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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.


Friday, August 01, 2014

Reliving some childhood moments at Muar's Masjid Jamek



That night I went to Masjid Jamek, Muar's main mosque to conduct the Tarawih prayers. For information Tarawih prayers are supplementary or extra/optional prayers conducted at night in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan.


This mosque is very special to me as I grew up spending a lot of time praying, also playing around here. I decided to relive some of the memories by climbing up to the upper levels of the mosque which is actually off limits to the public.





This parts are only opened to mosque officials especially for maintenance purpose.


I remember when I was very young, probably around 6-7 years old looking up to the tower wishing I could go up to savour the views.


And 2 years later of so I have developed enough strength, confidence and dexterity to do so.





See the pool down there? As the doors concealing the staircases leading up to these parts were mostly locked throughout the year it is no mean feat to get here. I used to climb from the lowest level, besides the pool that is to get up.


If I remember correctly I only got up 2 or 3 times via staircase.


Now let's just savour the views as I lived up the childhood moments...



































A view of the mosque from outside.


Muar river from an esplanade at Tanjung Agas

Peace be upon you. Last weekend me and family returned to my home town in Muar. That's when I brought the kids to a shopping complex in Tanjung Agas which sits on the northern banks of the Muar river.


Near the shopping complex is an esplanade which if I'm not mistaken was built about 3-4 years ago.


This area used to be full of mangrove trees. Now one could get a clear view of the surroundings, especially the quite vast Muar river.


A look downstream.


You can see the Muar old bridge. The Muar river mouth is 1-2 km away to the right.


A look across. The long building is the Muar market.


A look upstream. Muar's 2nd bridge, completed 10 years ago if I'm not mistaken lies 1-2 km to the right.