BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2014-12-14

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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.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Completing a round of KL aerial views from Bukit Nenas

Continuing from Up the Telekom Tower at Bukit Nenas after 15 years or so.

And so we have covered half a round of Kuala Lumpur or KL aerial views in the previous article.

Going further anti-clockwise, I must complete a round taking pictures.

I've said before that the last time I was up here was 15 years ago or more.

Since then many many skyscrapers have sprouted up and I am amazed at the amount of 40+ story buildings KL now have...

The wife and kids posing at a backdrop of telecommunication towers inside.

While it was not the brightest day to get best views of the surrounding, the weather though slightly gloomy was good enough for everyone to enjoy the KL skyline...

Up the Telekom Tower at Bukit Nenas after 15 years or so

Today me and family went to the Telekom Tower at Bukit Nenas.

If I remember correctly we last went here last year.

But then we only went around the base.

This time we went up to the observation tower, some 270 metres up from the base.

As usual I started taking pictures for many different angles going anti-clockwise from the entrance.

If I remember correctly the last time I was up here was 15 years or so ago, maybe more.

What I do remember I have been up here quite a number of times when I was still a journalist with the English national daily, The New Straits Times 1996-2001.

I've attended a function or two at the rotating restaurant above this level and was once given 10-20 free passes or so.

Then again the admission ticket was only RM8 those days. Now it is RM29 for an adult.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Deja vu at the 'dead part' of Simpang Kiri river at Bukit Inas

Continuing from Crossing to Bukit Inas.

Soon I reached the said place at the foothill of Bukit Inas. There lies a number of old tombs. Look at the article Makam berbatu nesan Aceh di Bukit Inas (Tombs with Aceh stones at Bukit Inas) in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). After inspecting the tombs I looked back towards my car. Then I started having a deja vu, the feeling that I've been here before although it was the first time I've ever arrived anywhere near Bukit Inas.

There's something special it seems about the body of water behind the car. A certain serenity engulfed me and I felt sort of enlightened.

I later learned this is actually part of the Simpang Kiri river, the one we have seen in previous articles Crossing to Bukit Inas and The river at Seri Medan. It's just it has been cut out from the main course, I'm not sure whether by man or nature, leaving it as stand-alone bended lake, effectively a 'dead part; of the Simpang Kiri river...

Crossing to Bukit Inas

Continuing from The river at Seri Medan.

Next place to be visited is a place at the foot of the hill called Bukit Inas. Returning to the main road before taking a small rural one I then found out one could get there from Seri Medan without using the main road.

Anyway the route I took has a bridge crossing the same river which goes to Seri Medan, the Simpang Kiri river.

A look downriver. Bukit Inas could be seen prominently to the right.

A look upriver, that is towards Seri Medan...