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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.


Wednesday, October 05, 2011

The seven level waterfalls of Templer's Park... or rather the Kanching recreational forest

On to something I did recently.

Yesterday Tuesday 4 October 2011, after not visiting the area popularly known as Templer's Park for decades I decided to spend some time there.




Actually last week I made a short stop here walking only at the lawns.


This time I decided to go far in. For the record there are 7 levels of waterfall inside.




First, one have to walk past the lawns.





But it is only after this gate that one is officially inside the recreational forest. Notice the name Hutan Lipur (recreational forest of) Kanching? That's the official name of this place.




But yet many know it as Templer's Park. For an explanation read the article A visit to Templer's Park made 3 years ago.


Seen here is the stream down the first level. In the old article there's pictures taken as I walked from here upstream until the 1st level waterfall could be seen.

But that's all to it in the visit made 3 years ago. This time I must go up all the way.


Two decades ago going up and down the 7 levels of waterfalls here was almost a weekly affair. As far as I could remember yesterday was the first time since then that I walked up past the 1st level. Seen here behind the growth is the 2nd level.

A zoom picture.


Going up further I could see the 3rd level waterfall.


There is a path that reach directly to this level but I chose another which leads higher...


The path leads to this bridge.


Then you could see the 4th level.


For most people this is the place to stop and take a dip at as it provides the largest pool around.


But the more adventurous just couldn't ignore the fact that there's still other waterfalls further up.




So there I was climbing more staircase.



At the age of 41 I could feel myself strained to continue the climb. But upon seeing the 5th level waterfall my exhaustion simply evaporated.




And so I pressed on.


Till there's no more staircase of concrete path...


Another bridge beckons.


Cross it first.


And walk on before you can see another waterfall.


Yes. This is the 6th level...


Yet one could still climb further albeit harder.


Cross this small cascade.


Walk further up the jungle.




And there, the majestic 7th level waterfall, a place I used to practically run up all the way to during my younger days and still have the stamina, strength and balance to quickly step up the stones till the top part which could be seen in this picture.