The Mask Man of Malaysia | Mah Meri Cultural Village

Having heard of the many tribes in East Malaysia, I tend to find that Peninsular is lack of past and heritage, especially Selangor being the melting pot after Kuala Lumpur. But of late, with the help of UPEN (Unit Perancangan  Ekonomi Negeri Selangor), I have learnt to appreciate the little thing in Selangor that I am proud of now, able to brag share. One of it being Mah Meri Cultural Village; home to the culture and heritage of Mah Meri tribe of Selangor.

Earlier Kembara Kraf Entries

The Lost Craft of Selangor - Tribal Mask Carving and Wooden Ring Making

Kajang Prisoner Dept.'s My Pride Gallery | Kembara Kraf Selangor

Selangor Craft (Kembara Kraf Selangor 2015)

Family altar (panga).

Cleansing ritual (feet washing).

Visited more than a handful of Living Museum or Cultural Village, in within Malaysia or internationally, am excited to visit my very own birth place’s cultural village. Being the ‘jungle people’ of peninsular Malaysia, the Meh Mari was originally known as the Orang Besisi, (also call themselves Ma Betisek, which means, "people with fish scales") is classified under Senoi subgroup. Similar to the aborigines of Sabah and Sarawak, the Mah Meri or Orang Besisi are nomadic seafarer living in small wooden houses in the forest of Selangor with minimal modernity interaction aside from medical and tele-communication aspect. Known as the Mask Man of Malaysia due to their woodcarving skills and leaves origami, they pretty much holds and preserve their heritage and culture tightly. Still practicing anismism, one will notice that most of the unique, authentic and detail wood carving features animistic characters; which is noted, recognized and received UNESCO Seal of Excellence.

At the Mah Meri Cultural Village, one get to visit the museums that showcases the history, some of the famous wood carvings and culture. Located at Pulau Carey, the museum is basically located at their village where visitors get a chance to see them going through their daily routines, getting to work, walking to school or doing a normal house chore. Upon earlier arrangement and request, one can even see their local dance.

I was told that the highlight of the tribe would be their festival whereby I was encouraged to  visit and experience the ritual of their Hari Moyang or Spirit’s Day. Usually observed after the Lunar New Year where villagers in Carey Island would celebrate it in grand manner. Similar to any other festival in Malaysia, food and drinks are served to the guest, while the Tok Batin or Shaman will conduct the ceremony. Spirit’s Day is celebrated to seek blessing for their family members, friends and home. It starts from morning at 3 moyang’s home - Moyang Keteq, Moyang Gadeng dan Moyang Amai. Spirits’ Day attracts travelers from near and far where their famous Jooh and Topeng dance being performed.

Entrance Fee

Walk - In = RM5.00/pax

Walk-in with guide = RM10.00/pax

Full Package = RM85.00/pax

Standard Package = RM60.00/pax

Premium Package = RM120.00-RM150/pax

Student Package = RM50.00/pax

Travel Agent Package = RM60-200/pax

Mah Meri Workshop = RM30/hour

Mah Meri Cultural Village

Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun

42960 Pulau Carey, Kuala Langat

Selangor, Malaysia.

Tel/Fax: 03 2282 3035

Tel: 010 2522 800

Email : mmcvinfo@gmail.co

Kembara Kraf Selangor Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with Tourism Selangor and UPEN with #GayaTravel as media coordinator.

Candy floss homes of Pulau Ketam

I bet you didn't know neh....
For those that have set foot here, I bet you are wondering...
Where?
Got meh?
Sure or not...!?!

Right! The thing is that, you saw it but never took notice. Or perhaps you noticed but never gave it a second thought.

I was walking with Wahidah when we soon realised all the houses on Pulau Ketam are colourful which left us thinking, is it govern by the community there ie insisting that the houses must and should be colourful; as tourist attraction. Or has it been like this all the while and the next generations just follow suit, perhaps there are no colour blind people in Pulau Ketam, being able to see all shares of grey, I mean colours, tones and hues, they decided to paint the town red, I mean rainbow *wink*. I could have sworn My Little Pony And Friends own this quaint little island. Don't you just think so? Hehehheee....

Well, whatever the reason was or is, we simply love it and I set on taking every coloured home I can find. So far I failed to get a purple and orange coloured home respectively. I told also Wahidah that the next round we should stay here for a night, I bet taking a picture and exploring here at night would be more fun.

Any tips on yummeh Halal restaurant on this island, anyone?

Next entry?
It'll be on MOPAD! Ahaks.

Lebah Kelulut = stingless bee - Now I know....

Yup!
I never knew that madu kelulut is called stingless bee.
I never knew this bee I have seen before is called lebah kelulut.
And guess what, you can suck the honey with a straw directly from the bee hive.
Ahhh…. Curious aren’t you?!?

You wouldn’t believe the extend of research I did before arriving to Kampung Alor Limbat’s Madu Kelulut Farm – a Surahanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission) initiative to help, guide and educate the locals for the betterment of their community. What I noticed and learnt from Jom Jelajah Koperasi Media Fam Trip is that the locals (kampung folks) have the resources, skill sets and are success driven but at times are lack in opportunity and guidance. Aside from this, some of their products are of world class standard and have been exported around Asia and beyond. 

Few health benefits that one can obtained from consuming its honey regularly (also mentioned in the Quran - chapter called An-Nahl which means bees by the word of God in verses 68 and 69 means: "And your Lord revealed to the bees: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in the created human. "From the belly of bees came out drink (honey) of many hues, wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is really a sign (the greatness of Lord) for people who reflect. ") :

• Its honey is clear in colour and its taste sweet with a tinge of sourish. The honey comes from the nectar of flowers, it increases one’s metabolism, libido, beauty, strengthen women after childbirth and treating various diseases and injuries.
• It is rich in nutrients and acts as an antioxidants.
• Illness cured through traditional healing methods (reporting by Utusan Malaysia May 20, 2011) is diabetes mellitus (diabetes), stroke, hepatitis (liver) cancer, Hipentensi (Hypertension) and Coral.
• A study carried out by Food Technology Research Center, Mardi show fenilpropanaoik acids, amino acids protocatechuik and 4-hidroksifenilasetik are among the main ingredients that have been recognized in the stingless bee honey. These materials belong to the group of free phenolic acids and its presence in the stingless bee honey gives a total of g / g dry weight.
• Free phenolic acid is the active ingredient yangm300 can act as anti-cancer and antioxidant and is easier to be absorbed in the human body than other active ingredients such as flavonoids.
• Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has also been recorded that honey has the efficacy of medical terms. Laboratory studies were conducted showed the honey is able to lower glucose lever other than that it was able to reduce the damage of kidney function and oxidative stress.

Source HERE.

Aside from learning its benefits, I also found out that these bees are attracted to a certain kind of flowers, popularly known as air mata pengantin (literally translated as brides tear or Antigonon leptopus) of which we see it at some houses – a very common plant.

After asking the bee farm owner, I gather that currently honey fast gaining popularity due to its benefit thus increase in demand but low in supply despite that there are approximately 200 bee farm in Terengganu. This is also where one can drink from the honeycomb via straw (the nectar is converted to honey by the honeybee and stored in the wax honeycomb). 

Coming to Alor Limbat Kampungstay has educated and opened my eyes on the local delicacies and natural produce. SKM not only trained and build a self-sustainable community in amongst the kampung folks, it also developed and grew the rural tourism.

Jom Jelajah Koperasi Terengganu Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with Surahanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (#SKM) with #GayaTravel as media coordinator.