.
April 9, 2020
3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews