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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.


Friday, October 10, 2014

From manbirds to Ratu Balqis, the Queen of Sheba



The previous sections were at the eastern face of Borobudur. We continued walking counter-clockwise to the north face.



Upon reaching the staircase, we climbed to the next level. For the record the building has four faces, each facing a cardinal direction. Every face has stairs leading to the top.



Again we went counter clockwise.



At a section are figures of creatures half man half bird.


Doing the explanation is an assistant of KH Fahmi. He said such manbirds are also shown at ancient structures of far away ancient cultures such as pyramid of the Mayans in Central America, adding the creatures often help human cultures flourish. Thus he takes this as an evidence that Borobudur was built by a high civilisation that also employed other than human beings.



For the record Fahmi claimed Borobudur was built by genies or jin under command of Prophet Solomon or Sulaiman. The Quran says he had power of the jins and often used them to make great buildings.


Then comes one of the most interesting part...



We were shown what they claimed to be the figure of Ratu Balqis, known in the West as Queen of Sheba.


The Quran says Balqis visited Sulaiman's palace where she raised her skirt thinking polished floor was water. This relief is claimed to depict that...



Below right is relief of a ship.



Fahmi said this depicts the ark of Noah.



Nearby is a relief showing what is claimed as Balqis taking a bath.


Like the previous one said to be of her, this one also has the queen standing on a unique stone slab.



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