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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, March 03, 2017

To Siak on the trishaw bike



From old Pelalawan I went towards new Pelalawan hoping to get a more comfortable transport to get to my next destination, Siak. As it turned out there was no more vans and such for the day so I decided to continue the journey using the same trishaw motorbike.


The time was about 5.15 pm when I arrived at the road connecting Siak and new Pelalawan (or Pengkalan Kerinchi). From there to Siak the distance is about 60 km.








But overall the road condition is such that it would take an hour to reach Siak even in a decent car.





On a trishaw bike which can go at the fastest 50km/h, even then when going downhill, how do you expect to fare?





With an average speed that tends to linger around 20-30 kmh, how would fast could one reach Siak?











Speed aside it is not as comfortable as travelling in a car.





I had to endure a lot of bumps and uneven road surface which tends to jolt the trishaw.


Then there's the cold blowing wind as the dark approached. For the record this picture was taken at 6.33. It was already dusk.



Thank God I was also already in Siak.





It's just it was still a few kilometres to town.


Crossing the Siak river...

















Approaching town. Time was 6.44.


The Siak palace marks that I have already arrived . Have to look for a place to lodge and rest...


Kampar river from a village in old Pelalawan



Leaving Pelalawan kingdom's centre of rule area we passed through a village.


It is still within the area of old Pelalawan, just slightly out of the ruling centre. It is situated besides and upstream part of the Kampar river.


Here's a view towards further upstream...


View across...


View downstream...





The rural road I took riding as a passenger on a trishaw bike is mostly located along the river.


A view further upstream, Then its time to totally leave old Pelalawan.


Kampar river from Pelalawan kingdom centre



After the mosque and a tomb area in front of it I went to the palace called Istana Sayap.


The palace marks the centre of rule of the Pelalawan kingdom. In front of it lies this roofed walkway.








It leads to a jetty facing the Kampar river.





A look upriver...





A look across...





A look downriver...






New Pelalawan to old Pelalawan by trishaw bike

Peace be upon you this Friday. Entering the 7th day of the Sumatera trip 25 January - 1 February...


Tuesday 31st January 2017. From Pekanbaru I went to the town of Pengkalan Kerinchi.


Actually I wanted to get to the centre of an old kingdom called Pelalawan, I took a public transport van from Pekanbaru asking if the driver goes to Kota (town of) Pelawan, He said yes and I just followed suit.


When I was asked to drop down saying I have arrived at my preferred destination then only I realised there was a misunderstanding.


For the record the kingdom of Pelalawan has ceased to exist. Taking its place is the modern district of Pelalawan.


Later did I understand then when I asked to go to Kota Pelalawan most people take that as referring to the Pelalawan district capital town. Its real name is Pengkalan Kerinchi but it is also popular known as Kota Pelalawan...


If one wants to go to the old Kota Pelalawan, capital of the kingdom of Pelalawan then one should ask for kecamatan (sub-district of) Pelalawan, not Kota (town of city of) Pelalawan.


I was told the old Pelalawan is now just a village. Kecamatan in this context literarily refers to countryside Pelalawan.



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Anyway from Pengkalan Kerinchi which is effectively the new Pelalawan I got a trishaw bike to get to old Pelalawan.





It was a 40km + travel through the countryside, palm estates and such with not much modern building in sight.























At this juncture I have arrived in old Pelalawan...





The mosque seen in this picture is a remnant of the centre of the Pelalawan kingdom which ceased to exist in 1946.