Well, look who's here! The Internet technology has grown by leaps and bounds since this blogspot was last updated that I almost didn't notice the face of you, reader (yes! you! The one reading this article with a quizzical look on your face)... Puzzled how I can see your face although your computer is not attached to any video recording and broadcast device? Well, that's the wonder of technology... Just kidding!!!
Don't worry, I can't really see you now except perhaps in my mind's eye... So feel free to touch any bodyparts you feel comfortable with... Ha! Ha!
Hmm... This whole idea of being able to see other people through your computer screen without the aid of video camera reminds me of a stupid joke some people on the Net pulled a few years back... A friend one day came excitedly to me telling they've just created a new software making a normal computer screen capable of catching what's outside, just like photography. And so there I was going through the webpage smiling for a picture before clicking the button which indicated my picture has just been taken. Then came the message: "Wait a while for the picture to be processed" (or something like that)... So I waited excitedly like a fool... For I used to be very very excited with new technologies... Surely a software which can turn a normal computer screen into a camera is worth getting wide-eyed for...
A few seconds later, the truth was revealed... Yes , a picture did came up and yes a nice smiling one too... That of a babboon... Hah! The software must be so advanced that it managed to catch the essence of my mood at that particular moment... Yep... A babboon so excited to be fooled...
Anyway, enough of this. Actually I just want to keep this blogspot updated after returning from travelling up north nearly a week ago - I've just spent almost a month backpacking in Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Langkawi and Perlis (the first week was actually spent at a nice hotel in Prai keeping a cousin who was outstationed company) and the trip including climbing Gunung Jerai alone at night... Malam Jumaat (Thursday night leading to Friday) some more if you know what I mean...
So here I am... With lots of stories to tell but too lazy to actually put it properly in words unless come the urge. Since leaving my job as a journalist writing in English at the New Straits Times in 2001, most of my writing has been in Malay, my mother tounge... Due to a renewed interest in anything Malay sparked by the personal search to understand my family roots.
Meanwhile let me update this blogspot with something else... Wait OK! Cheers! :]
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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.
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