Mukah } A fast booming fishing town.

Once again, I drove about 200km away to Mukah. It is a coastal town which can be accessed by air, land or water. I choose to drive and my journey took about 2.5 hours. My main purpose of this trip was to visit my close friend's mom, who is sick. Other than that and for sure I would like to patronize the fish market.

Look! A fishing boat is coming. And there will be more coming too. Fishing boat coming back from a fishing trip, where locals and visitors get their seafood supply. I was told the fishermen will arrive at the wharf at around 9am. Later in the afternoon, the market will be empty.

The villagers use these motorboats as main transport to the town opposite the river. Those men sitting on the jetty were waiting for their customers.

Small village and the jetty across the Mukah River view.

As I arrived at the market late, not many fresh fish left for sale. Just a bit shown in the picture here. The market might be small but one cannot deny the freshness of the seafood sale here.

Umai - the local delicacy and signature dish invented by Melanau fishermen. It is a raw fish cooked in shallots, lime juice and chilies. The picture shows the ingredients of the Umai, a must try dish when you visit the town. A box of Umai for takeaway cost RM10. The stall operator will pack it nicely if you say you are travelling home. I got my takeaway fresh and yum.

The pricing.

Spot that green box. It is the cash box. I wonder how many people dare to place the cash box in that way at Sibu Market.

The Sago Factory Chimney, you can find this not far from the fish market. 

Sagu is staple food for Melanau community. In this picture (above), the sago is ready for consumption. Find this at the stalls behind the fish market.

Tebaloi - is a sagu cracker made from sago flour. It is taken as a snack or as serving to the guests with hot coffee or tea. That is yum!

The moment this uncle tends his stall passionately being captured by my camera.

They are making the traditional kuih sepit.

Look at red T's Kakak, she watched television while tending her kuih!

Here come the product, kuih sepit @ love letters in Chinese.


Tai Shan Ting Tua Pek Kong Temple, Mukah aged 136 years at the time of this writing.

The icons of the town - Prawn and Fish, symbolize fishing town.

The picture above is the place where Kaul festival is celebrated annually. In the past, the Melanau community held the festival to appease spirits of the sea, land, forest and farm. Now, it is the celebration of culture and heritage. During the week long festival, the not to miss activity is to play ‘Tibow – a giant traditional swing. Mark your 2016 calendar and feel the joy of celebration of culture, usually on the third week of April.

Before I left the town, my friend said to me, I should stop and take this breathtaking view. I did and did not regret too. Long, long way to go.

There are many more things to do/see  in this tiny town, e.g: the sago processing, the dried seafood processing, the mini Melanau Culture Museum and many more. I will come again and stay overnight to learn the diversity of this town. 

 Till we meet again!