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Rearview Mirror Chronicles
Keith Hockton, FRAS, is a writer, publisher, and award-winning podcaster based in Penang, Malaysia, with a deep passion for uncovering the stories that shaped our world. As the Southeast Asia Editor for International Living magazine, Keith explores the intersections of history, culture, and modern life across the region.
A dynamic lecturer and storyteller, he speaks internationally on Southeast Asian politics, economics, and history—bringing the past to life with clarity, wit, and insight. Keith is also a proud Fellow of The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and is on a mission to make history not only accessible but genuinely entertaining for everyone.
His published books include:
• Atlas of Australian Dive Sites - Travellers Edition (Harper Collins Australia, 2003).
• Penang - An inside guide to its historic homes, buildings, monuments and parks (MPH Publishing, 2012; 2nd Edition 2014; 3rd Edition 2017).
• Festivals of Malaysia (Trafalgar Publishing, 2015).
• The Habitat Penang Hill: A pocket history (Entrepot Publishing, 2018)
• Alana and the Secret Life of Trees at Night (Entrepot Publishing, 2018)
• Penang Then & Now: A Century of Change in Pictures (Entrepot Publishing, 2019; 2nd Edition 2021
• Bersama Lima - Five Together (Entrepot Publishing, 2022)
www.entrepotpublishing.com
Rearview Mirror Chronicles
The Kaaba: Where Heaven Meets Earth
At the heart of Mecca, encircled by millions of footsteps and centuries of devotion, stands a structure like no other.
The Kaaba—draped in black silk, inscribed with threads of gold—radiates a quiet majesty. Revered as the most sacred site in Islam, it draws pilgrims from every corner of the globe in a powerful, unifying act of faith known as Tawaf. But beyond its physical form lies a profound spiritual legacy.
Believed to have been built by the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, the Kaaba is not just a structure—it is a symbol of submission, connection, and eternity. Its black stone, kissed by generations, is said to have fallen from the heavens, a celestial marker that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires and the undying constancy of faith.
Join Keith as he walks through the deep history and sacred mystery of the Kaaba—a journey into one of the holiest places on Earth, where the divine meets the human in timeless reverence.
Referral Links:
For books written and published by Keith Hocton