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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, September 08, 2011

A night at Kim Leng

Going for a slightly festive mood. Continued from The jetty at Pulau Penarik.



At night we joined a number of family members going to a cafe called Kim Leng in the southern part of Muar town.


It is a popular cafe best known for its ice cream cocktails and cakes.


That's baby Al-Rasyid at the cakes counter.




My mum and a number of her siblings were also around as they grew up enjoying what Kim Leng has to offer.


However despite the fact that this cafe has been opened for years it is quite new.





The original Kim Leng, the one remembered as I myself grew up decades ago was situated in the middle of town. Never mind that. It seems my family as a whole still enjoy the once in a while foray here. Despite the fact that they are now spread all over Peninsular Malaysia, whenever there's opportunity to converge in our native Muar such as during the raya festive season, this cafe is always on the list for an outing...



Wednesday, September 07, 2011

The jetty at Pulau Penarik

Still on the festive raya season. After all it lasts a month until 30th September or so. However now I'm diverting out of celebration to some sort of exploration... allegedly I guess... :]






Thursday 1 st of September, that is about a week ago, the third day of raya. While many were still in the thick of celebration, on the spur of the moment I brought the wife and baby to a part of Muar which I have never ever been to before.

This part is called Pulau (island of) Penarik, an inland big island formed by the changing course of the Muar river.



Anyway this part of Muar is now officially part of a new district called Ledang formed by dividing Muar district into two... the part to the left towards the upriver stays on as Muar, the opposite part becomes Ledang.



What you see here is a part of Muar river which has become stalled after the river changed its course creating a shortcut leaving a long curve forming a loop. The land between the loop and the shortcut becomes the inland island called Pulau Penarik and this jetty is located near the shortcut which becomes part of the present course of the Muar river.



Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Continuing the family tradition

Continued from Raya family function at grandma's place.




Soon its time for the main course.


The family started to gather at the living room while some prefer to sit outside at the verandah.



Guess what's up?




Karaoke? That's just part of it.




Welcome to our family Muar raya tradition.



On a fixed time and date everyone have to come up with some sort of performance be it a theatrical sketch or a stand up comedy.




Still it is much easier to sing with a karaoke set.



Anyway everybody had a good time and that's what it's all about.














Raya family function at grandma's place

Time for raya (Muslim festive Eid celebration) stories. Come.

The 2nd day of raya 31 st August 2011 which also happened to be the Malaysian independence day. Me, wife and baby headed to a certain place in Kampung Temiang, Muar.



It is a place which has not bee used for years.


Now it is being revived especially for a family tradition.




Welcome to my late grandma's house.


Guests included closest family members only, my mum's siblings and their respective spouses, children, spouses of children and their grandchildren.



While not everybody managed to turn up we have enough to make a fair family function.





There... everybody's enjoying their meal.


And this was just the starter...



Too bad one family had to return to the Klang valley quickly. They barely had enough time for a family photo.


Never mind. It's been a while since most of us stepped foot at this house anyway.





Additions to "Fascination on rivers"









Referring to the East Coast trip of which the stories have been compiled in the article Compilation of the East Coast articles made over the last 4 months made 8 days ago. Among the stories are those that show rivers from a number of angles. This would make a fine addition to the section called "Fascination on rivers" on this blogspot's middle sidebar. Thus I've decided to add 3 more rivers to the list of 30 already present there making a total of 33 rivers.

With that I have to make changes to the map and order of rivers (sungai in Malay). Anyway here is listed the stories or articles on rivers from the concluded East Coast series listed according to numbers in the new map ya, ordered upriver to downriver.


23. Sungai Pahang - The sidebar already has 7 articles. Six more are added.

Pahang river near the Temerloh bridge

Pahang river at Bera

Pahang river somewhere near Kampung Pejing

Pahang river just outside Pekan

Pahang river at Kuala Pahang

Pahang river from Tanjung Agas


24. Sungai Kuantan - Two new articles added to the present only one.

Kuantan river from the town's riverside

The views at Tanjung Lumpur


25. Sungai Kemaman - No addition as I passed these parts at night, so no pictures.


26. Sungai Dungun - Still no article on this one. Had to forgo a visit as had to rush elsewhere.


27. Sungai Marang - A new river added to the list but without articles yet for reason similar to the above.


28. Sungai Terengganu - One article added

Terengganu river from Kampung Pulau Manis


29. Sungai Besut - One addition

Besut river near Jerteh


30. Sungai Tok Bali - Two additions.

Morning walk at Tok Bali river estuary

The kids' turn to enjoy the embankment at Tok Bali


31. Sungai Pengkalan Datu - A new river added to the list with 3 articles.


Sungai Pengkalan Datu from Pulau Melaka

Sungai Pengkalan Datu about 2 km downriver from Pulau Melaka

A look at Sungai Pengkalan Datu


32. Sungai Kelantan - Additions made to include Sungai Galas which is actually the upriver part of Sungai Kelantan along with Sungai Pergau which flows into Sungai Galas and Sungai Balah which flows into Sungai Pergau.

The river Galas at Gua Madu

Sungai (river of) Galas from the Jelawang to Dabong town bridge

Bridge over Sungai Pergau

Bridge over Sungai Balah

A quick look of the Kelantan river from the Kota Bahru bridge

The Kelantan river near the royal jetty at Kota Bahru

Kelantan river at the Kampung Laut jetty

Kelantan river from the Kedai Buluh food court

Kelantan river from Kok Majid

Going around the Kelantan river delta

Revisiting Kuala Besar

The sand hill and peninsular at Kelantan river mouth


33. Sungai Golok - Another new river added ready with 6 articles.

Sungai Golok at Rantau Panjang town centre

Sungai Golok at 'Point 5'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 4'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 3'

Sungai Golok at 'Point 2'

Sungai (river of) Golok at Pengkalan Kubor