Lu Meh (Clams) Foods at Tanjung Dawai

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 

 

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Lunch Foods and Lembah Bujang

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.

We were going for Lu Meh hunting in the evening. Know what is "Lu Meh"? Haha!

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Fresh Seafood from Maju Ikan at Tanjung Dawai

It is lucky that we able to capture this scene when we just back from Sangkar Ikan Tanjung Dawai.

If it is not mistaken, the ship applied trawling, which is a method of fishing involves pulling a fishing net through the bottom/mid water behind one or more boats. According to the owner, the ship managed to caught about 8 tan (8 kilograms!!!) Mackerel fish (Ikan Kembung) that day. Wow! Yet, all the fish are so fresh~~ This mackerel fish will be sold to local markets, suppliers or exported. Handling of seafood from loading to selling are very important as seafood itself is a very perishable foods. Proper handling (temperature, cleanliness and time) can help in preventing food-borne illness and prolong the seafood shelf life. Below are how they handled those fresh fish. 1. The mackerel fish will be unloaded from ship.

2. Mackerel fish will moved into a clean and plastic covered containers.

3. Ice is added for chilling purpose.

4. Mackerel fish are closely packed and covered.

5. To be exported through lorry Once after lunch, we were going to Tanjung Dawai Maju Ikan, the place where fishermen sold their fish to the middleman. Those fishermen are normally will back to Maju Ikan at afternoon, around 1pm to 3pm. So, if you wish to have a look, you must come in between that time. It was crowded. Buyers/middlemen were bidding on fishes. There is a tv to show the bid price. They were superb busy. Similar to above handling, these fishes will be rinsing with water and store in ice water for maintaining the quality and shelf life. We were going to exploring historical museum after this! Stay tuned. =)

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Sangkar and Clam Foods at Tanjung Dawai

Since there was one more week for preparing last semester final exam in my Uni Life, I decided to have some activities in order to relieve stress. Back to home and hunting foods would be a good "Excuses" for this. LOL! My hometown, Tanjung Dawai is a small, peace and lovely town in Kedah, the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located nearby Singkir, Merbok, Yan and etc. Definitely, it is a seafood spot for those who come from nearby town such as Sungai Petani (about 30km). First activity of the day: Sangkar (Fish Cages).

Sangkar Ikan is literally means "fish cage", in fact that a floating wooden platform is built to breed fish in the sea for commercially selling to local markets, restaurants and export. Various species of fish are bred, such as Grouper, Tiger Grouper, Sea Bass (ikan siakap), Snapper and others. Apart of being a feed breeding site, Sangkar is also a novel attraction for tourists. In there, you can feel the sea, see how the fish are bred in natural, fishing and many more. If you wish to go Sangkar, you have to contact local people for fetching you there. =)

While waiting boat to go Sangkar, we managed to capture some photos for the fishing boat, Pantai Merdeka (an island opposite of Tanjung Dawai) and beach around jetty there. It is a green and peacefully blue place recommended for you if you love travel and adventure trip. It took about 5 to 10 minutes riding boat to Sangkar. Once reaching Sangkar, you can hear dog barking from everywhere. No worry, they are nice to good people. Some dogs are very cute too~ =P Activities 1 - Feeding fish

Small, unused small fish are usually used as fish feed. These natural fish feed will be replaced by artificially manufactured fish foods, when there is lack of that. Nevertheless, the bred fish are still "flying in water" fighting for it. Water are spilling out vigorously even though these are "young" fish only. Breeding duration is normally depend on types of fish and desired size.

*Just want to show that this is not the correct way of using hand net (fish net). Don't try at home. LOL! Activities 2 - Seeking for Mussels and Oysters

Mussels and oysters grow easily over the plastic barrels, which is used to support the floating of fish cages. It is abundant and easily found, however, you need to be careful when pulling out the bivalve molluscs (clam) as the "corals" are sharp and it might cut your fingers. Knife is used to open these clams. These oyster and green mussels can be eaten raw, according to the person in charge there. Well, we have tried it. Both were fresh and good enough! Slurrp~

Nutrition of oyster: It is rich in vitamims (vitamin A, folate, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, B12, vitamin C and vitamin D) and minerals (iron, magnesium, calcium and notably zinc). Zinc is required by our body from the diet in a very small amount, for the immune system, hormone production and endocrine system. So, when your energy levels are low or SEX drive is low, then you are recommended to eat oysters. (It increase testosterone and sperm production) Activities 3 - Rest Time and Chatting

While waiting for boat to fetch us, we were enjoying the moment of resting on this traditional fish net cradle. I bet most of people, especially those from city has been long time didn't sleep on cradle. It is soft and safe, proven by us. Haha! Stay tuned. Next post: Fish loading from boat and Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM) is coming soon.

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