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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.


Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Peculiar places

OK. Time to present another category.



As readers might have noted the categories I've made and presented over the last few weeks tend to show views and scenery of interesting places that people normally go for recreation and travel. Now let me present a category mean for a different type of interesting places. This is for places of historical, religious and/or mystical interest. Let us called the category as "Peculiar places".



Kedah

A visit to the royal mausoleum at Langgar, Kedah?

Kota (fort of) Kuala Muda

The ancient valley of Bujang in Merbok

The ruins of Pengkalan Bujang

Sultan Muzaffar Shah, the first king of Kedah?

The surau of Kampung Setul, Yan...

The legend of Mahsuri in Langkawi

New trip to the North - places in Alor Setar revisited...

The unique mosque at Sidam Kiri revisited

Tomb of Daeng Parani revisited

Revisiting the tomb of Tok Soh

The well of Tok Sheikh

Bringing the family to the place designated as Padang (field of) Tok Sheikh

Night visit to Masjid (mosque of) Zahir

The tomb of Maharaja Khadi Abdul Jalil in Jitra revisited

The old mosque at Langgar revisited

Revisiting the Kedah royal mausoleum in Langgar

Visiting Kedah royal mausoleum at Langgar


Pulau Pinang

Masjid (mosque of) Lebuh Aceh. A trip down memory lane...

New trip to the North - Lebuh Aceh mosque revisited...


Perak

More of Pangkor... Going on to what's inscribed on a stone...

The Dutch Fort in Pulau (island of) Pangkor, Perak...

New trip to the North - The Ubudiyah mosque and Perak royal mausoleum revisited...

Visiting the mystical island of Pulau Semat

Latest visit to the tombs of the two Muazzams...

Latest visit to the tombs of the two Muazzams...

Latest visit to the old abandoned mosque at Teluk Memali (or is it just Bandar Baharu)?

Looking for the tombs of Sultan Shahabuddin and Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain...

Latest visit to the tomb of Keramat (saintly figure of) Sungai Durian

Mosque of Panglima Kinta revisited

My latest visit to the tomb of Keramat Kuala Bidor

Revisiting the Gunung Semanggol mosque

Looking again at the abandoned old mosque in Teluk Memali

The cleared tomb of Sultan Abdul Malik Mansur

Another visit to the tomb of Sultan Mahmud ibni Sultan Muhammad Amanullah

Visiting the Perak royal mausoleum after demise of a Sultan

Beting Beras Basah after 4 years - Preparing for the Sultan's coronation?

Beting Beras Basah after 4 years - Taking a whiff of the power...

On to Pulau Semat, again

Group visit to Beruas museum

Visit to site of Beruas ancient harbour

Tombs of the kings of Beruas


Selangor

The Selangor royal tomb at Bukit Melawati... And my fetish for numbers!

The hills at Tanjung Keramat, Kuala Selangor...

The 'Bermuda Triangle' that is Lubuk Pusing in Sabak Bernam

My latest visit to the royal tombs at Jugra...

Views from a tower at a mosque in Bernam

Historical places at Bukit Melawati

Baby Al-Rasyid at the Selangor royal mausoleum, Bukit Melawati

Mosque of Raja Alang in Beranang revisited

The huge Shah Alam mosque

Old mosque of Ampang Pecah revisited

The new look of the tomb of a wife of Sultan Abdul Samad

Exploring the upper level of Raja Alang mosque

Views from a tower of the Marzukiah mosque at Lubuk Pusing

New visit to the actual Lubuk Pusing


Negeri Sembilan

The megalithic stones of Pengkalan Kempas

Where Muar river meets Jempol in Negeri Sembilan...

Al-Rasyid first visit to the Muar river-Jempol river meeting point

Bringing the baby to the megaliths at Pengkalan Kempas

Family visit to the tomb of Moyang Salleh

Canon of Dato' Undang Abdullah

Mosque of Kuala Dulang, Jelebu

Bringing the Aceh guys to Pengkalan Kempas

Latest look at the fort of Kuala Linggi

Sungai Pertemuan and Jalan Penarikan revisited

Tomb of Moyang Salleh and the canon besides revisited


Melaka

Batu Belah (split stone) of Pulau Besar, Melaka

The mystery of Gua Yunus (the cave of Yunus)

Up and around Bukit (the hill of) Melaka

The Bastion Santiago... Is it really worth keeping?

A peculiar graveyard near Tampin

A whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar in 2 hours or so..

Continuing the whirlwind tour of Pulau Besar in 2 hours or so...

Enough of Pulau Besar. 

Time to head back to the mainland and a stop at the Kampung Hulu mosque... To ponder the mystery of Sheikh Abdullah there!

My latest trip to Pulau Besar... with the wife...

Looking for a tomb at a scenic bay in Kuala Linggi..

Masjid Tanah, the mosque made from soil

A family visit to the tomb of Hang Tuah...

Visiting the Tengkera Mosque...

On to the tomb of Tun Teja...

Masjid (Mosque of) Kampung Keling, Melaka at night

The wife and kids first visit to the so-called foot-print of Hang Tuah and the tomb behind

Rasyid's visit to the A Famosa and its surrounding

Bringing the Aceh delegates to Bukit Senjuang

Visiting the tomb of Tun Teja

A visit to Bukit Melaka with the family

Having a field day at Masjid Selat Melaka

On to the tomb of Hang Tuah

The Aceh tombstones at Bukit Beruang

The "Beijing" mosque

Old Machap mosque revisited


Johor

The legendary Kota Buruk (ruined fort) of Muar...

The origin of Batu Pahat...

The hill I saw in a recent dream?

The hill I saw in a recent dream... Is it Bukit (hill of) Sebabi at Olak Sepam?

The hill I saw in a recent dream... Or is it Bukit (hill of) Setaki...

The friendlier face of Muar's main mosque

The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah of Melaka revisited

Revisiting the old mosque of Olak Sepam

The new look of Sultan Alauddin of Melaka's tomb

Tomb of Panglima Pidi revisited

Al-Rasyid's visit to the tomb of Tok Tenang

The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah of Melaka at night

New visit to the tomb of Laksamana Bentan

New visit to the tombs at Jalan Makam

New visit to old Johor


Pahang

Revisiting the royal mausoleum at Kampung Marhum

Rasyid's first visit to Makam Chondong

Kampung Bunian at Chenor, the elfin village?

Bringing friends to the tomb of Tok Gajah


Terengganu

A better look of the mosque of Tokku Paloh

The new mosque in Chendering, Kuala Terengganu

Enter Tok Pulau Manis

Masjid Kristal (The Crystal Mosque)... Built for genuine worship or just to impress?

New trip to the East Coast - Tomb and mosque of Tok Ku Paloh revisited

Tomb of Tok Raja Ri at Kuala Berang...

To Masjid Abidin, the white mosque with the kids...

Bringing the baby to the tomb of Tok Pulau Manis

A visit to the old tombs of Makam Lama, Chabang Tiga

On to the tomb of Sharif Muhammad al-Baghdadi

Visiting the tomb of a holy person at remote Kuala Berang


Kelantan

Now, Danau Tok Uban...

A night at Masjid Tok Kenali...

Masjid Kampung Laut, enough said!

At last, the Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban!

Around the mythical Bukit Marak in Kelantan...

The Brunei mosque at Danau Tok Uban, again...

Latest pictures of the famous Masjid (mosque) of Kampung Laut in Kelantan...

New trip to the East Coast - Muhammadi mosque revisited and some views of Kota Bahru

New trip to the East Coast - Masjid (mosque of) Kampung Laut revisited

Al-Rasyid's first visit to Masjid (Mosque of) Kampung Laut

Tomb of Tok Selehor revisited

'Facing' death at Tok Selehor's special meditation hole

Tomb of Tok Kenali revisited

Revisiting the tomb of Kelantan's Raja Abdullah

Masjid Brunei and Danau Tok Uban in the rain...

Bringing some friends to the Brunei mosque - My 7th visit here?

Visiting tomb of Tok Selehor

Brunei mosque after more than 3 years

The colours at Tok Kenali mosque


Federal Territories

Masjid Wilayah at night

Saying goodbye to Sharif Kedah


Singapore

Latest visit to the tomb of Habib Nuh

The Temenggung mosque and Johor royal mausoleum revisited

The tomb of the princess Radin Mas

Special treat at the tomb of Habib Nuh


Brunei

Tomb of the pious king at Luba


Aceh

Walking to Malahayati's fortress, the Benteng Inong Balee...

One more fortress to go, Benteng Iskandar Muda...

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : Enter the tomb of Syiah Kuala...

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : The ship that got swept inland by the Tsunami of 2004

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : The historical sites at Banda Aceh

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : The kings of Idi

The mosque of Baiturrahman at night

My second visit to the tomb of Teungku Chik di Tiro

Walking down to Kuta Leubok

Views from Kuta Leubok

The boat on top of houses at Lampulo

Bringing the family to Gunongan

Going on top the Tsunami stranded ship

Views from the roof of Rahmatullah mosque

Visiting the tomb of Daeng Mansur with friends from Pidie

Bringing Johan, mum and dad to the tomb of Maulana Abdul Aziz

HIKMAH group visit to the tomb of Sultanah Nahrisyah

On to the tomb of Tun Sri Lanang

On to Indrapatra and Iskandar Muda forts

Visiting prominent tombs in rural Aceh Besar

Visiting the boat on roof at Lampulo again

On to the tomb of Syiah Kuala

Bringing the kids and friends to the tomb of Hamzah Fansuri

Indrapuri old mosque and the Aceh river besides

2017 visit to the tomb of Sultan Malikussaleh

2017 visit to the tomb of Sayyid Mukammil

2017 visit to the tomb of Sheikh Abdullah Kana'an Views from the Islamic Monument of Samudera 

Pasai Prawn ponds at the site of Samudera-Pasai kingdom centre

Turkish graveyard at Banda Aceh

From Uleelheue to the dome that got 'carried away'

Tomb of Syiah Kuala and surroundings Tomb of Iskandar Muda, Kandang Meuh and Kandang XII

Latest visit to the boat above house in Banda Aceh


 Sumatera

Walking to Talago Bukit's megalith site

Free ride to Muara Takus

To the giant foot print that is the actual Tapak Tuan

Dragon monuments of Tapak Tuan


Java

Late night visit to the tomb of Sunan Ampel

A look at the Suryalaya pesantren from its hill peak

Looking for the tomb of a Hassani Sheikh in Kebumen

Walking to Borobudur

Views from the top of Borobudur

The 'Buddha-level' of Borobudur

The level of creatures in the scheme of things at Borobudur

Batu Blencong, the place where Gog and Magog was subdued?

The 1-3-1-1 formation of Borobodur

From manbirds to Ratu Balqis, the Queen of Sheba

Fascination without explanation and Jonah's fish

David, Solomon and Tabut, the Ark of Covenant

The monster machine called Saabighaat

Servants from heaven and Solomon's last stand?

Going up to Keraton Ratu Boko

Entering the Boko palace ground

Bypassing the main door to get to the south-east...

The less known sections of Ratu Boko palace

Stupa remains, the altars and a meeting place of sorts

The pools and the women's dormitory (or sorts)


Thailand

Observing the surroundings from Singgora hill defence fort

Views from the old city walls of Nakhon Si Thammarat

The family's first daylook at Masjid Kerisek


Cambodia

Catching sunrise at Angkor Wat