Its All in the Net!

This fishing village somewhere in Teluk Bahang or Tanjung To'Kong was a common sight  along the coastal fringes of Penang Island. The sandy path would be very warm to you bare feet and the smell of dried fish and saltwater will fill your nose. A cool breeze would blow every now and then to cool you down from the hot sun while the surrounding green will sooth you eyes from the glare of the sun reflected from the sand.   

Fishing nets drying out in the sun  one has only to be able to add to the sense of smell and the feel of the noonday heat to truely appreciate this picture. This was a typical scene from the past of Penang Island as one venture to take a stroll along the beach and fishing villages. 

The Net is the fisherman's  ultimate tool of trade and caring for it is no doubt a challenging chore that only those with great patience and love for the trade is capable of. The net was also a very expensive tool to be owned, I dont know about today since things have gone plastic.

The nets were deployed in many forms and strategy for each fishing situation. Will have to sit and shoot the breeze with my fishermen buddies to dig out more about these. Maintaining the net keeping it in good shape and untangle ready for use takes cooperative effort and each person involved was committed to the task.

larger fishing vasals laying in wait for the rising tide, the nets all set ready to be deployed when the time comes.

Fish like to have condos built for them in the sea as these large stone were used to anchor  the rumah ikan or fish house usually constructed out of a bunch of coconut leaves which float under the water like a huge tree providing shade for the fishes. 

One of the larger fishing boats moored alongside the beach jetty possibly to be unloaded. .