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

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.


Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A look at Pantai Merdeka, Kedah...

OK. Now that the stories about Johor have truly been completed, it is time to move to the next set of travelling that is in Kedah and then Perak... Or simply to sum it up, going up north. This trip started within 2 weeks after finishing the Johor travels. At the moment, the details of the trip has been allocated for the blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU . So let this blogspot concentrates at the views seen (and thoughts coming too?) at certain places. here goes...


Monday, 21st January 2008. I arrived in Kedah the day before with a friend, Badrul driving from Ipoh. Oh, perhaps I should also mentioned I went to Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur by train on Saturday.

In Kedah, we stayed at an elderly friend's place in Kampung Ruat, Yan, Kedah. I took the opportunity to explore some of the places in Kedah which I haven't been at before and one of it is Pantai (beach of) Merdeka which lies at the southern estuary of the river Merbok.


I have wanted to see this place since I saw it for the first time about a year ago, from the other side of the river that is... There's just something strangely attractive about the vast body of water forming the estuary of the river Merbok. After all, history mentioned this area as the landing place for many traders and traveller to Kedah more than 1,000 years ago!


There, a superb view of Gunung (mount) Jerai, the tallest peak in the state of Kedah. At 1,200 metre plus high or so, it might just be a knoll compared to the major mountains of the world but compared to its surroundings, it stood out as a very bright beacon pointing the directions for those navigating their way around.
Also seen in the picture is the main mosque at the town of Tanjung Dawai. It was from that town that I first got a glimpse of Pantai Merdeka... Read about it here... Incursion to Tanjung Dawai


There, a better view of Tanjung Dawai. Perhaps having a pair of binoculars would help... The green (is it really green?) building in the middle is the jetty where one could get a boat from Tanjung Dawai to Pantai Merdeka.

At first, my plan was to get here from there but since Badrul was going to Seberang Perai through Sungai Petani which lies on another route and a meeting has been arranged for me to meet another friend there, the plan was changed.

What happened then, the other friend whose name also happens to be Badrul took me to visit the tombs of Tok Soh (see Makam Tok Soh di Kedah dan kaitannya dengan Merong Mahawangsa (The tomb of Tok Soh in Kedah and its relation to Merong Mahawangsa)... I've posted just now) and Daeng Parani (the story Makam (tomb of) Daeng Parani was posted a month ago)... Then only I took a bus to Pantai Merdeka via Kota Kuala Muda...


This place is quite relaxing, after all it is one of the main tourism spot around here. But I'm only here to enjoy a bit of the air and try to breath in the history flowing inside...


The boat to commute to Tanjung Dawai. At first I thought I would do just that... Get a boat to Tanjung Dawai and from there get back to Kampung Ruat in Yan where I was bunking then. But the boat would only move if there's 6 passengers and above. Otherwise, you have to charter the whole boat which to me is just too much...


So instead, I had rojak buah, mixed fruits cut to pieces and served in spicy gravy here while I figure out my next route...



There... Tyres used for floats. Only there's no customer around to use it as it is after all a Monday noon...
Saw this tower and must check it...

View of the rooftop of the stalls and beyond...


One across the river mouth, hindered by the shades. Still you can see the mosque at Tanjung Dawai...


Another look at Gunung Jerai. Then it's time to leave, by getting the bus back to Sungai Petani. That's all for this particular place. Cheers! :]

No comments: