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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, August 01, 2009

A night walkabout in Melaka...

This is the tomb of the famous 15th century Melaka warrior, Hang Kasturi...

So what is this person doing in front of the gates of the tomb?

Well, for one, the tomb is situated at Jonker Street in Melaka city centre. The person seen in the previous picture was just selling his wares in front of the tomb. That's all...

After visiting the Talang dam (look at the article A look at Talang Dam, the most upstream part of the Muar river... ) me and wife went to Melaka. It was on a Saturday night where some of the streets around here is closed for the weekend night flea market...

We then walked all the way down Jonker Street on to the Melaka river. The river now is very colourful and beautiful, a big difference from what it used to be some years back.



The river has been cleaned and beautified, concrete walkways made along its lengths at both sides...




I understand, a small dam or watergate system much like that used at the Camden canals in London has been in use in Melaka since a year or two. This is to ensure the waters of the river stay at a certain navigable level throughout the year at all times regardless of the season or change of tides.



Thus a walk along the Melaka river is now made to a very pleasant experience, a romantic one even. Why, I'd say it feels like some of the walks at some European cities I've been to. In fact I felt this is even better than Amsterdam and rather close to walking along the river Thames in London. I'd say the feeling I get when walking down the Melaka river noawadays is like being at Prague, the capital of Czech Republic which has the distinction of being one of the few European cities which managed to preserve large tracts of ancient building from eras such as the 15th century AD and before, a rare distinction indeed as many parts of old European cities were destroyed during the world wars...




Next we went to one of our most favourite spots in Melaka, the mosque of Kampung Hulu were we actually spent the rest of the night!




This is a recording of the happenings after I woke up for the early morning Subuh prayers there. Hope you guys like it. Cheers! :]

Friday, July 31, 2009

A look at Talang Dam, the most upstream part of the Muar river...

I have always been astounded by rivers especially wide ones. Last weekend I went to the the Talang dam in Negeri Sembilan which is actually the most upstream part of the Muar river. For the record, I was born and raised in the Johor town of Muar, near the Muar river estuary. So when I realised that the Talang dam was actually built at the most upstream part of the river, I just couldn't help but rush to take a look.

Below is a video recording of the dam and it's surrounding areas made in the visit last weekend. Just for perspective, let me also put the links to some of the articles I have made here regarding the river Muar.

Muar river cruise part I...

Muar river cruise part II...

Muar river cruise part III

Where Muar river meets Jempol in Negeri Sembilan...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Bernam river at Hutan Melintang...

You could say this is the continuation of the article The Perak river from Hujung Rintis... . Or you could also say it continues from Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river .

Whichever way, after having a look at the Perak river from Hujung Rintis, I felt like having a look at the Bernam river from Hutan Melintang in turn...


For I have arrived here the previous night but it was too dark to have a good look at the river.

Still, from the lights coming out of the boats, I could surmise the Bernam river here is rather wide.


So I have to come again just to have a good look at it during daytime, eventhough I barely made it, arriving here again at 7 pm or so...


Thank God, I managed to have a good look despite the sun about to set. And judging from the distance of the mangrove trees, this part of the Bernam river which is still 15 km or so from its estuary is already as wide as the Muar river mouth, the place where I've spent many good hours staring at while growing up!


Here's a look to the left of the jetty...




Here's to the right. By the way, the land across, the land to the south and around is the state of Selangor. That's all...

The Perak river from Hujung Rintis...

OK. Here I just like to share a few pictures taken in the evening of Sunday 19th July, the following day after I went to the parts of Bernam river shown in the article Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river...

This is part of the Perak river near the jetty at a place called Hujung Rintis...

There are regular ferry services to get one from here across the river to a place called Sungai Dulang if I remember correctly, nearer to the small town and district of Bagan Datoh...


I remember this place as more than 2 years ago, I went here for the first time and took a ferry across...



Some 4 km northern-wards of Hujung Rintis, closer to the part of Perak known as Kota Setia there is a river opening up to the Perak river. They say there used to be ferry services from here directly to Bagan Datoh but it is now dysfunctional...