-----------------------

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".


-----------------------


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.


Thursday, March 13, 2008

A walk around Pasir Panjang...

Greetings all... To cut a long story short, after leaving the town of Beruas on a lorry but had to drop down because of road block, I had to walk a bit before getting a ride to Batu Hampar. Then I got another ride to Pengkalan Baru. From there, I walked past the rather bustling town of Pantai Remis and continued walking till dusk turned to pitch darkness along the hills of Segari before stopping for a drink at a petrol station.
Then someone offered a ride and dropped me at the mosque in Segari. The next day I walked and hitchiked again to reach a certain place which has very far-reaching meaning for my own soul-searching to understand myself, or rather the SELF. And thus here we are at the long sands of Pasir Panjang... By the way, Pasir Panjang could be translated as "long sands"... Continue reading... :]

This part of Pasir Panjang is situated some 8-9 km from the small town of Segari. Seen in the picture are the arms of the Segari hills which extend into the sea... Or rather the Straits of Melaka...


The view and the sea here looks rather tranquil...

But I was more interested in what's available deeper inside, inside the forest reserve which extends along the long beach of Pasir Panjang...


As I walked along southwards, it's natural to have a look at the sea here and there and sigh at the beauty...


The sight of the sea (Straits of Melaka notwithstanding) or any stretch of water that extends across the horizon with no land in view is always and awesome sight for me... Somehow it reminded me on the Oneness of everything... The Oneness that signifies the Omnipotence of God, the only REAL existent being...

For we are only shadows in this creation we call the world... Puppets or rather as Shakespear said, we are all actors on a big stage. Thus we have no real existence, or better choice of word, we are of SECONDARY existence... We exist only because God exist. And we move only because God moves or rather because God moves us!

But to admit that and further realise it is like surrending our will to be submerged into the One big movement, the giant orchestra of eternity and infinity which is the play of God... Just like raindrops and river water flows back into the ocean and then be part of the ocean itself with nothing to distinguish itself as of any individual existence... Period. Any semblance of individual existence apart from the ocean would only come when dehydration take the drop of waters high into the clouds and then the cycle continues!

To merge into the Oneness is easy said. To allow your consciousness to actually take that step... Now that's really deep and scary. But one day all humans must return to that path anyway... For everything in existence shall disappear except the face of God! So be ready for this fact.... Be ready to RETURN TO GOD! Amen...


Ah... A rather clear look at the long stretch of sand which makes up the beach of Pasir Panjang. I had a quick read-up on the place last night and if I'm not mistaken the clear white sands (the occasionally rubbish strewn by the sea and some irresponsible visitors notwithstanding) goes on for some 8km! Thus the name Pasir Panjang, the long sands!

A look towards the north slightly to the east shows the main peak of the hills of Segari. The night before, I walked along the road at the foothills in pitch darkness except for the occasional lights from cars and houses paced quite afar from each other.
See the orange building in the picture. Later I will write a story on it... Do have a look at the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) sometime later...


Anyway, the walk down south continues...


A note about the beach of Pasir Panjang... It could have been a very nice place for picnic or swimming except for the one thing... The water runs deep quickly meaning you only have a small margin of safe swimming area. Thus that's why locals and outsiders prefer to go to Teluk Batik some 20km south in Lumut... Or nearer to Pasir Panjang, they go to Teluk Senangin more than 10km south, that is after the long stretch of Pasir Panjang is broken by a cape or something...


And here we are... Start of the officially designated forest reserve of Pasir Panjang...


Here are some gazebos where locals especially youngsters like to go for picnic and rest. But I got my heart and mind set for something else. What is it? The story continues afterwards... Cheers! :]

No comments: