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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.


Saturday, April 09, 2011

Masjid (Mosque of) Kampung Keling, Melaka at night



Sometime in evening we left Muar and stopped by in the city of Melaka. After visiting 2-3 places I went to the mosque of Kampung Keling.



Actually I needed to use the restroom. So I stepped into the compound as the wife and baby waited in the car outside.

Now I rarely visit this mosque as I prefer another one, Masjid Kampung Hulu not far from here. So this is a rare visit and since I was already there why not take pictures?


So I stepped into the mosque first.




I must say it is quite a beauty...

The fountain outside left.
View from outside the restroom. For the record this is the 717th article in this blogspot.


The Muar river from Pagoh to Grisek


  From the old mosque of Olak Sepam I followed a rural road which follows the curve of the Muar river. I took the downriver direction. About 1.5 km after it starts to turn inland. That's when I decided to have a look at the Muar river from that part.

A look upriver...


A look across.


A look downriver.


Further downriver lies the small town of Panchor


Here's how the Muar river looks like upriver from here.


A look across.


A look downriver.


I went further downriver and took a bridge across the Muar river on to the small town of Grisek.


Again I took shots of the Muar river for comparison.


A look upriver from Grisek.


A look across.

  A look downriver.



Revisiting the old mosque of Olak Sepam

Continued from The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah of Melaka revisited.


From the tomb of Sultan Alauddin it is only 3 km to this old mosque at Olak Sepam.


So I brought the wife and baby to have a look.
I'm not sure if it is still in use.


I think it has been gazetted as a heritage building.


Section under the centre of the roof.


The mihrab or front-most section.


At the rear is a simple steel staircase.


It leads up to a section on top.



There, a good view of the Muar river behind...



Friday, April 08, 2011

The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah of Melaka revisited

Continued from Muar's very own Uptown.


The next day we visited a certain place in Pagoh which is still part of Muar. There is this information plaque.


That plaque basically contains the same information as the older one erected close by decades ago.


It say about the existence of the tomb of a Melaka Sultan who passed away more than 500 years ago.


This is it the tomb of the Melaka ruler called Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah.


His is the only Melaka Sultan tomb still in existence in Malaysia.


Baby Al-Rasyid looking at the old plaque.



Muar's very own Uptown



After making a number of stops I arrived in Muar at noon. At night I brought the wife and baby around and saw one street being closed to traffic for hawkers to sell their wares.




I understand they've been doing this for the last one year or so.



They are just following a concept which has become popular in Malaysia over the years. A street in the middle of town is closed for a certain duration for night market.


The concept originated at a place called Uptown in Damansara Utama, Kuala Lumpur. Thus it became known as Uptown albeit at different places, Uptown Wangsa Maju, Uptown Gombak and such...


Mosque of Raja Alang in Beranang revisited

This one is from last weekend...


Early Saturday morning I took the old trunk road to the south and made a stop at the Mosque of Raja Alang in Beranang.


Just look at the design of the mosque. It has a certain fairy-tale like quality to it.



Now let's see what's inside.


There are a few layers of gates intricately decorated with verses from the holy book Al-Quran.





Entering the main praying hall.

Looks like preparations were being made for a lecture or the likes...