The Gateway to Tioman – Mersing [Part 2/2]



Though the village is less populated now, there are still plenty of coconut trees around, standing tall and swaying in the sea breeze. Deeply rooted in the same ground generation after generation, if only coconut trees could speak, they would have plenty of stories to share with us.

This leap is for Bridge! LOL!! Now I know I can’t leap as high as Bridge! *salute*!

This wooden house was once used to make bean curds (豆腐). Bean curd is made by coagulating soy milk,  the production is similar to that of cheese from milk. It’s an exhaustive process and no one in the family is interested to carry on this business anymore. So gone were the days when we used to get fresh soy milk and bean curds that were once produced in this isolated house.

It’s kinda funny to see this old teddy bear “sunbathing” in the sun. I thought this bear could fit nicely into the country photo!

Mersing is a popular gateway to several beautiful islands near the east coast of Malaysia. Fishing is not only a favourite past time among the residents but a thriving business to the fishing-related industries. Try the local freshly made keropok (prawn/fish crackers).

You will see many Malay stalls selling one of the local favourite snacks – keropok lekor. We went to this shop located at the seaside selling raw prawn and fish crackers. These keropok lekor are sold raw too. They are prepared by deep frying and then, slice them into small pieces. Dip these yummy keropok lekor into chilli for a spicy flavour!

The keropok (fish/prawn crackers) are put in the sun to dry thoroughly before storage.

Who can resist a sumptuous mouth-watering seafood treat? One condition: a one-and-half-hour drive to Pahang (another state)! Frankly speaking, we didn’t know it was that far!

Eye candies for you… and I know you are drooling now… or did I hear someone’s stomach growling?

This is Vivi restaurant and its surrounding. The nearby pond contains freshwater fishes (I think :P )

Guess what? When we were talking about tigers and wild elephants living in the deep forest of Pahang, we saw two trucks containing two big elephants hogging the narrow road in front of us! These trucks were also overtaking pillion riders dangerously. OMG, you can imagine what would happen if these humongous mammals break loose!

It was evening, time to go in case we got to spend long waiting time at the Malaysia-Singapore customs. This little plant isn’t any ordinary plant; it definitely has the strong determination to survive, while forcing its way out of the concrete road that was once covered with sand only. However, this greenie looks abit sad when we were leaving. Let me cheer you up littlun! See you again! =D

Sunshine after the rain, with rainbow connection… bidding farewell to us all.

Now back to Singapore, facing the reality at the causeway jam!

Read Mersing [Part 1/2]


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17 Comments

  • Bridge said on July 24, 2008, 4:28 pm (Permalink)

    Finally, I am the first one to leave comment here (^_^)

    First of all. I like the way you jumped. IT is very, very CUTE!!! and you look so pretty too with your new haircut and hair color.

    I also had my hair colored (burgundy) but only visible under the immaculate sun. In the shade, its dark, like nothing happens.

    Also, I want the Big QQ Shrimp… Thought it’s spicy… Isn’t it? I will copy your picture and post it on mine, comparing your jump from my jump.

     
  • Satheesh kumar KC said on July 24, 2008, 7:28 pm (Permalink)

    Heyy.. Have given u an award in Bridge’s latest post.. Go see it in her comments :)

     
  • Jasper Jugan said on July 24, 2008, 10:15 pm (Permalink)

    prawn crackers? are these the ones you still need to fry or are they ready to eat? the food made me droool!!!

     
  • eunice said on July 25, 2008, 1:37 am (Permalink)

    @Bridge: I have made even cuter jumps today for my future posts about Singapore (as requested by you-know-who!!) LOL!! And u can set aside one postcard for me heheh

    Oh, my dye is quite bright, but I don’t think I want to dye my hair anymore after I heard this feedback from a Dr who told his patient that he saw many colorful residues underneath her skull while he was operating her head. Yucks!!
    :surprise:

    @KC: Sob sob, thanks! Finally I got some blog awards… sob sob
    :cry:

    @Jasper: Yes, those prawn crackers are for frying, they are raw but dried. The food was fresh and nice! Especially the fish, it was really fresh. I thought I just gave you a tissue paper?
    :question:

     
  • leafless said on July 25, 2008, 2:03 am (Permalink)

    I just love coconut trees.

     
  • Bridge said on July 25, 2008, 5:51 am (Permalink)

    I will announce the winner sooon… Go post your photo right away so I can tell my audience you won the game =)

     
  • stone said on July 25, 2008, 7:25 am (Permalink)

    What is this coconut trees , So small tree trunks.

     
  • lz said on July 25, 2008, 10:28 am (Permalink)

    Wow~ the keropok lekor looks really inviting!! (ignore the colour)
    Ah Tio the man is not worth visiting but Mersing looks good ler..can see trucks bringing elephants too!! XD U r so so lucky!!

     
  • eunice said on July 25, 2008, 1:27 pm (Permalink)

    @Leafless: I love coconut drinks, but it’s getting expensive to buy one fresh coconut in Singapore..
    :(

    @Bridge: I’ve sent u 2 links at ur comment box! I sure win the highest jump! :o utfly1:

    @Stone: Yes! These are coconut trees, they are very tall and slender.

    @Lz: Tell u… my auntie called these Keropok Lekor “Gao Sai”. We will always say, let’s go buy some “Gao Sai”, or want to eat “Gao Sai” ?
    :ha:

    Mersing is a stopover lar, nothing much one :P Shhh… OMG, Ah Tio will find me, now Ah Sing will come after me too! Jia lat
    :iamdead:

     
  • Chuck said on July 26, 2008, 3:14 am (Permalink)

    That first picture of the tall coconut trees reminds me of Gilligan’s Island, for some reason.

    The picture of you leaping in the air on the roadside is absolutely beautiful. You are the very image, in that picture, of someone who enjoys being alive. It expresses “joie de vivre” as the French say, “the joy of living.” Great picture!

     
  • eunice said on July 26, 2008, 3:27 am (Permalink)

    @Chuck: Wow! I just learnt something cool today – joie de vivre! Thanks for that! :D Btw, where is Gilligan’s island?

     
  • Chuck said on July 26, 2008, 7:35 am (Permalink)

    Gilligan’s Island? Well, actually . . . it doesn’t exist. It was a fictitious island in an American sitcom from the 60’s. According to Wikipedia:

    “The two-man crew of the charter boat S.S. Minnow and five passengers on a “three hour tour” run into a tropical storm and are shipwrecked on an uncharted, uninhabited island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. (The episode “The Pigeon” places the island approximately 300 miles (480 km) southeast of Hawaii, while “X Marks the Spot” gives a location near 140° longitude, 10° latitude, which puts it about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) to the southeast.)”

    I just remember there being lots of coconut trees on the island. They used a picture of Sandy Cay, Bahamas, to represent Gilligan’s Island on the show:

    http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm272/topliner08/sandycay3.jpg

     
  • Sze Ping said on July 26, 2008, 11:51 am (Permalink)

    Indeed, a back to nature trip.

     
  • Ellisa said on July 28, 2008, 4:08 pm (Permalink)

    Hi Eunice, I just read your post about Mersing!
    So your mother and most of your relatives comes from Mersing??
    And and and… can you speak Melayu language?

    Wah, I really want to see a rainbow with my own eyes but never really get a chance T.T

    Those are beautiful pictures =)

     
  • eunice said on July 29, 2008, 3:22 am (Permalink)

    @Chuck: Wow! Seems like a very beautiful island.

    @Sze Ping: Yeah, it’s a rest n relax place for city people like us!

    @Ellisa: No no, we are all Singaporeans. Many also thought we are Malaysians. It happens that when Singapore was part of Malaysia, my mum and her family stayed in Mersing for many years. Now there are still some staying there. I have been living in Singapore throughout my life… Melayu? Hmm… not really hehe..sata, dua, tiga? =P Selamat Datang =P

     
  • Wealth Journey said on August 5, 2008, 12:53 am (Permalink)

    wow… the keropop lekok caught my eyes…
    it reminds me of something i will never want to eat…

     
  • eunice said on August 5, 2008, 12:44 pm (Permalink)

    @Wealth Journey: Hahahah! You r right! Guess what, we call them “Gao Sai” XP
    But tasty u know XD

     

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