Pulau Ketam, or ‘Crab Island’ as it is called, is a unique island that is completely made of mangrove swamps with a village built on stilts nestled inside it. The island was named after the thousands of tiny crabs that appear on the shores during the low tide. What makes Pulau Ketam fascinating is that a visit here is like a journey back in time, where Chinese traditions, wooden homes and fishing are very much a part of life.
Far away from the modernity of the cities, Pulau Ketam allows visitors a fascinating glimpse of the rustic Chinese village that depend on the sea for fishing and farming. Things here are very much the same as it was century ago, when the first fishermen from China arrived at the shores of Pulau Ketam to begin a new life. Today, the village retains much of its ancient traditions, shown in the clan houses, ornate temples and peaceful personalities of the people.
During this tour, expect to visit a mangrove swamp and observe the amazing wildlife that occur here, from mudskippers and monitor lizards to majestic raptor birds and colourful crabs. After the mangrove swamp, it’s a detour to a fish farm where you get to see how Garoupa, Snapper and Barramundi fish are raised in nets for the aquaculture industry,
Break for lunch in one of the island’s most popular seafood restaurants and enjoy the freshest fish, prawns and crab you’ll ever taste before proceeding for a walkabout around the island. During this walkabout, which will either be on foot or bicycle, you’ll get to see aspects of life around this village, from one of the last traditional boat-builders on the island to an elaborate temple dedicated to seafood and fishermen hard at work drying their catch to a ‘Kongsi’ or Clan House, which was used by the first people on Pulau Ketam’s shores as a home.
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