-----------------------

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".


-----------------------


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, June 10, 2011

Dipping at the Inki river

Continued from A brief look at Kalumpang Resort.



While the Kalumpang Resort is quite attractive we decided to walk to another part outside.


Here is the same river passing through the resort albeit more upstream.



It is called Sungai (river of) Inki. These parts might not look as attractive as the ones within the resort which is beautified by landscaping...



But it is free and that is itself an attraction.



The waters here are also deep enough for a good dip and swim. But also shallow enough for safety.



The wife and kids enjoying themselves...



A suspension bridge provides good views of the surroundings.



A view upstream...



A view downstream. The Kalumpang Resort should be 200 metres further down...




A brief look at Kalumpang Resort

Continued from Selangor river near Kuala Kubu.




From Kuala Kubu we headed further north to the much smaller town of Kalumpang and entered its rural part.


Here lies a resort with its own close to nature attractions.



Immediately after passing the entrance I could see an owl. However it did not look too excited perhaps because it was daytime.


If I remember correctly there were iguanas in this cage.



Some of the buildings around.



There is also a swimming pool.



But the real attraction lies after these rocks.



There. There's a river with ravines just deep enough for safe comfortable dip and swim for people of all ages.








Selangor river near Kuala Kubu

Last Saturday I headed north towards the small town of Kuala Kubu Baru and saw this bridge crossing the Selangor river.

Here's a look downriver. Somewhere in the background lies the mouth of the Kubu river, hence the name Kuala (estuary of) Kubu. The area got flooded when a dam burst and a new small town was built on higher ground to be called Kuala Kubu Baru (baru = new, thus new Kuala Kubu).



The Selangor river has its source at the main range of mountains called Banjaran Titiwangsa.




A look upriver towards the mountains. For the record this is the 800th article in this blogspot.



A visit to Stadium Negara, the old national stadium

Time for intermissions again. Come... :]




More than a month ago I brought the wife and baby Al-Rasyid to visit Stadium Merdeka, the independence stadium which was opened in 1957. See The nostalgia that is Stadium Merdeka. Last Thursday I brought them to the stadium again along with our two other kids. Then we visited the nearby Stadium Negara, the national stadium built a few years later.





If Stadium Merdeka is an open stadium, Stadium Negara is a closed one.



Being the first indoor stadium in Malaysia it has been the venue for many international games including badminton tournaments. It has also housed many many concerts.



Now Malaysia has many indoor stadiums and more sophisticated ones too. I really don't know when Stadium Negara was last in use but I understand it still host concerts and meets once in a while.


For me though it is a place of much historical significance.




I'm not sure how many times I've been here before but I know it could be counted with fingers from one hand. What I do remember is watching a rock concert during my A Level study days some 23 years ago.


Here's the wife and kids pretending to play ball.








Then they posed as spectators...




Sunday, June 05, 2011

Masjid Brunei and Danau Tok Uban in the rain...

Continued from Pasir Mas train station.


Next we went to a secluded part of Pasir Mas where lies the mosque called Masjid Brunei.




The mosque offers a very tranquil view of the surroundings.


First let's go inside...




The wife and daughter resting while the boys watched on.




Then we enjoy the views outside.



The mosque faces a large freshwater lake known as Danau Tok Uban. Here are views from the right verandah.







On to the left verandah.











Back inside the mosque for views from the upper level.






You can go outside for a wider vista. A look to the right.



A look across.



A look to the left. Have I told you these pictures were taken during heavy rain? You can make comparison with older pictures in the article At last, the Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban! made 4 years ago and The Brunei mosque at Danau Tok Uban, again... made a year later.



Pasir Mas train station



I also took time to have a look at the Pasir Mas train station.




More than a year ago, while working on a book about train travel in Peninsular Malaysia, I arrived at this station at night, after travelling for hours from the south. Refer to the old article On to Tumpat, the furthest point on the East Coast route.



The following day, after a short stay in Tumpat I passed this station again.




Then it was early morning and daylight was just beginning to break. So I couldn't catch a good look of the station. Refer Kelantan stations early morning.



Here's a look to the right, towards Tumpat in the north-east.



A look left, towards Gua Musang and on to the south-west. For the record this is the 797th posting in this blogspot.