PART 1

The Recreation Committee of SMD Singapore organised a family day outing to Kukup on 7 May 2006. The employees, family members and some friends gathered at Block 50, Kallang Bahru and the coach left at 8.00am to Kukup via the 2nd Link. After clearing the Singapore and Malaysian immigrations, we had to change to a Malaysian coach for our onward journey.

Our first stop was at Gelang Patah, a small no-longer sleepy town where we had our breakfast. Some people say that the small kueh-teow soup served there is special and delicious.

This is one corner of the coffee shop where we had stopped for breakfast. This man in the picture above was making la-mien (ramen).

After breakfast, we left for Kukup town, 1 hour and 30 minutes journey away. The road leading to Kukup town is a typical Malaysian country road that winds through small villages where villagers spend their time tending to small holdings of fruit trees and an occassional stretches of oil palm trees along the road. The youngsters have probably gone to the cities in search of jobs and leaving behind old folks who are spending their sunset years in their villages.

We were already on the ferry that will take us to the kelongs. We were all from the same group, so if you do not recognise some of the faces, then you will know what you have missed for not joining the trip. The orange packages above our heads are life-jackets, still in its original packing which are turning brown and which probably will never be opened.

Now, you will surly recognise Sabrina (catwalk on the ferry?) plus those people in the background. The benches look pathetic but still serve their purpose.

This is also taken on the ferry immediately after embarkation. We were all ready to start the ferry ride and awaiting for the weather-beaten man to get it going, a job that he has been doing for years.

This is a small part of the kelong. They actually stretches over a very big area, probably this the only livelihood available to the people. When this picture was taken, the ferry stopped and we saw fishermen on sampang removing jelly fishes that were entangled on the nets. Some of them were huge, up to 10" diameter. The jelly-fish bodies were harvested and the remainder thrown back into the sea, food-folder for other sea creatures.

The better looking houses-on-the-sea also serve as accomodation to visitors who want an over-night stay for groups of 6 to 10 people, but not quite suitable for romance unless you book the whole unit.

This was taken on the kelong itself. Walking along the planks doesn't need alot of balancing skills. So you can chat, walk or wave... you won't fall.

From left to right: Siew Koon's friend, Ang Seok Tin, Pang Ah Wah, Anna Lim, Anna's friend, Sentil Kumar, 'Ramo-Ramo'.

Similar shot and watching some demo on the water-spitting fishes.

We invited Joanne from SMD Techtronics to join us. She hopped onto the coach at the Malaysian immigration at the 2nd link.

Dorwin and Sabrina for momento. At the background was another kelong with visitors. You cannot have catwalk on the kelong, high-heels can get caught on the many gaps present. The weather-beaten planks formed a framework and there are nets under each of the sub-section where fishes are reared and harvested. So different sub-section may have different types of fish.

A second honeymoon maybe?

Trying to show off with King-crab, especially with Karim's children around. The king-crab is not for the kitchen but its eggs are sold to restaurants as delicacy. You do not need alot of skills to handle it as it does'nt bite and of course children get impressed.

Whole family on the hammock, luckily never break, otherwise have to pay for one. I would'nt mind having one under the coconut trees for retirement! As with other kelongs, the kelong owner also have on displayed for sales sundry and food items for the visitors to bring home. Most of the items like prawn crackers or cuttle-fishes can be bought from just any other sundry shops or supermarkets any where else on the mainland!

While we watch the people, the people actually spent their time watching us. These are actually residential houses along the coast but on stilts. During low tides, you can see the mud on the ground. Amongst the houses are several temples, indication of strong Toaist tradition among the people living there.

Back from the kelong and having a good lunch

Table #1

Table #2 comprises mainly Muslim employees and family members.

Table #3 with Clara Chua looking straight into the camera.

Some people can be recognised just by their size.

Table #4. Chia still busy with the crabs while the rest of us just relax.

This winds up the morning part of the trip.