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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.


Friday, April 23, 2010

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : The kings of Idi

Continuing the current series of my latest trip to Aceh end of February...


Saturday 27th 2010. After the Maulidur Rasul and tomb visit in Perlak we're back in Idi where our hotel lies. The hotel happened to be only 1 km or so from Kuala Idi, the mouth of the Idi river. So we decided to have a look around...


It was at Kuala Idi that we met some locals who told us of the existence of the tomb of the king of Idi. As the tomb is less than 5 km away, we decided to check it out next...


The king of Idi was a local ruler who served under the Sultan of Aceh. Such local rulers were called Ampon Sheikh each being overlord of their own private domains. So we were at the tomb or rather tombs of the Ampon Sheikhs of Idi (there's a number of them buried here I was told). Have a look at the article Makam (tomb of) Ampon Sheikh Idi made in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) just now.

Next to the tomb lies this house...


It belongs to some family members of the Ampon Sheikh of Idi. Although officially they have been stripped from their regal position the family are still respected and revered by locals.



Part of the door of this house are carvings which used to formed the old Idi palace...




The palace used to lie on this part of land behind this house. Hmm... my wife and baby seemed to be present in every shot. What can I say? I love and adore them very much.





If I'm not mistaken this is the actual site of the palace.






Further behind lies remnants of the old concrete gate that one has to go through to enter the palace grounds.







Here's the house and tomb area in perspective to the site of the palace...








And here's the wife, baby and our driver just outside the gates...