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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, July 24, 2019

Taking a dip at Jeram Gading

Continuing from Foray to Kampung Gagu.


About 20 km up the road to Hulu Langat is a junction leading to some interesting places...


Among it is a river and ravine called Jeram Gading. Here the wife and kids were seen taking a bridge across the river...





As it turned out it was unnecessary to take the bridge to enjoy the river...


One could just walk down from the car park and immediately take a dip...















Foray to Kampung Gagu

A bit more from last weekend's road trip...


Sunday 21st July 2019. After spending a night at a historical mosque in Kuala Klawang we took the road to Hulu Langat. About 2 km later we came across this junction.


We decided to turn and make a foray into a village called Kampung Gagu...











We wanted to have a look at a traditional house said to be owned by a prominent former-politician of local origin...








This is the house, a 2-storey wooden building in Minangkabau style...


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Tomb of Moyang Salleh and the canon besides revisited



Journey was continued to the town of Kuala Klawang in the district of Jelebu. Just about a kilometre before town lies this historical place.


This is where lies the tomb of the person known as Moyang Salleh. He is said to be the person responsible for the taking out Jelebu from the rule of Johor in 1725.


This in turn would lead to the formation of the independent state of Negeri Sembilan. Moyang Salleh himself was recognised as ruler of Jelebu to the extend the the Sultan Johor called him the Sultan of Jelebu.





Here is the tomb of Moyang Salleh...





While he could use the title Sultan of Jelebu if he so wished he went for the lesser title Undang..


The Undang is the title of a ruler of for four prominent districts in Negeri Sembilan. While some say it is still equivalent to a Sultan within their district, they have to serve under a higher ruler called the Yam Tuan.


When Moyang Salleh ruled Jelebu the state of Negeri Sembilan was yet to be formed nor did the office of Yam Tuan.



Oh. Besides the tomb of Moyang Salleh lies a canon belonging to a later Undang of Jelebu...





Here is the cannon. Some say it has miraculous powers...





Sungai Pertemuan and Jalan Penarikan revisited

Peace be upon you all. It's been almost 3 months since this blogspot was updated. Here's something to break the ice.


Last weekend me and family made a small trip to Felda Jelai towards the Negeri Sembilan-Johor border and made stops to and fro. Among it is a place called Sungai Pertemuan, 8 km west of the town of Bahau.


The name could be translated as "meeting of rivers". It is where the Jempol river meets and flows into the Muar river.


The much much longer Muar river flows into the Straits of Melaka at the town of Muar more than 100 km downriver. In the olden days ships, at least small ones could go up here from the straits...





The ships could then sail up the Jempol river to a certain historical point...


Before we touch on that let's look at the Muar and Jempol rivers meeting point from a number of angles...











Near the meeting point lies the tomb of a person known as Datuk Sempedang. He is said to be the leader of 9 families who came from Pasai (in Aceh, north of Sumateras island) and settled here after sailing up the Muar river.



Moving northwards from the meeting point. The Jempol river runs along the left out of this picture. Somewhere to the left of the big trees lie the area known as Jalan Penarikan. It is named so because ships used to be pulled some 300 metres to the Serting river.


The river lies behind this Negeri Sembilan palace while part of the ancient 'pulling' route lies along its west walls. From the Serting river ships could then enter the Bera river on to the Pahang river which flows into the South China Sea...