Bernam river at Hutan Melintang...

You could say this is the continuation of the article The Perak river from Hujung Rintis... . Or you could also say it continues from Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river .

Whichever way, after having a look at the Perak river from Hujung Rintis, I felt like having a look at the Bernam river from Hutan Melintang in turn...

For I have arrived here the previous night but it was too dark to have a good look at the river.

Still, from the lights coming out of the boats, I could surmise the Bernam river here is rather wide.

So I have to come again just to have a good look at it during daytime, eventhough I barely made it, arriving here again at 7 pm or so...

Thank God, I managed to have a good look despite the sun about to set. And judging from the distance of the mangrove trees, this part of the Bernam river which is still 15 km or so from its estuary is already as wide as the Muar river mouth, the place where I've spent many good hours staring at while growing up!

Here's a look to the left of the jetty...

Here's to the right. By the way, the land across, the land to the south and around is the state of Selangor. That's all...

The Perak river from Hujung Rintis...

OK. Here I just like to share a few pictures taken in the evening of Sunday 19th July, the following day after I went to the parts of Bernam river shown in the article Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river...

This is part of the Perak river near the jetty at a place called Hujung Rintis...

There are regular ferry services to get one from here across the river to a place called Sungai Dulang if I remember correctly, nearer to the small town and district of Bagan Datoh...


I remember this place as more than 2 years ago, I went here for the first time and took a ferry across...



Some 4 km northern-wards of Hujung Rintis, closer to the part of Perak known as Kota Setia there is a river opening up to the Perak river. They say there used to be ferry services from here directly to Bagan Datoh but it is now dysfunctional...

Looking for the Selangor-Perak connection along the Bernam river

You could say this is a continuation of the article with video clips The 'Bermuda Triangle' that is Lubuk Pusing in Sabak Bernam . Actually the clips were taken in a trip last Saturday. Look also at the articles Masjid (mosque of) Marzukiyah, Lubuk Pusing, Sabak Bernam and Makam (tomb of) Sheikh Sayyid Ahmad Marzuki in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) .

After watching remnants of the 'Bermuda Triangle', me and wife went deep inside the surrounding areas to look for the part of Bernam river closest to Lubuk Pusing. I did this because I'm trying to establish how the river could have been connected to the parts at Lubuk Pusing which the stories say later became land.

From Lubuk Pusing, we have to travel some 3km or so before we could find the closest point off the tarred roads as shown here. A villager whose house is close by told us, there is a part of the river where you could find a pedestrian bridge across.

For the record, the Bernam river marks the border between the states of Selangor on its south and Perak to the north. So I was taking this picture from the Selangor side while Perak lies across.

The prospect of walking across the states using a pedestrian bridge across the rather wide Bernam river urged us to find it using this untarred road as pointed out by the villager.


All along you could see the river behind the palm trees. But it seems in this picture you have to take a closer look. Sorry...


We soon arrive at this laterite parts...


To the left we could this hut besides the river. Now, the villager did mention something about a hut. But we couldn't see any bridge around.

So we decided to press on. At this juncture I have to walked out of the car to set aside a thorny bush or something which blocked the path.

We went on for another kilometre or so upriver and still no sign of any pedestrian bridge. The path started veering to the right getting further from the river and looked very unkempt with potholes and such. Something is not right here. So we decided to turn back to the point where there's a hut and walk towards the river.

Ah! Maybe this is what the villager meant by a bridge... a jetty actually. Or is it a bridge with some parts having been submerged over time?

Then when I think of it, it's quite impossible or rather unfeasible to erect a pedestrian bridge all the way over this wide expanse of water. For one it would block traffic of boats and such. Of course one could build a high enough bridge allowing all sorts of boats to pass under. Nut that wouldn't be feasible considering how far these areas are from modern civilisation.

Hmm... maybe we heard the villager wrong. Or maybe he described the matter unclear. What is sure, he did use the word bridge as he said it is used by people to get to the middle of the river. Then again he could have exaggerated the descriptions of this jetty or how far it actually extends across the water...


Anyway since we were already there, might as well enjoy the view. Here's one to the left heading towards the sea which should be some 30km away if directly seen in a map, maybe 50km or even more if navigating through the many curves of the river.


And here is an upstream view to our right. That's all.

The 'Bermuda Triangle' that is Lubuk Pusing in Sabak Bernam

Below are two video clips showing the mysterious small pools at Lubuk Pusing in Sabak Bernam which are said to be the remains of a whirlpool which used to pull down ships and such, much like the famous 'Bermuda Triangle' near the Americas part of Atlantic Ocean. It is said that decades ago, maybe centuries, the land seen here was part of a then much bigger river of Bernam. But somehow these parts have turned to land leaving remnants of the old whirlpool which you can see here. Have a look...

Injustice would destroy mankind

Nice pix huh? Picked from the Net...

Greetings all. Here's another voluntary translated piece I did today, as some sort of 'celebration' for having finally finished the much much harder and time-consuming translation followed by editting of a 500 page A4 book in Malay containing some 150,000 words. As for the subject here, I just followed the order of original Malay articles as available in the website http://www.shiar-islam.com/ . So there, any coincidence is unintended. Cheers! :]

INJUSTICE WOULD DESTROY MANKIND

By Ustaz Syed Hasan Alatas

http://www.shiar-islam.com/

Translation by Radzi Sapiee

Allah said in the Quran:

“How many a community We have annihilated because of their wickedness. They ended up in ruins, stilled wells, and great empty mansions. Did they not roam the earth, then use their minds to understand, and use their ears to hear? Indeed, the real blindness is not the blindness of the eyes, but the blindness of the hearts inside the chests.” (al-Hajj:45-46)

In these verses, Allah s.w.t. reminds us humans how many communities including major kingdoms have been destroyed by Allah because the inhabitants were unjust. Such was their calamity that their houses were ruined, the sources of water, the wells becoming dry. How many proud mansions including palaces went down until what is left are just the foundations. If we don’t believe this then we are asked to walk across the surface of earth and witness ourselves the truth.

Yes, if we were to go far in this world, we would see for ourselves how many kingdoms have been destroyed by Allah. Kingdoms of the Pharaoh, Nimrod, the Romans, Persians and many more are now ruined because of the wickedness done by its people, injustice and oppressions.

The earth is now getting hotter, hot not just because people carelessly intrude into nature destroying flora and fauna, natural habitats of other creatures but also to meet their boundless irresponsible passion, the need to sastisfy their own selfish personal needs. Such is the extent that justice has been set aside. Instead they offer a new definition of ’justice’ defined out of their own whims and fancies to protect their own interests. Thus we have parties that say; we have the right to have advanced weapons especially weapons of mass destruction like the nuclear bomb. And our friends especially those who are ready to support our cause are also allowed to have such weapons and develop it. In fact we will help them in this matter. But whoever are our enemies and not on our side, don’t even think of trying to have these sort of facilities. If your are working on one (even if it’s nuclear power to be used to generate electricity) then close it down fast. Otherwise you will be immediately boycotted.

It would be very good if true justice is really practised in this world. If we really want to save the earth, then every nation, every race without any exception must all destroy these dangerous weapons especially the ones in their own hands. When that is done, then only we could say we are being fair. God willing, the world then would be saved from destruction, and mankind can continue to live in peace and harmony.

A Level room 51C reunion pictures from last year for posterity

Last Thursday, when I was writing the article An A Level ad-hoc reunion at Pelita Jalan Ampang... here, I thought about putting a link to an old article regarding a previous reunion made with collegemates who used to stay in the same room of 51C. However I couldn't find the article and thus couldn't put the link although I'm sure I've made the article last year, just a day after the reunion was made. Perhaps I have accidently deleted it? Maybe...

Today, while going through old pictures in my handphone, I found the 3 pictures of that reunion which I snapped using the phone. I was thinking of making a new article using the pictures when I thought, what heck... let's try searching for that old 'lost' article again at my blogspots.

At first I searched in this blogspot using the search facility available at the top left side, the same way I did on Thursday. Nope... no result. Then I try making the search at my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU . Ah... there it is. I actually made a posting on the old reunion in Malay!

The funny thing is, I did try to search in CATATAN SI MERAH SILU Thurday but still couldn't find it. Maybe Allah wants me to find it today... only after I've made visits to certain places in Selangor and Perak over the weekend? Visits which has more meaning because it was made quite hot on the heels of my Aceh trip just about a month ago?

Whatever, the old article in Malay made in May 2008 is called Reunion bilik 51C "A"Level Batch 7 (tahun 1988)... . Here I would like to share the same pictures for posterity, and in case my old collegemates found me through this English blogspot. Don't mind the fact that it is not that clear for it is the memory which is priceless and never blurred. Cheers! :]

An A Level ad-hoc reunion at Pelita Jalan Ampang...

This is a picture of a little ad-hoc reunion held by my collegemates from the A Level days, at the Pelita restaurant in Jalan Ampang during lunchtime yesterday. It was supposed to be a candid picture took just after I went out of the toilet. They were not supposed to notice this shot. But the coming of the flash from my camera alerted them. So they have time to turn around and smile.

Normally, regardless of the time of the day, little lighting and such I don't use flash. Even when taking pictures in the dark, I'd rather allow whatever little amount of lighting to built up inside the camera screen enough to differentiate the main objects to be taken against the background for a snap. So I always have the camera set with no flash.

However when this picture was taken, I didn't realise that my camera was in automatic mode meaning it would turn on the flash if it considers there is not enough lighting. Yet, this was in stark day-time... there should be more than enough light to make the subject clear enough. Still the flash was turned on and the rest was history.

The picture I intended to take should look like this - minus the people smiling and looking straight at the camera of course as it was supposed to be a candid shot. Anyway, this is how it looks like without flash. But the previous snap with flash has already alerted them to my attempt, so here we are, everybody posing for posterity except one. Hmm...

OK. Let me try to get the names right... or rather their nicknames in college ya. From furthest left going anti-clockwise or to the right is Johan Aris @ John followed by Din which I still remember as Din ... (the three dots refers to a familiar name which is not relevant anymore now. I only made the reference as that was always the way I have remembered Din, sorry ya bro!), Maisharul I think (he was the only one I couldn't put a face to in the gathering. I only knew who he is after looking at the exchange last night in our Yahoo group), Kawi, Iwe (which I remembered the face but only got the name when someone else called him out. Not from our batch but a senior very chummy with some of us). From right going to the left, the only girl in this little reunion was Rafidah Harun @ Fifi (I always remember her as a pleasant person, one who has tolerated my antics very well), Zahid Taib @ Apek (one of my room-mates at 51C), Tajul Aznam (apa ha lu punya nickname? Ada ka?) and finally the only person who decided to maintain a candid composure by staying put, Mumbra (your real name is Khairul ka?). Later came Raja Azlan from Batch 6 if I remember his name correctly. So he's not in the picture.

Unfortunately I didn't have much time to talk to many of them. They came for lunch and have to resume working after a time. While most have arrived by 12.30 pm, I only reached the restaurant sometime after 1.30 pm. What happened was my bike was making noises and it sounded like coming out from the gearbox. So I have to get it fixed first before joining the guys (and gal).

Anyway I feel so grateful to Allah SWT for having seen them yesterday. There are guys which I haven't seen since we left college 20 years ago, so I must admit there's plenty of nostalgic feeling welling inside me as I chomped down my food while listening to their banterings and such. And I am also grateful that a previous meeting with Kawi just a few days earlier after having not met for 20 years or so (I don't think we've bumped in England and after, correct me if I am wrong) led to the discovery on my part that our batch's Yahoo group have been very active in the last few months. That is how I started getting back into contact with them and that is how the lunchtime ad-hoc reunion was made to happen.

While we are still on the subject of reunion, let me put the link to a reunion me and my room-mates at 51C held last year. Here it is... Reunion bilik 51C "A"Level Batch 7 (tahun 1988).... And let me just display again the links to a series of articles written about the A Level days ya.

To Din, regarding our later meeting at Decanters when you asked what happened to me all this while, the last article linked here should succintly explain it all (except for the spiritual part and matters regarding royalty I told you about). Cheers! :]

Remembering the "A" level college days some 20 years ago! Just to get the juices flowing...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. How I got the nickname Fly!

Remembering the "A" Level college days. Damansara Utama where the cool days started!

Remembering the "A" Level college days. Start of the disco fun and girls...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. The disco circuit of those days... and the girls

Remembering the "A" Level college days. My lecture class, group J

Remembering the "A" Level college days. Drama night - Enter Johnderella!

Remembering the "A" Level college days. The radio station at 51C

Remembering the "A" Level college days. My dear sweet Ann...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. The "scandal" with Ann, my dear sweet Ann...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. The 'ghosts' that haunt 51C...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. A 'get along' session with the BTU juniors...

Remembering the "A" Level college days. The seventh and last trial for a rebel... the one that could have changed it all!

The Chamang waterfalls in Bentong, Pahang

Last Sunday, on the way back from Raub to Kuala Lumpur, I felt like making an excursion to Chamang...

The actual intended destination lies 8 km ahead...

One have to take a winding path down (or rather up?) the jungle...


And there, the destination is almost at hand...

But first park the car...

The hint of what's to come is already there...

Nice huh?

Actually, the real attraction could already be seen from the carpark...

Welcome to Chamang waterfalls, one of the more impressive waterfalls I've seen my whole life anywhere. For the record this is my second time here. The last visit was made probably 7 to 8 years ago....

While the waterfalls are very impressive, it is considered off limits to the public. It is very dangerous and has cost a number of lives...

Nevertheless, visitors can enjoy safer areas like this not far away...

Another look at the main waterfalls...

This video should put the places in perspective. For the record this is the 343rd posting here. Cheers! :]

Abolishing terrorism between races...

OK. Let's take a break from the Aceh articles. Here is another translated article from the website http://www.shiar-islam.com . As for the subject, I just followed the order of Malay articles there. So nothing to do with the current world situation ya or is it? I leave it for you readers to judge...

ABOLISHING TERRORISM BETWEEN RACES

By Ustaz Syed Hasan Alatas
http://www.shiar-islam.com/
Translation by Radzi Sapiee

The injustice which is rife in all parts of the world, oppressions among mankind, all undue actions and such have caused terrorism among races to rise. I am always right, you are always wrong... if such an opinion continues to be one’s belief in themselves, then do not hope to end all the terrors plaguing the world.

It is because of unbearable oppressions where countries are invaded, the inhabitants treated like animals, belongings destroyed that terrorism persists. Don’t be perplexed if there are men who dare to blow up themselves. They are bent on destroying themselves as they are too disappointed, looking at how their families were killed, houses blown up or ran down, their fathers, mothers or brothers and sisters mercilessly tortured or killed, the plants they have painfully cultivated over many years razed down. They have no choice because such oppressions keep on continuing. And they could not find a place to solve all this justly. Thus the time have arrived for all nations to cooperate to solve the problems of the oppressed in a just and intelligent way.

The time have come for all the world to work together to solve mankind’s problems based on the loving principles shown by the prophets. Look at the teachings of prophets Moses AS, Jesus AS and Muhammad SAW. Study how they advocated love and caring among the creations, just actions, being tolerant and solving problems of terror by looking at its root cause, who are involved, where are they, how they act and what is the reason behind their actions.

Solving the problems of the community is no mean feat, what more when it involves terrorism. Terrorists exist everywhere in any country but remember, the fight for what is right and just should never be equated with terrorism. The fight for what is right and just like freeing men from oppression and unjust is an honourable fight. Such a fight have been carried out by many freedom fighters at any nations, whether in the east or in the west.

Besides that there exist the real terrorist since the time of Prophet Adam AS. Remember his son Cain who murdered his own younger brother Abel because of jealousy and following his own whims and fancies? The history of Islam itself shows how three caliphs (successors to the Prophet Muhammad SAW in leading the Muslims), Saidina Umar RA., Saidina Uthman RA and Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib KWJ were killed by terrorists. Such is the case with many descendants of Rasulallah SAW, like his granchildren Saidina Hassan who was poisoned to death and Saidina Hussein who was mercilessly killed by power-crazy terrorists.

Therefore in trying to abolish terrorism we must look at the types of terrorists involved, then only we move in integration combining all our means. Act justly and intelligently, God willing we will find the real terrorists and face them together. With such we could at least diminish terrorism if not abolish it all completely.

Terrorists exist everywhere and they also come in the form of wild uncontrolable urges in our own psyches. We must abolish the terrorists inside ourselves before we tackle the ones outside. The prophet SAW has reminded Muslims that the fight against evil passions in ourselves is a big holy war. Thus let us cleanse ourselves from the wild urges which have long taken root and then decorate ourselves with love and caring, being forgiving and acting just to everyone regardless of where they come from. God willing terrorism will be diminished while mankind will be at peace and prosper with the powers of heaven also pleased.

Views around the tomb of Syiah Kuala...

Peace be upon you all. Continued from Views of Aceh from our hotel early morning...

Once we're done with breakfast and such, we went to a certain special place some 15km outside of Banda Aceh city centre. The view inland shows the rows of hills and mountains known as Bukit Barisan...

The view seawards shows an island, Pulau Wei in the background...

Welcome to the Syiah Kuala tomb complex...

This building inside houses the tomb of the celebrated 17th century saintly religious master Sheikh Abdul Rauf...

As he is buried in an area near the sea, also near to the mouth of the Aceh river, he became known as Syiah Kuala (literally, the master who is buried near the estuary)...

I like the open expanse out here. I understand that there used to be other buildings around but all were destroyed by the tsunami of 26th December 2004 which ravaged Aceh.



The view seawards with the newly-built embankment in view...

I was told that the shores used to be a further 500 metres or more out into the sea. But it got washed away during the tsunami and thus this enbankment was built to stop further erosion.

A view of the tomb complex from the embankment. That's all! :]