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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, July 07, 2012

Compilation of Johan's trip to half of Penisular Malaysia


So supporting articles for the trip to the East Coast 26th March- 4 April 2012 have been completed in this blogspot a few days ago. While the trip was made mainly to get to the East Coast, the route used to go and return formed an anti-clockwise loop which covered 5 states - Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak and Selangor. I ended up driving a total distance of 2,374.9 km, a personal record. This resulted in us actually travelling half of Peninsular Malaysia, spending 1 night in Pahang, 2 in Terengganu, 3 in Kelantan followed by 2 in Perak and 1 in Selangor before returning home.

Among the reasons made for this trip is to condition my then about 40-days old baby, Muhammad Alauddin Johan to travelling long distance. You see we where then planning to travel round the island of Jawa in Indonesia and Johan could not be left behind. Good to say he responded well to the travel. Thus in my main blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU, the corresponding series is called "Pengembaraan Johan ke separuh Semenanjung" - Johan's travel to half the Peninsular. Below is compilation of links from both that blogspot and this...


1. Sneak peek pengembaraan sedang berlangsung melibatkan Johan
































Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Pekalongan, the batik centre of Indonesia

Back again to the Jawa island trip of 1-14 May.


Saturday, 5th May we were at the Central Jawa town of Pekalongan.




Pekalongan is declared as the town of batik, a type of cloth design and textile famous in South-East Asia.


It is said to be the centre of batik production for Indonesia.


So we were going to sample some in the streets and alleys.


I understand there are production mills around but we'd rather just see the shops within walking distance...


There are small ones likes this.


And there are also those that look upmarket...




What is sure you can find enough variety to fit myriad tastes.




The prices are also attractive, much cheaper than what I could see in Malaysia.





Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary



The next day, Sunday we went to the National Elephant Conservation Centre at Kuala Gandah, Lanchang, Pahang.


Situated about 2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur it also known as the Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary.




There is an information centre where you can learn much about elephants.




But the star attraction lies outdoor...




That is where you get to see an elephant show...




Later a limited number of early birds get to take rides on the elephants.













The finale is taking bath with one.


This is done at the nearby river.


A young elephant is brought down and eased to get into mood.


Then it is free for all as everyone get to splash water on the elephant with lucky visitors taking turns to sit on it. Have a look at the video below...






Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Car Book Sale at the KL Library

On to an activity done in the recent weekend...


Last Saturday I went to the Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur or the KL Library which is situated besides the Dataran Merdeka, the Independence Square.


I found out there's a book sale going on.


There were also artistes to perk up the mood.




While there were very few visitors when me and family arrived I could smell a distinctive artistic mood reminiscent of the Central Market in the 1980s, once the centre of all worthwhile and honest non-capitalistic public expression and celebration of life.


This event is called the Car Book Sale.


True to its name, it is practically a car boot sale for books.




I was told this is the 5th edition of the fortnightly event.




While plans have been made for it to be held and at other towns, the next scheduled in the city of Melaka 14th July, the venue here has been fixed as the central regular one.








Sunday, July 01, 2012

The Dinding river in front of Lumut town

On to the final article of the 26 March-4 April trip to the East Coast which has reached its return phase.


In the last article on the trip, Views from on top of Kellie's Castle we were then in the town of Batu Gajah not far from Ipoh. Afterward we headed for the town of Lumut to spend the night there. The town is famous for being the embarking point to get to the resort island of Pulau Pangkor.


Still the town is scenic on its own. The following day, Tuesday 3rd April 2012 I brought the family to savour the views. Facing the wide Dinding river quite close to its estuary, Lumut has a long promenade which provides superb vistas of the surrounding. Here's a look upriver.


A look across. The Dinding river is among the widest river in Peninsular Malaysia. Its waters is navigable by big ships up to some distance.


A look towards the estuary. The water flows into the Straits of Melaka some 4.5 km ahead.


Notice the white-coloured buildings in the centre? That is the Royal Malaysian Navy shipyard next to the naval base. The silhoutte of hills behind lies on the resort island of Pulau Pangkor. Oh. Actually I've featured the Dinding river from the town of Lumut in the article And now a look around Lumut... made more than 4 years ago. But there's no harm making a similar article based on the latest visit right?

From Lumut we went to Teluk Intan before entering the state of Selangor and spent the night at the town of Kuala Kubu Baru. On Wednesday 4th April we returned home. So enough of this trip ya... :]