Today (25/04/2015) is my second time went to Pulau Aman, I gone there before (28/03/2015) to do a previsit for my IEA 112 (Society and Environment Project). First time i came to Pulau Aman, I felt Pulau Aman a very comfortable island and is a place without annoyance. Everyone living in Pulau Aman is very happy and they don't have stress when they do their work.
Pulau Aman don't have any entertainment facility or nice recreational equipment. For example: shopping mall, cyber cafes, high classes cafeteria, supermarket and also playground. But what i found that the children in Pulau Aman still love their own place. They said they no need other entertainments. What make them felt happy is only to catch fishes in the sea. I really admire they know how to appreciate what they have and they love it.
The only playground in Pulau Aman.
Today (25/04/2015), I go to Pulau Aman again with my beloved coursemate, senior and lecturer. We not going to have a happy holiday at there, but we bear a jobs which is do our research regards with the SEE (social, environment and also economics) in Pulau Aman, or in other word is the look into the potential of Pulau Aman as a sustainability island.
Before we going to take boats into Pulau Aman, Let's us take a "WEFIE" !! Tehee!!
This is my fifth time to take boat, I love the feeling of the strong wind blew to my face~ <3
Pulau Aman also called "Island of Peace''. Pulau Aman is a small island located in the seberang Perai south district. Pulau Aman is a home to a Malay fishing village. It was inhabited in 1817 by the Bugis ethnic group and residents of Kedah, It is currently the only town in Malaysia where the entire popualtion consists of only the Malay ethnic group. It comprises of 2 islands, namely Pulau Aman and Pulau Gedung. The main activities of its inhabitants included fishing and agrotourism.
There are a lot of boats at the port which use to fetch the tourist and to catch the fish.
The only way where the visitors come to Pulau Aman by boats.
TOURISM
There are many interesting places to visit in Pulau Aman such as Telaga emas.
Telaga Emas in Pulau Aman (Golden well)
The history about telaga emas( Golden well) in Pulau Aman.
The history about the golden well is in the year 1789, a villager found a golden crock when he grub for the well, but it just a simple yellow rock after the British check for it. And the work to grub the well is stopped until the depth of 2.5 meter.
Another story about the Golden Well is the it can preserve or keep it low salinity even the sea water flow over into the well during high tide. This make a mystery question among the villager in Pulau Aman.
Economy
The restaurant terapung is the most popular restaurant which attract a large number of tourists from difference places come to have a seafood meals. For example: the tourist is mostly from China, Hong Kong, Western countries and some locals. Besides that, an economy which support whole the Pulau Aman and make the island sustainable is "Fishing". Most of the villagers will sell the seafoods to this restaurant terapung to maintain their daily life after they catch the fishes, crabs, oyster, shell and so on. The most popular seafood in Pulau Aman is the 8-inch of Udang lipan. The big fresh Udang lipan attract many artist from difference country to take a food program in Pulau Aman.
On the way to the Restaurant Terapung in Pulau Aman.
The most popular restaurant terapung in Pulau Aman.
The place the workers sell the seafood and the tourists will buy the seafood at here, some of the tourists will buy the seafood and direct cook the seafood at the restaurant terapung.
I am gonna to have a big meal at here!!!
8-inch of udang lipan. The shrimp is really fresh and big.
RM 80 per kg.
We have to use a scissors to cut the shell of the udang lipan. See, what a delicious seafood i ever eat!!!
The restaurant also sell some mee such as mee udang kuah, mee udang goreng, nasi goreng and other else.
I also have interview the lady boss of this restaurant. There are around 300 of tourists visit their restaurant per day especially during holiday.
The important job in this island is fishing. I met the fishing man which he is busying to arrange his fishing net. However, he is very nice to us when we are asking him for some questions. He told us his net is use to catch the stingray. Sometimes, he can catch the stingray at about 200kg, and he will sell the stingray RM20 per kilogram
The fishing man also found a small sea urchin and let us have a look.
Environment
The environment in Pulau Aman is quite good. There are not many rubbish can be found in their island. The villagers in Pulau Aman will put their rubbish into a black plastic bag and put in front of their house. The relevant authorities will take the rubbish away every week to the bukit Tambun. Besides that, I also have interview a staff from the SK Pulau Aman. The staff tell me that their students will collect the old newspaper and plastic bottles during some season. And they will send the things out to the island for recycle and sell. Hence, the villagers in this island already have the knowledge about 3R. OKAY~ now let's the picture tell us the story:
The villagers in Pulau Aman reuse the plastic bottle to built a bird nest.
They also use the dry coir to plant flowers.
The students in Pulau Aman also educated to use old newspaper to build a school model.
The student also taught to reuse milk boxes to build some creative model.
There are a lot of shells can be found in Pulau Aman. Hence, the students used the shell to puzzled a piece of national flag on the table. This can shows the students in Pulau Aman is very creative and they reduce the amount of shells which can found everywhere in Pulau Aman.
This picture shows there is a lot of shells in Pulau Aman once you step in the island.
The villagers also reuse the barrel to plant some vegetables, herbs or scallion in front of their house.
They also plant some flowers to make their courtyard more beautiful.
The villagers will throw their rubbish into the rubbish bin.
However, the environmental issue i found in this island is the villagers will open burn their rubbish at the seaside. The rubbish they burn included plastic. We found a lot of half melted plastic bottles at the seaside when we clean-up the island.
When we help to clean-up the Pulau Aman
SOCIAL
Pulau Aman consist of only 254 people. 117 people are male while 134 people are female. The island consists of 56 family. Pulau Aman consists of 2 management group. 1st is JKKKP (Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Persekutuan) and the 2nd is JKKKN (Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Negeri).This 2 management manage the island very well and maintain this island as a name of "island of peace".
Organization chart in Pulau Aman.
EDUCATION ( OUR GROUP PROJECT)
The SK Pulau Aman consist of 24 students. But the students is very open and welcome us. We went to this school to complete our project about 3R. Even the students already know the concept about 3R, but our groups member hope to tell the students more about their contribution of 3R to the environment.
SK Pulau Aman .
The moment when i teach the students in Pulau Aman about 3R.
The students are very excited and happy when we asking them some questions about 3R.
The students is drawing for some materials which can be reuse and reduce.
They also colour for the recycle bin with specific colour.
Group photo after teaching the students.
My lovely group member, we have been fight together for 1 & 1/2 month, and today we done our project very well~!
At the end of the Pulau Aman field trip, I found that this island is not purposely for tourist come to enjoy their seafood only. But they can also investigate the history in Pulau Aman and the sustainability of Pulau Aman.
Last, we leave Pulau Aman at around 4pm.
And i will come Pulau Aman again. See you!!
By: Chang Xin Mian
