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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, January 23, 2009

Janda Baik, again!

OK... my last few postings were based on places visited during my last trip to East Coast. At the end of the trip, I decided to spend the night in Janda Baik, Pahang. Here are some pictures around...


















I like... no, I love Janda Baik so much that I've done a number of postings about it in my blogspots. Here are a few done here. Have a look... cheers! :]

My latest trip to Janda Baik and the number 22222!

Janda Baik revisited again...

Janda Baik my resting place

Thursday, January 22, 2009

With the family at Danau Tok Uban, Kelantan

Greetings all. I've been to the Danau Tok Uban freshwater man-made lake in Kelantan a number of times but mainly on my own. However in my latest trip to the East Coast more than 2 weeks ago, I finally went there with the family. So here are some pictures for posterity...


This is part of Danau Tok Uban from a different angle...


And this is my wife and the kids...

What happened was we wanted to get to the main recreational area off a cape at the lake. But after taking the small twisting road there for some 7 km or so, it turned out the rest of the route was flooded just another 500 metres or so from the recreational area.

We almost had to get out empty-handed. Luckily we found another spot nearby outside which could offer a similar superb view if not better!


We got the view off some locals' land. But we have to walk bare-footed into parts of the lake so that we could have a clear look at the white mosque across which is a main landmark...



At first the kids did not want to step in, worried that there might be something lurking in the waters. Soon they found out it was a very interesting and refreshing experience. That's all...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Kuala Besar, the mouth of the Kelantan river...

I've always had some sort of fetish for rivers. When I was small, I used to travel alone inside the jungle behind my grandma's yard in Raub just to look for small rivers and then follow it as far as possible to the source... or anything like that.



I grew up still harbouring the same fetish. Besides following small rivers I like to survey the big ones. I've practically travelled at least half the length of the Pahang river, at 459 km the longest in Peninsular Malaysia, not on foot of course. I've been along almost all the length of the Perak, Terengganu, Kelang, Muar and Terengganu rivers besides a few others. And a favourite is to sit and look idly at the river mouth especially if it is wide and immense.



In my latest travel to the East Coast, made with the wife more than 2 weeks ago, I finally had the time and opportunity to look at the mouth of the Kelantan river, from a place called Kuala Besar which could be literally translated as the big estuary. I first arrived there more than half a year ago but it was at night and I had to rush. So below are a few pictures taken of the river mouth during the day ya. Have a look...



A look towards inland...



And this is outwards to the sea...


A better look at the estuary through the fish-landing complex there...


Another look inland. Since I'm on the subject of rivers, here's some old articles that feature pictures of rivers. Cheerio! :]



My latest views of Muar and some thoughts...

Muar river cruise part I...

Muar river cruise part II...

Muar river cruise part III

Where Muar river meets Jempol in Negeri Sembilan...

A look at the Pahang river estuary and what's around... The southern part that is...

Now, a look at the northern parts of the Pahang river estuary...

Revisiting Teluk Intan the birth-place of my dad...



Enjoying the waters at Pantai Irama, Bachok... with the family!

As promised, continuing from the article A brief stop at the Tok Bali beach in Kelantan...



Along the main road at Pantai Irama (literally translated as the rythmic beach) in Bachok, Kelantan there's this stall...




At the side of the stall there's this opening leading to the beach...



Ah... my son and daughter (actually stepchildren) posing at the opening...

And that's the daughter posing with the mum at the stall...



One more pose with me @ daddy...

Then it's time to leave for the beach...


A look back at the said opening, the opening with an interesting wooden bridge...



The bridge crosses this small river which leads to the sea...





And that's the small motel besides the stall. For the record, that's the place we decided to stay at.

At first we really wanted to bring the kids to Tok Bali but that would have been another 20km down the road. You see, we fetched the kids at their uncle's place closer to Kota Bahru. That's when we learned they have to be enrolled in their new school by 7.30 am the next day. So it's better to stay in Bachok as it's much closer...



As we headed towards the beach there looms this ferris wheel, probably a left-over from a recently held funfair.





Without much further ado, it's time to play at the beach...


Although the waves were very strong with few people daring to get close to the sea, I've tested the waters up to a certain level and kept watch from a distance. Why, I just couldn't resist going in up to some 100 feet into the sea. Not that I'm a good swimmer... I just walked into the water as the depth was still within reach of my feet. But still one have to tread very carefully as the waves were strong enough to pull you out into open sea. Seeing that I've made it safe, that's when a few others decide to test the waters themselves...



For those who wants to a take a dip with guaranteed safety without any fear, there's at least this small river opening into the sea, the same river which we crossed to get to the beach.




That's where me and the kids decided to play next. At least here I can rest assured they could not be pulled into the sea...





Soon enough the place was crawling with kids. Everyone had a superb time. That's all! :]



A brief stop at the Tok Bali beach in Kelantan...

OK. Let this be the continuation to the posting Pictures around Kuala Besut ...




From Kuala Besut, we took the coastal road entering the state of Kelantan heading towards the capital Kota Bahru... have to pass an area called Tok Bali which has these rather high bridge...




Tok Bali has a nice long beach...


Compared to a lot of beaches, the Tok Bali beach which is situated close to the estuary of this river is very quite...

We were then considering bringing our kids for the night here. For the record, we went to Kelantan to visit the kids (my stepchildren) which we haven't seen for almost 2 months.




A last look at the waters before we head for Kota Bahru. To be continued...





Monday, January 19, 2009

Pictures around Kuala Besut

Peace be upon you all. Last week I did a simple posting called Pictures around Kemaman . I forgot to say that the pictures were taken after me and the wife spent a night there. Next, we spent the night at Kuala Besut further up north, close to the Kelantan state border. Here are some pictures taken the following morning. Have a look...


Around the Besut river estuary. By the way, Kuala Besut means the Besut river estuary...



Part of the small town of Kuala Besut...



Seen here is the budget hotel we stayed at and the cute local bus and taxi station...



The tourist complex leading to the main jetty. For the record Kuala Besut is the main hopping point to the Terengganu resort island of Pulau Perhentian.




The old surau or main praying hall built in 1955... but the main mosque is much older, built in 1926 and much more interesting. Have a look at the article Masjid (mosque of) al-Jamhuriah, Kuala Besut in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) .





A look at another part of the small town, at the front of the tourism complex. It just happened that this pink Volkswagen entered the frame!






And that's my lovely wife posing. Cheers! :]