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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, December 13, 2013

Bitten by the Big Bad Wolf...

OK. This is quite fresh. From 8 hours ago.

Bracing a rather rainy day I wrote my trusted big bike from home some 60 km to the Mines Resort in Kuala Lumpur.


I wanted to check out an event held at its convention centre.


Already I could notice it is hit. Just look at the amount of goods in plastic bought by customers...


No, it's not groceries.




Welcome to the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale.


If not mistaken it started just under a week ago. So far I've heard only stories about it.


The minute I entered the main hall I noticed what the hoo-haa is all about. Looking at the size of this colour good quality coffee-table book, I believe the normal market price would be above RM300 each or at least RM200. Well, they are selling it at RM60!


Just look at this lot. I think the cheapest normal market price would be RM30. But they are selling it at RM8.


No wonder people even have boxes to shop. This is really something for books.




I noticed some Malay novels too. My casual estimate is these books would cost at least RM15 at a regular bookshop. They are selling it at RM6.


I notice this book by Isa Kamari, a writer from Singapura who is a Facebook friend. This book is also selling at RM6.


That's when I called the wife to tell her about the sale. You see I thought I just wanted to have a look and not buy anything. The wife said if the books are so cheap then buy some for kids. I started with these hard page "Tractors" and "Trucks" selling at RM5 each.


So much for not buying anything. I ended up with this lot as I approached the cashier area. I though I could ignore the rest and just buy children's books. Well, I had to have some myself when I passed the travel section.


Thank God I came here by bike. Otherwise, if I was driving a car, who knows how much more I would have bought. Oh, this is a picture of the Mines shopping complex next to the convention centre.  I went in because it has been years since I dropped by this part of town. As I understand it the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale would continue until Sunday 15th December. It is opened 24 hours. I would recommend everyone to have a look. Just brace yourself for the traffic...


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Fascination with rivers latest as the 1,188th article...

Peace be upon you all. More than 3 years ago a project called "Fascination with rivers" was started gathering links of articles showing views of selected rivers visited and taken pictures of in my travels. At the time 30 rivers around Peninsular Malaysia were listed while some were yet to be covered. Over time the list was extended to 33 and pictures of all listed rivers taken. Not only that, major rivers like the Kelantan river and/or its main tributaries are shown from up to 20 locations.

About 3 hours ago I made an article called Langat river at Bukit (hill of Jugra) which is the 9th article on that river. As it turned out it became the 1,187th article in this blogspot. A thought then came... why not make another article and hit the nice number 1,188? Since there have been much changes in the list of rivers presented under the name "Fascination with rivers", placed at the right sidebar of this blogspot why not present the latest list as the 1,188th article. So there... 33 rivers covered in almost 220 articles representating different views of the rivers from as many locations.


Fascination with rivers



I have always been fascinated by rivers or sungai in Malay. With the big ones (or the bigger parts normally downriver close to the estuary) I am astounded by the vastness, with the smaller ones (or the parts upriver close to the source normally at highlands) I am often charmed by the rapids and waterfalls. Here's a list of rivers I have visited in Peninsular Malaysia. The ones I have featured in articles come with relevant links while a few are waiting to be featured with future visits, God willing.North West Coast (Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang)

1. Sungai Perlis

The lake called Timah Tasoh

Timah Tasoh at its 'source'

Kuala Perlis, the town at the estuary of the Perlis river

Perlis in one day!

The waters just outside the Perlis river mouth

2. Sungai Kedah

Views on top Alor Setar's telecommunication tower...

The Kedah river from the Kuala Kedah fort

3. Sungai Merbok

Incursion to Tanjung Dawai

A look at Pantai Merdeka, Kedah...

4. Sungai Muda

The Penang part of Kuala Muda

5. Sungai Kerian

Sungai Kerian, the natural border between Perak and Kedah

Middle West Coast (Perak and Selangor)
 
6. Sungai Beruas

Beruas river from Kampung Kota

Beruas river at Pengkalan Baru

Finally. The Beruas river estuary

Looking for Beruas river estuary behind the hills of Segari

7. Sungai Dinding

River Dinding from Changkat Keruing

Dinding river from Batu Undan

Going slightly inland at Batu Undan, Lumut

The river Dinding from its bridge

Lumut from Damar Laut

Views from the ferry crossing Sungai (river of) Dinding...

And now a look around Lumut...

The Dinding river in front of Lumut town

Dinding river and its surroundings from across the Lumut naval base

The Sepit river from a place inland

Sepit river near its estuary

Views at Sungai Sepit

8. Sungai Perak

Entry point to the Royal Belum forest

The bridges across the Perak river at Kuala Kangsar

Perak river from the Alor Kangsar town jetty

Mouth of Sayong river and the palace of Bukit Chandan

Perak river from Kuala Kenas

Visiting the mystical island of Pulau Semat

The island called Cempakasari in Parit

Perak river upstream from Teluk Memali

Looking for the tombs of Sultan Shahabuddin and Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain...

Confluence of 3 rivers in Teluk Intan...

Sungai Perak from Batak Rabit

The Perak river from Hujung Rintis...

Perak river from Kayan...

The Perak river mouth at Bagan Datoh

9. Sungai Bernam

Bernam river near the north-south main trunk road

Recent views of Tanjung Malim and around

Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river

River Bernam from Kampung Kota

The river Bernam from Sabak Bernam

Bernam river at Hutan Melintang...

The Bernam river from Sungai Air Tawar

10. Sungai Selangor

A look at the Sungai Selangor dam and catchment

A look at the Selangor river near Batang Berjuntai...

A look at the Sungai (river of) Selangor...

The fireflies at Kampung Kuantan

Taking in the catch at Kuala Selangor

Bukit Melawati by 'train'...

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - The Selangor river mouth at last!

11. Sungai Klang

Kelang river at Kuala Lumpur city centre

Going through the rain for a good look at the river in mid-town Kelang

Views from jetty to Pulau Ketam

Klang river from Bagan Hailam

Klang river from the bridge to the North Port

12. Sungai Langat

The river besides a stall at Hulu Langat

Langat river from Sungai Buaya

Langat river at a northern part of Carey island

Langat river from a point before it splits downriver

The place where the Langat river splits towards two estuaries

Langat river near the old town of Bandar near Jugra

Langat river at Bukit (hill of Jugra)

Paragliding at Bukit (hill of) Jugra

The southern estuary of the Langat river

South (Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor)
 
13. Sungai Linggi

Sungai Linggi meets Sungai Temiang in Seremban

Penajis river at Astana Raja

Pedas river near its estuary

Rembau river at the Sungai Timun fishermen base

Linggi river near the small town of Linggi

The Linggi river near Pengkalan Kempas

Linggi river from the bridge near Kuala Linggi

Interlude: A visit to Kuala Linggi...

The waters off the Linggi river estuary

14. Sungai Melaka

Melaka river cruise at night

Melaka river from a part of Bandar Hilir

The watergate sytem of the river Melaka

15. Sungai Kesang

The river Kesang from Kesang Tasek

Kesang river from the rest area off the old trunk road

Mouth of the Kesang river

16. Sungai Muar

A look at Talang Dam, the most upstream part of the Muar river...

Muar river at Kuala Pilah

Where Muar river meets Jempol in Negeri Sembilan...

Muar river near the FELDA of Jelai

Muar river besides the Bukit Kepong old police station

The Muar river from Pagoh to Grisek

Muar river near Pantai Layang

Muar river from the second bridge

Views from on top of Muar town...

Muar river from nearby the main mosque

Muar river cruise part I...

Muar river cruise part II...

Muar river cruise part III

Muar river at its mouth

The widest part of the Muar river estuary and horseshoe crabs

17. Sungai Batu Pahat

The origin of Batu Pahat...

18. Sungai Johor

Johor river from Kota Tinggi town bridge

Johor river from Kota Tinggi jetty

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from the jetty at Johor Lama...

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from Kampung Johor Lama...

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from Teluk Sengat...

19. Sungai Sedili

Sedili river just before Tanjung Sedili

Sedili river at Tanjung Sedili

Sedili river at the main bridge

Sedili river estuary from Sedili Besar

20. Sungai Mersing

Smelling the sea in Mersing...

Mersing river from its town bridge

Mersing river near its estuary

21. Sungai Endau

River Endau just before town

River Endau from the town bridge

East Coast
 
22. Sungai Rompin

Rompin river at the eastern main road bridge

The Rompin river at the fisheries complex

23. Sungai Pahang

Parit Falls...

Views around Tanah Rata

Jelai river from further up Pos Betau

Jelai river near Pos Betau

Foray to idyllic Kuala Medang in Pahang...

Lipis river at Batu Malim

A look at Jeram Besu

The mouth of the Lipis river... the place where Kuala Lipis began

Kuala Tembeling, the doorway to Taman Negara...

Pahang river at Jerantut Ferry

Pahang river near the Temerloh bridge

Pahang river at Bera

Pahang river somewhere near Kampung Pejing

Pahang river just outside Pekan

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

Pahang river at Kuala Pahang

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

Pahang river from Tanjung Agas

24. Sungai Kuantan

Kuantan river near the Kenau estuary

River Kuantan between Kenau and Gua Charas

Kuantan river from the Kuantan-Sungai Lembing bridge

From Pekan to Kuantan... The East Coast journey continues...

Kuantan river from the town's riverside

Kuantan river mouth from Tanjung Api

The views at Tanjung Lumpur

25. Sungai Kemaman

Kemaman river near the East Coast inner trunk road

River Kemaman from the bridge out of Chukai town

A look around Kemaman, Terengganu...

River Kemaman from Chukai town

Pictures around Kemaman

26. Sungai Dungun

The recreational area called Bumbung Raja

Dungun river at Pasir Raja

Dungun river towards Chemerong

Dungun river near Kuala Jengai

Dungun river near Kampung Tepus

Dungun river from the Kuala Dungun bridge

Dungun river from the Kuala Dungun fisheries complex

Dungun river closer to the estuary

Dungun river right across Kuala Dungun

Dungun river and the open waters from Teluk Bidara

27. Sungai Marang

Marang river at the town bridge

Marang river near its estuary

Views from the tower at Marang river estuary

28. Sungai Terengganu

The first obvious section of Lake Kenyir from the west

Lake Kenyir further north-west

Northern end of Terengganu river which flows into Lake Kenyir

Lake Kenyir at Sungai Lawit

Pengkalan Gawi... again

Terengganu river near its main dam

Terengganu river at Jenagor

Enter Tasik Kenyir, the largest man-made lake in Malaysia!

Terengganu river from Kuala Berang bridge

A look at Kuala Berang...

Terengganu river from Kampung Pulau Manis

Crossing the Terengganu river to Pulau Sekati

Terengganu river near the state museum

Terengganu river from the main bridge of Kuala Terengganu

Views from Pulau Duyung, Terengganu...

Views from Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu

A boat ride across the river Terengganu from Pulau Duyong

View of Kuala Terengganu from 14 floors up... Or is it 15 or 13? Never mind, just enjoy the view...

Terengganu river mouth from Seberang Takir

29. Sungai Besut

Besut river near Jerteh

Views from the bridge at Kuala Besut

30. Sungai Tok Bali

From Kuala Besut on to Tok Bali...

Views around the high bridge of Tok Bali, Kelantan

Morning walk at Tok Bali river estuary

The kids' turn to enjoy the embankment at Tok Bali

31. Sungai Pengkalan Datu

Sungai Pengkalan Datu from Pulau Melaka

Sungai Pengkalan Datu about 2 km downriver from Pulau Melaka

A look at Sungai Pengkalan Datu

Pengkalan Datu river close to the river mouth

Pengkalan Datu river at its mouth

32. Sungai Kelantan

The river Galas at Gua Madu

Gua Musang to Dabong

Sungai (river of) Galas from the Jelawang to Dabong town bridge

Bridge over Sungai Pergau

Bridge over Sungai Balah

Going up Bukit Panau

The Kelantan river near Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga

A quick look of the Kelantan river from the Kota Bahru bridge

The Kelantan river near the royal jetty at Kota Bahru

Kelantan river at the Kampung Laut jetty

Kelantan river from the Kedai Buluh food court

Kelantan river at Kedai Buluh jetty

Kelantan river around Kok Majid...

Kelantan river around Kok Majid... Part 2 that is...

Kelantan river from Kok Majid

Going around the Kelantan river delta

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

Revisiting Kuala Besar

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

The sand hill and peninsular at Kelantan river mouth

33. Sungai Golok

Sungai Golok at Rantau Panjang town centre

Sungai Golok at 'Point 5'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 4'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 3'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 2'

Sungai (river of) Golok at Pengkalan Kubor



Langat river at Bukit (hill of Jugra)



The next day we went to Jugra near Banting, Selangor on to its famous hill, Bukit Jugra.


One part is close to the river Langat, a view upstream.


Across is the island called Pulau Carey.


A view downstream.



Hutan Lipur (recreational forest of) Pasir Panjang, Negeri Sembilan

Continued from On to the tomb of Hang Tuah.


Next we went to Pasir Panjang near Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. A recreational forest caught my eye and I decided to bring our son Rasyid for a walk.




















It lies very close to the open waters of the Straits of Melaka.





A staircase brings one to the coastline.











On to the tomb of Hang Tuah



Two days later we visited Makam (tomb of) Hang Tuah.








It is a long tomb attributed to Hang Tuah, the famous Malay warrior who lived during the height of the Melaka Sultanate more than 500 years ago.






Some said this tomb actually housed the remains of someone else.


Still it is a symbol, an object to visit for those who appreciate the heroic feats of Hang Tuah as mentioned in many Malay texts.



Having a field day at Masjid Selat Melaka


Friday 11 days ago I went to Masjid (mosque of) Selat Melaka to do my congregational prayers.











The mosque is situated on a man-made island off the old centre of Melaka city, that is the part called Banda Hilir. So it offers a picturesque view of the Straits of Melaka.





The mystical island of Pulau Besar in view. Refer to these old articles :-

Pulau Besar 1: Enter the 'big' island!

Pulau Besar 2: Why so many long tombs?

Pulau Besar 3: Time to move on...

Liliputian midget in Pulau Besar, Melaka!

Batu Belah (split stone) of Pulau Besar, Melaka

Sedikit citarasa Itali di Pulau Besar? (A bit of Italian taste in Pulau Besar?

Pemandangan sekitar kelab golf tinggal di Pulau Besar (views around the abandoned golf club at Pulau Besar



Then my wife brought the kids in. They started playing around...