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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, April 16, 2014

The cave called Loyang Koro



Gua Loyang Koro actually means the cave of Loyang Koro.


In order to get there you must walk down the roadside entrance.











Then one comes across this cave...


But the cave of Loyang Koro lies slightly further ahead.



















Danau Lut Tawar from Gua Loyang Koro



As it is our round trip of the lake is made clockwise starting west towards east and back west. 


Almost closing the loop we arrived at a place called Gua Loyang Koro.


There lies this stall which was closed.





I climbed inside to take the views...











Touching the waters of Danau Lut Tawar



Besides the stall lies a trail going down.





Not satisfied with just the views from above we must go down.





Soon we can touch the cold waters of Danau Lut Tawar.














For the record this is the 1,234th article in this blogspot.


Danau Lut Tawar from a coffee stall



Further ahead we saw this building perched on top a hillside overlooking the lake.


It is a food stall or rather a coffee stall.


Looks like the views are better here.

















So we took some time enjoying the vista while sipping coffee.


The views at Danau Lut Tawar

Continued from Morning trip to Takengon.


After 3 hours of drive plus half hour of pitstop or so we arrived at the town of Takengon. The town itself was not our main destination. It is the vast lake besides it that is the main object of visit.


Both lake and town is situated 4,000 feet above sea level. The town lies on one end while we wanted to make a round trip of the lake.


After 10 minutes or so leaving town we found a vantage point to stop at.


The views from here are superb...


The lake is called Danau Lut Tawar. For the record it is more than 4 km wide and almost 16 km long.







Morning trip to Takengon

Continued from The beach at Kuala Raja.


Soon its time to go to Takengon, the town on top of mountains.


As I passed this bridge the driver said this is the Peusangan river which originated from a vast mountain-top lake besides the town.


The road soon twists and turns as we climbed up the highlands.








There are parts that seemed to be perpetually under repair.


There are small towns apart from refreshing greeneries...

















Wes stopped at a town not far from Takengon for lunch.





I noticed a mighty-looking peak in the background. A check using Google Earth shows it is more than 9,000 feet high from sea level while the town sits at about 6,000 feet lower.