BERPETUALANG KE ACEH

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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.

Monday, October 29, 2012

The jetty of Kuala Merlimau

OK. Just something from yesterday.

Me and family took an inner road when we saw this signboard.

So we decided to check this out.

The area is situated near the mouth of the Merlimau river. Hence it is called Kuala (mouth of) Merlimau.

The river flows into the Straits of Melaka. So the jetty is the platform for local fishermen to get out into open waters.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Going up Bukit Panau

Continued from The Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban by bike.

Some 5-6 km from Danau Tok Uban lies a hill called Bukit Panau.

I've climbed it once by foot a number of years ago. Now I'm going to do it again along with a friend using big bikes.

Soon I realised what a hard undertaking it is. The road was not only very steep but rough and broken at many parts.

We had to push ourselves and the bikes on low gear all the time. What a relief when we finally arrived at the end of the steep and winding road.

Parking our bikes we started walking following an existing path.

The path leads up to the summit.

Our check using an altitude device shows the summit of Bukit Panau is close to 800 feet high from sea level. So you can get some nice views including that of the Kelantan river.

Now a look towards the lake called Danau Tok Uban.

Zooming in. There. The lake should be obvious for all.

The Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban by bike

Continued from Kota Bahru from a highest part of Masjid Muhammadi.

The journey then brought us to the Brunei Mosque situated besides a lake called Danau Tok Uban.

I've been here many times but this is the first time by bike.

Let's just enjoy the views around...

Kota Bahru from a highest part of Masjid Muhammadi

Continued from The new 'island' in the middle of Kelantan river mouth.

Next we went to Masjid (mosque of) Muhammadi in the city of Kota Bahru where we climbed one of its towers.

While I have been up this tower before I don't think I ever went up this level... the highest where lies the loudspeaker for calling to prayer.

Now for a look around, going anti-clockwise...

That's the Kelantan river in the background. Also in view is another tower which looks the same as the one we were on.

The mosque has a clock tower.

It also has one more call to prayer tower...

The new 'island' in the middle of Kelantan river mouth

On to the 3rd day of the 27th Sept-1st Oct East Coast big bike trip.

Sunday 30th September 2012. After spending the night at a friend's house near PCB (the beach called Pantai Cahaya Bulan) we headed for this sandy area.

It is close to the mouth of the Kelantan river.

I wanted to have a good look at an 'island' we saw from another part of the river.

Looking to right I studied the sand hill in view.

I remembered how in a trip made over a year ago, I walked from the hill down to the sand bar seen to the left.

The sand bar extended like a peninsular on to the 'island'.

It's just part of the bar has dissolved or been cleared to let water pass through leaving its end to become an island. Compare it to pictures in the old article The sand hill and peninsular at Kelantan river mouth.