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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.


Friday, July 02, 2010

The railway museum at Kuala Lumpur old station

Continued from On towards Ipoh....


After a time we arrived back to Kuala Lumpur. Since we have covered places and scenes between KL and Ipoh let's just go straight to this city.



But instead of at KL Sentral station we decided to step down at the old station.



As usual we started taking pictures...


Then only we go to the waiting hall...



For information it has been turned into a museum for quite some time but this is the first time I stepped inside since then...




There are some interesting displays.



















































A number of minutes later we stepped outside...





Indeed the Kuala Lumpur old train station is a heritage that must be preserved.


On towards Ipoh...

The journey is continued towards Ipoh...

At Karai the train crossed the Perak river. One could see an old railway bridge (now unused) built during British colonial days...


Near Sungai Siput I kept watch for a certain hill...


Just look at its structure. I just can't help admiring it everytime I passed anywhere near.



I continued snapping pictures...




Hmm. If not mistaken this is in Chemor...





This signpost indicates we have travelled 167.75 km from Butterworth.














This one indicates we are getting very near the next major stop...










Welcome to Ipoh. For the record this is the 525th posting in this blogspot.


The hills on the way to Kuala Kangsar

Some time after Taiping we started entering jungle...


We also started climbing some hills. Seen here is a new tunnel being built as part of the railway double-tracking project covering all lengths of the West Coast route. If I'm not mistaken the existing one-way railways tracks pass a total of 4 tunnels around this area.



Tunnels are necessary here as trains have to actually go through a number of hills.


Otherwise the tracks have to be built much much longer to circumvent the heights. Mind you, as far as memory serves me after having covered all still-functioning tracks in Peninsular Malaysia (except the one from Pasir Mas, Kelantan to the Thai border which is known to be level on low lands), these parts are the highest from sea level.



OK. Initially we passed the hills at Bukit Gantang followed by Bukit Berapit.



Then there's this limestone hill as we get closer to Kuala Kangsar.





But we still to have a pass few more hills before reaching the Perak royal town.






At the last this station.







Step down if you want to get to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar.

Taiping and its station...

OK. Continued from The lake called Tasik Bukit Merah.

Soon we could see a range of mountains, the most prominent one being Bukit (hill of) Larut, also known by the English name Maxwell Hill. Although it is called a hill, its height said to be 1036 metres from sea level (about 3,400 feet) qualifies it to be mountain albeit a short one...

Next stop is the Taiping station...

It serve the town of Taiping, situated at the foot of Bukit Larut.


Oh. Talking about Taiping reminds me of an old article did a few years back. Have a look at Taiping to Kuala Kangsar... A dangerous look at Malaysian history.



A look at the hills (or mountains) as we left town...


Thursday, July 01, 2010

The lake called Tasik Bukit Merah


Some time after Parit Buntar the train began to pass a vast body of water...


Welcome to Tasik (lake) Bukit Merah, a sight much awaited for those who have plied the route...


You see the railway tracks actually cuts through the lake via a causeway made since decades ago.



However, currently the view is a bit 'spoiled' because of the new bridge being built under the railway double-tracking project extending from Johor Bahru in the south all the way to Padang Besar in the north.




Tasik Bukit Merah is also known to be a favourite for anglers due to the variety of freshwater fishes available...





Here's a view towards the east unobstructed by the bridge...




See how the causeway features? On its own (minus the uncompleted bridge that is) the causeway is part of the beauty.




At the moment the bridge seems to obstruct the actual beauty of this lake. Seen slightly in the background at the foot of the hill is the recreational area called Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.



However I have no doubt, once-fully completed and the train service has been transferred on it, the bridge would soon add to the beauty.


A patch of the lake as we began to leave its perimeters towards Taiping. Seems like a good place for fishes to play hide and seek...