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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, June 04, 2013

The visit and umrah in Arabia 2013


The last one month plus we have seen stories which are actually supporting articles for a series called  "Ziarah dan umrah 2013" (visit and the umrah of 2013) made in my main blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU. On Sunday the series which refers to a trip to Arabia made by me and wife 1-12 April ended with its last article. Now let the links for the stories including in my main blogspot be compiled for easy reading.
































31. Ziarah dan umrah 2013 - Keseronokan berada lama di Gua Hira' dan Jabal Nur

32. Passing over Aceh, the land known as the verandah of Mecca

33. Ziarah dan umrah 2013 - Sampailah masa untuk kembali


Sunday, June 02, 2013

Passing over Aceh, the land known as the verandah of Mecca

And so the stories regarding places in Medina and Mecca is coming to and end. Thursday 11th April 2012 after sunset we left the city of Mecca to get to Jeddah where lies the main international airport. We arrived before 10 pm and boarded the plane before 1 am. Soon we were on our way to return to Malaysia.

OK. The flight takes about 9 hours advancing through 5 time zones. Me and wife mostly slept. Then we noticed it was already bright.



Looking out the window I noticed the land shape at the north tip of Aceh, part of the big island called Sumatera (Sumatra).


I know this for a fact as I have studied maps and satellite pictures around rather thoroughly. I remembered, on my return trip from Jeddah in 2005 (which was for my first time visiting the Arab city of Medina and doing the pilgrimage act of umrah in Mecca) my plane then passed directly over the Aceh capital city of Banda Aceh where my eyes spotted its famous mosque, the Masjid Baiturrahman.



This plane however seemed to take a route further east. Next I spotted what should be the extinct volcano known as Seulawah Agam, about 5,000 feet high above sea level.



The plane continued to follow the coast of Aceh...


Then it started passing overland. I recognised this as the part of Aceh extending to the east.



In order to see the sea or rather, the Straits of Melaka, I have to get to the left-side of the plane.



Ah. That tip of land. That should be Tanjung Jambu Ayer, an area that felt like it has certain spiritual significance to me.




After the tip the land stretches back south-east. Then I caught sight of a city which should be Langsa, the closest towards the Aceh south-east border.


Next is the part of land where lies the said border.



To the south lies the Indonesian province of Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra). Seen in this close-up is an island called Pulau Sembilan located within the province.