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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, January 05, 2019

Takeo train station



After we're done at Phnom Da followed by visit to another ancient site at nearby Angkor Borei we returned to our guest house in Takeo . Upon finding out that there was still time to catch the train to Phnom Penh we immediately asked for a tuk tuk to Takeo train station.





We arrived in time to catch the train scheduled to leave at 12...








As it turned out the train would arrive 2 hours late...





We had ample time to idle around and view the going-ons including other trains passing by... 









Views from on top of Phnom Da



Behind the temple on top  of Phnom Da hill lies a rest area...





It sits close to an area opening up to wide vistas...





From there on can look down on the surroundings...





For the record this hill is the highest place for miles around...










Going up the hill of Phnom Da



At Phnom Da lies a hill with much historical significance.


Actually Phnom is Khmer language word for hill or mountain. Phnom Da simply means hill of Da...


We took the path to reach the hill...











Naturally we started to ascend...








Soon we could see the main object on top of the hill.


It is the temple of Phnom Da built in the 11th century over an old temple built  some  500 years earlier...


Boat ride from Takeo to Phnom Da

Peace be upon you. On to the 5th day of the Cambodia-Thailand trip 22 Nov-3 Dec 2018.


Monday morning 26th November 2018. After spending the night at a guest house in the small town of Takeo 75 km by road to the south of Phnom Penh we were ready for our next bout of adventure.


In Takeo lies an embarkation point to the ancient system of canals of the Funan empire.


 
The empire existed from 1st to 7nd century AD and the canal were built during that time.


So there we were on a boat ride through one of the canals...





Meanwhile you see wide bodies of water around.


But the wide waters can turn into swamps or lowlands during dry season.


The canals on the other hand are reliable ways of water transport all year round.








Our target is Angkor Borei and its surroundings, a capital of the empire of Funan.








It is situated more than 20 km east of Takeo...








Soon we entered a small canal...





We stopped first to visit a place called Phnom Da 3.5 km or so south of Angkor Borei...