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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, April 27, 2012

A group walk up Tanjung Tuan hill

Peace be upon you all. Just a story from a recent small trip...


Just over a week ago I attended a 3-day writing workshop on children's book held at a resort in Tanjung Tuan near Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The place has a hill with protected recreational forest. On the second day, Thursday I decided to take a walk up.



I have been to this forest and up the hill at least 3 times.



You can read some information on it by clicking at this picture or opening it in a new window.



I was joined by a number of workshop participants.



Surprisingly most of them were female!



What happened was at the end of a workshop session I made an announcement inviting the guys to join me for a climb up this hill in the evening.



Unexpectedly it was the girls who gave a resounding response and insisted on me leading. Well, I have no problem with that. You see I found the hill such an interesting and intriguing place that it would be a shame if anyone ever go to Tanjung Tuan without climbing it. For apart from the soothing greenery of the forest the hill has a light house with its original structure built during the time of Portugese rule of Melaka 500 years ago!



The view of the Straits of Melaka from the base of the light house is also a must see. If I'm not mistaken out of the 50 or so participants of the workshop only 5 have ever been to Tanjung Tuan before.



And among the 5 perhaps only 3 have been up this hill...







If I've counted correctly there were 16 participants who joined me for this walk. I am sure everyone enjoyed the view and surroundings.







There. Despite some of them getting tired the girls were in high spirit.



Time to return to the resort...



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Crossing the Terengganu river to Pulau Sekati



OK. The actual reason I went to the part of Terengganu river near the state museum was because I thought the wooden bridge to the island called Pulau Sekati is still there. I have been to the state museum or around it quite a number times but have yet to take the walk across the bridge...


Somehow for the last few weeks before this trip I felt a strong urge that should I go to Kuala Terengganu again I must make the walk to Pulau Sekati. Luckily my instincts pointed me to the right way to reach the bridge.


For the record I arrived this place at dusk. The data which came with these pictures say I started crossing at 7.17 pm. Here's a look downriver.


A look upriver. But this is not the main part of the river. Rather, it is a relatively narrow strait between the mainland and an island seen to the right.



Unlike Pulau Sekati, the said island is much smaller and uninhabited. The wooden bridge is made especially for locals to cross by motorcycle. There's not enough room and not enough strength I presume for a car to cross.


It is also convenient for pedestrians such as myself...


A look downriver as I went pass the smaller island.


Still quite a distance to cover.


A look upriver shows the straits formed by Pulau Sekati to the right and the smaller island to the left.



Getting closer...


And soon enough I was on Pulau Sekati. No need to elaborate more. :]



Terengganu river near the state museum



From Marang we headed to the city of Kuala Terengganu where I immediately rushed to the part of Terengganu river near the state museum.


A look downriver. The estuary of the river is about 5 km away.


A look across and you can see an island called Pulau Sekati.


I remember a few years ago there was a wooden bridge connecting the island to a path besides the state museum. The bridge has been dismantled and a new one built further upriver. You can vaguely see it in this picture.



Views from the tower at Marang river estuary



Near the estuary lies this tower.


Looking for better views of the surrounding I rushed up to the top.


I started savouring the views by turning bit by bit anti-clockwise.




There. A better view of how the Marang river opens up to the sea.



Then again the geography is rather peculiar. Perhaps the estuary actually lies behind the strip of land seen in the middle.


 
Note that with this article I've basically covered 3 points of view for the Marang river. Look also at Marang river near its estuary and Marang river at the town bridge. With these I've finally featured all 33 rivers in Peninsular Malaysia listed under the title "Fascination with rivers". Do check it at the middle right side of this blogspot. :]



Marang river near its estuary

 Continued from Marang river at the town bridge.


From the bridge we went pass the old part of Marang town on to the riverside close to the estuary.


A look upriver. The bridge seemed to be blocked behind the shoplots.



A look across.


A look downriver. This view actually faces the estuary. But the opening to the sea could not be clearly seen. For the record this is the 939th article in this blogspot.



Marang river at the town bridge



From Dungun we went to the town of Marang which is on the way to Kuala Terengganu. Just before town lies this bridge across the Marang river.


Being a narrow bridge I have to park before it and walk for a good view. Here's one towards the river estuary which could be seen in the horizon.






Time to look upriver...









Dungun river right across Kuala Dungun



Next we went to a place which lies right across the small town of Kuala Dungun.


I don't know the name of the place. Here's a look upriver. See the bridge? Trying looking from it in Dungun river from the Kuala Dungun bridge.


A look across towards Kuala Dungun. To the right of the boats is the fisheries complex where pictures in Dungun river from the Kuala Dungun fisheries complex were taken from. To the left is the where views in Dungun river closer to the estuary feature...



A look to the left and out onto the open sea.