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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.


Thursday, September 26, 2019

Danau Toba from Menara Pandang Tele Samosir

Continuing from Rushing to the Batak highlands.


At 5.09 we arrived at this viewing area.


It is a highland stop giving superb views of the surroundings...





There is a tower called Menara Pandang Tele Samosir...




















Of specific interest are views of the huge freshwater lake called Danau Toba...














The land you see across the water is actually an island called Pulau Samosir.

















Situated in the middle of Danau Toba it is as large as the island of Singapura...










Rushing to the Batak highlands

Continuing from Views from tomb of Sheikh Mahmud Papan Tinggi.


At 12.40 we're done visiting tombs in Barus. It was time to get out heading east then north towards the city of Medan.


Distance from Barus to Medan is about 277 km. According to Google Map it takes almost 8 hours non-stop by road as we have to take a twisting and turning route up into the Batak highlands.



Well. We have to stop for lunch. As we were entering the Batak tribe areas who are non-Muslims it was a relief to find a Muslim restaurant...


After lunch I checked out a river behind the restaurant.


Originating from the Batak highlands on the long mountain range known as Bukit Barisan the river twists and turns down to Barus where it enters the Indian Ocean.





We left the restaurant around 2pm.








At 3.26 we arrived at a main Batak town called Dolok Sanggul. Or is it  Pakkat? It's either one or the other.

From Barus to that town the road practically goes east all the way while twisting and turning up towards the highlands.


Ah  ok. Now I remember after looking at this picture. At this juncture we were still going eastwards...


At 3.56 we arrived at this Batak town. This could be Dolok Sanggul.


From there onwards we headed north on a mountain ridge at 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level.





At 4.58 we arrived at this gate.


Taking the right turn pass the gate soon we could see the huge lake called Danau Toba.




Views from tomb of Sheikh Mahmud Papan Tinggi

Continuing from Climbing up so many staircases to get to a tomb on top of hill at Barus.


And so we have arrived on the grounds of the tomb of Sheikh Mahmud Papan Tinggi.








Its position on top of summit of a hill opens up wide vistas 360 degrees around...