Travelogue: Terengganu Blog 3 (28th May 2022) : Surau Langgar Rindu (Musolla)

Surau Langgar Rindu (Musolla)

Location: https://www.google.com/maps?q=Surau+Langgar+Rindu+(Musolla)&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjK64Lhhv34AhU2v2MGHS4OCwEQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA

When we first arrived to the location, the first thing I thought was Wow! And then when I knew that this surau is made by a single person all alone, the first thing knocked on my head was how was he able to carry those huge wood pieces and keep it still while its been screwed in the place. It was an amazing creation and I realized that people can do things which our narrow brain cannot even think about.

Staircase to go up to surau

The surau was built by Encik Arif Karimi who is an artist in everyway. He is a designer, a poet, an actor and to add to that, a teacher, a mentor, a horse trainer and a person who knows multiple languages. He even read a poem in Bangladeshi language as we had one student from Bangladesh. He has been very active in his life that he is a well known and well respected person.

Above the Mimbar

This surau is built not only as a worshipping place. But it is also used as a school to teach kids and at the same time there more structures than this surau in the compound which was used as a horse stable once and later like a boarding for the kids. The teaching was done all for free with the help of NGOs and charity.

Even though he is no expert in architecture or engineering, the surau is strong enough to withstand the live load of 40 people. The floor is very stable and was comfortable. The staircase was comfortable and even safe for kids too. Mainly Cengal wood was used as a main material. In his words this surau is not a building or a structure, it is a piece of art. All the renovation works done so far for this surau was done by him alone as well. Even when we visited he has started a small project for an extension to make more space for teaching. 

This surau got famous and viral on youtube when a passerby tourist saw this place and featured the place in their vlog. According to Encik Arif Karimi there are quite a number of tourists who visit the place to see the amazing work of art. One of the main features which may catch tourists eyes is the wooden throne at the front of surau. It is a great spot to take a memorable picture too.

To conclude the session with Encik Arif Karimi, he recited us some poems he wrote himself about the surau and his wife. He broke into tears for a while in remembrance if his late wife. May her soul be blessed.

 Encik Arif Karimi posing for a photo with one of the students

Architecture and design comes in so many different forms. And this surau is one of the most unique type of architecture I have seen along with its background story. The freeform of the structure, the organic way of timber combination and the fluidity of the whole building is just amazing. Humans can do wonders, even alone! Hats off to this awesome man.