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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 11, 2010

Fascination with rivers - the Middle West Coast




Perak and Selangor are grouped together for this subsection. These parts of the world are so often visited by me that I lost count many years ago. While I was born and raised in Muar, Johor where my mum originated from, my dad was born in Teluk Intan, Perak and still have many relatives around. Even then I rarely went to Perak until reaching the age of 31 and learning about how my father's ancestry has shaped my inner self all this while. Since then I have been to Perak many many times especially to trace roots and other relevant matters.

As for Selangor, on paper I became a Selangorian when I decided to register my father's Kajang house address on my identity card taken upon reaching 18. It was a house my father bought and stayed at when he was working in Kuala Lumpur 1983 to 2000 or so and I actually stayed there in my early years working as a journalist with the New Straits Times. At one time I stayed at an uncle's place in Ampang before getting married again only to move to another part of Selangor. So it should not come as a surprise if I have abundant materials on both states. Furthermore their Sultanates have very close relationship since the first Sultan of Selangor was installed with the blessings of a Sultan of Perak almost 3 centuries ago.




6. Sungai Beruas

While this river does fascinate me mainly because of historical value, I forgot to give it enough credit by making articles dedicated to it. I do have pictures of the river from a few points but it was scattered as part of other stories. God willing I will give it more attention in the future. So for now you have to settle for this...

Looking for Beruas river estuary behind the hills of Segari

7. Sungai Dinding

In contrast to Sungai Beruas, Sungai Dinding especially around Lumut is practically a superstar. Its astounding width made it hard to miss and these articles should give a taste. I just need to feature the smaller upriver parts when I do have the time and opportunity to visit those parts again.

The river Dinding from its bridge

Lumut from Damar Laut

Views from the ferry crossing Sungai (river of) Dinding...

Views at Sungai Sepit

And now a look around Lumut...


8. Sungai Perak

Attention to Sungai Perak, the main river of this state goes without saying. Apart from having an astoundingly large estuary, this longest river in the Peninsular's West Coast stays quite wide very far upriver. Besides there are around 30 deceased Sultans of Perak buried along it...

The bridges across the Perak river at Kuala Kangsar

Mouth of Sayong river and the palace of Bukit Chandan

Visiting the mystical island of Pulau Semat

Looking for the tombs of Sultan Shahabuddin and Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain...

Confluence of 3 rivers in Teluk Intan...

The Perak river from Hujung Rintis...

Perak river from Kayan...

The Perak river mouth at Bagan Datoh


9. Sungai Bernam

This is another mighty river that merits attention. Though not as mighty as the Perak river its downriver parts are almost as wide and astounding. It's just I first took notice of it at Tanjung Malim which is a long distance from its estuary near Sabak Bernam. This natural border between the states of Perak and Selangor might be 6 metres or so wide at Tanjung Malim but downriver a few bends after Sabak Bernam it is almost a kilometre wide and stays that way for 13 km before reaching the estuary.

Recent views of Tanjung Malim and around

Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river

River Bernam from Kampung Kota

The river Bernam from Sabak Bernam

Bernam river at Hutan Melintang...

The Bernam river from Sungai Air Tawar


10. Sungai Selangor

The river that gives the state of Selangor its name... or was it the other way around? Never mind, that should give enough idea of its importance. Not as big as Sungai Bernam or Sungai Perak but still wide enough at least near the town of Kuala Selangor to give awe.

A look at the Sungai Selangor dam and catchment

A look at the Selangor river near Batang Berjuntai...

A look at the Sungai (river of) Selangor...

The fireflies at Kampung Kuantan

Taking in the catch at Kuala Selangor

Bukit Melawati by 'train'...

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - The Selangor river mouth at last!


11. Sungai Klang

About as big as Sungai Selangor but given more importance due to the existence of Malaysia's main ports near its mouth apart from the fact that it flows through the city of Kuala Lumpur. I have seen the parts in the city perhaps thousands of times due to the fact that I've spent years staying in the Klang Valley. I have seen the wide parts near the city of Klang maybe tens of times but could have seen more if not for the fact that I try not to go there more often because of its often bad traffic condition. But all in all I never took enough pictures or make stories about it. Perhaps I have taken it for granted and need to make amends... will do one day.

Note: The first piece on this river, Kelang river at Kuala Lumpur city centre was finally made 25 Jan 2011.


12. Sungai Langat

A main river of Selangor and very charming too. Enough said...
























Paragliding at Bukit (hill of) Jugra


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