BERPETUALANG KE ACEH

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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.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 5

Continued from Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 4.

After a series of bends and climbs I arrived at what seemed to be a triangle plateu.

There is no more climb, just walks forming the three sides of a triangle as we enter the 1970s.

Of course it starts with 1970. For the record I was born that year...

There were some significant developments in this decade...

Then it's time to get to the 80s.

This is the far corner or point of the 'triangle'.

1983, the year Malaysia started having its own car.

It is clear the final goal is approaching near...

Moving on to the 90s.

Reflecting the name Millenium Tower, the history stops at the year 2000.

The final glass pane touches on the Vision 2020 of turning Malaysia into a developed nation. It is situated just besides the highest touchable part of the tower.

Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 4

Continued from Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 3.

Soon I arrived at the third bend.

It is a quick turn with a panel on the year 1931 marking the start of the bend.

The end of it is the start of another climb, the fourth one.

Year 1937 opens the storytelling as we go to the 1940s approaching the 50s...

As I approached the fourth bend I took some time to enjoy the red evening sun.

That's the bend, call it a corner if you like as the climb leading here is slightly bended.

It's the start of the 50s but I'd like to move fast to the next climb.

Here it is...

The Millenium Tower looks nearer.

Moving on to the 60s, a revolutionary time indeed...

Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 3

Continued from Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 2.

This is a look at the Millenium Tower from the second bend.

The glass panels at this bend enjoy a more vivid background.

Then starts another climb, the third one from the ground.

Here are the panels I chose to feature from this climb.

Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower part 2

Continued from Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower.

Soon I arrived at the first bent up the Millenium Tower and it is facing the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque also known as the Steel Mosque.

This is how the tower looks like from the bend and there's still a number of glass panes to be covered above.

Here's the ones at the bend.

Again I just put up here those which I think are most relevant. And depending on circumstances, it could just be randomly picked...

There are 11 glass panels etched with history at the bend but I've just showed three.

The bend leads to another climb and more panels but again let me show just three.

After-note: On 11th July 2012 I was moved by circumstances to go through again the articles on the Millenium Tower. Then only I realised I've forgotten to put one important piece... the glass pane below...

You see, among the 143 panes of history available here, only this one was shattered. It refers to the year 1887 as if something of much significance has happened that year to really change the landscape of Malaysia. The way I see it, that year a number of Malay rulers were installed by the colonialists British, rulers who could work in their favour. Enough said.

Following history at Putrajaya's Millenium Tower

This is from the most recent weekend...

Saturday 9th April 2011 I went to Putrajaya again and decided to check the Millenium Tower.

On my first visit here almost a month earlier I've found out that it has a nice collection of historical murals etched on glass panels.

But the previous visit was made at night. While one could see and read what's available clearly as it has backlight I'm afraid I couldn't catch much on photo. So I made a sort of vow. One day I would come here when it is bright and take pictures of every panel of glass etched with history.

So there I was on Saturday snapping pictures of the panels starting with this.

It practically sketched the relevant history leading to the creation of Malaysia starting with the formation of the Malay kingdom of Melaka said to have happened in the year 1400AD.

OK. I did take pictures of all the panels and my manual counting showed it amounts to 143 pictures. So I'm afraid I can't show it all here as it is just too much work downsizing the picture files to decent downloadable and readable size and too much time spent on uploading if I want to show all.

So let me show the parts that I feel are most relevant ya. As how to view it closely in detail I leave it up to you dear readers to find a way. Clue... open in new windows or/and save the files where you can then zoom the pictures to a good size.

OK. I think the best way is to open the pictures or copy it inside Paint and then invert the colours. That way the text would stand out better. Good luck! :]