BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2015-02-22

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

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.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Views towards Ujong Pancu

Continued from The pools of Mata Ie.

Late in the afternoon me and a friend headed towards Ujong Pancu via a place called Peukan Bada.

Ujong Pancu lies at a peninsular of sorts. Along the way you can see the sea and some nice views.

Here we have reached the end of the tarred road. There's tomb of a 16-17th century saint we want to visit. But we have to walk up a pathway into the jungle. So let's just enjoy the views around...

The pools of Mata Ie

Continued from Erecting fallen Aceh tombstones to preserve history.

After visiting 2 more tomb areas or complexes we went to a nearby tourist attaction.

Welcome to Mata Ie. There are frest waters pools for swimming and dipping.

The waters here originated from a nearby underground source.

Mata Ie are Aceh words for the Malay "Mata Air". Literally this can be translated as eye (mata) of water (air) referring to a source of water from the ground.

The water is said to come out from a hole somewhere up the hill behind. That is why the place is called Mata Ie...

Erecting fallen Aceh tombstones to preserve history

Peace be upon you all. On to the 3rd day of the 13-19th February Aceh trip.

Sunday 15th February 2015. It was time for the the Malaysian group I came with to return home. Me on the other hand wanted to stay till 19th. After sending them to the airport I rest an hour or two at the hotel. Then it's time to start activity. This time I was brought by an Acehnese friend to a rural area a small distance south or south-west of the city of Banda Aceh.

I was brought to a plot of land where could be found a number of Aceh tombstones somehow partly buried in the ground.

There I watched a local group of activists called MAPESA, short for Masyarakat Peduli Sejarah Aceh (something like Citizens Concerned About Aceh History) dug out some fallen tombstones to reerect it to what should be its former glory.

For the record the beautifully carved Aceh tombstones marked the graves of important people - past rulers, religious masters, generals and such. Reerecting the stones means the graves are properly marked again. This is an effort to preserve history so that it would not be forgotten by the present and later generations.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Malahayati fortress at almost sunset

Continued from Savouring a bit of the beauty of Lamuri.

Next stop is Benteng Inong Balee also known as the fortress of Malayahati.

It lies facing the major bay of Lamuri offering another picturesque view of the surroundings.

It happened that we arrived at almost sunset.

Just look at how the sun complemented the already superb view of land and sea...

Savouring a bit of the beauty of Lamuri

Continung from On to Indrapatra and Iskandar Muda forts.

From the Iskandar Muda fort we headed to a place of interest about 5 km further to the east.

We have to enter a bushy area and soon our transport can't enter any further. So everyone have to walk climbing higher up a hill.

The area has been identified by local amateur as a main site for the ancient kingdom of Lamuri.

There are a number of tombs more than 600 year old around. Seen here is an old tomb at the summit.

Our guide and another Acehnese friend waiting for the rest to reach a vantage point.

From the point you can savour a bit of the beauty of Lamuri...