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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, February 10, 2017

Bus ride from Padang Besar to Kangar



After waiting for about 45 minutes the local bus soon arrived.





It serves the route to Kangar, capital of the state of Perlis.






Kangar is about 33 km away straight from Padang Besar. 






But the bus service includes a detour to Gua Kelam which I about 6 km off the straight route.





All in all I find it interesting just following where the bus goes and looking at the people coming onboard and getting off...


















Arriving in Kangar at around 5.46 local time.



Looking at the Malaysian side of Padang Besar



Padang Besar is situated in the state of Perlis. For the record there is an adjacent town with the same name situated just before the Malaysian border. Look at the old article The Thai side of Padang Besar.


I've decided to continue my journey by bus. From the station I have to first walk to Padang Besar town, in the Malaysian side that is and get to the bus stip.














That's my bags at the local bus stop.


Close by you could see the old part of Padang Besar...






Train ride from Hatyai to Padang Besar



The reason I went to the train station (apart from recalling old memories) is to check out the train schedule. One could get a train to return to Malaysia from there and later in the afternoon I decided to buy a ticket.


Before that I was considering other means, perhap taking a van, perhaps a bus. But I found the time for train to leave for Malaysia at 1 pm just convenient enough. I could still spend some time in Hatyai before checking out of my hotel at 12.


So there I was taking this old train when came the time.





From Hatyai it is just 40 plus kilometres to the Malaysian border at Padang Besar.









Seven years ago I took the same means of transport to return to Malaysia from Hatyai,





The difference was at that time you could take the same train all the way to Kuala Lumpur. You just have to drop down a moment at Padang Besar for passport check.





I was told since about a year ago that the service from Hatyai ends at this border station, That was since the electrical railway double tracking project was completed. From Padang Besar people can continue travelling up to Butterworth using the Komuter (commuter) service or on too Kuala Lumpur and further using the ETS (Electric Train Service).


Hatyai train station after 7 years

Continuing from the article Hatyai from rooftop of a hotel.


From the hotel I walked to the Hatyai train station,








This is the place I first stepped on when I went to Hatyai for my very first time almost 7 years ago. Look at the old article The station at Hatyai.














Hatyai from rooftop of a hotel



Next I caught sight of a staircase besides the elevator leading to what seems like a higher part of the hotel. I followed it and found myself on the rooftop.





The views are much more wider and open from here.











From there I could practically see Hatyai towards all directions...