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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, January 08, 2016

Going on to Janda Baik



Close to noon we crossed the highway to enter the other side of Bukit Tinggi.


As you can see it is busier and full of shops. Mind you this picture is taken after I've avoided some traffic.


From this side you can enter the village of Janda Baik.


We went to the house of famous political writer S.H.Alattas to enjoy his garden and its many wonders.























Next we went to this old house.


Originating from Gunung Semanggol, Perak it was disassembled and transported to Janda Baik before being reassembled back.



Early morning walk at the residential side of Bukit Tinggi



The following day, early in the morning I decided to take a walk and looked around. I went on and on until I reached the Karak highway. The highway divided Bukit Tinggi into two parts.


 The part where me and family spent the night at is the quieter residential side.


Walking back to the villa. When I walked to the highway it was dark.


As the rays of sun appeared a wide vista opened up.

















This is the residential side of Bukit Tinggi. The other side is busy with shops and the likes...









Outing and barbecue at Bukit Tinggi

Continuing the storytelling from Exploring a river at Bukit Tinggi.


Returning back to the part of the river close to the villa.


Some friends were already busy preparing food. For the record, the reunion consists of a barbecue function...



The kids on the other hand were enjoying themselves at the villa's pool.





Soon food is ready and everyone converged for a meal...








Some kids then decided to continue dipping at the nearby river...





Exploring a river at Bukit Tinggi

Peace be upon you all this beautiful Friday. Diverging for a while from Melaka let me bring you to the green hills of Bukit Tinggi in Pahang.


Me and family went to the place for a small reunion of Malay activist friends. Besides the villa we lodged at there lies this river.


Looking downstream there's bridge.


Going upstream I discovered some more interesting parts...























Thursday, January 07, 2016

Silat shooting under sunset in front of Pulau Besar



We started shooting on Monday 27th December 2015. Late in the afternoon the following day we looked for a spot besides the open waters of the Straits of Melaka.








In the background is the island known as Pulau Besar. It was almost sunset.






But the waterfront around was mostly muddy. We need to shoot on sand.






Thank God there was a small stretch of sand available, still with Pulau Besar in the background. We soon set up our equipment for the shoot.



For this scene we got a group of Silat (Malay martial arts) practioneer friends to show up.




Being locals they were the ones who recommended this spot.



The timing was coincidental. We met them after having finished some shoot at the fringe of Melaka city...






By the time we're ready to shoot with these guys it was almost sunset. The natural lighting coupled with background gave awesome results...