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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.


Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Observing the surroundings from Singgora hill defence fort

Continuing from the article Taking the ferry to old Singgora.


In that article I have shown a zoom-in or close-up picture of the hill of Singgora overlooking a small town which is also known as old Singgora town.


I soon found out there are old fort remains accesible by sets of staircases from another side of the hill. Late in the afternoon I climbed up for a look.





Views from that level...









After enjoying the somewhat limited views I continued climbing.



Next I arrived at what the turned out to be the 2nd out of 3 fort remains on this hill. Look at the article Kota pertahanan Singgora atas bukit (Singgora defence fort on hill) - Bahagian tengah (Middle section).


Wider vistas open up at this level...








Encouraged by what I have seen so far I pushed myself on to the next level...





Here you can get 360 degree views of the surroundings.






























The geography of the district of Songkhla and its surroundings were practically laid bare for up to 20 km away towards all directions as I try to match what could be seen with the naked eye with what I can remember from maps and satellite pictures as available on Google Earth...























Taking the ferry to old Singgora



My main and first target in Songkhla is to look for remains of the old forts of the kingdom of Singgora. For the record the name Songkhla is a Thai version for the Malay name Singgora. Upon mentioning this ancient Malay name to a motorbike taxi operator I was whisked some 3 km to a port and asked to take a ferry.



It seems the old Singgora I wished to see lies at the hill seen here and at its foot.


To get there one must cross these waters...





Enjoying the views around.








A zoom in view shows a small town at the foot of the hill.




 
The ferry ride took about 10 minutes. I was lucky that while onboard a man and his wife offered to take me around on their... hmm. I don't what is the name of this thing. A bike with a sidecar. Yes, a ride on this sidecar to shore and around...


Taking the local ride to Songkhla

Peace be upon you all. On to the 4th day of my first travel for the year 2017. Continuing from Boat ride through the waters of "Kuala Patani".


Sunday 15th January 2017. After visiting a historical well and mosque at Kerisek we left Patani and travelled some 80 km towards the town of Songkhla. There we visited the tomb of a famous Malay religious master. Look at the article Makam (Tomb of) Sheikh Abdul Samad al-Falimbani in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART). There I parted ways with the rest and started my own solo travelling to Songkhla.



At the roadside just outside the path to the tomb a local kindly hitched me up on his motorcycle and sent me to a comfortable public transport stop. From there I got a transport.






I don't know what to call it. Is it a van? Is it a car with long seats like in a bus behind?



What I do know it is a main mood of transport here.



The fare structure...



With it I travelled some 27 km to Songkhla.

















I was told the fare is 28 Baht. But having no small change I happily paid 30 Baht to reach its end stop...