A sunny but overcast day in the paddyfields of Merkang on a Saturday morning, an optimistic prelude to the coming few days, picture as composed and made by Aisya. Surprisingly it hasn't been wet at all since our arrival back home Friday.
A scene (Saturday) that could only be found in the East Coast states if not predominantly in Kelantan and maybe to a lesser extend Terengganu, men in sarongs in town in broad daylight.
Two boys walked into a Marrybrown restaurant intending to have a swell lunch for two. After going over the extensive menu, they realised that the $10 they had between them would not afford them the actual treat they had in mind. Walked in a gentleman who must have heard the discussions at the counter, and having fully underrstood the boys' predicament quietly passed over a $10 note for them to splurge on lunch. With big broad smiles the boys carried back two one piece chicken meal each and a large bowl of porridge and sat happily enjoying their lunch. They had enough change to stop by after lunch for a finale of 7-eleven slurpees! Splendid turn of events for the boys!
An early morning outing into the paddyfields requires a hearty breakfast, Ali and Aisya making an order for roti telor, their staple back in Miri. Their cousin, Afif at the next stall is procuring nasi ber-lauk, rice and creamy fish curry, a Kelantanese staple. Someone forgot to bring sweet tea.
An elderly gentleman checking out his pukat left overnite at the same canal we were fishing at. He went back with a good haul of lampam jawa, we fished all morning with worms and all we got was several "almost" and no catch, not even a pesky puyu.
Afif and Ali trying their luck with a pesky little puyu that kept making splashes and only nibbled at the bait. It swum off sinking the floats several times but not even one hook-up.
Aisya and Irfan at their end of the canal. Aisya, Irfan and Afif truly dig this fisherman's will, hours of holding a rod waiting patiently for a nibble and they would go anywhere for an opportunity to land the big one. Ali on the other hand will persevere at most for half an hour ... no bite, lets go home kinda attitude, casting is more of his style of fishing. He was so proud of the fact that he's the first boy to get multiple successful hook-ups using plastics at Bukit Kluang couple of years back ... don't think he'll ever forget that trip.
The paddyfields of Kampong Merkang, a beautiful peaceful spot with plenty of birds around. Plenty of Cattle Egrets, Pond Heron, Scaly-breasted Munia, Harriers, Black-winged Kite, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Oriole, Drongo, Bee-eater among others. How much land does a man need? These would do!
The scope ready for action in case of another recurrence of last June's sigthing of a most unlikely rarity!
Stunning vistas of the nearby hills from the paddyfields.
A juvvy monitor lizard on the rocks.
Harrier soaring above the paddyfields searching for prey. Other raptors commonly seen are Black-winged Kite.
Scaly-breasted Munia (Pipit pinang) were abundant flying together in groups of 30-40 birds.
Tomorrow, we are taking the bus to Kuala Besut and walk back to Dalam Rhu Beach along the coconut lined fishing villages of the coast. Lets see how we do tomorrow ... maybe we'll see a few neneks making keropok the old fashion way along our walking routes.
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