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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.


Wednesday, June 01, 2011

The hill called Bukit Marak

Continued from Revisiting the tomb of Kelantan's Raja Abdullah.



Next we went to the hill called Bukit Marak.




It is said that after Raja Abdullah passed away, the widowed Puteri Saadong then moved to set up residence at this hill.



That's the hill, behind a modern school named after Puteri Saadong.



To get close to it I took this small obscured road...








The road leads to an isolated wooden house at the foot of the hill.



The house is surrounded by big giant boulders. In fact it was built around some.



Leaving the wife and kids at the house I decided to venture closer to the hill.



More giant boulders came into view.




There's also this house, I'm not sure belonging to whom.






Hmm. The climb up the hill is rather steep around here.



While I would like to climb up to the top I was short of time. Besides it was slippery and wet as it was rainy season.








Revisiting the tomb of Kelantan's Raja Abdullah

Continued from The place called Taman Serendah Sekebun Bunga.



Next we went to place called Padang Halban where lies an old tomb.



In the previous article I have mentioned the name Puteri Saadong as the adopted daughter of Chik Siti Wan Kembang.


Well this is the tomb of Raja Abdullah, husband of Puteri Saadong.



This is either my second or third visit here... I think.






What is sure the first time I came here was more than 3 years ago. And this is the first time I brought the kids along.






The place called Taman Serendah Sekebun Bunga

Continued from Tomb of Tok Kenali revisited.



Next we went to a rural area called Kedai Piah and entered a small road.




The small road was full of sand.





It leads to the banks of the Kelantan river. Apparently sand is extracted around here for whatever use, presumably to build houses...


But we're not here to get to the bank. We want to find this path leading to a certain place.


The path was rather muddy. It was then rainy season.


Soon we could see the place we want to go to.



Welcome to Taman Serendah Sekebun Bunga which literally means "lowland garden flower farm". It is said to be the residence and centre of rule for Kelantan's famous olden times female ruler Cik Siti Wan Kembang and her adopted daughter, the princess known as Puteri Saadong.



It might not look like much of a garden now. But who knows what beauty it was like when Cik Siti Wan Kembang ruled the state of Kelantan, said to be around 450 years ago.


This lake is said to be part of the Kelantan river before the flow changes and it was isolated to become a lake.



Going further inside.


Hmm. Looks like a resting place.


Even better there is a gazebo.


There's a part which is fenced.


A signage says beyond is a restricted area, I don't know why...


Behind the gazebo there's path up.


It leads to a sort of land verandah overlooking the lower parts.


The signage says here lies or used to lie the her majesty's palace referring to Cik (also spelt Chik) Siti Wan Kembang.



Tomb of Tok Kenali revisited

Peace be upon you all. After 9 days of hiatus let's continue again with the storytelling on the trip to/in the East Coast end of 2010.


Thursday morning 30th December 2010. After having a nice sleep at a mosque in Kubang Kerian, Kota Bahru we went to this nearby Muslim graveyard.

We want to visit this building.



It is surrounded by plenty of graves...









Entering the building.




Welcome to the tomb of the famous Kelantan religious master and saint Tok Kenali. Having passed away about 80 years ago he used to conduct classes making the state a focal point for Muslim students from all over South-East Asia.




Oh. His tomb is the one marked by the rather round river stones. Next lies the tomb of his wife.



Then there' s the tomb of his family members. Tok Kenali is still a very well-respected name and his family still looked up to. By the way the mosque we slept at is the mosque of Tok Kenali built by his son in an area where the saint used to run his traditional Islamic learning school.



Monday, May 30, 2011

Sungai Perak from Batak Rabit

Yesterday, I went to a cousin's wedding at Batak Rabit, Teluk Intan, the place where my father was born and raised at. As usual, whenever I went there and have time I would stop by at a jetty nearby overlooking the Sungai (river of) Perak...


Here's the jetty in question.


While it is mainly used by fishermen to head for the waters, it is a nice place for anyone to relax at.


A view upriver. The Perak river extends a further 350 km or so inland.



A view across.



A view downriver. The estuary should be about 50 km away following the river's curves and turns.



There. The kids enjoying the atmosphere...