REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES & INDIA

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

16 March 2024 > 5 Ramadan 1445H

Among the experiences in the navy that I cannot erase from my memory is sailing across the Indian Ocean to the Port of the Republic of Maldives and Madras in India with the ships KD Mutiara and KD Hang Tuah in 1985.

I served onboard KD Mutiara, a Royal Malaysian Navy hydrography vessel responsible for hydrographic measurements, meteorological observations, and limited oceanographic observation research work.

CROSSING THE BAY OF BENGAL, INDIAN OCEAN

My most memorable ship experience is crossing the Bay of Bengal in Indian Ocean. I've been through some of the rough seas on this planet, and generous share of storms, and ocassionally both at the same time. But this Bay of Bengal, the worst rough seas i ever experienced, everyone gets seasick. I've sailed the ocean half of my life, so i've my fair share of rough seas...smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. A rough day at sea is better than any day in the office. 

Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough and rigid. But in the end, it is always beautiful. 

The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern of the Indian Ocean. Geographically, it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese peninsula,located below the Bengal region. The bay is about 1,600 km wide with an average depth of more than 2,600 metres. 

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and Tsunami

REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES

Maldives a country and archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. It is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 km from the Asian continent's mainland. 

There are 26 reefs gazetted as territories containing a total of 1,192 small islands. Only 200 islands are inhabited by humans.

The Maldives Islands were once colonized by the Portuguese (1558), the Dutch (1654), and finally the British in 1887. The Maldives declared its independence from the British in 1965.

MASJID SULTAN MUHAMMAD THAKURUFAANU AL-AUZAM

Named after one of the most celebrated of Maldivian heroes, the mosque is the largest mosque in Maldives, and also one of the largest in South Asia, admitting over 6,000 people. Opened in 1984 by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Maldives with its white sandy beaches, sparkling blue water, and beautiful sunset make it perfect getaway. 

1985 - MADRAS, INDIA 

KD Mutiara's next destination is Madras in India (now known as Chennai), located on the Coromandel Coast facing the Bay of Bengal. It is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest metropolitan city in India. The name Madras comes from Madraspatnam, the site chosen by the British East India Company in 1639.

MADRAS PORT

KD Mutiara Communicators at Madras Harbour, India , (1985)

The house of Dr. M.G.Ramachandran (now MGR Memorial House), was a famous Tamil film actor, producer and Politician. He served as Chief Minister of Tamil Naidu from 1977 until his death in 1987. 

His full name is Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran (born January 17, 1917 - December 24, 1987). We had the opportunity to stop for a while in front of his house on the way to Mahabalipuram. 

MAHABALIPURAM

Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, is a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, in the South Indian State of Tamil Naidu. It's known for its temples and monuments built by the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th and 8th century. It is a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Naidu.

This year (2024) as this blog is written, would be the 20th Anniversary of Tsunami struck the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. 

Immediately before the 2004 tsunami struck the Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal, the ocean water of Mahabalipuram's coast pulled back approximately 500 meters. Tourists and residents who witnessed this event from the beach recalled seeing a long, straight row of large rocks emerged from the water. 

On the 2004 tsunami, more than 230,000 people, mostly in Southern Asia, were killed by a 100-foot-high tsunami triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean. 

Other readings:

1. Tsunami 2004: Tamil Naidu remembers victim on 18th Anniversary

2. Tsunami uncovers ancient sculptures in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Naidu

3. Tsunami reveals Temple of Mahabalipuram

If you have time to explore Madras (now Chennai), this 284-sq-mil (400 sq km) conglomerate of urban villages and diverse neighbourhood making up Tamil Naidu's will pleasantly surprise you. Its role is as keeper of  South Indian artistic, religious and culinary traditions. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

17 March 2024 > 6 Ramadan 1445H: 8.03 am