BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2015-05-31

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

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.

Saturday, June 06, 2015

Again, the views at Teluk Sengat

Continuing from New visit to old Johor.

Also revisited is the small town of Telok Sengat about 3 km south of Johor Lama.

It has an interesting waterfront facing the wide river of Johor.

The last time I took a while to enjoy the views was more than 5 years ago. Look at The immensely wide Johor river - Views from Teluk Sengat...

But the waterfront then was not as beautiful as it is now.

And the bridge seen was still under construction then...

New visit to old Johor

Going outside the town of Kota Tinggi but still within district with the same name. Continuing from New visit to the tombs at Jalan Makam.

We move on to an area called Johor Lama about 40 km from Kota Tinggi town. The name Johor Lama literarily means old Johor. It is because it used to be the old administrative centre of the state of Johor.

Here lies the museum of Kota (fort of) Johor Lama.

Like the last few places shown in this blogspot, I have been here before.

Thus I have shared some information on the place in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). Look at the article Muzium (Museum of) Johor Lama.

In front of the museum lies an old fort built almost 500 years ago. Look at Kota Johor Lama (Johor old fort)

The fort faces the wide waters of the Johor river. It's just the trees and growths obscured the view.

Also in the vicinity is a tomb said to belong to an early Johor ruler, the one who opened Johor Lama. Look at Makam (Tomb of) Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II Johor

New visit to the tombs at Jalan Makam

Continuing from New visit to the tomb of Laksamana Bentan...

Next stop in Kota Tinggi is Bendahara Tun Habib's tomb complex off a road called Jalan Makam.

Information on him can be gleaned in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). Look at these articles :-

Makam (tomb of ) Bendahara Tun Habab

Lawatan terbaru ke makam Tun Habib (Latest visit to the tomb of Tun Habib)

Melihat lebih teliti makam Tun Habib (Having a detailed look at the tomb of Tun Habib)

At another part of Jalan Makam lies a tomb of complex attributed to a 17th century ruler of Johor. Look at Makam (tomb of) Sultan Mahmud Mangkat DiJulang.

The complex also contains tombs of a few other rulers. For information look at the article Makam Sultan-sultan lain di Kompleks Makam Sultan Mahmud Mangkat dijulang (Tombs of other Sultans at the Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang tomb complex).

New visit to the tomb of Laksamana Bentan

Moving on to the district of Kota Tinggi, Johor. Continuing from On to the tomb of Sharif Muhammad al-Baghdadi.

Next on the list is tomb of a 17th century figure known as Laksamana Bentan.

Actually after Terengganu we've visted two tomb complexes in Pekan, Pahang. But as far as this blogspot is concerned let's just move on to Kota Tinggi...

Regarding who this figure is I won't repeat it here. I believe sufficient explanation has been made in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). Look at the articles Makam (tomb) of Laksamana Bentan and Sekitar makam Laksamana Bentan (Around the tomb of Laksamana Bentan).

Thursday, June 04, 2015

On to the tomb of Sharif Muhammad al-Baghdadi

Continuing from Batu Buruk from a tower.

In the afternoon we went to the district of Kuala Berang to visit the tomb of a 13th century major religious figure of Terengganu called Sharif Muhammad al-Baghdadi.

The tomb lies at the upper reaches of the Terengganu river.

We have to take a boat to get there..

On the way lies a stone said to be splitted into two by Sharif Muhammad using his bare hands...

The tomb lies within an area inhabitated by a community who decided to lead a basic life far away from modern amenities,

The tomb complex. For further read look at the article Makam (Tomb of) Sharif Muhammad al-Baghdadi in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART)

Batu Buruk from a tower

Still on Kuala Terengganu. Continuing from Boatmaking in progress at Pulau Duyong.

Wednesday 3rd June 2015. While waiting for some locals at the beach of Batu Buruk I decided to go up this tower facing the South China Sea.

It provides some interesting views of the surrounding,,,,

To the south could be seen an island called Pulau Kapas if not mistaken.

Turning anti-clockwise...

A view towards the city of Kuala Terengganu. The city itself is not in view but the stone formation (I can't recall what it is called) is actually situated at its waterfront...