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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.


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Late night visit to the tomb of Sunan Ampel



From the airport we entered the city of Surabaya where we stopped by at the tomb of person known as Sunan Bungkul. But our main destination in Surabaya lies at its northern outskirts, at place called Ampel. That's where we decided to check in at a budget vintage hotel. Late at night I decided to take a walk while the wife and kids rest.


You see Ampel is very famous due to a certain major saintly figure.


Unlike Sunan Bungkul, his name is so well-known throughout South East Asia.


But like Sunan Bungkul, he is also known after a place, in this case Ampel.


Notice the list of tombs? Tombs are called makam in Malay. Guess which one I was headed for...


First a quick look at the mosque.


The mosque was built when the personality concerned was alive some 600 years ago.


Entering the compound of the tomb of Sunan Ampel...


He is known as the leader of the group of 9 major saints of Jawa called the Wali Songo.




Upon entering the gates that's when I realised how alive this place is.


There's still another gate to go. That's when I realised that the tombs of well-known major saints in Java especially that of Wali Songo are visited 24 hours round the clock.


I decided to find a quieter corner first. Here is the tomb of a follower of Sunan Ampel who became a saint himself!


Inside the main area which contains the tomb of Sunan Ampel. Notice the people facing the tomb ahead.


Going outside again I noticed these crocks for drinking water.


The water came from a well dug by Sunan Ampel.


Sunan Ampel is known for many miracles. But I won't list that here. Find out yourself...


A look inside the main area again. This is the best picture I could get of the tomb area as whenever I tried to take pictures pointing at the tomb I was stopped by the caretakers.


No one is allowed to take pictures of tomb of Sunan Ampel, not even from far away. With that I decided to head back to the nearby mosque.


At the opposite side lies the tomb of another follower of Sunan Ampel. This is the tomb of Mbah Sholeh the caretaker of the mosque who is said to have lived and died nine times! It is said that the first time he died no one could take care of the mosque the way he did. This lead to Sunan Ampel wishing out loudly for Mbah Sholeh to be around.  By God's will immediately the caretaker reappeared and did his job.

After a time Mbah Sholeh died again and the mosque became unkempt. Again Sunan Ampel wished the man was around and again he reappeared. This happened for a total of nine times, until Sunan Ampel himself passed away and the miracle just disappeared. For the record this is the 949th article in this blogspot.




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