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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, July 18, 2007

Kota Bahru, the Islamic city...

Afternoon 23rd December. I did go to Tok Bali but just passed through. As it turns out, the village is also one of the East Coast's main station for fishermen to land their catch, quite similar to Besut. One unique feature is the bridge over a medium wide river there practically rises 45 degree upwards before reaching a plateau and then descends 45 degrees down.

Perhaps like Besut, there's something more than meets the eye in Tok Bali too. To me, the name itself smacks of an old elderly figure which could be saintly. I would have stopped to find out if not for the fact that time is running out... Whatever happens, I must make myself present in Muar some 600km down south for the Aidil Adha celebration which was just a few days away. And I'm already tired from all the travelling before plus the bus to Kota Bahru passing through Tok Bali is not so regular. So I decided to go straight to the capital of Kelantan dubbed the Islamic city.





Upon arrival, I immediately walked to my favourite part of the city where there are some historical buildings within a short walk of the central bus station. Observe the monuments above especially the 'things' on top of the pillars. For information, those are replicas of a rehal, a wooden apparatus for putting the holy Quran on, making it easier to read and recite.





These are the gates to one of the old palaces there, built sometime in the 19th century. Note the cannon jutting out from the white-coloured stone foundation...




This curious little building the size of room is called Bank Pitis (if I remember correctly, translated literally as bank for money... Pitis... A Kelantanese slang for money). It is said the royalty (or was it the government?) used to keep their money there. Hard to believe isn't it?




Main gates and entrance to the old grand palace... It is quite grand and a welcoming sight for tourists and visitors alike...






Istana Jahar or the Jahar palace... I don't know what Jahar stands for, is it a name or what. Whatever, the place is open to visitors as it has been turned into a museum...




Masjid Muhammadiyah, the main mosque of Kota Bahru. It used to be the primary Islamic learning centre in the Malay Archipelago especially when the famous Kelantanese saintly figure, Tok Kenali (died 1933) was still alive.




Tambatan Diraja, the royal jetty. The normal level of water should be much further ahead but it was flooding the last few days...




Ah... The pleasure of youth. If I don't know any better, I would have just joined and take a dip too... Haha! :]

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