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This blogspot is a medium to share my thoughts and adventures apart from promoting my books. Below are the books which have been written or authored and published by myself.


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Mencari Diri dan Erti".

ISBN 983-42031-0-1, Jun 2006


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Membela Syiar yang Asal"

ISBN 983-42031-1-x, May 2007


"Berpetualang ke Aceh: Sirih Pulang ke Gagang?"

ISBN 978-983-42031-2-2, November 2007


It is interesting to note that while these books were written in Malay it has gained enough attention to merit being part of the collections of the American Library of Congress and National Library of Australia. Look here and here.


While the first three books were published by my own company, the fourth titled "Rumah Azan" was published in April 2009 by a company called Karnadya with the help of the Malaysian national literary body Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. It features beautiful pictures along with stories behind selected mosques which could be related to the history of Islam and the Malays alongside the formation of the Malaysian nation. Look at the article A collaboration of old collegemates - the book "Rumah Azan".


My fifth book "Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and Malay Sultanates", an English translation and adaptation of the Malay book "Ahlul Bait (Keluarga) Rasulullah SAW dan Kesultanan Melayu" authored by Hj Muzaffar Mohamad and Tun Suzana Othman was published early 2010. Look here... My 5th book is out! Ahlul Bait (Family) of Rasulullah SAW and the Malay Sultanates... . For more information check out my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU.



Like my fourth book "Rumah Azan", the sixth book "Kereta Api Menuju Destinasi" is also a coffee-table book which is published by the company Karnadya with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (the main Malay literary body in Malaysia). Coming out January 2011 it features pictures and stories on the adventure travelling by train to all of Peninsular Malaysia along with the interesting places which could be reached this way.


My seventh book "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" in turn is a coffee-table book which is written, editted, designed and has pictures taken by me. Coming out of the factory October 2011, this book which combines family history with history of places such as Singapura, Johor, Batu Pahat, Muar and in fact the history of the island of Java and England has been reviewed with me interviewed live in the program Selamat Pagi Malaysia at RTM1. Look at the article Siaran langsung ulasan buku "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah" dan temu ramah di Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Some selected contents have been featured in Sneak peek "Jejak keluarga Yakin : Satu sketsa sejarah".


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The "Berpetualang ke Aceh" series of novels could be obtained in e-book form. Enter http://www.e-sentral.com/, click general novel and go to page 4. You can also type the word "Aceh" at the search box. Or click straight Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3.


Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Batu Belah (split stone) of Pulau Besar, Melaka

Dear readers... Today, 13th November 2007 or 13/11, it feels like an auspicious day to make my latest posting which will be the 131th here in this blogspot. So without much further ado, let me present... Something still on Pulau Besar in Melaka...

Right on top the highest peak in Pulau Besar, lies a certain mysterious place... A place highly-revered by those who believe in unseen forces and magical powers especially those who hails from the Silat, Malay martial arts fraternity...


One have to trek a bit into the jungle and up the hill for this... Believe me, it's worth the sweat... Definitely worth the trouble for those who believe in the supernatural. Even if you don't dig such things, consider the wonder that comes ahead as worth an adventure or two...


For there up on top of the hill lies a huge stone split into two! That itself is worth some time to look at. Wait until you know the story behind it...


Now, I might have gained a few pounds over the last few months but thank God, I could still fit into the split. Phew!


For adventurous souls like me, it is not enough to just see the split and fit into it. The huge boulder itself is awesome enough to invite one to climb and have a look from on top...


There...

I must say the split looks very funny from this angle... Looks like something you'd rather keep in your trousers.

Ooppss... Sorry...

Now, that's a much better (and sane) look down the split. One could even see the box put in front down there for well-wishers to contribute money. For what? Well, it's about the same reasoning as why people drop coins inside wells and then wish for something.

I did say I will tell the story behind the split isn't it? OK... Just a brief one ya...

In ancient times, this top of the hill at Pulau Besar is said to be THE place for warriors of old to practice their craft and martial arts. As it is, the island is known for supernatural beings and occurences for ages. Then, the warriors were said to be so powerful that they not only break woods and stones... They could break whole giant boulders just by a stroke of the hand!

The story goes that a certain warrior known as Panglima Lidah Hitam (The warrior with the black tounge) showed his prowess by upping the score. He split the stone seen here just using his tounge! Believe it or not, that's how the story goes!

So there, the 131th posting of this blogspot, a number that has a certain meaning to me... Cheers!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I found your post in internet and kindly ask you to help me to find accomodiation in Pulau Besar. Can you give us an advise about hotels or bungalow? We are coming in the end of May for 2-3 days. And now I can't find useful information in internet. Please write down your recomendation to gondwana.ua at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Good Job! :)

5th_E Taib said...

meremang seh bulu roma tengkuk saya baca entry ni. huhuhu.

Radzi Sapiee said...

Sorry didn't notice the comments here after new articles keep coming up. Anyway there's 2 affordable resorts in Pulau Besar all within walking distance. Cost of a room per night is anything between RM40 to RM100 plus.
But better still bring your camping gears as there's a lot of place you can park at. For real budget travellers (but you have to be a Muslim), you can even sleep anywhere near the tombs or the praying area. Some just sleep in front of the foodstalls! That is if you like open air and could stand the cold sea breeze at night...

Unknown said...

salam all,

Chandek Kura dah tutup kedai....1 week ago from today, so back to nature everyone as mentioned by our brother radzi, the last accomodation site in the island....enjoy and safe journey back home

Regards
M Khalid

Anonymous said...

The last time I came to Pulau Besar was in the year of 1983. I have never heard of such weird stories of the said panglima. However, I do witness flash of lights coming from Batu Belah during certain nights. A person by the name of Hamid, residing at the mosque once told me that the Batu Belah is the gate entrance into the 'bunian' world. As they were muslims (minority group in the world of genie), their comunity was always under constant attack. Those days there were certain markings on the ground indicating the muslim territory and the non - muslim. Once, I remembered during subuh solat in the mosque, we were joined by the 'bunian' group to perform the solat together.I could see their presence through the corner of my eyes and heard their voices. Just imagine, one imam, two makmum and a mosqueful of 'bunians'. I thought I will drop dead. After the first salam, there was a complete silence. Nothing unusual could be seen once we completed the prayers.Phew...

moinis said...

Salam all,

As brother Kenny said....Chandek Kura dah tutup kedai... however some group by the name of Tropika Selesa have taken over the operations of the resort facility. I was infromed that there are about 60 chalets available for rent. Rates range from RM90/- to Rm 130/- per day/nite.
Please also take note that the existing shops are under renovation temporarily and TSSB is trying its best to put up a makan place for visitors to Pulau Besar.
Then, nothing to worry kot.... be adventurous and have fun...

Regards,
Moinis

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

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Radzi Sapiee said...

Thank you. Please spread the word. For a good quaint and visual tour of places in Malaysia (and some other places elsewhere like in Aceh) with spiritual perspective do visit this blogspot... :]

Anonymous said...

Tropika Selesa, pulau besar (06-29558899/06-2938753