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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.


Saturday, September 24, 2016

Views from a riverside restaurant at Kampung Bangau Tanjung, Temerloh

The final piece in this series. Continuing from Looking for bargain at a woodcraft workshop in Temerloh.


Temerloh is very well-known for its local dish, the ikan patin masak lemak tempoyak, patin fish (I don't what is patin in English) cooked with tempoyak, a sort of relish made from durian. Normally when around here I would drive to Temerloh town to savour the delicacy. But our friend told us it is also available at a restaurant not far from his workshop.


The restaurant is situated within the bounds of his village, Kampung (village of) Bangau Tanjung.


Situated besides the Pahang river it offers interesting views of the surrounding. Enough on the recent East Coast travel ya...

















Looking for bargain at a woodcraft workshop in Temerloh

The time has arrived to close this little series of stories. On to the 7th day of the recent East Coast trip. Continuing from the article Bringing friends to the tomb of Tok Gajah.


Monday 5th September 2016. After spending a night at a friend's place in Kuantan we continued our journey home. But not without taking another detour. This time we made a stop at a workshop in a rural village in Temerloh.



It is a woodcraft workshop operated by a friend which me and wife recently got to know in Kuala Lumpur during the Syawal (Muslim calendar) festive season about 2 months ago.


He is a renowned woodcarver who has represented Malaysia in a number of international competitions. He told us to stop by his workshop if we happen to pass anywhere near Temerloh.


The workshop was submerged during the big flood which ravaged many places in the state of Pahang last year. Many carving were carried by floodwater before getting submerged in thick mud. The pieces are then salvaged and recovered. The owner agreed to give us hefty discount on our chosen items.


Friday, September 23, 2016

Bringing friends to the tomb of Tok Gajah



Out, on the way to the town of Kuala Berang is situated the tomb of Tok Gajah, a famous 19th century Pahang Malay warrior.


Since we're already near we decided to stop and pay a visit.





Like the tomb on top a hill, this one, in fact many tombs have never before been visited by the friends who tagged along with me and family in Terengganu.





Reciting some verses from the Quran for the deceased.


Then we spent some time just hanging around. It happened that there's this pile of sand and gravel. The kids love running up and down jumping on it...


Visiting the tomb of a holy person at remote Kuala Berang

Peace be upon you this Friday morning. Next. The 6th day of the recent East Coast trip. Continuing from Hol (remembrance) ceremony of Tokku Tuan Besar.


Just before noon we left Kuala Terengganu and headed for a remote part of the district of Kuala Berang.





There is a certain tomb we want to visit and to reach it we must do a bit of trekking up the hill.


It's been some time I last stepped here. Luckily I could still recognise some parts of the hill.


And luckily the area containing the tomb has been marked and fenced albeit with sticks and such.


Actually there are three tombs here.











But it is generally attributed to only one holy and saintly person which according to my understanding (others might have different stories) came from the Middle East 1,200 years ago!







Thursday, September 22, 2016

Hol (remembrance) ceremony of Tokku Tuan Besar



At night we went to a mosque called Masjid (mosque of) Tokku Tuan Besar.


This refers to a religious master whose name was Sayyid Muhammad al-Aidrus.





Tokku Tuan Besar was father to Tokku Paloh. Refer to the article Hol (remembrance) ceremony of Tokku Paloh.





He might not be as well-known as Tokku Paloh. But his stature in the history of Terengganu is almost as big if not the same or bigger.








The mosque was full with people due to the Hol (remembrance) ceremony of Tokku Tuan Besar.





The ceremony was held in continuance of the Hol held for Tokku Paloh during daytime...







Recent views from Kuala Terengganu's Bukit Puteri



In the afternoon we went to the famous traditional shopping or market area of Kuala Terengganu known fondly by the locals as Pasar Payang. From the old part of the market one could see some sort of shopping complex which is effectively the new part of Pasar Payang.


The shopping complex stood at the foot of a hill called Bukit Puteri.


There are escalators leading part of the way up to hill. Then you have to take a staircase all the way to the top.


The are a number historical remains on top. The hill was once the seat of  power for a governor under the Sultan of Terengganu.





Tomb of an early 18th century governor known as Sayyid Yasin al-Yahya.


The hill offers interesting views of the city of Kuala Terengganu.














For the record I have been up here many times.








Almost every time when in Kuala Terengganu I make effort to enjoy the views from up here.