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

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, August 11, 2012

"Nuqtah" khat exhibition at Chandan art gallery, Damansara Heights

On to something very recent.


Just a few hours ago me and family went to this place in Bukit Damansara or Damansara Heights.


The place is called Galeri Chandan, the Chandan art gallery.


We came for a function invited by a friend.


Notice the Arabic writings? The one on the right spelt the word "Nuqtah".


Also (and more popularly) spelt as Noktah, it literarily refers to the full stop.


"Nuqtah" here refers to a currently running art exhibition. While the word still refers to the full stop, as title to the exhibition it carries a richer philosophical meaning. The organisers waxed lyrical about how from a full stop written or drawn as a point it can be extended to become a line and many other things.




"Nuqtah" the exhibition features works of khat (excuse the pun... :]), Islamic caligraphy by six Malaysian artistes well-versed in the field...






Seen to the left are some of the artistes.


My wife (in  blue) posing with some friends.


An artiste showing his work (not part of the exhibition) on a giant sea shell.


The girls posing with artistes (all male) and another visitor.






OK. This exhibition was started two weeks ago and is scheduled to end in another two days...




We were invited to the launching on 27th April but could not make it due to other commitments.




Yesterday they organised a buka puasa or breaking fast function alongside the exhibition and this time we could make it.




There, people waiting for time to break fast. 


For the record it was the 21st day of the Ramadhan, the time when every Muslim is obligated to fast for  the whole month from before dawn till sundown.


Thursday, August 09, 2012

A quick night look of Muar

Returning back to Malaysia...

Last weekend me and family made a trip to my native hometown, Muar.


Muar was recently declared the royal town of the state of Johor. I grew up here  from 1970 till I left for boarding school in Kluang 1982. From then on I only returned to Muar for holidays until I shifted back to a local school end of 1986. But I only practically left Muar for good when I started studying in England 1991.


Muar has changed much since then. This tower only came to existence a few years ago.


Another recent edition is the night market simply known as 'uptown'.


It emulates many other 'uptowns' which have sprouted in urban areas all over Malaysia within the last decade or so.


Muar now also has its own covered pedestrian mall area. While it has not been fully completed it is a landmark which should make locals proud. If I remember correctly the first such structure in Malaysia was made to cover Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur about 15 years ago. Later it was set up in Masjid India followed by one at Central Market about 2-3 years ago.