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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 14, 2009

Catching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Lampuuk...

Continued from On to Tanoh Abee... so what exist over there?


Despite spending some time at Tanoh Abee, despite leaving there sometime after 6.30 pm then having to rush back 42 km through a non-highway road to Banda Aceh then another 15 km to go to its west, we managed to arrive at our next destination, the beach of Lampuuk in time.


For the record, Lampuuk is the beach facing the Indian Ocean which is closest to Banda Aceh.



Its location facing the ocean near the northernmost tip of the island of Sumatera made it one of the closest open area to the underwater earthquake epicentre of the tsunami attack of 26th December 2004. Thus the beach of Lampuuk was totally devastated and destroyed. Now, just look at its beauty 4 years after the mishap...


Why, I couldn't help changing into shorts and taking a dip in the ocean myself. But no pictures of me doing that ya...



Anyway, this is as close to a superb sunset we could catch. While we had all the time, at least 15 minutes to watch the sun sets before it disappears into the horizon, it seemed like the sky had other plans. Patches of cloud blocked what could have a been a very interesting sight as I've been told this is where we could get the best sunset anywhere near Banda Aceh if not the whole of Aceh. Never mind, the view was good enough. With that you could say the day's activity for me was done. Except for a visit to the nearby mosque which became the only building to survive the tsunami for miles around, a mosque which I will feature in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) next.

On to Tanoh Abee... so what exists over there?

Continued from the article Aceh rural views around Indrapuri


From Indrapuri and then the Teungku Chik di Tiro tomb complex, we decided to head on to Tanoh Abee, some 15 km further to the south... as we wriggled our way out of the nearby rural areas, fresh vistas opened up..


Its refreshing to see local kids playing about...

At certain junctures, the journey was slowed down by lorries like this while the road is too small for us to simply overtake.


Never mind, we could still savour the views to kill time...



It's just by then it's already past 5 pm...




We wanted to go to Tanoh Abee some 15 km south and do a proper visitation there, yet hope to return to Banda Aceh some 42 km from Tanoh Abee then head another 10 - 15 km to Lampuuk to catch the sunset. Can we make all these in time?




















Thank God, after some time we're back on the main road...





One thing I noticed about Aceh is that they tend to use mosques with this standard design...






I can't remember where this is but I believe by the time we crossed this bridge it's already 6 pm...




Never mind, I still have faith we could get to Lampuuk facing the Indian Ocean for sunset. Or is it?







OK. We're getting off the main road again...





There's this watergate...





I think it lies over the river Aceh.




Meanwhile the mountain called Seulawah said to be an inactive volcano looms in the background.




We pass a smaller watergate controlling a canal...





So on to another rural part...






Where is this place in Tanoh Abee we're going to anyway?



It should lie just over this bridge said the driver...






Ah. At last. The information says this is the ancient library of Tanoh Abee. What ancient library? I'll continue the story at my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU later. Cheers! :]

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Aceh rural views around Indrapuri

Continued from From Syiah Kuala to Kreung Aceh...


Later the same day me and wife went some 25 km inland and south of Banda Aceh to visit the old mosque of Indrapuri. Look at the articles Masjid (mosque of) Indrapuri... in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) and Masjid Indrapuri, bukti agama Hindu memang berasal daripada syariat Nabi Ibrahim AS? in CATATAN SI MERAH SILU


We then went around the rural areas. This is a new mosque being built in one of the nearby village...



There's plenty of padi fields here, rice plants that is...


The wooden traditional houses are also interesting.














A mosque in another village...




And here, we are in front the tomb of a certain religious master listed as an Indonesian national hero. I will continue on the tomb and the religious master in my other blogspots later. Cheers! :]