BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2019-02-17

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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, February 22, 2019

The Mekong and Chao Phraya river systems

Peace be upon you this blessed Friday morning. Since early December last year till end of January this year I have been sharing stories on places visited in my trip with family to Cambodia and Thailand 22 November till 3 December 2018. In that trip I got to sample views of two major river systems in Indo-China from a number of places. This is the Mekong river which passes through a number of countries including Cambodia and the Chao Phraya which is the main river in Thailand.

At an estimated length of 4,350 km the Mekong which starts from the Tibetan highlands plateau near the Himalaya mountains is the world's 12th longest river. It is the 7th longest in Asia and longest in South-East Asia. Included in its river basin system is the great lake Tonle Sap which is the biggest lake in SEA. The lake which is wholly situated in Cambodia is connected to the main Mekong river via the Tonle Sap river at Phnom Penh, the nation's capital city.

The Mekong also passes through Thailand but at the borders. The main river of the nation cutting through its mainland is the Chao Phraya which is officially said to be only 372 km long. However when combined with the Ping river which actually flows into the Chao Phraya its total length reaches 1,500 km. Whatever it is the main river which passes through the capital of Thailand which is Bangkok. And further upriver it passes through the ancient city of Ayutthaya, capital of the old kingdom bearing the same name. Here are articles made on the Mekong and Chao Phraya based on my travels in Cambodia and Thailand...

Mekong river system

1. Sunset from Phnom Krom

2. Views of Tonle Sap from Phnom Krom

3. Access to Tonle Sap

4. Mekong river from a part across Kampong Cham town

5. Views from the tallest building at Kampong Cham

6. Mekong river from our hotel at Kampong Cham

7. Views from the French tower at Kampong Cham

8. Mekong river from the bridge at Kampong Cham

9. Walking around Kampong Cham town

10. Mekong river from southern side of Kampong Cham town

11. Taking the Mekong river cruise at night

12. Night time around the esplanade at Phnom Penh

13. Phnom Penh from a riverside vantage point

14. First look at the waterfront in Phnom Penh - The Tonle Sap-Mekong meeting place

15. Boat ride from Takeo to Phnom Da

The Chao Phraya

1. Chao Phraya river in front of Chedi Sri Suriyothai

2. The Chao Phraya from Ayutthaya Riverside House

3. Chao Phraya river from Tha Chang Wangna in Bangkok

4. Enter the Thammasat University

5. Ferry to Thonburi

6. Getting back to eastern side of Bangkok