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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, June 16, 2012

Views from Giri Kedaton

Peace be upon you all. Come again turn of storytelling for the Jawa island trip 1-14 May...


Early morning Thursday 3rd May 2012, I started the day by climbing up a certain hill in the suburb area called Giri off the town of Grisek some 20 km from Surabaya.


The hill used to be the ruling centre for the saintly religious master known as Sunan Giri more than 500 years ago.


Sunan Giri used to study under his uncle Sunan Ampel in Surabaya. Then he was instructed to study under his father in Pasai (now in present day Aceh), on the island of Sumatera. The father then gave him a sample of soil from Pasai. He said find a place in the island of Jawa which has the same exact soil composition. That's where Sunan Giri should open his own school.

After searching for a while he finally found such a place here.


The place is called Giri and that's where the young man whose real name was Raden Paku began to be known as Sunan Giri.


Sunan Giri built a religious school on top this hill. Later when Giri gained enough influence and following to be considered a kingdom, the hill became known as the Giri Kedaton.




Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Entry point to the Royal Belum forest

Switching back to the 26 March-4 April travel which covers the East Coast. At this juncture you can't call it the trip to the East Coast anymore as we were headed  back to the West Coast.


Sunday 1st April. We left the city of Kota Bahru and state of Kelantan via Jeli and entered the state of Perak where lies this place.


The signboard practically welcomes us to the forest of Royal Belum.


But this is just the entry point. The actual forest lies ahead to the north. But at least you can see it from here.


This entry point lies at a vast man-made freshwater lake called Tasik (lake of) Banding.


Frolicking around with the wife and kids.


Seen to south-east is one of the two bridges crossing Tasik Banding. It forms the East-West highway connecting Kelantan and Perak.


It happened that the waters was overflowing.


We were told that while Kelantan was dry these parts of Perak were rainy.


Just look at the level of water. This is a roofed rest area.


Even then the water has subsided after a heavy flood that lasted for days...


Oh. This lake is formed after a certain part of the Perak river was turned into a dam. This is actually a far upriver part of the mightiest river of Peninsular Malaysia's West Coast. Water from tributaries as far north as southern Thailand flows into the lake and after the dam flows into the better known parts of the Perak river, that is to the south.