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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 South

OK. Time to add more sections for the current river articles. Continued from Fascination with rivers - the Middle West Coast.



Next we move to the south, mainly the states of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. Having been born in Muar, Johor in 1970 and lived in the state until I moved out upon reaching the age of 18 it is natural that I have a liking for these parts of the world. I'm also very familiar with Melaka and Negeri Sembilan as it lies not so far from Muar. Besides, since small I often go to Selangor and the Klang Valley and these states happened to be on the way...





Despite that, the truth is my familiarity with rivers to the south is actually very limited. My interest lies mainly with Sungai Muar as it is the river I grew up with. Once in a while I get fascinated by Sungai Kesang which forms the border between Johor and Melaka, also the Melaka river itself especially since it has been cleaned the last two decades to be turned into a major tourist attraction. In the last 3-4 years only did I discovered the beauty of Sungai Linggi which forms the border between Negeri Sembilan and Melaka and it is only last year that I appreciated Sungai Johor despite the fact that I first saw its vastness while going on a solo round Peninsular Malaysia bike trip 13 years ago.


13. Sungai Linggi

This is the most important waterway in Negeri Sembilan. It seems almost all rivers in the state west of the main mountain range of Banjaran Titiwangsa flows into Sungai Linggi before getting into open waters of the Straits of Melaka.

Interlude: A visit to Kuala Linggi...


14. Sungai Melaka

Despite it being not so long and wide, the popularity of this river seems to match the likes of the River Thames in London and River Seine in Paris at least in Malaysia. I remembered brushing aside the river as a filthy dumpyard when I was growing up, at times following my parents shopping in Melaka. But the last 2 decades saw major transformations turning it into a beautiful major tourist attraction.

Melaka river cruise at night

The watergate sytem of the river Melaka


15. Sungai Kesang

You might have passed and overlook this river in your way down south or back. My advice, took your sweet time to veer into the old Muar-Melaka trunk road and you'd appreciate it as a beauty in itself. Better still find the rural road to the estuary and you'll find views quite interesting and rewarding...

Mouth of the Kesang river


16. Sungai Muar

The beauty of Sungai Muar goes without saying not because I grew up around it. Rather it is one of the major rivers of Malaysia with its upriver parts extending into the heart of Negeri Sembilan, the side east to Banjaran Titiwangsa that is. It has history which at times sound romantic. Just have a look at what I've featured so far...

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

Where Muar river meets Jempol in Negeri Sembilan...

Views from on top of Muar town...

Muar river cruise part I...

Muar river cruise part II...

Muar river cruise part III


17. Sungai Batu Pahat

Another river I've often passed by when I was small going to areas further south. But it is only in the last few years that I finally saw where it drains out...

The origin of Batu Pahat...


18. Sungai Johor

The could be the widest river in Peninsular Malaysia if not all of Malaysia. Just look at these articles...

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from the jetty at Johor Lama...

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from Kampung Johor Lama...

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from Teluk Sengat...


19. Sungai Sedili

I've just noticed that this river in the district of Kota Tinggi is a major river in these parts, after realising that I forgot to give attention to the rivers on the east coast of Johor. I have been here at least once. God willing I will go here again and feature it in a future article.


20. Sungai Mersing

Mersing is THE major town of Johor's east coast. This gateway to the beautiful resort island of Pulau Tioman also has a beautiful river which gave it its name.

Smelling the sea in Mersing...


21. Sungai Endau

This river forms the natural border between the states of Johor and Pahang. Like Sungai Sedili I have also been here at least once and hope to come again and feature it here soon.


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