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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, August 01, 2012

Festive night at Jogja...



Once we're done in Borobudur we immediately looked for transport to the city of Jogjakarta, fondly called Jogja or Yogya.


We managed to catch the last bus just before dusk. So we arrived in Jogja which is situated about 45 km from Borobudur at night.


Next we immediately got a bus to city centre.


The city was brimming with people.


Ah. We forgot it was Saturday night.


Jogja is not only a big city with million of inhabitants and famous to tourists... they were then having a night festival so people kept pouring in from afar. For the record this is the 989th article in this blogspot.



The level of creatures in the scheme of things at Borobudur

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The three highest levels or rather platforms form concentric circles. Go a level down and you'll find the platform forming a square.


Here is where one starts to see corners...


This is how it looks in relation to the higher circular platforms.


Go a further one level down and you can see myriad depictions of creatures on the walls.






These seem to reflect the world or rather many worlds where creatures exist carrying out many task and adventures from the mundane and on...








The 'Buddha-level' of Borobudur



OK. This whole monument called Candi Borobudur was built to reflect the Buddhist faith.


So someone might ask - Why oh why then there is no statue of Buddha seen like that in most temples?


The reason is simply this. Borobudur was built to reflect whole cosmological systems as taught by Buddha. The highest level here is to reflect a state of existence which has no form. So that is why you can't find any statue.


But go down a level and look around and you'll find one.


The Buddha is said to be the highest level of existence achievable by a mortal. So do note the position of the statue in relation to highest level of no form and the highest stupa which reflects ultimate oneness.




Views from the top of Borobudur



The highest point is obviously on top the pointed end of this structure called a stupa.


But no one is allowed to climb it up. So the highest visitors can get is on this level at the base of the top stupa.


Still the view is superb.

Do notice that you can't see a single statue at this level.


In fact I couldn't see any statue anywhere down there.





Climbing Borobudur to the top

Continued from Walking to Borobudur.




So now you can at least see what it is all about.


But in order to truly appreciate it you must climb all the way to the top.


Mind you it could take some energy to do that. This look back shows how far we have to walk and then climb up just to get to this point. And the entrance to this world heritage site is much further in the horizon.


We still have quite a distance to climb.



Taking a breather. For the record this place is called Candi (temple of) Borobudur.


Built some time in the 8th century AD it is believe to be a place of ritual for Buddha practitioners.






At this juncture we should be halfway up.




A look down...













And yeay, finally we have reached the top.



Walking to Borobudur



After Kebumen we went to the place called Borobudur, further east in Central Jawa or Java.


Borobudur is very famous for a certain world heritage site.




The name itself is already enough to rouse the interest of many.




Notice the 'thing' looming behind the green?


Just in case you don't have any idea what Borobudur is all about just follow the pictures and look closely.


For to see what's it all about you have to walk quite far from the entrance.





There. Brace yourself for an adventure. Look out for the next article here...