BERPETUALANG KE ACEH: 2013-03-24

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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, March 29, 2013

Bringing the kids to Cameron Highland

Continued from Bringing some friends to the Brunei mosque - My 7th visit here?. This should be the last article on the same subject, that is places visited within the framework of organising an event called HIKMAH IV in Kandis, Bachok, Kelantan.

After the Brunei mosque we rushed to Jeli to get to Dabong then Gua Musang. From there we climbed up the mountain road on to Cameron Highlands and spent the night at Tanah Rata. The following day, Monday 18th March 2013 we started going downhill towards Tapah. That's when we stopped by the Highland's famous roadside tea plantation.

A family pix.

On to the lower station...

The last time I brought the wife here September 2009 she was 8-months pregnant with our boy Muhammad Al-Aminul Rasyid. It was the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan then, so we could not partake of any delight.

Last September I made a solo big bike trip from Pahang to Perak and made a stop here, also in the fasting month. By then Rasyid already have a 7-month old baby brother by the name of Muhammad Alauddin Johan. Inside my heart I made a wish. Next time I would bring the wife and kids...

Now Rasyid is 3 and half years old and Johan a year and a month. At the end of 2010 we brought Rasyid pass the northern tip of Cameron Highlands on the way from Ipoh to Gua Musang but didn't enter the officially known area of the Highlands.

Thus this is the first time we brought the kids to Cameron Highlands. And it was not during fasting month so we can sample some goodies...

Baby Johan enjoying a rather expensive dark chocolate bar he chose himself. Wonder where he got the taste...

Time to look at the views...

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Bringing some friends to the Brunei mosque - My 7th visit here?

Continued from The beach of Kandis, Bachok.

And so the event in Kandis, an event called HIKMAH IV was held successfully on Saturday 16th March 2013. The following day me and wife decided to show some friends the beautiful building called the Brunei mosque in the district of Pasir Mas.

It is situated besides the also picturesque lake called Danau Tok Uban.

I'm not sure how many times I've been here. Let me just put some links of previous articles made on it...

At last, the Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban! (first visit in 2007)

The Brunei mosque at Danau Tok Uban, again... (2008)

Masjid Brunei and Danau Tok Uban in the rain... (2011)

Danau Tok Uban from the Brunei mosque on a fine Friday afternoon (Mar 2012)

The Brunei Mosque at Danau Tok Uban by bike (Sept 2012)

OK. Now I remember arriving once at night here sometime end of 2008. Unlike the other trips which was made during the day, that one was mentioned in passing in my Malaymblogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU. Look at the article Projek buku masjid - Lagi, Danau Tok Uban dan Masjid Brunei Darussalam.

So it looks like I have been here 6 times before.

If so, this my 7th time here, bringing along a number of 1st timers...

The beach of Kandis, Bachok

From the rural parts of Kuantan in the state of Pahang we 'jump' to Kandis, Bachok in the state of Kelantan. Continuing the story (sort of) from Kuantan river from the Kuantan-Sungai Lembing bridge.

Friday morning 15th March 2013, I walked towards the beach in Kandis.

The beach is situated just about 300 metres or so from a place called Akademi Nik Rashiddin (ANR).

That is the place where I was to hold an event on 16th March. Seen in this picture is parts of another place called Villa Danialla Resort.

For the record. the previous articles made in this blogspot including Kuantan river from the Kuantan-Sungai Lembing bridge are that of places visited after I went to ANR 2 weeks earlier to make arrangements.