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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, September 22, 2012

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

On to something very recent.


Today I spent time attending a makeshift book stall in front of the Kuala Lumpur library besides the Merdeka Square. Nearby lies this building...


I have passed here many times but today I was prompted by a friend to check it out.


Admission is free, so why not?


As it turned out the place is a treasure trove to search for information about the city, history of its buildings and streets.


There are many intricate models of famous landmarks.


But what really caught my eye was a model of the KL skyline.


I learned that the gallery was opened a year ago while this part was only made accesible about a month ago. Have a look at the video below...





This is a model of Merdeka Square and its vicinity.


Then there's a hall for selling souvenirs mainly in the form of thin model carvings of well-known buildings.






Friday, September 21, 2012

Perak river from Kuala Kenas

Returning to places visited in my big bike solo trip done over a month ago. Continuing from Views from the Chinese graveyard in Papan.


Tuesday, 14th August 2012. After spending the night near Kuala Kangsar I left the royal town heading south taking the road to Manong. That's when I decided to check out the small village of Kuala Kenas. It lies close to the Perak river.


Seeing this jetty around I walked to take in the sights.


Here's a look dowriver.


A look across...


And a look upriver.


Kuala Lumpur from Kenanga Wholesale City



In the article A visit to Pudu Jail I've said that I found out a way of getting into the now-defunct 100-plus-year-old jail while walking along Jalan Pudu. Actually that happened after I left a building called the Kenangan Wholesale City.


Later during the day I returned to the building and went to its highest floors.


That's when I found out I could get superb views of the city of Kuala Lumpur from here too.  As usual I try to take in the views by shifting angles slowly anti-clockwise...










Pudu Jail in perspective from somewhere high

Continued from 'Escape' from Pudu Jail.


Next I went up a tall building nearby.


From here one could catch a good look at the Kuala Lumpur city skyline.




One could also have a good look at Pudu Jail, the building with four wings forming some sort of elongated letter X...




Zooming in for better perspective.


Turning left, one could see a land clearing. That is from where I entered the Pudu Jail compound as shown in A visit to Pudu Jail.
  

From there I walked towards the meeting of two wings and found a staircase entering the closer wing.


Then I walked across the main corridor which is inside the centre part.


 I emerged out of the meeting point between these two wings and walked straight to the building on the right as shown in 'Escape' from Pudu Jail.


There, the escape route. Enough of the jail.



'Escape' from Pudu Jail

Continued from A visit to Pudu Jail.


Having spent some time inside the room painted with some sort of Arabic calligraphy I walked towards the end of the open corridor.


From the window I could see another wing of Pudu Jail.


Looking to the right is a staircase which should lead to the wing... I think.


But I don't have time to explore all the nooks and crannies here. I decided to take the staircase besides which leads down.


Time to go back to the open...


And back to civilisation.


As I walked  towards the main entrance (I came in from an opening in the rear, remember?) I could see remains of what could be the jail's recreational buildings and offices...








The main entrance. That's the point from where inmates, offenders and visitors had to enter. Properly, that is.



A look behind. This is the sight that should greet people if they came in from the right way.


Now, the main gates are chained and lock. But I do notice the small door which could be opened.


Ah. 'Escape' from Pudu Jail...


'Escape' from a more than a century-old establishment which I learned later was built on a Chinese burial ground, adding more to its haunted factor!


As I looked at the walls from outside memory of the 1980s when the walls were still fresh with sceneries of the serenity of jungle and beach painted by the inmates came to mind.


Well, goodbye Pudu Jail. After three decades or so looking at it from outside I finally got to see a bit what's inside. After this I will show pictures from places up high...