BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2013-12-22

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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.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Going up a hill with a large colonial bungalow at Batu Arang

Yesterday, during Christmas Day I brought the kids around the small quaint town of Batu Arang where lies a number of old houses from the British colonial days. One, a huge bungalow is situated on top a hill higher than much of the surroundings. If not mistaken it used to be a club house and I felt like checking it out.

It is now inhabited by a Malay family. They allowed us to have a look around.

So there we were enjoying the wide view...

For the record Batu Arang was a coal mining town and settlement.

There. What used to be the swimming pool.

On the way out I noticed a small road leading to a higher part of the hill.

There lies what looked like a half-submerged water tank.

I climbed up and start to savour the views.

As usual I like to take pictures from many angles going slowly anti-clockwise...

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Muar and its river from nearby the Second Mosque

Continued from Views from Menara Rebung's 44th floor.

The following day, Saturday I returned to my parents' place in Muar. The next day, Sunday just before leaving for home I went to Muar's Second Mosque which lies across the Muar river from town and caught sight of an open small jetty.

The jetty has been around for ages but it used to be flanked by a rather thick mangrove swamp. Now the trees have been cleared offering a wide vista around. Here'a look towards the river mouth.

Turning bit by bit anti-clockwise I took in the views.

The town...

I was told this place was cleared just about a month ago in time for the Sultan of Johor to celebrate his birthday in Muar.

The famous old bridge...

Views from Menara Rebung's 44th floor

Last Friday I sent the wife to Menara Rebung, the headquarters of TM or Telekom Malaysia. Standing at 310 metres it is the 2nd tallest building in Malaysia, after the 462 metre-hight Petrones Twin Towers at KLCC and not counting the 421 high Menara KL at Bukit Nenas which is a telecommunications tower. I have been up to the highest floor of the Petronas Towers, the 88th floor. But the highest I've been up to at Menara Rebung which is officially known as Menara Telekom was the 20th floor or so. It has 55 floors while my wife was going to a function at 44th floor. So of course I was excited when she asked me to accompany herself up.