MAIN PANTAI

This is Pantai Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu at sunrise. A long long time ago when I had all my teeth, after the "orang darat" were done mengetang (harvesting) their padi, there would be rows upon rows of attap or kajang huts erected on this stretch of beach. Every year in the 60s, we had this temporary migration of people and families from Bukit Payong, Bukit Bayas, Sungai Ular, Serada, Pasir Panjang and all the other places without access to the beach. They came for the annual festival known locally as Main Pantai. They and their family camped at the beach for 3 ari 3 malang (3 days and 3 nights). Since it wasn't convenient to bring their livestock along, the men had to occassionally return home to check on the kambing (goats), lembu (cows) or keruba (buffaloes).

Besides having fun on the beach and in the surf there were cultural presentations like the rodat, wayang kulit and sometimes even an ulik mayang presentation. The shows were not sponsored by any companies even though unlighted cigarettes were thrown at the mak inang rodat by appreciative members of the audience. Cigarette companies take note: The practice is still prevalent today in villages wherever rodat is performed.

Since cars were not aplenty yet in Kuala Terengganu at this time, the popular mode of transport was the bicycle. Our scout troop (1st KT) made money by running a bicycle park service. We were the only one with metal parking tickets. Our Scout Master, Mr.Gurunathan lovingly made them in the Industrial workshop.

The Main Pantai was also held at other beaches like pantai Mengabang Telipot or maybe pantai Tok Jembal. No cases of khalwat were reported.

If you remember Main Pantai at any of the beaches mentioned (or inadvertently not mentioned), do share the memories here.

Labels: main pantai

CAUGHT WET

News item from today's STAR:

10 couples caught naked daily on Terengganu beaches

KUALA TERENGGANU: As many as 10 couples are caught daily by anti-vice volunteers along the Tok Jembal and Teluk Ketapang beaches, which are increasingly becoming favourite haunts for sexual trysts.

Many of them are said to be students from institutes of higher learning.

A volunteer, who requested anonymity, said most of the couples were caught “doing it” behind coconut trees, rocks, inside cars and even openly on the beaches.

“For non-Muslim couples, we could only advise them on the sensitivity of their action to the locals but Muslims caught will be produced before the Syariah Court,” he said.

He said anti-vice officers would go to places identified as “hot spots” to catch the culprits in the act.

“We listen for sounds of heavy breathing and kissing.

“We then move in and aim our torchlights on the couples. In most cases, they are caught naked.”

The officer said the procedure was to wait awhile before approaching the couples so as to get evidence for prosecution purposes.

“I have daughters and I feel sorry for the parents of these couples,” he said, adding that the youngsters had betrayed the trust of their folk who hoped their children would excel in their education.

The 48-year-old volunteer, who claimed to have caught 1,200 couples on the beaches since signing up as a volunteer in 2004, said he had had enough.

“I cannot take it any longer and am thinking of giving up this work. I have decided that enough is enough after six years as a volunteer,” he said.

Terengganu state executive councillor Rozi Mamat said he had received reports that “dozens of young couples” had been spotted in compromising positions at both the beaches.

“I have received numerous complaints from nearby villagers about immoral behaviour,” he said.

Rozi, newly-appointed as the state Youth and Sports committee chairman, said: “These activities could lead to moral decay among our youths if we keep mum on the matter.”

To address the situation, Rozi plans to suggest to the state government to light up both beaches and intensify patrols at “hot” areas.

This surely would give Terengganu Darul Iman a severe knocking. with the "Darul Iman" part severely dented if not totally caved in like the roof of the stadium.

Couples getting caught in flagrante is not uncommon in Malaysia. In KL years ago, the famous and feared "catcher" was Ustaz Dahlan while his contemporary in Kuala Terengganu was Ustaz Ngoh. What shocked me is the number. 10 in a day? I wonder if the Malaysian Book of Records would record this.

(Sigh). It was not that long when a boy and girl just holding hands would get disapproving glare (cerlong) from all and sundry with a few greheng (meaningful cough) from the older folks.

I wonder if the ICT (ikang celup tepong) stalls along the beach had anything to do with this phenomenon. The udang is an aphrodisiac and could give some people unbearable itches. It could also be the fumes from the planes landing or taking off at the airport just behind the beach. That could induce temporary insanity.

Labels: Darul Iman, khalwat

CONVERSATION AT BATU 6

TV NEWS CRAWL: TERENGGANU TO PROMOTE BATIK IN SPAIN, FRANCE & ITALY
ESTABLISHING SHOT OF BATU 6 MARKET, LATE AFTERNOON
ZOOM IN, TO A KUIH STALL
MOK NOH AN ELDERY WOMAN WITH LOTS OF BANGLES ON HER ARMS AND HEAVY SUBANG BUNG EARRINGS IS SHOWN POINTING TO TEPUNG PELITA AND SEKKUT SAGU
SEMEK, A MUCH YOUNGER WOMAN ENTERS THE FRAME FROM LEFT, APPROACHES THE OLDER WOMAN AND TAPS ON HER SHOULDER
MOK NOH (STARTLED):Cokek kerepek sagu..sagu alah sagu, eh!
SEMEK : Banyok beli kuih ni Mok Noh. Nok bekwah ke?
MOK NOH: Dak eh. Cucu cucu balik!
SEMEK: Ya lah. Le ning tutup sekoloh kang.
MOK NOH: Nok beli tepung pelita jugok ke Mek?
SEMEK: Dak. Nak cari ruti paung.
MOK NOH:Mung ngidang pulok ke Mek?
SEMEK:Dak eh. Semang derumoh tu tak sedap mulut. Nak makang roti paung malang ning.
MOK NOH: Ruti paung beloh nung. Sekali dengang apit-apit. Mari kita gi.
CAMERA FOLLOWS TO TWO AS THEY WALK TO THE RIGHT.
CUT TO TWO SHOT
MOK NOH: Nok tanya sikit Mek...
SEMEK: Tanya banyok pong buleh Mok Noh!
MOK NOH: Mek gi doh ke Perancis?
SEMEK:Gi doh. Singgoh dua tiga malang je.
MOK NOH: Italy?
SEMEK: Italy dak gi lagi...
MOK NOH:Spain?
SEMEK: Spain, dak rajin gi lagi. Dengar cerita saja..Eh, Mok Noh tanya tanya ni, nok gi ke?
CUT TO C/U MOK NOH SMILING BASHFULLY
MOK NOH:Tanya je...
SEMEK: Haaa..Kerajaang pilih Batik Mok Noh masuk rombongan promosi batik lah ni!
MOK NOH:Dak tau lagi Mek..
SEMEK:Ada rezeki, nye pilihlah tu
MOK NOH:Guane gok negeri Peranchis ning?
SEMEK:Negeri dia luah Mok Noh weh. Luah daripada England, luah daripada Malaysia lagi.
MOK NOH: Cucu ambe kata orang Peranchis ni dak pandai main bola. Makanang dia kita buleh makang ke?
SEMEK: Tu kena tengok lah makanang apa. Di Peranchis ada ramai jugok orang Islam jadi adalah makanang halal.
MOK NOH:Italy pulok, orang dia guane?
SEMEK: Dengo kabonya orang-orang muda dia lawo lawo belaka tapi berahi cubit punggung orang!
MOK NOH:La! Tak kena igap Polis ke?
SEMEK: Polis dia pun cubit jugok!
(FADE TO BLACK)

MONKEYING AROUND

I had a few days before my flight back to KL so I joined my eldest daughter and my grandchildren on their holiday in Terengganu. Terengganu was packed with tourists. The roads were jammed with traffic and there were weddings all over the place. I could not get a room in Kuala Terengganu or in Merang. Lesson learnt. Plan ahead. Way way ahead.
There was no sports channel in my mother's house so Adam , my oldest grandson and I requisitoned my cousin's house. It was currently unoccupied and it had all the Astro World Cup channels.

The next day Elida found rooms in a resort in Penarek, about 15 minutes drive from Merang. The rooms were rather cramped but they had decent bathroom with heater. The room has TV with only one channel - RTM TV1.

They also have a resident monkey who is over-friendly. The monkey would jump on anyone that she sees and climb up to the victim's shoulder.


When on the ground, the monkey would have a running battle with another resident, a cat. The monkey would try to get close to the cat but the cat would spit and snarl and swiped the monkey with drawn claws.

Aliya asked me why I didn't let the monkey come close. I told her I could not let the monkey get familiar with me because we have not been properly introduced yet.

Later, the monkey climbed up on Aliya and peed all over my cucu. Aliya stopped liking monkeys.

I could not tell you the monkey's name. We were not introduced.

Labels: Adam, Aisyah, Aliya monkey

HIGHEST NASI DAGANG IN THE WORLD

Nasi Dagang will go far and high beginning this June. Our national airlines, MAS today gave a sample of "The Flavours of Terengganu" as featured in "Kulit Manis: A Taste of Terengganu".

The event was held in the Mock Up hall at the MAS Academy, Kelana Jaya with a replica of a Boeing 747 as the backdrop.

It took a lot of thought and R & D before a selection of dishes were selected. As mentioned by Hayati Dato' Ali. Malaysia Airlines' GM In-Flight Services in her opening speech everything has to be considered since MAS customers come from many parts of the world and from many cultures. The food and the ingredient too will have to withstand the rigours of freezing and re-heating without losing the taste when served in pressurised cabins many thousand feet above the clouds. Thus the Terengganu dishes selected were Daging Masak Gulai Kampong, Gulai Ikan Tongkol (Ikan Aya), Nasi Dagang, Kikan Masak Pudding Lada, Kerutuk Ayam and Nasi Telur. Kerabu Laksa was chosen as an appetiser while the desserts were Hasidah and Lompat Tikam.
Chefs from MAS, led by Chef Razak and the catering partner LGSB hunkered down with To' Puan Rozita and Tengku Zainal Abidin to perfect the quality and taste of each dish. I must say that they succeeded. The nasi dagang changed texture a bit after freezing and re-heating but I am sure work is already underway to rectify the small problem.

Labels: Terengganu dishes on MAS

ANOMALOUS AZAN

Growing up in Terengganu, I got used to the azan (the call to prayer). One of the illustrious bilal (muezzin) was Tok Bilal Said. I have yet to hear a better azan.

Apparently, the bilals in Istanbul did not fare as well as Tok Bilal Said. The people in Istanbul complained and Istanbul acted.

How I wished the Majlis Ugama Islam in all the states in Malaysia have a similar program. I am sure you all have endured anomalous azans lots of times. The first muezzin was Bilal, a former slave. He had a good and strong voice and I am sure he hit the right notes. Today we have a lot of voluntary bilals in suraus all over the country. Some are good. Most are bad. Some got the melody wrong. Even P.Ramlee, our famous singer could not get the melody right. Some shrieked the azan as if they are trying very hard to purge something out of their system. Some are so tuneless that instead of waking us up, they put us back to sleep.

There are good bilals all over the country. My friend Razak told me about a bilal in Taiping who inspired every muslim who heard him to quickly prepare for prayers. Bilals like him are far and few in between so it is time the bilals are given voice training. Discourage or even ban those with tin ears from grabbing the microphone. Do not let them make Bilal or Tok Bilal Said turn in their grave.

Labels: bilal

PULAUKAN PULAU REDANG?

Yesterday I read something about Terengganu that I can blog about.
The Terengganu state government feels that there are too many people visiting Pulau Redang. For the newsreaders out there Redang is pronounced as ray-dung. Remember that you ignoramus.
Somehow, Redang has become famous. 40 years ago, when I first stepped foot on Redang. There was no chalet or resort. I had to do my business in the bush. 10 years ago, when I brought my cucu to the island, there were resorts and chalets all over the place. There is even an airstrip to bring rich tourists to the island. At Kilau's resort (the former Redang Government Rest House) I met a few Chinese from Perak. They were tradesmen and they were not rich. They scrimped and saved to get to the island. They heard about the beauty of the island and they had to come. So how do you discourage people like these?
One way I guess is to promote other islands. In case you forget, there are many more islands in Terengganu. If you want to relax and snorkel, you can do that at Pulau Kapas and Pulau Perhentian too. Honeymooners can choose Pulau Gemia. Serious scuba divers know that the islands for them are Pulau Tenggol and Pulau Lang Tengah. I have been told that even Bidong has some nice diving spots.
Promote these islands and you can ease the strain on Redang. Otherwise some form of control has to be introduced and enforced. This is easier said than done. I think it is more difficult than bringing married couples to the island to reignite their passion and romance.
I shall wait for the detailed plan of action. In the meantime, you are welcome to offer suggestions.

Labels: Redang