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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.


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The road to Tasik Kenyir from Gua Musang

Continued from A look at Jeram Besu.


After Kuala Lipis we went to Gua Musang. Next we took the road headed for Kuala Krai and came across this junction.


 It leads to a new road going to Tasik Kenyir which lies in the state of Terengganu.

While the road is pretty smooth and has the quality of a highway we soon came across a gravel part. By then we have passed through heavy rain and it looked about to subside.


Of course we were already in our rain gear. Next we came across this wet laterite part followed by an uncompleted bridge across a small river!


As we negotiated another way to cross under the bridge we were wondering if the road to Tasik Kenyir from Gua Musang is already opened to the public. We were told it has been opened for at least a year...


Later did we realised the highway part is only partially completed.


Instead we have to turn back and take a road going through a palm estate, the Aring Felda Settlement.


The road has existed for many many years but was only used by the locals.


Upon reaching a junction we inspected our bike after the previous ordeal. Just look at mine...


While at this juncture we were already safe from the rain and mud we still have to negotiate potholes and some gravel parts.


Thank God we soon reached the eastern completed part of the road to Tasik Kenyir.


However next came a notice saying the road ahead is closed to all vehicles. Shall we take a chance and proceed? It is way way too far to turn back...


From the next signboard we know our destination, is not that far anymore. For from our map we know the Santuari Gajah or Elephant Sanctuary mentioned sits on the eastern part of Tasik Kenyir.


We proceeded and soon entered the state of Terengganu.


Contrary to our worries, the road is smooth all along.


However we only caught sight of the waters of Tasik Kenyir when it was already dark. For the record Tasik (lake of) Kenyir is a man-made inland body of water that covers an area bigger that the county of Singapore!


A look at Jeram Besu

Peace be upon you all. Tonight I'm starting a new series in my main blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU. It is about a new big bike trip made 27 September till 1 October 2012. Here's the first supporting article.

The trip was joined by a friend who bought a 250cc sports bike just a few months ago. We met up at the Gombak toll plaza before taking the Karak highway up to Bentong, stopping at Raub for lunch. We then started heading for Kuala Lipis. On the way we stopped at a place called Jeram Besu.


Jeram Besu literarily means the rapids of Besu. This is a part of the Lipis river which has some interesting rocky parts.


 A look downriver shows the water is pretty calm.

A look across however shows it can be pretty rough.


 This is because the actual rapids lie a bit upriver.


For the record Jeram Besu is recognise as a popular river-rafting spot.


Monday, October 08, 2012

Recap - My first big bike travel in 9 years



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OK. Did I tell you that most of the articles here made over the last one month plus was to support a series in my  main blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU, a series called "Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar pertama setelah 9 tahun"? Well, the series has been completed almost 2 weeks. Its main title could be translated as "My first big bike travel in 9 years" and just to recap, it was made 11-16 October, during the final days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan. The trip was started by riding alone  to Raub then going to Cameron Highlands via Sungai Koyan. Then I entered the state of Perak and ended up covering a total of 1,403 km.


1. Akan datang cerita - Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar pertama setelah 9 tahun

2. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Cabaran menunggang ke Raub melalui Bukit Fraser

3. Lipis river at Batu Malim

4. Jelai river near Pos Betau

5. Jelai river from further up Pos Betau

6. The views from a fully elevated part of the Sungai Koyan-Cameron Highlands road

7. A look at some development just after entering Cameron Highlands

8. A misty after rain look at the Bharat plantations

9. Bharat plantations from a higher point of view

10. Walking from Tanah Rata mosque

11. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Ujian Sungai Koyan ke Cameron Highlands

12. A morning look at the town of Brinchang

13. The road up Mount Brinchang

14. The Mossy Forest of Cameron Highlands

15. The perimeter fencing at Mount Brinchang

16. Summit of Mount Brinchang from its viewing tower

17. Town of Kampung Raja from its mosque

18. What happened to this stop at the Simpang Pulai route?

19. Views from the Chinese graveyard in Papan

20. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Mendaki Gunung Brinchang sebelum melawat tempat-tempat di Perak

21. Perak river from Kuala Kenas

22. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Makam-makam lama dari Kuala Kangsar hingga ke Bota dan Lambor

23. Beruas river from Kampung Kota

24. Beruas river at Pengkalan Baru

25. Finally. The Beruas river estuary

26. River Dinding from Changkat Keruing

27. Views from Baitul Hilal observation tower in Segari

28. The Sepit river from a place inland

29. Dinding river and its surroundings from across the Lumut naval base

30. Sepit river near its estuary

31. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Cabaran pusing Beruas-Gangganegara?

32. Going to the tomb of Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain through a palm estate

33. Looking again at the abandoned old mosque in Teluk Memali

34. The cleared tomb of Sultan Abdul Malik Mansur

35. Perak river upstream from Teluk Memali

36. Another visit to the tomb of Sultan Mahmud ibni Sultan Muhammad Amanullah

37. Perjalanan jauh bermotosikal besar setelah 9 tahun - Jejak Laksamana Aceh...