More Than Food: July 2012

Our activity during evening time was digging Lu Meh. Actually "Lu Meh" refer to a type of clams that normally found around beach in my hometown, Tanjung Dawai. It is pronounced in Hokkien. It was 5 minutes driving from my house to beach area. The beach aren't clean or attractive enough compared to those tourism spot place. However, due to the location and fresh seafood, Tanjung Dawai is getting more tourists visiting year by year. Many "Ikan Bakar" restaurant has been established along the bech too.

This is our "Lu Meh Digging Team"!!! We were digging for about one hour plus, starting from 6pm+ to evening time. Haha! This was not my first time digging lu meh, but I believe people at city won't have many chance to do this.

We found two sweetie assistance! LOL. They were actually the children staying in front of our digging place.

The see-sight that we enjoyed in a very short time with our result (part of total showed in picture below)! It is not really productive, but still able to feed five of us. =P

These Lu Meh was soaked in clean seawater overnight in order for cleaning out sand/dirt inside it. From the picture, you can see the Lu Meh looks like "breathing". Cute, isn't it?

These prepared lu meh is then cooked with chopped ginger, soy sauce, oil and other seasoning. Of course, it was prepared by my mum. Yummy~

That's end of our 2 days 2 night trip at Tanjung Dawai, Kedah! The other activities including

1. Sangkar Ikan

2. Maju Ikan exploration

3. Archaeology and Paddy

4. Dig Lu Meh

It was superb hungry once we back from Maju Ikan. We was having our lunch that was prepared by my mum. The meal made of fresh cuttle fish, vegetables and steamed Grouper. Hehe. Mum cooked meal is always simply best!!!

After re-charging, we were going to explore the Lembah Bujang or Bujang Valley. It is located near to Tanjung Dawai and Merbok, where it rich with archaeology site and paddy around that area, probably Malaysia (according to Wikipedia). These archaeologies are mostly related to Hindu-Buddhist religion due to early kingdom influence.

We were going to one of the archaeology site, named as Site 23 Pengkalan Bujang. However, the site is not properly maintained. Inside there are 3 historical monuments with one having information board about the Lembah Bujang.

Bujang valley is the most known archaeologi site for Peninsula Tanah Melayu proto-history researchers. This is because the government that exists in the Bujang Valley in the 5th century and 14th century AD have made its heritage. Until now, over 80 heritage sites by the kingdom was found in the Bujang Valley. The discovered heritage was found accumulated in a vast and strategic region. Area that popular with the archaeological sites can be defined as a complexes in Sungai Mas, Bukit Batu Pahat, Merbok, Bukit Pendiat, Bukit Choras and Percandian Pengkalan Bujang. (translated from Information Boards)

Evidences from The Arabian Voyage of the 8th century to 9 century AD recognized Lembah Bujang (bujang Valley) as Kalah. Among the trading is tin. Kalah lodated as a government that is high in culture and prosperous, which was wintering by the merchants. It was further strengthened by the writings of Abu Dulat Misa'r said that Kalah is a huge government surrounded by walls, gardens, water facilities, markets, and also with a large population.

Work - blacksmith

Eat - Animals without slaughtered, grains, vegetables, bread

Bathe - in the river

Clothes - Firand (silk imported from China)

Social - organised system of justice, treatment and related matters of offenders and fine

(translated from Information Boards)

I have no idea what's the stone functions and history, as there was no tour. However, it is lucky that there are some neglected, but useful "information boards". The archaeology site opens for everyone. If you are interested, you may take a visits there and explore.

On the way back to home, we were passed by many paddy fields. No doubt that we were excited with it.