Pulau Ketam Escapade

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

Pulau Ketam Escapade

Sun, sea and seafood all part of the package for island trip

IT was a bright sunny Sunday morning. A perfect day for some sun, sea and a hop over to Pulau Ketam.

And that's exactly what 70 residents from SS14 and friends did recently. A half -hour drive towards the pier in Port Klang brought everyone ready for a trip many had never taken before.

Families with children running ahead to board the specially chartered passenger boat were also accompanied by several members of the police from the SS17 police station who were invited to join in the family day outing.

The boat ride which weaved its way by the various ports and mangrove forest arrived about 45 minutes later, not on the island, but on one of the floating fish farms lining the coast of Pulau Ketam.

For many, walking along floating planks to view the different types of fish, from the Giant Grouper, Snapper to the Siakap, being reared there, was like a visit to an aquarium shop but with a difference. Here, the fish reared can be eaten.

After almost an hour of witnessing how the fish are fed, ‘cleaned’ (yes, the fish get a cleaning occasionally to deter disease) and harvested, the visitors then took off to Pulau Ketam, their main destination of the day.

Houses on stilts above the sea greeted us as we approached the island. Upon arrival, the children and adults alike were all eager to explore the village just before lunch.

A half-hour walk around was more than sufficient to see the hustle and bustle around the main ‘city centre’ of the island with people selling dried seafood, seafood omelette and anything one longs for in a typical market.

Seafood restaurants lined the main town centre with plenty of variety for all.

For the Subang Jaya group, the giant grouper was the major attraction of the trip. The 20kg fish is hardly served at restaurants as they are mostly reared for the export market.

Best served steamed, the grouper was absolutely fresh and sweet. With its thick, springy outer skin and equally thick flesh, the fish is an excellent choice for fish connoisseurs.

Crabs, prawns, homemade fishballs and mantis prawns formed the main spread of lunch for the hungry folks.

Interestingly, because the island is relatively ’small’, visitors can take a guided tour around, walking on what are now concrete pathways (it used to be planks) to see the various places of worship and architecture of the some of houses and buildings.

Everyone all contented and well-fed, the group of 70 headed home with fond memories of the trip, especially getting an opportunity to bite into the giant grouper at lunch.

Fishy Fishy is a modern retail fish shop that specialized in handling ‘Fresh Frozen’ Seafood. Fresh Frozen seafood is the alternative to keep the freshness of the seafood for a longer period of time while maintaining the original taste.
All seafood are fresh from the sea, cleaned, scaled and gutted, not add PRESERVATIVES or CHEMICALS to prolong the shelf life. You can cook immediately once defrost!
Fishy Fishy carries a wide range of seafood from Pulau Ketam, Sabah, imported and organically grown fish.

Organised trips to the fish farm in Pulau Ketam for residents groups, companies or other groups can be arranged by Fishy Fishy. For more information call Wendy at 012287 2368.