It’s been one whirlwind week since we have arrived in Malaysia and set up camp for the next two years. We have just found a wonderful little home in the seaside town of Mersing in the state of Johor. It is a boat ride away from Tioman Island and a few hours drive from Singapore. Between training and house hunting we haven’t had time to pull out the Nikon, so all of these are cellphone images.
Here we give you a little insight into our new home and life by the sea in Malaysia…
And here it is, our charming little town with the Mersing Masjid (Mosque) up on the hill.
By day, the town centre is busy with Malay, Indian and Chinese residents who call this home.
Indians and Chinese each have their own languages and religion, but in our state of Johor, it is predominantly Malay and therefore Muslim. Here a prayer mat is provided in a local hotel.
Having visited Malaysia before, I have admired the old architecture for ages. This building is in Seremban.
Legumes, garlic and spices are sold at a Chinese trader’s store.
As monsoon season draws to a close, the ocean will soon change from a tumultuous brown to blue.
When the ocean once again turns turquoise, beach goers frequent this beach of Air Papan ( water wood).
Even more beautiful that the ocean, are the green rice paddies slowly turning yellow to indicate their readiness for harvest.
We fell in love with this Balinese haven created by a local man who calls this area home.
Far from the bustle of the big cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru is where you’ll find palm trees, geese in the garden and rice fields.
Not a bad dining area at all.
We discover another oasis in a pond of lilly pads.
As the sun begins its descent the most wonderful things occur on the beach. Horses pull people in carriages along the sand.
Some locals visit the outdoor gym beside the ocean,
whilst others relax before the call to prayer sounds.
A walk along the jetty points the way to the tropical islands nearby
and reveals all kinds of forgotten treasures washed up onshore.
When it comes to food, Malaysia produces some of my favourites: Indian and Malay cuisine.
In particular, briyani, curry, rhotis, naan and tandoori are all impossible to say no to.
Another goodie is the traditional sweet Malay tea known as Tarik, meaning ‘pulled’ as the tea is pulled through a filter.
Luckily for us, meals around town are really cheap ranging from 5 ringgits up and one cafe even provides entertainment in the form of an outdoor cinema.
One of the many things I love about this town are the sunsets from the jetty.
What are some of your highlights in Malaysia?
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