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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.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Deja vu at the hillside facing the bay of Lamuri

Continued from The number 191, a clue to something special about Lamuri...


And so we went to the tomb of Laksamana Malahayati. From the tomb I saw this slope behind which seemed to 'invite' me to explore...


So I went up. Saw these stones (or was it heaps of stones) which looks like it has been arranged by human hands for certain purpose. Is this part of the famed Benteng or fortress of Malahayati? At the time I did not realise that the fortress was still some 2.5 km away...



Nevertheless, it was the desire to look for the Malahayati fortress that made me explore further. Then, I still thought the fortress should be somewhere near these parts. Here's a look at the tomb of Malahayati (the whites under shades) as I continued to climb...


A look towards the sea shows a valley flanked by the tomb area and another protruding part of the hill...



Then's when I saw this path. Immediately I had a deja vu... as if I've been here before sometime ago although this is the first time I've ever arrived at these parts of the world!




I followed the path to get the other side. As I passed the valley between the tomb area and another flanking hill-part I looked beyond towards the cement building which first 'alerted' me about the connection I would get here. Look again at what was said in The number 191, a clue to something special about Lamuri...




The path soon leads to an opening...





... an opening which leads on to an area like a platform, a verandah even facing the sea...





All the way I could still feel the deja vu strong. Yes, I not only get a feeling I've been here before since I first saw the path mentioned a few pictures above. In fact I began to remember the views at every step I took as something I have seen from some sort of 'past' experience!





Never mind, I'm used to having such deja vus. In fact I've had those that continously lasted almost an hour! Still, normally my deja vus are short which I get quite often. So far in Aceh the longer ones (those of 5 minutes and above) happened only once if I recall correctly and that was at a certain place which I've shown in the last picture in the article From Pidie on to Bireuen . The one at this hill exceeded that!


Whatever, the views here are superb. Here's one with the cement store again. You could also see the eastern tip of the Lamuri bay which I learned later is where the Benteng or fortress of Malahayati is actually situated at...



This is the view straight on into the sea, north-wards that is. Seen also is what looks like a path downhill, a path I would have explored if I did have plenty of time then...




A view north-west of which the west-tip of the bay should be in view. Seen also (in the horizon) is the island of Wei if I recall correctly which lies off the coast near Banda Aceh.




A west-ward view. Somehow this whole area has a certain 'Mediterranean' feel to it. The climate, growth in fact the views itself are similar to the ones I've seen as I took the coastal route from Genoa, Italy to get to Nice in France. Then again that was almost 15 years ago. Click the links to the European travel stories at the top-right hand of this blogspot especially Trip to Europe 1995... Gangsters of Genoa... .




There. The areas to the top of the hill from where I was standing also looks like the hills I remembered at Mediterranean Europe! If only I have more time to explore... for I have a feeling that there used to be an ancient palace around these areas.




Soon I have to return to the tomb. I haven't finished paying respect and my wife was waiting. Besides we still have to go to the actual Malahayati fortress. To be continued...

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