-----------------------

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".


-----------------------


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, June 19, 2014

Perak river near junction to Kampung Terengganu



Later in the afternoon we went to Kampung (village of) Terengganu in Teluk Intan. Near the junction to the village lies this jetty.



It faces a wide part of the Perak river. This jetty is about 200-300 metres away from the mouth of the Bidor river as shown in the old article Confluence of 3 rivers in Teluk Intan....



A look upriver. The Bidor river mouth is on the middle right.


A look across.



A look downriver.



Visiting the Perak royal mausoleum after demise of a Sultan



From the mosque called Masjid Ubudiyah one can enter the Perak royal mausoleum or burial ground via a back door. This leads directly to the tomb of a main ancestor of mind, Laksamana Raja Mahkota Muhammad Amin.


Then we went to the main building which houses the remains of a number of Perak Sultans or rulers.



It is directly accessible from the main entrance of the burial ground.






This part is normally open-air as it is without roof.



A yellow canopy has been built for the burial ceremony of the 34th ruler of Perak, Sultan Azlan Syah 3 weeks ago.



His majesty's tomb.



Besides is the tomb of his son Raja Ashman. Fondly known as Sheikh Raja to many he passed away 2 years earlier. For the record this is the 1,248th article in this blogspot.


Views from minaret of Masjid Ubudiyah, Kuala Kangsar

Continuing the storytelling from Pergau River and Gunung Reng.


After spending a night at Kuala Kangsar we went to the famous mosque called Masjid Ubudiyah at Bukit (hill of) Chandan.


I have been here many times. But it was in this visit that I suddenly felt the urge to climb up to higher parts.








Ah. What magnificent view greeted as I came out.


Then I saw another door leading to a much higher part.


Yes. It leads to the top of the minaret.



It is a climb hard to resist.



Views as I climbed up...


The mosque has 4 minarets of equal height.



The top in view...



And so I started to take in the views. Seen in the middle the palace called Istana Iskandariah.


The Perak royal burial ground besides the mosque.



Then the views going anti-clockwise...


























Monday, June 16, 2014

Pergau River and Gunung Reng

Continued from The "Beijing" mosque.


After Rantau Panjang we proceed to leave the state of Kelantan. A few kilometres after the town of Jeli heading into the state of Perak we passed this bridge.



It is situated close to a limestone hill known as Gunung (mountain of) Reng. Having passed this bridge a number of times, this time I felt I must make a stop and walk to the middle of the bridge.






The bridge passes over the river of Pergau, one of the main subsidiaries of the Kelantan river.



This should be the view downriver.



Gunung Reng lies on the opposite side.


I think this rates as among the best view I have captured in my travels in this part of the world.



The "Beijing" mosque

.
Regarding the trip to Kota Bahru, Kelantan as mentioned in the article The new train station of Gua Musang. After Kota Bahru we went to the border town of Rantau Panjang where lies this beautiful mosque.

.
Built using Chinese architecture it is fondly known as the Masjid (mosque of) Beijing.





My youngest son Johan posing...





By the way we first set foot in this mosque 3 years ago. Then, I took some pictures from the highest part of the mosque. Look at the old article Views from the tower of Masjid Beijing.