BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2011-03-06

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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, March 11, 2011

Pulau (island of) Bunting at Yan, Kedah

Continued from Passing through Kuala Sala.

Still miles from the small town of Yan but already within the district of Yan there is a coastal gravel road.

From there you could reach an interesting place...

Too bad the road was blocked and you have to start walking.

As I walked towards the said place I could see the coast towards the north opens up...

A look towards the sea to the left and you could see two or three islands.

A look towards the south and you could get a good view of Gunung Jerai, Kedah's tallest peak.

After the gravel road there's a nice tarred road. In fact it is a bridge leading to an island called Pulau Bunting.

Pulau Bunting literally means the pregnant island referring to its shape like a pregnant woman lying on her back. Too bad I didn't have much time to indulge. Otherwise I would have walked all the way to the island. Besides I can't leave the wife and baby waiting in the car for long.

So after just a few minutes taking in the atmosphere I have to walk back. Ah... if only I had more time, or if we could bring in the car. For the record this is the 700th article in this blogspot.

Passing through Kuala Sala

Continued from The Kedah river from the Kuala Kedah fort

From Kuala Kedah we took the coastal road to Yan and reached this turn.

It goes through a place called Kuala Sala.

Kuala meants mouth and Sala is the name of a river. Here we could see the Sala river mouth.

Looks like this is a fishing landing area.

There's a small bridge crossing the river but wide enough only for one car...

So I couldn't take time to snap pictures. I have to take as fast as I could while passing the bridge.

End of the bridge. Let's move on...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Kedah river from the Kuala Kedah fort

Peace be upon you all dear readers. Continuing again the supporting stories on the trip to the north made during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan last year.

Monday morning 30th August 2010, from Alor Setar we went to Kuala Kedah where lies this old fort which has been restored for tourists and researchers.

From here you can have a good look at the Kedah river. Here's one towards the river mouth.

Across lies the town of Kuala Kedah.

A look inland, That's the bridge used to get from town to the fort.

And here's better a look towards the river mouth. Quite wide this Kedah river...

Monday, March 07, 2011

Stuffs from the "Al-'Ilm : Science and innovation in the Islamic world" exhibition

OK. About 11 days ago I went to this exhibition at the Islamic arts museum which is situated close to the National Mosque or Masjid Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Here are some of the stuffs exhibited, pictures courtesy of the exhibitors downsized to about 4 per cent but still large enough for fair scrutiny if you open it in other windows. Let it be featured here without comments ya. Feel free to find out what's it all about at the museum's website here. The exhibition is on until 29th May 2011.