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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, November 30, 2016

Views from Dusun Nora's observation deck



At the end of the article Views from the house of the owner of Dusun Nora is shown an observation deck situated just besides the main house.




Now let's look at the views from the said deck...














Views from the highest ground in Dusun Nora



 
Next I wanted to check out the views from the highest ground within the compounds of Dusun Nora.



I walked up till I reached this fence.



Then I started taking pictures from my right to the left...





Logically the vista should be more widely open from the highest ground.





But the present of trees limited the views from up here. For the record this is the 1,600th article in this blogspot. Among my 3 personal blogs (I have another one for NGO activities) this is the first to cross that line. My bilingual blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) currently has 1,598 articles, my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU has 1,514.






Views from Dusun Nora's 'thinking stone'



At one part of the higher ground behind the main house lies this big boulder. The owner calls it her 'thinking stone'. This is because the stone was the only available flat and clear ground when she first bought the surrounding land almost 30 years ago.


For the record the land, about 2,3 acres of it lies on a steep hill slope. It used to be a thick tropical jungle.


It was while sitting on the stone that the owner figured the best way to terrace the slope and made it inhabitable...











Views from behind the main house at Dusun Nora



Behind the house are stairs leading to a higher ground.

This is how the main house, the house of the owner of Dusun Nora looks like from up there.


Savouring the views...








As usual I like to take pictures to my right then turning bit by bit anti-clockwise to the left...








Views from the house of the owner of Dusun Nora

In the article A night visit to Colmar Tropicale  made last night I have mentioned about bringing the wife to a friend's private retreat at Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang. Today I want to show some interesting views taken the following day.


Sunday morning 27th November 2016. After spending the night at the friend's place it's time to check out the views. This one is taken from the living room of the friend's house. The place itself has a number of chalets and supporting buildings.



Apart from being a private retreat the chalets can be rented out. Among the buildings inside the place which is called Dusun Nora (which means Nora' orchard), the owner's house is situated the highest.


Overlooking the main mountain range of Banjaran Titiwangsa, it offers some superb views...











And all this I could catch from the verandah of the house...





Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A night visit to Colmar Tropicale

Peace be upon you all. Something from last weekend.


Saturday 26th November 2016 I brought the family to a friend's private retreat the highlands area of Bukit Tinggi in Bentong, Pahang. This is the part of Bukit Tinggi close to Berjaya Hills Resort. Late at night the friend brought us up to the resort.


Berjaya Hills have a number of themed resort area. This one is at Colmar Tropicale.


It was built some 20 years ago to replicate the scenic town of Colmar in France.











Since it was built in tropical Malaysia, this replica of sorts is given the name Colmar Tropicale...











Still, it is situated close to 2,600 feet above sea level.








So the temperature is cool enough to give the impression that one is indeed somewhere in a small scenic town in Europe...