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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, June 10, 2015

Mempawah river from the palace mosque



The journey then brought us to Mempawah more than an hour drive from Pontianak. Within the vicinity of the local palace lies a mosque with superb views of the surrounding. Look at the article Masjid istana Mempawah (Mosque of the palace of Mempawah) in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART).
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The mosque is situated besides the Mempawah river.






A view upstream...





A view across...





View downriver...



Kapuas river from Batu Layang



After crossing the Landak river we moved 8 km westwards to a place called Batu Layang.



It lies besides the Kapuas river close to an island.



A look across...


A look upstream. The Landak river merges into the Kapuas river about 6 km from here.




Then I was shown a group of stones just 80 metres south-east of the point from where the previous pictures were taken.


I was told these are the stones which gave rise to name Batu Layang.


Batu means stone and Layang could mean kite or glide. It seems the stones evoke the words Batu Layang.


I felt like climbing up to the top of the highest stone. These are the views I got...















Tuesday, June 09, 2015

On to Pontianak city and across...

Continuing from Flight to Pontianak.


Stepping out of the airport I noticed that the hornbill is some sort of venerated symbol around here...





My friend has hired a local driver and soon enough we took off to Pontianak city.









Entering the city border...
















The road seems to get busier as we got closer to city centre...






The main mosque.






The city also has a huge church.






But we did not linger in the city long. We have decided to truly explore it only towards the end of the trip. We wanted to go to other places in West Kalimantan first and so we headed north.


Crossing the Kapuas river...









Next, crossing the Landak river...






Flight to Pontianak

Peace be upon you all. Pleased to inform everyone that I am currently on a trip visiting places in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan). I've just completed the 2nd day of trip and is currently resting in a hotel at the town of Sambas, about 2 hours drive to the west of the Malaysian border at the state of Sarawak. Since this is the first time I have access to Wi-Fi since starting the trip Monday afternoon I'd like to start sharing stories. Here's the first one...


Monday 8th June 2015. Me and a friend boarded the 11.50 am flight to Pontianak.


It was the first time we were headed for this part of the island of Borneo. I started taking pictures from out of the plane's window when I noticed what seems to be Tanjung Piai in Pontian, Johor, the sourthernmost tip of mainland Asia.


Then thick cloud began to obscure view.


By the time the sky is clear enough all I could see was open sea...


A few minutes later I caught sight of land. It seems we were closing in on the city of Pontianak which I learned later is located 6 hours drive south of Sambas.






I understand the body of water in view is part of the Kapuas river, the longest river in Indonesia.





While the Kapuas river could be seen clearly from the plane I'm not sure if the water seen in this picture is the river. For around here lies another river called Sungai (river of) Landak which flows into the Kapuas within bounds of the city of Pontianak.









Ready for landing...











We have arrived safely. Time to explore what Pontinak and its vicinity has to offer...