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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.


Saturday, October 23, 2010

The beauty of Luba

Continued from the article Tomb of the pious king at Luba.


As it turned out the tomb building was locked and the caretaker was not around.


Then we saw a path leading to another part of the area and decided to check it out.



As we go down the stairs there appeared to be another graveyard below the small hill where lies the tomb building.


The path we followed on the other hand looks like its leading to a garden.








Then we started seeing something else...





Ah... a domed-jetty and another river. Or is it the same river we crossed to reach the tomb of Luba but a different part?






Whatever this river is much wider and looks more scenic...











Later would I learn that it is the main embarkation point for those living at Kampung Air (Brunei's water village) to get to beautiful Luba. I also learned that Kampung Air folks tend to bury their dead at the graveyard below the pious ruler's tomb, a rather curious fact as the village is situated miles downriver, towards the direction seen here.



Tomb of the pious king at Luba

Back to the Brunei stories. Continued from Views of Brunei's golden-domed mosque and its surroundings.

After the golden-domed mosque, we visited the tomb of Brunei's 15th century AD ruler Sultan Syarif Ali followed by the Brunei Museum. Next is the tomb of Sultan Kamaluddin at a rural place called Luba. Living in the 18th century he is perhaps last of the kingdom's really pious ruler.


The tomb has an outstanding location where you have to cross a river...



A look to the left...


A look to the right...


It is situated in the building on top a small hill...



A look behind...


A rest station or something...


On to the tomb building...


Just look at the maingrove swamp left behind.


You have to go up a staircase...


There is it, the tomb building...


Outside are some other tombs along with a signage pointing to the direction of prayer for Muslims, that is towards the Kaabah in Mecca.


A look behind should show how scenic the route to this tomb is...


Here's a peep inside. The tomb of Sultan Kamaluddin is on the far side...


Thursday, October 21, 2010

The cousin's reception...



OK. Unlike more formal functions with fixed itenaries and timing, this reception has a loose timetable for guests. They came come in from 11:30 am till 3 pm to have their meal and leave as they wish. For me though, the reception practically starts just before noon, when our Singaporean relatives came by the drove with 7 cars...





That's my wife and kid with my lovely first cousins... well, one of them is married to a cousin, so still considered a cousin right?


Uncle Man, the leader of the Singaporean relatives entourage...


After some time exchanging news and greetings at the lobby, the Singaporeans came in.


Meanwhile some other family members have started their meals...




It was some time before I noticed the bride's family waiting at the lobby...


That's dad and mum along with my younger brother who also helped usher in the guests.


Time for the newly-weds to make an appearance.


In time they were up on the pedestal.


With that the formal part of the reception started...






What I liked though was the coin-throwing ceremony towards the end...


I don't know if it is practiced at all Johorean weddings but for our family who hailed from Muar, it is at least a family tradition practiced as far as I could remember.



The idea is simple. The bride and groom would throw out coins along with sweets and goodies for the kids (sometimes adults too) to collect... and keep...



Oh. Now I remember. When I was a kid in Muar, this was done at every wedding I've attended. And I remember waiting for this part with bated breath since as far as I was concerned it is the best part of a wedding.




After a time only family members and few close friends were left.


I must say thoughout the reception I had a difficult time keeping check of Al-Rasyid and following him around. Then again he is just a chip off the old block, hehe...


Anyway another best part of the wedding is the family photography session.


Once upon a time I found this cumbersome. Now that I'm turning 40 I find it a sweet reminder of the meaning of life...


For despite all the people you've met at all parts of the world there is nothing like family.


Sure you could have best friends that always help you out in the most dire times of need. But that's why you say such a friend is like family. Despite the fact that there are also turmoils and bad blood in an actual family at the end of the day a family is the ultimate symbol of closeness between human beings.



That's why when you really love a woman you should marry her. Then she becomes family. And when the union is consumated resulting in children people say you've made a family...


Anyway that's the oldest family member to attend the reception. I've forgotten how old is my granduncle Tok Su Sehat but he should be no less than 86.