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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 01, 2016

Late stop at Lata Kekabu



From Tasik Raban we then rushed to Lata Kekabu.


It is a popular picnic spot in Lenggong with streams, rapids and waterfalls.


But to get to the closest waterfall one have to walk for quite a distance. As we arrived at 6.50 pm and sunlight was diminishing we decided to make a shoot at the stream and rapids closest to the car park.


The idea was after we're done with the shooting, everyone could take a break and take a dip at the waterfalls.





As it turned out we have to be contented with just hanging out around here. We sure don't want to take a dip in the dark especially since afterwards we have to get back to the Klang Valley which is more than 250 km away...


Looking at the western side of Tasik Raban



Once we're done shooting at the caves and its surroundings we rushed back south to get to the lake called Tasik Raban.


Pictures of the lake in the morning has been shown in the article Views from Tasik Raban resort. But that is from another part.


Here, we were looking at the western parts.


As such we could see the sun clearly in the background though slightly hidden behind the clouds. For the record these pictures were taken at around 6pm...





Remote viewing of Gua Gunung Runtuh



In the afternoon we went to another part of Lenggong to visit some caves located at a hill.





The hill called Bukit Kepala Gajah, literally elephant head hill rises up to about 200 metres high from sea level.


We visited two caves lying at ground level. Look at the articles Gua (Cave of) Teluk Kelawar, Lenggong and Gua (Cave of) Kajang, Lenggong in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART).


But those caves lie at parts outside the frame of views which could be shown here. We next went to this part because we were told there is a more significant cave around.


The cave is called Gua (cave of) Gunung Runtuh. It was the place where the famous ancient human skeleton known as Perak Man was found. Refer to the article Galeri Arkeologi Lembah Lenggong (Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery)


But it lies close to the summit. It is situated at about 150 metres above sea level.


It would need some jungle trekking and hill climbing to be reached. Not that it is impossible.  It's just we were too tired and short of time.


So what we did was fly a drone with camera to catch the views. Enough that we could have a remote view of the cave and/or its surroundings...


Viewing tower at Lenggong archaeological gallery



After breakfast we went to the said gallery at Kota Tampan. Look at the article Galeri Arkeologi Lembah Lenggong (Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery) in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). Behind it lies more exhibits situated on a hillside. Look at Pameran di belakang Galeri Arkeologi Lembah Lenggong (Exhibits behind Lenggong Valley Archaeological Gallery). After that there there is a walkway leading further up.





The walkway leads to a viewing tower on top of the hill.


I just had to go up and check out the views.








As usual I took pictures from as many angles as possible while going anti-clockwise...





























Perak river from the bridge near Kota Tampan

Continuing from Views from Tasik Raban resort...


Soon it's time to start shooting. The first destination of the day is the Lenggong archeological gallery at Kota Tampan. But we have to have breakfast first. So we went on pass the junction to the gallery and crossed this bridge.


There are a number of food stalls just beside the bridge. The bridge crosses the Perak river.


As the production team had their fill I decided to walk up the bridge and check out the views...


Here's one downriver.


And views upriver...




Views from Tasik Raban resort

Peace be upon you all this Friday morning. On to the last day of the  14-17th March  shoots for the documentary series called "Daulah Melayu". Continuing from Chasing sunlight from the mountains in Kedah towards Perak.


Early Thursday morning 17th March 2015. We had spent the night at a homestay in Tasik (lake of) Raban, Lenggong, Perak.  It was so close to the lake that I decided to take a walk and check everything out. That is when I caught sight of this resort.


I went in to check what's available...


There. You can see it is situated besides the lake.


That's the Raja Muda Nazrin Shah bridge which is part of the Grik-Kuala Kangsar highway route.


On to other parts of the resort...





This should be the reception building. It was under renovation then.


Ah. A vantage point facing the western side of Tasik Raban...


A look to the right. Notice the land bridge running through the lake?


That is part of the old Grik-Kuala Kangsar trunk road.


A look ahead. There's a rest area right in the middle of the lake...


A look to the left...