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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, May 27, 2010

Kuala Lipis new town

I have been to Kuala Lipis many times but it was only in the latest trip made in May that I've learned they have opened up the new town.




In my previous visit sometime last year the shops here were still empty lots. Now I have no choice but to come as the bus station has been moved to new town. After the train trip from Tumpat, I need to get a bus to return home to Kuala Lumpur.


A look at the new town...



Another look from a better angle.

At one corner towards the south you could see the old town situated at lower grounds across the Jelai river. For the record this is the 505th article here.



Kuala Lipis train station and its cute old town

Soon we arrived at the Kuala Lipis train station...




After a brief walkabout we started going out...



By the way this station was built in 1926.



The town however was started earlier. A look to the right...




A look to the front...





A look to the left.






We had lunch at a stall in Medan Tangga (literarily "The staircase avenue").





From there we could walk down the stairs and come out the other said where the river Jelai flows in the background.

The limestone hills from Dabong towards Kuala Lipis

An interesting thing I note about Dabong is the existence of limestone hills...


Such hills continue to dot the landscape up to Gua Musang.

This big limestone hill besides the Gua Musang train station is the most obvious one.


But wait till you see there's more coming after it.



Further south there's this hill...




Then there's this one...





As one continues travelling down south it is hard not to notice limestones hills at nearly every corner...






If only every one of it is connected, you could say there's a limestone hill range...







This is the one near Merapoh station which is in the state of Pahang.




Afterwards such hills still feature prominently in the background.


















It is only after reaching Padang Tengku that I failed to see anymore limestone hill. So I think it's fair to say the hills are a natural feature from Dabong down to Merapoh and on just before Kuala Lipis.


Kelantan stations early morning

So we spent the night at Tumpat. Came early morning, 6 am to be exact its time to return homw to Kuala Lumpur via a local train up to Kuala Lipis.



Unlike the previous day's train, this one made stops at more locations including this one at Kampung Kok Pasir.


Next stop is Wakaf Baru...



Obviously every train have to stop here as it is a major station, the closest to Kota Bahru, the capital city of Kelantan.




I was intrigued by these loads of vegetables being transported. Believe it or not it is the old lady who moved it around... with some help of course.


At Pasir Mas the sky has lightened up...



Next is the station of Tok Uban, another station 'ignored' by previous day's train to Tumpat.





It is interesting to see schoolboys taking the train to school...






Next station of interest to me is Bukit Panau.





It could be just a small rural station but the fact that it is named after a nearby hill said to have mystical qualities interests me...




Soon enough we arrived at Tanah Merah...





Here is where the old woman from Wakaf Baru unloaded her veggies...




And here is where the day starts to get noticeably bright.


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

On to Tumpat, the furthest point on the East Coast route

After a few minutes stop at Dabong the journey is continued. Here is a signboard telling us we have travelled 399.5 km from Gemas.


While that is already quite a distance away, we still got another 130 km or so to cover before we could call it a day. Here's the next stop at Bukit Abu.

This is followed by the one at Manek Urai.


After that only we arrived at the next significant town after Gua Musang which is Kuala Krai...



After Kuala Krai we crossed the Kelantan river.




Soon we arrived at Tanah Merah, another major town in Kelantan.





Here we have to spend considerable time waiting to give way for an express train...






Then our train practically charged full speed as if to make time.







By the time we arrived at the next major town, Pasir Mas it was already dark.




Next stop is Wakaf Baru, the closest to get to Kota Bahru, capital city of Kelantan.




Surprisingly we managed to arrive at Tumpat, the furthermost stop just after 8 pm. Originally we were scheduled to reach here at 9.