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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, January 07, 2022

A fine enough day at Alor Lempah

 Continuing from A fine day over Perak river in Temong.



Late in the afternoon we arrived at Alor Lempah in Kuala Kubu where lies remains of an old British dam over the Selangor river.








While the day was not as bright as it was when we were in Perak it was good enough for me and kids to confidently take a dip...










A fine day over Perak river in Temong

OK. On to the 8th and final day of the recent East Coast trip.



Saturday 25th December 2021. After spending the night at a surau (praying house) in Temong, Kuala Kangsar me and family visited the tomb of the personality known as Tok Temong. Next I went down this staircase besides the tomb of complex. It leads to a small jetty besides the Perak river.




I have been here like countless times. But the views, feel and surrounding never fail to fascinate...




And so I have made a few articles about it with also almost same views albeit at different times and dates.




This time I would like to record that the level of water was just fine. This is because the last time I came here which was in mid-November 2021 the jetty was flooded up to knee level, a welcomed relief as I know many places in Peninsular Malaysia were still affected by the unusual heavy continuous rains of 17-18th December which caused floods up to roof level in some areas.







Thursday, January 06, 2022

Wooden bridge across Perak river in Lenggong

Continuing from A look at part of Sungai Golok which used to be a regular crossing from Rantau Panjang.



After lunch at Rantau Panjang we continued on to Jeli stopping by only for Friday prayers at a local mosque. The journey then was continued to Gerik where we arrived before 5 then on to Lenggong where we targetted an old mosque for a stop. Google Map directed us to this small road as short cut. As it turned out we have to take a wooden bridge across the Perak...




Now I have been across rivers in wooden bridges but not this long.




As far as I could remember this is the first wooden bridge I've taken across a major river in Peninsular Malaysia and it did felt scary in our small car...








A look at part of Sungai Golok which used to be a regular crossing from Rantau Panjang

Peace be upon you. On to the 7th day of the East Coast trip.



Friday 24th December 2021. We left Kota Bahru heading for the West Coast via Jeli to Gerik route. Around 12.30 pm we arrived at the town of Rantau Panjang. It is situated very near to the Malaysia-Thailand national border.



Forming the natural border is the Golok river...







I remember a time when locals from both sides used to commute across the river for various purposes.




But I learned it has been quite since over the last two years because of the Covid-19 virus problem.




Walls have been erected on the Thai side to control and restrict movements...




Wednesday, January 05, 2022

The sea at Pantai Sabak

Continuing from Around Tok Bali river mouth and beach.



In the afternoon we headed to the city of Kota Bahru by driving to Kemumin then Pulau Gajah. Next we arrived at an area called Pantai Sabak.






Pantai Sabak means the beach of Sabak.







While there is no beach as in sandy beach you can still catch nice views of the sea, the South China Sea...






Around Tok Bali river mouth and beach

 Peace be upon you all. On to day 6th of the recent East Coast trip.



Thursday morning 23rd December 2021. Me and family had spent the night at a chalet in Tok Bali, Kelantan. It is situated near to the mouth of a river. So I went there for a look...









Crossing the wide river is a rather tall bridge.




Turning towards the river mouth...










There, an extended part of the river mouth.  It looks narrow because of the man-made embankment or so constructed to keep out sea waves.




The river mouth is situated near a beach. So there I was looking around...






Monday, January 03, 2022

On to the designated peak of Bukit Keluang

Continuing from Climbing up the hill that is Bukit Keluang.



I continued the climb with the acceptance that I could only get out of the jungle of the hills in the dark.







Sure I could still see some light. But that is at the top clear parts...
























At 7.09 I arrived at what is officially designated as the peak...




There is a pavilion of sorts but I didn't have time to do stop...


















At 7.18 I arrived at what seemed like another summit...






















This picture was taken at 7.21 besides another lower summit. It was only after this tjat the path totally went downhill. This I had to negotiate in almost pitch dark going down steeply with the help of some strategically placed ropes. So I got out of the jungle and on to safety around 8...