-----------------------

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".


-----------------------


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, July 05, 2013

Nuqtah exhibition at Galeri Shah Alam

This is from 3 days ago.

On Tuesday me and wife went to Shah Alam to attend a radio live interview. After that we went to Galeri Shah Alam, the local art gallery.




There is a particular exhibition we want to have a look at.




Called "Nuqtah - Jalinan Dua Tradisi: Puisi Melayu Dalam Keindahan Seni Khat", the name of the exhibition could be literarily translated as "Nuqtah - Interweaving Two Traditions : Malay Poetry in the Beauty of the art of Islamic Calligraphy".




That itself could explain the theme of the exhibition. For what the word Nuqtah means, have a look at the article "Nuqtah" khat exhibition at Chandan art gallery, Damansara Heights made over a year ago.




The exhibition was started about 2 weeks ago. We were invited to the official opening on 23rd June but could not make it due to certain constraints. So we came in on Tuesday just sort of to make amends...





"Nuqtah - Jalinan Dua Tradisi: Puisi Melayu Dalam Keindahan Seni Khat" would continue at this gallery until the end of the month. You can visit their Facebook page here




Monday, July 01, 2013

On to Makassar city



OK. In terms of official border, the University of Hassanuddin lies 1-2 km outside the city of Makassar.


But urbanised sections extend well outside the border.


It is only when one has passed certain monuments such as this then one is officially in the city...




As we went on towards the city centre another university came into view.


This is its hospital.


I could see a number of mosque including this.


A prominent landmark of Makassar, one of its tall buildings.


Entering the city centre. In general I noticed the buildings are around 5-6 stories tall. 


But the city is sprawling covering quite a large area. I was told Makassar is the biggest city in Indonesia east of Surabaya. For the record this is the 1,155th article in this blogspot.


A look at the University of Hasanuddin, Makassar

The article Flight to Makassar shows us arriving at the city of Makassar airport late in the afternoon. The following afternoon, Saturday 4th July 2013 we started exploring the city.

We started by having a look at its main university, the Universitas (university of) Hasanuddin.


Like the airport, the university is named after a prominent 17th century ruler of the kingdom of Goa of which Makassar, also known as Ujung Pandang is the main port and centre of commerce.


Our host is a senior lecturer and professor here. However she was also attached to the Akademi Pengajian Melayu (Malay Studies Akademi) at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


She showed us around a few faculties including that of literature of which she is a main member.






However what caught my eye the most is the medical faculty which runs its own hospital.




This is because we've just learned that there are quite a number of Malaysians studying at Hassanuddin university and most if not all is in medicine.