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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, August 07, 2020

A brief excursion to Gunung Ledang

 Peace be upon you all. Presenting something more recent...

Last Saturday, 1st August 2020 me and family headed towards the mountain called Gunung Ledang from the town of Bukit Gambir.

We had spent the previous nights at my parents place in Muar, Johor. On the way back towards our own home to the north we decided to make a stop at the famous mountain and found this entrance...


Being originally a native of the district of Muar I have been to Gunung Ledang a number of times. But it has been some time since I've set foot anywhere around here. And this was the first time I used this particular route to get to the mountain.


What is interesting is how wide the vistas were around here.


As far as I could remember normally the views around were blocked by rows and rows of palm oil tree.


But this time it seems older palm oil trees have been cleared to make way for replanting...


For comparison look at how the tall old trees could obscure views as we got closer to the foot of the mountain.


Anyway we soon found out this route leads to the National Park here. However it was closed due to the MCO (Movement Control Order) to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus.




Otherwise one could climb up the 1,276-metres tall (from sea level) mountain from here...

 
Actually I took the route as I thought it could connect to another one leading to some waterfalls down the mountain. As it turned out it does not connect. So I had to return to the main road outside and proceed further to the north.


There. Entrance to the route I'm familiar with.



However we could only get to the car park. The rest of the route was closed due to the MCO. So no going to the waterfalls.


Wednesday, August 05, 2020

A quick look up of Bukit Gasing

Continuing from Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley from a condominium in Jalan Klang Lama.


In the afternoon we decided to check the hill called Bukit Gasing.


It's been many many years since we went up the hill. I took the route I remembered from those years.





This particular route leading to a Hindu temple used to be popular to visitors.





From here one could get broad views of the surroundings...















Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley from a condominium in Jalan Klang Lama

Continuing from First visit to the Kanching waterfalls in the MCO period.


That Saturday, 11th July 2020 we spent the night at a niece;s condominium in Jalan Klang Lama. The condo complex has an open garden area at its top floor. It gives wide views of the city of Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.





For clearer views I went up again the following morning, Sunday 12th July...


Starting from eastward I turned bit by bit anti-clockwise and take pictures.


Here you can see the KL city centre towards the horizon.


Zooming in. However view of some iconic buildings are blocked by nearby buildings.





Here you can see the hill called Bukit Gasing which lies within the city of Petaling Jaya.


For the record parts of Jalan Klang Lama lies in KL, part in PJ. Our condo is within KL...





The next few pictures practically look to PJ...









For views of the south I went to the southern part of the open rooftop garden...





What lies ahead should be parts of Bukit Jalil which lies in KL.








Completing a round of views from the condo...








From these parts you could see the iconic twin towers of KLCC and surrounding tall buildings.


A look down north-east towards the PJ side shows parts of the Klang river.



First visit to the Kanching waterfalls in the MCO period

Continuing mood of writing from  First visit to Janda Baik in 2020.


Tuesday 7th July 2020. While waiting for the wife to conclude a certain business at a clinic in Rawang I brought the kids to a rather nearby nature recreational area.





Welcome to the Kanching recreational forest. It is well known for its series of waterfalls.


We were told since the MCO (Movement Control Order) to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus was implented on 18th March this is the second day the forest was reopened to the public.


There were not much visitors then as it was also a weekday.  So get to have some peaceful time with little interference from mankind...