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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, March 12, 2007

Pictures in Muar 3

Peace be upon you dear readers. Here, I want to place some more pictures of Muar for all to see. Actually this is done so that my dear friend the editor of the Malay tabloid Kencana can just enter this blogspot and choose whicever pictures he deems fit for the latest segment of "Laksamana pulang ke Perak" (Admiral returns to Perak) in the publication... Sort of doing work on-line eh? Anyway do have a look. Most of the pictures are taken in and around Bukit Treh, some 5km from Muar town centre... For a reason though...


Picture of Muar town taken from the food court area near the bus station at Bentayan.

This is Bukit Treh which is quite famous among the Muar town's folks, the one and only hill within 5km radius from the town centre. It is not that high, perhaps not even 100 feet tall. Watch closely, behind all the bushes and greenery is the shape of an overturned ship. Perhaps it's true what the locals say, the legend of Si Tanggang (or another character with similar storyline?) where a son who betrayed his parents was cursed to stone along with the contents of his ship did happen here?



The water treatment facility at the foot of Bukit Treh.


Ruins of an old wall at the foot of Bukit Treh.




A closer view of the ruin.



The pipe connecting the old water treatment facility (from the time of the British colonialisation, pre Malaysian-independence of 1957) at the top of Bukit Treh to the nearby area.


The current Bukit Treh water treatment facility and the old wall ruins seen from the hillside.



The steps up Bukit Treh which began halfway on top.


The old British era water treatment centre on top of Bukit Treh.


The water treatment building seen from a different angle.



The tower of the old water treatment facility.



An old tomb at the foot of Bukit Treh. Not many people, not even the locals knew of the existence of the old tomb which is said to belong to a princess of olden days. The tale goes, the princess is the third wife of the character called Si Tanggang who betrayed his parents. The kind-hearted princess advised her husband to accept his parents regardless of how ugly or unkempt they looked or their poor origins (read the story. Si Tanggang was born in a jungle to poor parents. He left them to see the world and became rich and famous. That's why he is ashamed to acknowledge his roots). Too bad, the princess also had to suffer the curse inflictied on Si Tanggang for his refusal to acknowledge the two poor-looking folk who came to his ship as his real parents.


The mosque of Kampung Bukit Treh. In the background, near the bushes seen behind the mosque tower lies the old tomb said to belong to a royal princess.


The mosque of Bukit Treh seen from a different angle.



The mosque of Kampung Temiang which is situated some 1km from the mosque of Kampung Bukit Treh. The two villages lie side by side but Bukit Treh itself is situated within the perimeters of Kampung Temiang.
Kampung Temiang is my mother's village. It was also known as Kampung Tok Raja (Tok - a respectable call for an elder, Raja - a royalty) to commemorate a noble who opened up the vilage a century or two ago. The name of the village's main road is still known as Jalan (the road of) Tok Raja or Jalan Tok Raja Temiang.


Muar river seen from somewhere near Bukit Treh.
Below are pictures of the old Portugeuse forts, one in Muar, another in Melaka for exhibit and points to ponder. The illustration of the one in Melaka, known also as the A Famosa was made in 1630 while the one in Muar is said to be made in 1604, God knows best...