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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.


Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Around Bangkok's Grand Palace at night

Continuing from Rushing to Bangkok.


Our main destination for the night is the Grand Palace and its surroundings.





Around here are situated a number of important government buildings...





That's the Grand Palace in view...





In front of the palace lies the Ministry of Defence building...










At the lawn of that building lies a number of old cannons...








Of particular interest to me and wife is one called the Sri Patani.


It is said to have been seized from the kingdom of Patani when the Thai's won in a masive attack.


Next to the Ministry of Defence is a temple called the Pillar Shrine of Bangkok...





Back to the Grand Palace...





It is an amazing sight at night...














Rushing to Bangkok



Soon it's time to leave Ayutthaya and head for Bangkok.



We left at at around 4.45 pm. 



About 45 minutes later we have arrived at the northern fringe of the mega-city that is Bangkok...


Before that I have switched to the passenger side to let the wife drive.


I was so tired. This was the first time someone else drove since we left home 2,000 km ago...






It was almost sunset as we rushed to get to the city centre...











We took an elevated highway which goes for miles and miles...




















Entering the city centre at about 6 pm.





Still, it took another half an hour before we could find our main destination for the night...


Tuk Tuk ride around Ayutthaya

Continuing from Walking in Ayutthaya.


In the afternoon we rented a Tuk Tuk, the famous three-wheeled Thailand road transport and were taken for a ride.





We went around the city of Ayutthaya and had good views of the going-ons...























We went to a number of famous old temples where the Tuk Tuk stopped and waited as we walked for better views...

















At first we were very excited to see that there are so much historical buildings in Ayutthaya...























But after almost 2 hours of ride it became such a common sight that we could not care anymore...