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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, May 15, 2020

Scenery from transports

Peace be upon you this Friday afternoon. Referring to the article Of parks, resorts, sunrise and such made 5 days ago. Next on the categories list...



This one is dedicated to trips showing views and scenery as me and/or family traveled at a number of places and countries using various forms or modes of transports. At times travelings are made by our own transport, at times by rented cars. At times we move by public transport whether on land, water or air. At times we made long walks and some times I hitchhike. Thus articles are grouped accordingly, some showing related bases for travel such as train stations and airports.



Road trips, bikes or cars


Perlis



Kedah

Going through Sungai Petani

The south-east rural road to Kulim


Around the national border at Bukit Kayu Hitam

Passing through Kuala Sala

Pulau (island of) Bunting at Yan, Kedah



Pulau Pinang



Accident on the Kota Kuala Muda bridge

Our first time on the 2nd Penang bridge


Perak

Another Perak trip... A one day trip made in December 2006

A short stop in Beruas. And a talk on Beruas' very own mysterious "Batu bersurat" or inscribed stone...

Sungai Siput as base camp... Where a giant face looks out from on top a hill...

The tight winding road down to Tapah

Rushing on to Lata Kinjang...


Cooling down at Ulu Licin

Looking for Beruas river estuary behind the hills of Segari


The highland stop 17km from Kampung Raja

What happened to this stop at the Simpang Pulai route?

Going to the tomb of Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain through a palm estate

Making sense of first attempt to get to the tomb of Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain

From Kuala Kangsar to Ipoh


Trying out the Ladang Bikam route to Teluk Intan

Searching for tomb of Syed Hussain al-Faradz


Selangor



A look at the Selangor river near Batang Berjuntai...

The road from Batang Berjuntai to Batu Arang...

Recent views of Tanjung Malim and around


A look at the newly-opened LATAR highway



The part that should connect Bandar Tasik Puteri to the LATAR Highway

The actual part connecting Bandar Tasik Puteri to LATAR Highway...



The broken stretch at Semenyih Dam


Rawang bypass finally opened


Negeri Sembilan

Journey to Negeri Sembilan. A new chapter begins...

Journey to Negeri Sembilan... A night visit to the tomb of Raja Melewar before the journey is closed

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : A look at the fort of Lukut...

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : On to Tanjung Tuan...

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : Going down the slopes from the Tanjung Tuan lighthouse...

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : Pulau Intan, the "diamond island"!

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : On to the 'Keramat'...

The Negeri Sembilan journey continued : Out of Tanjung Tuan and beyond!

The unexpected Negeri Sembilan trip: From Rembau to Seri Menanti..

The unexpected Negeri Sembilan trip: Around Seri Menanti and on...

The unexpected Negeri Sembilan trip: From Kuala Talang on to Seremban to close the trip!



Melaka


Relaxing at the Sungai Rambai rest stop


Johor


The road to Singapura

Linggiu, the site of an ancient Malay kingdom now taken over by Singapore? 



First trip back to Muar for the year 2010


Crossing to Bukit Inas


Pahang

From Lipis to Raub... just some nice views

At the foot of Fraser's Hill...

Enter Fraser's Hill

Down from Fraser's Hill towards Raub

Foray to idyllic Kuala Medang in Pahang...

A look at the Pahang river estuary and what's around... The southern part that is...

From Pekan to Kuantan... The East Coast journey continues...

A short trip to Genting...

Back from a short trip to Genting...

The night trip from Gua Musang to Cameron Highlands...

The lower parts of Cameron Highlands - Habu and Ringlet...


The views from a fully elevated part of the Sungai Koyan-Cameron Highlands road

A look at some development just after entering Cameron Highlands

The road up Mount Brinchang


A stop up Cameron Highlands from Sungai Koyan

The new dam close to Lembah Bertam



Terengganu




Views of the Chemerong Falls upon approaching Pasir Raja


Kemaman river near the East Coast inner trunk road


Kelantan


Downhill Kelantan from Banjaran Titiwangsa

On to Gua Musang

The road to Tasik Kenyir from Gua Musang

Going up Bukit Panau

The coastal route from Kelantan to Terengganu

Pengkalan Kubor INTO Tumpat town


Aceh

From Syiah Kuala to Kreung Aceh...

Aceh rural views around Indrapuri

On to Tanoh Abee... so what exist over there?

The journey to Pekan Saree, a hillside small town of Aceh...

From Pekan Saree down to Sumatra's east coast...

From Pidie on to Bireuen

Rural Perlak, the seat of a powerful ancient Islamic kingdom!

From Perlak to Geudong, seat of the powerful twin ancient kingdoms of Samudera and Pasai!

To Lamuri and the fortress of Indrapatra...

The number 191, a clue to something special about Lamuri...

Walking to Malahayati's fortress, the Benteng Inong Balee...

One more fortress to go, Benteng Iskandar Muda...

Through the university town of Darussalam and on to the airport...

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : A feeling of old Kedah... or rather, old Malay country before Western colonialists spoiled everything?

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : The kings of Idi

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : Back to Banda Aceh


The journey down Takengon...

The muddy area near the mouth of Aceh river


The alternative road to Banda Aceh


Bringing the kids and friends to the tomb of Hamzah Fansuri

Peusangan river at a rural part close to the coast

'Jackie Chan' housing in Aceh

Cutting from Teluk Lamreh to the airport


North Sumatera

Rushing to the Batak highlands


West Sumatera











West Kalimantan

Passing through Singkawang

To Karangan via Bengkayang

Going to Mungguk


South Sulawesi

The road from Tanete to Wajo

Going back to Makassar via Bone


Brunei

The coastal road from Kuala Belait to Seria


Thailand

Two hours plus in Southern Thailand

The road to Yala

Rushing to Tanjung Budi

Giant wind turbines on the way to Nakhon Si Thammarat

Road to Ranong Limestone hills of Phang Nga

The route from Durian Burung to Patani town

Looking at the resort at Pa Cho waterfall


Arabia

Going to Medina

Passing through Mina

The camel farms outside of Mecca



Public land transport, walk/hitchhike



Perlis

Perlis in one day!


Kedah

The ancient valley of Bujang in Merbok

The ruins of Pengkalan Bujang Sultan Muzaffar Shah, the first king of Kedah?

In Yan to find the Aceh connection...

 Yan again... The call of Gunung Jerai...

Lots of walking in Langkawi

The legend of Mahsuri in Langkawi

Gunung Jerai calling out loud...

On to the summit of Gunung Jerai to close a chapter...

Walking from train station to Sungai Petani's old town centre


Perak

Remembering Pangkor...

Perak trip of September 2006... Going merrily around...

Perak trip of September 2006: Around the royal town of Kuala Kangsar

Perak trip of September 2006... A look at the tombs...

From Kedah to Perak... The show must go on!

Gunung Semanggol... The threat from the mountains

Taiping to Kuala Kangsar... A dangerous look at Malaysian history?

Revisiting Teluk Intan the birth-place of my dad...

From Perak to Selangor... Time to start settling down

Finally. Back to KL... But with excursions to Tronoh, Kuala Kubu Baru and Rawang...


Melaka 

Pulau Besar 2: Why so many long tombs?

Pulau Besar 3: Time to move on...


Terengganu

A look at Kuala Berang...

Going up to the Chemerong waterfall

Chemerong waterfall - Almost there...


Aceh

Walking down to Kuta Leubok

Taking the motorbike trishaw across Banda Aceh


West Sumatera




Thailand

Crossing Golok river at Rantau Panjang by foot

Taking the local ride to Songkhla

From Songkhla to Hatyai

Tuk Tuk ride around Ayutthaya

Crossing to Thailand

To Ayutthaya via Bangkok


Cambodia

Siem Reap by tuk tuk

Bus to Battambang

Around Battambang by tuk tuk

Battambang to Poipet



Train rides and stations


Peninsular Malaysia West Coast

Enter Padang Besar, gateway to Thailand

The limestone hills of Perlis

Taking the commuter from Arau to Alor Setar



Butterworth train station

Butterworth from its train station

The station of Bukit Mertajam

Parit Buntar station

The lake called Tasik Merah

Taiping and its station...

Padang Rengas from its train station

The hills on the way to Kuala Kangsar

On towards Ipoh...






The train station of Pulau Sebang

Train station of Gemas

Going around Gemas old train station

Segamat train station

Labis train station

Kluang railway coffee 

Kluang railway station and its famous coffee

Breakfast at Kluang rail station

Renggam train station

Kulai train station

JB railway station old and new

The railway station at Tanjung Pagar


Kuala Lumpur to the East Coast


On to Gemas

The unique station at Bahau

From Gemas to Jerantut

The scenic route after Batu Sembilan

Kuala Lipis train station and its cute old town

Kuala Lipis railway station revisited after the big flood of 2014

Kuala Lipis to Gua Musang...

The new train station of Gua Musang

Gua Musang to Dabong

The limestone hills from Dabong towards Kuala Lipis

Dabong and so on...

Kelantan stations early morning

Pasir Mas train station

On to Tumpat, the furthest point on the East Coast route

Tumpat train station in daylight


KL MRT & ERL

First time on the ERL

Riding Malaysia's first MRT line - The start at Sungai Buloh

Riding Malaysia's first MRT line - On to Taman Tun

Riding Malaysia's first MRT line - To the end of line at Semantan and back


Singapore

Views around the causeway from the train

On to Tanjung Pagar

Taking the MRT down half the island


Java

Early morning look at Tasikmalaya train station


Thailand

To Ayutthaya via Bangkok

Night train to Hatyai

The quaint train station of Hua Hin

Phattalung railway station

The station at Hatyai

Hatyai train station after 7 years

Train ride from Hatyai to Padang Besar

Train to Yala





Cambodia

First impression of Phnom Penh

Takeo train station



Water rides


Malaysia

Muar river cruise part 1...

Muar river cruise part II...

Muar river cruise part III

Muar river cruise after 10 years

Johor Lama to Bukit Seluyut by boat

Lunch in the middle of Johor River off Teluk Sengat

Crossing the Tembeling river at Kuala Tahan

Enter Tasik Kenyir, the largest man-made lake in Malaysia!

A boat ride across the river Terengganu from Pulau Duyong

Kelantan river around Kok Majid...

Kelantan river around Kok Majid... Part 2 that is...

Going around the Kelantan river delta


Aceh

Going to Pulau Weh and Sabang


Brunei 

The trip to Labuan

Returning to Brunei from Labuan

Boat ride at Kampung Ayer

Boat ride at Kampung Ayer continued...

Tamu Kianggeh from the boat


Indonesia

Boat ride to Pulau Kampai

The boat ride from Tuk-tuk to Prapat

Boat trip to Riau from Johor

Crossing Landak river at Mungguk

The Pompong ride from Tanjung Pinang to Pulau Penyengat

Ferry from Madura to Surabaya


Thailand

Boat ride through the waters of "Kuala Patani"

Taking the ferry to old Singgora

Bringing the car for a ferry ride to old Singgora

Crossing Golok river by ferry from Takbai

Ferry to Thonburi

Getting back to eastern side of Bangkok


Cambodia

Boat ride from Takeo to Phnom Da



Plane trips and airports


Malaysia

Views from the KLIA viewing area 


The sprawling shopping complex that is KLIA 2

Subang airport after more than a decade or so

Inside the airport at Pengkalan Chepa

Flight from Kelantan to Sepang


Aceh

The flight to Aceh...

The journey back home from Aceh and aerial pictures...

Celebrating the Prophet's birthday in Aceh : A sudden unexpected trip...

Passing over Aceh, the land known as the verandah of Mecca

Flight back from Aceh 4th September 2019


Brunei

The flight to Brunei

The flight return from Brunei


Indonesia

Flying from Sepang to Surabaya

Flight to Makassar

Flight to Pontianak

Flight to Padang, Sumatera



Cambodia

Flight to Siem Reap


Sunday, May 10, 2020

Of parks, resorts, sunrise and such

Peace be upon you all. More on the categories of compiled old articles...



OK. This time I am putting two categories in one article - "Parks, Resorts and Such" and "Sunrise and Sunsets". This is because both categories have not so much entries. But it could build up to much in the future. So here it is...



Parks, Resorts and Such



Perlis

The ostrich farm in Perlis


Kedah

The entry point to Kilim Geoforest


Pulau Pinang

Bukit Mertajam recreational forest


Perak












Selangor





The river besides a stall at Hulu Langat

Al-Rasyid and the orchid farm

Ulu Selangor dam information centre

The recreational forest of Sungai Sendat




Federal Territories - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan

The railway museum at Kuala Lumpur old station

The nostalgia that is Stadium Merdeka

Al-Rasyid's field day at the KLCC public wading pool

Going around Muzium Negara, the National Museum

A visit to Stadium Negara, the old national stadium

A visit to Pudu Jail

'Escape' from Pudu Jail

Pudu Jail in perspective from somewhere high

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

First actual visit to the new Istana Negara

New look of the National Science Centre

New attractions at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa

History of Malaysia at Millenium Tower

Putrajaya and its two big mosques

Visiting the Chimney at Tanjung Kubong


Negeri Sembilan

An artfully creative wooden house in Seri Menanti!

Royal museum of Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan revisited

Views from the Permaisuri Resort at Tanjung Tuan

Hutan Lipur (recreational forest of) Pasir Panjang, Negeri Sembilan


Melaka

A visit to the zoo of Melaka...

The floating restaurant at Kuala Linggi 

The watergate sytem of the river Melaka

Kampung Morten at night 


Johor

The southernmost tip of mainland Asia...

Kluang railway coffee 

The spice restaurant near Pagoh

Climbing Bukit Treh with the wife and baby

Monkeying around in Muar

Al-Rasyid and the old Muar railway

A Raya family outing with the monkeys in Tanjung, Muar

The giant trishaw of Muar

A night at Kim Leng

The old police station of Bukit Kepong

Pasar Karat, the "Rusty Market" of Muar

Horseshoe crab farm at Sedili Kecil

New visit to old Johor


Pahang

A visit to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan teaching institute in Kuala Lipis

Kuala Tembeling, the doorway to Taman Negara...

The tea plantations at Cameron Highlands...

The hillside resort called Saufiville

Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary

A private retreat at Bukit Tinggi


Terengganu

Up on Bukit Puteri in Kuala Terengganu

Taman Tamadun Islam (The Islamic civilisation park) of Terengganu...

A quick visit to the Terengganu state museum...

Elephant sanctuary at Sungai Ketiar

The wooden yacht yard at Pulau Duyong

The resort called Terrapuri

The iron ore mines of Bukit Besi

The recreational area called Bumbung Raja


Kelantan

The shopping stop at Bukit Bunga

Tuan Guru Nik Aziz's humble house and Maahad Darul Anwar

The place called Taman Serendah Sekebun Bunga

The Batik cottage industry at village of Tok Panjang

The place called Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga on a fine sunny Friday morning


Singapore

The Singapura Malay 'heritage' that is Kampung Gelam


Indonesia

The National Monument in Jakarta

A look at the University of Hasanuddin, Makassar

Leang Leang prehistoric park

A resort of Bugis and Makassar traditional houses

The resort called Pondok Tingal

Kalbar's drive-in zoo


Brunei

Jerudong Park (or rather, what's left of it)...

One Billionth Barrel Monument


Thailand

Public park near the Grand Palace of Bangkok

75 million years old gastropod fossil beach


Arabia

Shopping for dates at a plantation

The date plantation of Bani Hashim



Sunrise and Sunsets

Sunset in Lumut

Sunset from Pangkor's vantage point

Beting Beras Basah at dusk

The floating restaurant at Kuala Linggi

The beach at Pengkalan Balak

Silat shooting under sunset in front of Pulau Besar

Sunset from Selat Melaka mosque

The immensely wide Johor river - Views from the jetty at Johor Lama...

Catching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Lampuuk..

Malahayati fortress at almost sunset

The sun set off Sabang

Catching sunrise over Borobudur from the peak of Setumbu

Sunset over the bay of Patani

Sunset views of Lake Songkhla

Sunset over Myanmar from Ban Hin Chang

Catching sunrise at Angkor Wat

Sunset from Phnom Krom