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

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.


Monday, November 24, 2014

Exploring the legend of Bukit Treh

Continued from Breakfast at Muar riverside.


After breakfast we went to a hill called Bukit Treh about 5 km from town. There are some objects or places I wanted to show related to the legend of this place. One is a rock which could normally be found besides the sea. Legend has it that this area was once part of the sea or rather the Straits of Melaka.


Another is a tomb said to belong to a lady. One version says it is the mother of a character known as Tanggang, the other says it is his wife, a princess.


Then there's a small cave.


Legends has it that it was an inter-dimensional door of some sort. Here the locals used to be able to borrow plates and such from the orang bunian, the invisble people who lives in the invisible world.





The whole hill itself is said to be a ship which was cursed because the owner, Tanggang which became a rich merchant after leaving home refused to acknowledge his mother and their poor origin. It was overturned by huge waves before becoming a stone. Over time it was covered by soil and growth and became a hill. 





Oh. By the way the group of 8 who tagged along for breakfast had left earlier to catch a boat in Melaka. Instead we were joined by 3 different groups of friends.








These groups were in Pagoh to attend the HIKMAH function. They are regular supporters of HIKMAH and thus were given homestays to spend the night while we were there.


Another interesting thing of Bukit Treh is the existence of a wall about 60 metres long made of corals. It is another proof that the sea used to be much closer once upon a time, not 6 km away as it is now...




Breakfast at Muar riverside

Peace be upon you all. This is from two weeks ago...


After holding a function under my NGO called HIKMAH, the 11th function, held in Pagoh 8th November 2014 it's time to make a small trip. The next day Sunday we drove 25 km to the town of Muar for breakfast.





I was with my wife and two kids. Tagging along is a group of 8 people and 2 other friends who spent the night at the same homestay in Pagoh. The chosen place is my favourite stall besides the Muar river.





Ah. Yummy, yummy. There were all sort of orders. But for me its the special local meal, nasi beringin.


The kids enjoying the scenery. They always like to climb up the walls so they could look down on the waters and spot some fish.


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Rasyid's belated birthday party

Continued from The kids' showtime....


After graduation on Thursday, Friday was declared a holiday for the kindergarten kids. The one my kid attended at a nearby village decided to hold a small feast instead.


Every kid was asked to bring along their parents and some food. It was mostly mothers who could make it.


The teachers also held a birthday party for kids born on October, November and December.


My kid Rasyid (second from right) became 5 just about a month earlier so he was among the 4 that met the criteria.














The kids' showtime...

Continuing from Rasyid's little graduation.


Next came the performance session...


Every class has to perform. 


There's the choir, there's the singing there's the dance..


Of course I was waiting for my kid to perform with his class.








Yes. That's Rasyid second from the right...








Johan watching the going-ons. He is prone to just walk up on stage especially when his older brother was there. So I have to watch him closely.


We stayed till the end of the proceedings.








The last show came from little girls with pom-pom.


Rasyid's little graduation

Sharing something from almost a week ago.



Last Thurday, 13th November me and family went to the kindergarten at our housing estate.





There was a memorable function in action.








The kids were about to graduate and here they were getting ready...


Our 5-year-old boy Rasyid in graduation garb.


He and some kids actually studied at a different kindergarten 2-3 km away. But it operates under the same agency as this one and the graduation is for every kid under that same agency within the locality.







Lining up for the function to began.


At the age of 2 years plus our youngest boy Johan (standing in the middle) might be too small to attend kindergarten. But he was very excited at the going-ons. So the teachers let him wear a garb.





Time to begin. The VIPs were received with a kompang performance.


Johan and his cheeky smile... :]


Everyone standing for Negaraku, the national anthem.


Soon enough it's time for the actual graduation.









The local member of the State Assembly handed out the scrolls.





Rasyid's turn...





It might be just a little kindergarden graduation. Still, being a father my heart swelled with pride upon seeing the name of my son on his scroll...