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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.


Thursday, October 26, 2017

TM family day at the National Sports Complex in Shah Alam

One final piece to complete the current flow of writing for this blogspot. Continuing from the article First actual visit to the new Istana Negara


Sunday morning 22nd October 2017. Me and family went to the National Sport Complex of Shah Alam.


A family day for staffs of TM (Telekom Malaysia, the nation's main telecommunications provider) was being held. My wife is a staff.





Actually I was not in the mood of being in a crowd. But I obliged for the wife.


As it turned out I joined and enjoyed the morning's aerobics session...


Then there's of course the treats and fun for the kids. For the record this is the 1,771th article in this blogspot.



















First actual visit to the new Istana Negara

Continuing from the article Checking out the Rawang-Bypass.


Late afternoon, Saturday 21st October 2017 I brought the wife and kids to a very significant destination near Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur.





Welcome to the Istana Negara, the national palace. It is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the royal paramount ruler of Malaysia.





This is the first time any of us has stepped foot here. This Istana Negara is a new one as it replaced the old national palace at another part of KL some 5-6 years ago if not mistaken.





The old smaller one was used since the indepence of Malaysia from British occupation in 1957. Here are pictures of the family in front of the new palace compound...





Noticing a small hill just outside the perimeter I felt like checking it out.


Only my 5-year-old youngest son followed suit. I asked him to climb first so I could keep a watch.



A view from on top. Our first visit and already we got quite superb views of the palace and surroundings...




















Previously the closest we ever got to the new Istana Negara was to make a turn at the road in front.



That was to avoid a portion of the traffic jam at Jalan (road of) Duta at the foot of the hills.


To think this visit came unplanned. We were taking Jalan Duta on our way back home after attending a function in the south of KL. Suddenly I felt like making a visit and the rest followed...


Checking out the Rawang-Bypass

Continuing the train of thought storytelling from the article The new pedestrian bridge to Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur.


Thursday afternoon 19th October 2017. After spending some time at the wife's office in Rawang town I decided to check out a new development just outside town.


By using Google Map I found the closest access point to the said development. It is a small road which has been closed for some time.


Parking the car besides the entry point I continued by walking...





After 300 metres or so I arrived at the development...





Welcome to the Rawang Bypass.





Extending 7 km from Serendah north of Rawang going south towards Kuala Lumpur it is also known as the Rawang-Serendah Bypass.





Yet to be opened although looking like it is already completed it bypasses the heavy traffic which tends to plague areas around Rawang.





What is amazing it is situated largely on high grounds passing through the slopes of a large hill which the regular north-south road seeks to avoid by covering an extra 4 km or so to reach the same points.


It is also aligned to minimise intrusion into the local flora and fauna which consist mainly of a species of trees known as the Giam Kanching, 


The species is said to be available only around this hill. You can't find it anywhere else in the world. 


Because of that 3 km of the bypass consists of overhead road.  


The views around here are amazing with the overhead road going as high as 60 metres from the ground...


The new pedestrian bridge to Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur



From Bagan Lalang we headed home after 3 pm or so. On the way we entered Kuala Lumpur city centre to check out a recent development.


The said development is situated besides the historic Sultan Abdul Samad building...








It is part of a project to beautify the nearby portion of Sungai (river of) Gombak and Sungai Klang.


For the first time as far as I could remember a pedestrian bridge has been built leading to the Masjid Jamek or main mosque of KL. I was told it was opened in conjuction of  the Malaysia independence day last 31st August...






It crosses over the Gombak river...











Seen on the right are minarets of the mosque. For the record the mosque is situated at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers.



However direct path leading to the mosque is not opened yet as a garden project at the connecting compound has not been completed.  You have to take a path to the left to reach the mosque. I could also see that there are still a number of things to be done before the River of Life project is concluded...