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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.


Sunday, July 27, 2008

Continuing the whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar in 2 hours or so...

Yep... Continuing from the article A whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar in 2 hours or so...


At the of the article A whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar in 2 hours or so... , I've shown a picture of my friend Zaidi @ PerpatihTulus standing on top of a certain split stone which sits on the highest peak in Pulau Besar. Oh, now that we have arrived at this juncture of story-telling, might as well tell you that the split stone is called Batu Belah in Malay which literally means the "split stone"! For a short story on it, please read the article Batu Belah (split stone) of Pulau Besar, Melaka posted here last year.

By the way, above is my cousin Nizam's friend Asri posing on top of the split stone. At first he was apprehensive about making such a pose. After all it's a 20-foot sheer drop down to a stony pavement if you lose your balance! Then again it's his first time here. It's not often one would get a chance to stand of top of the stone which is very legendary here. Besides, if Zaidi and me can do it without problem, why can't he?


Once that's done, it's time to check out the stone from the usual place where most people wpuld rather sit or stand here... Believe me, not many people dare to go to Pulau Besar after hearing all the supernatural stories about it... No sir, they wouldn't dare unless there's a guide along who they believe knows the area well and could tame the supernatural elements.

Among those who dares to go to Pulau Besar, only a small portion dares to climb up to the split stone. First because it is out of the way of the main settled areas along the southern shore-line. Then it is inside the jungles and on top the island's highest peak to boot, the supernatural aura of the place related to magical ancient forms of martial arts not withstanding...

Then among those who have climbed up to this point, not many dares to climb up the stone itself, what more to stand on top with the split in-between your legs! I mean just look at the crevice all the way to the bottom... Thus it is quite a privilege to be able to record your pose this way!


If you are slim enough, you could fit inside the crevice. Do have a look at the video clips in Malay which I will post in the blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU shortly.


Once we're done trying to fit inside, it's time to close the gap so that no one else could try it again, hehe! :]


Soon, it's time to head back down to shore. Here is a gigantic tree we saw on the way...


There, we're back on shore... Close to civilisation...


We stopped by the surau, the local small praying hall for rest and did our prayers. By the time then, it was already about 4pm where-else we started our whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar at around 2. So we took about 2 hours to cover some 5km or so up and down hills and some rugged terrain to cover a few reknowned and legendary places in Pulau Besar...


Since we were already at the surau, might as well also have a quick look at the main tomb besides it... For some stories on the place, do have a look at these old articles made a year ago :-

Pulau Besar 1: Enter the 'big' island!

Pulau Besar 2: Why so many long tombs?


We also stopped at a certain tomb just outside the complex housing the main one. Soon enough, it's time to head back to the hut where we stayed at... to freshen up and prepare our things as we intend to get out of Pulau Besar and get back to the mainland by 5.30pm.

Coincidently, the continuation to the old articles on Pulau Besar made last year fits the description of events. Do have a look at the article Pulau Besar 3: Time to move on...

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