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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.


Friday, April 22, 2011

A quick look at the small town of Jeli

Continued from Bridge over Sungai Pergau.


Soon we arrived at the small town of Jeli.



The town is situated about 10 km from the bridge over Sungai Pergau.




Frankly I found there is not much to look at in Jeli. But being the closest Kelantan town to the state of Perak it has a significant position in geography...




Whatever, I always like to snap pictures for posterity and what is available here should give a fair view of the small town.






Bridge over Sungai Pergau

Continued from Bridge over Sungai Balah.



About 23 km further up the road towards Jeli is the bridge of Sungai (river of) Pergau.


It is another substantial river and so I parked the car at the middle of bridge to take pictures (luckily the road is not busy)...


A look upriver. For the record the river originated somewhere along the northern parts of the main mountain range called Banjaran Titiwangsa before passing near the town of Jeli and on to here...




A look to the left.



A look downriver. It flows towards the south where the river called Sungai Balah flows into it (not so far from the bridge in the previous article). Then Sungai Pergau flows into the river called Sungai Galas just opposite the small small town of Dabong. And as mentioned in the article Sungai (river of) Galas from the Jelawang to Dabong town bridge, the river Galas in turn forms the river of Kelantan.




Another look upriver. Again, thank God for giving me an understanding and patient wife along with a lovely baby boy that seems to understand his father's passion for suddenly stopping in the middle of nowhere taking pictures. :]

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Bridge over Sungai Balah

Continued from The waters at Lata Kertas.


From Lata Kertas we headed back to Jelawang. Then we started our journey to Jeli 46 km further up north and saw this bridge. As it crosses a substantially large river I decided to take pictures.



This is the river called Sungai Balah. Here's a look upriver.



As usual the wife and baby had to wait in the car. I really must thank my wife for the patience...

I crossed the road to look at the other side.




Downriver view of Sungai Balah.



And a look to the left.





A look again upriver, this time with the car in view.

The waters at Lata Kertas




From the foot of Gunung or Mount Stong we headed by some 15 km towards Gua Musang to check out another waterfall (or rather, waterfalls).




This one is close to an orchard owned by a friend. So she wanted us to visit it before heading for the falls.




The main waterfall is just a short distance inland.







Oh. This waterfall and the smaller one seen in the second picture of this article is part the system of waterfalls simply called Lata Kertas.



Here is a bridge crossing the river which makes up these waterfalls.





A look downriver shows some ravines.





A look upriver and you can see the waterfalls...






And here's the wife and baby with friends enjoying the waters.



The Jelawang waterfall at Gunung (mount) Stong from many angles

Continued from The cave called Gua Ikan.




From Gua Ikan we headed back to Jelawang. By the time we crossed the bridge over the river Galas the fog which has obscured much of the area has subsided allowing us to see the mountains behind. Look closely to the left, you should be able to see a giant waterfall on the side of a mountain.




Further down the road I snapped another picture of the mountains. The waterfall should be clear enough...




Another picture taken further down the road. If you can't see where the waterfall is perhaps and appointment with an eye specialist is in order...




Close to Jelawang it is very obvious.




Zooming in. Every local know the waterfall which is called the Jelawang waterfall of Gunung (mount) Stong. It is a sight they savour every second of the day... if it's not foggy that is.




This is a view from the Gua Musang junction.




Zooming in again. This waterfall has been touted as the tallest in South East Asia. I've checked with Google Earth and found its top part to be almost 1,600 feet above sea level!




Just a short distance from the junction is the entry road towards the fall.




We took it. Here's the view from the highest part of the road.





Getting closer...




There's a resort at the foot of Gunung Stong, the mountain where lies the route up to the waterfall.




This is one of the pools formed from the waters down the waterfall.





From here it takes at least half and hour to climb up. Not only it is tiring, we haven't got the time. So here's a last look before we head somewhere else.





The cave called Gua Ikan

Continued from Going around the small town of Dabong.



From Dabong we headed towards Kuala Krai to get to a recreational area called Gua Ikan.






Here I could see at least two limestone hills.


Heading towards the main one, that is to the left.





Some information on Gua Ikan.



Seems like there's a cave below.


I sure could see one or two openings indicating the existence of caves above.


However the words Gua Ikan which literally means the fish cave refers to the one below.



Perhaps because there is a stream running through...


A look towards outside.



Time to cross the stream to get to the other side.







Venturing further, it soon got pitch dark if not for an opening ahead.








Snapping this picture with flash I could see the stream continues out of the opening.