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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.


Thursday, October 26, 2017

A niece's wedding reception at Bagan Lalang



The following day, Sunday 15th October we went to another wedding reception at Bagan Lalang about 20 km south-east of Tanjung Sepat.





This time the bride is my wife's niece.











It seems fair that after spending time with my family side at Saturday's wedding reception (see Attending a cousin's wedding reception in Shah Alam) we followed up by spending time with the wife's side on Sunday...










On for views on top of Jugra hill



From Shah Alam we headed to the wife's native village of Tanjung Sepat. On the way we went to Jugra and up its fairly high hill.





It's been years since we went up here.


We often pay visits to Jugra whenever we return to the wife's village but that tends to be at lower parts...


A check with Google Earth shows this part is about 345 feet high from sea level.


It is popular to visitors as it is easily accessible by road vehicles while offering superb wide vistas of the surroundings...

















Google Earth also shows the Jugra hill rises up to above 760 feet above sea level.


Realising there is a clear tarmac road up till the summit, something I only noticed recently when checking satellite feeds via Google Earth I decided to walk up higher...








But time did not permit me to go on far. The wife called saying everyone was tired and needed to get into the car. The key was with me so I had to oblige.


Attending a cousin's wedding reception in Shah Alam

Peace be upon you all. From the mountains of Cameron Highlands as mentioned in the previous article Finally. The main summit of Mount Irau and a few before let us return to level ground.


Two weekends ago, Saturday 14th October me and family went to a hotel in Shah Alam to attend a cousin's wedding reception.




After spending some time in the waiting room for enough family members to join we walked together out towards the reception hall.








Coming from the bride's extended family we went to the side reserved for us.





That's my wife and kids wearing traditional Malay attire...





The atmosphere was surprisingly laid back despite the fact that the reception was conducted at a top hotel...





That's the bride and groom after arriving on stage...





The ceiling reminds me of the alien mothership in the movie Independence Day. :]


Thursday, October 19, 2017

Finally. The main summit of Mount Irau


 
At 3.10 pm we reached another check point called Bonsai 2.



We were told by returning climbers it is only 30 minutes more to reach the summit.





As we meet more people on their way back my friend began to have second thoughts. We have already go way past our budgeted time of 3 hours from the start or trail's entry point and yet the main summit was still not in view. 


He was thinking of turning back especially since our other friend who suffered from diabetes had already turned back. I convinced him to press on. As he is actually 5 years younger and much fitter I told him to go in front and get on with his much faster pace.


Thank God he soon arrived at the summit. The less fit me followed suit at 3.35...





All in all it took us 4 hours and 35 minutes to reach the peak, 50 per cent more than our budgeted time of 3 hours.









The stone of top marking the border between the states of Perak and Pahang...









Pleased at this achievement despite it being unplanned me being unfit and us being unequipped I proceeded to wear a piece of sampin (cloth wrapped at the waist) along with 3 pieces of traditional Malay weaponry for a pix. For the record the headgear known as tanjak was worn all the way for the climb and back.