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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, December 19, 2009

A wedding on top a hill in Janda Baik

Here's one on a fun outing today...



Earlier I went again to Janda Baik in Pahang to attend a wedding function held high on top of a hill.


I said I went there again as last week I was also in Janda Baik to spend my time at another part. Anyway, this trip turned to be something quite special as the place I have to go to lies on the highest resort available in the already high Janda Baik. It's just the road is too narrow and the parking limited leaving the guests no choice but to park along the road...


So I was forced to walk up. The problem is my wife have to follow suit along with our 2-month old baby...


Luckily after 100-metres walking or so there appeared a 4WD vehicle which was made into a shuttle. The room was limited. But at least my wife can climb onboard with the baby. Being a man, I don't mind walking all the way up. Here's the view as I was about to enter the resort grounds where the wedding was held...


Here are the other guys who also decided to walk up. They also came with their womenfolk who were also picked up. Actually the driver of the shuttle asked us to wait for our turn. But we just couldn't wait. What's the problem with walking anyway? After all we are men and our women were safely being ferried to the top.


There, it shouldn't be that far now...


At last, the courtyard of the resort and the wedding reception...


And that's my dear wife (in blue) with baby already waiting at the entrance...


OK. We arrived sometime after 3.30pm while the program says the wedding reception would start at 3. As it turned out a number of guests have yet to turn up and these included the groom's family members. As have been shown before, the narrow road leading up to the top along with the lack of parking space which forced the cars to be parked down the road has blocked the way forcing everyone to take turns to be ferried up. That took some time but that's no problem with me... thank God, I was not as late as I thought...


Whatever your misgivings, once you are up here all mistakes are forgiven. You should see the view but here I have yet to catch the best, trying instead to capture the bride and groom posing (I'm sure you can spot them yourselves) before they walked on...


Here's a sample. One to the left of the pool outside the resort's main building...


Here's to the left where lies a gazebo and the musicians who provided the numbers...


By this time most of the guests, mainly family members have arrived...


Everyone got to admire the view as they picked up their food. For the record while Janda Baik itself stands at about 1,500 feet above sea level, this resort is some 500 feet higher...


My wife and baby took the opportunity for a pose...


Another one at the pool.


So the festivity went on...


Meanwhile I was more inclined to enjoy the views, more so as the winds shifted the clouds and mist to form a variety of scenarios...


It is so refreshing to be here. The last time I was on top this hill was probably 5 years ago. The resort was still under construction then and I thought it was a house belonging to a tauke sayur or something... no offence... :]


For the record the resort overlooks acres of vegetable farm...


Look closely in the picture and you can also see the cars parked way down below snaking up the road...

Here's a view of the main building...





As I walked back up past this man-made waterfall, I had another deja vu. For the record I had at least 3 deja vus in the two and a half hours or so I was here...


Soon it's time to check out what's happening at the entrance...


Some of the guests were about to be shuttled down on a pick-up truck..


It's also time for me and family to leave. But not before I took another good look out. Mind you, there were times when I was inside as it rained outside and caught glimpses of the view through the glasses and I began to get the same feeling I had while resting at a lodge near the top of a certain mountain in Switzerland, sometime in 1995...



And this is a video clip of the view as I was shuttled down by pick-up, my wife inside while I stood at the back. Too bad, I only started recording after having passed through the steep parts. I was so engrossed with the rollercoaster ride that I only realised it should be recorded only after some time. Never mind, this should give you an idea of how fun it was. I also have a number of articles on Janda Baik which could be accessed through the following links.


Janda Baik revisited again...
(posted October 2007)

Janda Baik my resting place
(September 2007)

So refreshing Janda Baik!
(June 2007)


Good lord! Where are my manners? I forgot to say this. Congratulations to Nana and husband. Thank you Faiz, Kak Aina and family for inviting us to this beautiful wedding. Good night! :]


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