Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Pulau Pinang, 21 April 2014

Day 4, 21 April 2014

Another stop was Pulau Aman where Koperasi Sri Aman Pulau Aman Bhd caters to the needs of only 300 villagers. The funny part is it is considered the mainland, although the only access to this small island is via a ferry at the Jetty Batu Musang. The return ferry ticket is RM 6.00 per adult and RM 4.00 per child. One way ferry ticket is RM 4.00. The schedule from Pulau Aman is 8.00am, 10.00am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm. 4.00pm and 6.00pm whereas from Batu Musang is 9.00am, 11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm. 5.00pm and 7.00pm.

Jetty Batu Musang

Floating restaurant. Pulau Aman is famous for its prawn mee.

Pulau Aman has only 1 primary school with 13 teachers and 28 students, 1 clinic with 2 nurses, 1 mosque, 1 pre-school and 1 multipurpose hall. Homestay Pulau Aman is managed by Koperasi Sri Aman Pulau Aman Bhd. There is also budget and chalet at an affordable price. The women made prawn paste sold at RM 5.00 per cube, salted fish, traditional snacks and handicraft items. For recreational activity, a visitor can take a boat for an island tour for an hour costing about RM 150.00 for 12 people. There is also bicycle for rent and jungle trekking.
 

Homestay Pulau Aman

Pulau Aman is also famous for its shrimp paste (belacan)

Boat for hire

Our last stop for JJK Pulai Pinang program is Koperasi Sek. Men. St George Pulau Pinang Bhd which offer dorm-stay and coop-market. Its Dormstay Casa Georgian can cater up to 300 guests on weekends and school holidays and 100 guests on weekdays. Actually these dorm-stay are the unoccupied blocks for its 200 student population. Its main purpose is to teach the students how to run a business as part of their school syllabus. They get 100% support from their teachers. They also offer team building and tour packages in Penang. They run their own school cooperative mini market which sells stationaries, work books, snack, beverages and many more.

Welcome reception - Silat (martial art)

Dorm stay Casa Georgian

Six-bedded dormitory

Dining hall

SMK St George's jazz band

SMK St George's nasyid group

Coop-market

Well done, girls !!!

Address: Sekolah Menegah Perempuan St. George, Jalan Macalister, 10450 Georgetown, Penang. Tel: 04-229 5855 / 013-311 2351. Fax: 04-229 5886

THE END ….

Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Pulau Pinang, 20 April 2014

Day 3, 20 April 2014

The best stay during the Jom Jelajah Koperasi (JJK) or Let’s Explore Co-operative Penang was at Homestay Sg Chenaam. Even the launching of this prestigious program by YB Datuk Nik Ali bin Nik Mat Yunus, the Executive Chairman SKM (Securiti Koperasi Malaysia) or Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (MCSC) was done here.

The venue

The silat performance

All the foster families under Homestay Sg Chenaam are members of Koperasi Homestay Sg Chenaam Seberang Perai Bhd which bring them the benefits of investment, marketing, training and credit facilities. Address: Lot 299, Sg Chenaam, 14320 Nibong Tebal, Penang. Tel: 012-509 4368 / 013-430 2026, Mr Sabri Bin Haji Asri / Ahmad Bin Haron.

My foster mother, Puan Saerah

The veranda

My room with Gael from Phillippines

Before I go to the best part of the activities, let me tell you a story of how this Homestay Sg Chenaam got its name. A long time ago, a small boy who wanted to eat said to his mother “Chek nak aam”, meaning I want to eat; Chek is a northern dialect and a polite way of calling yourself in the presence of an elderly person. With a total population of 2500, 30 homes participated in the Sungai Chenaam’s Homestay program.

Captivating view

Enchanting view

Entrancing Sunset

The 1^st activity was an educational trip at the Mangrove Conservation and Demonstration Centre, walking distance from the Activity Centre. The walk itself was enlightening. I was told by Encik Sabri that most of the 3567 acres of land are dedicated for agricultural purpose such as paddy fields, oil palm, coconut trees, vegetables, dragon fruits and chilies. Another 800 of the 1800 acres of sea area are for breeding cockles. The rest are for chickens, prawns, earth worms and organic eels. The villagers make cookies, handicrafts, snack and shrimp paste (belacan) as side income.  

Plank walk to the mangrove

The 2^nd activity was pillow fight on a long coconut truck placed across the irrigation canal. It is a competition based on gender amongst the participants of JJK. The winners were Miss Amierah Noor and Mr Yusree Zainuzzaman from Gaya Travel Magazine.

The villagers

Malcom from Singapore vs Amran from SKM

Gael from Philippine vs Amierah from Gaya Travel

Yusree from Gaya Travel vs Lloyd from Philippines

The 3^rd activity was catching ducks. Everyone especially the village boys loved this fun and robust pursuit.

Everybody ready !!!

Swim duck swim !! Swim human swim !!

The winners across the finishing pole are ......

The village boys with their exhausting ducks.

To be continued ….

Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Pulau Pinang, 19 April 2014

Day 2,19 April 2014

After the Homestay Mengkuang Titi experience, I was taken to Ropewalk Bagan Flea Market “Pasar Karat” managed by Koperasi Pasar Aneka Taman Selat Butterworth. Purpose of this Cooperative is to bring all small flea business owners together in an orderly manner such as a proper place, marketing and training programs for all its members. Vintage items such as radio, oil lamp, camera, coin, gramophone, tiffin carrier, brass iron that used charcoal, smoking pipe and many more are sold here. They have better selections of antiques than at Lorong Kulit Flea market on the island. Beside the vintage items, there are the normal items such as sunglasses, guitar accessories, cosmetics, crash helmets, shoes, magazines, newspapers, clothes, blankets and many more. In my opinion, this is the biggest Flea market in Penang.

The Flea Market in Penang is labeled as Ropewalk, named after the street name “Jalan Pintal Tali” where the first Flea market operated. With direct translation as Twine Rope Street, later renamed as Ropewalk, the name remains until now.  However the Taman Selat Flea market is known as Ropewalk Bagan.

Opening hours is from 7.00am to 1.00pm only, Address: No 17, Pasar Aneka Taman Selat, 13500 Butterworth, Penang Tel: 04-323 3788

Me (with black headscraf, front row)

Coin and foreign currency for sale

Men rings

Old photos

Rows and rows of stalls

Anything & everything can be found at the Ropewalk Bagan

To be continued ….

Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Pulau Pinang, 18 April 2014

From 18 – 21 April 2014, I was once again invited by Gaya Travel Magazine and SKM (Securiti Koperasi Malaysia) or Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (MCSC) for their Jom Jelajah Koperasi (JJK) or Let’s Explore Co-operative to Penang.  I was fortunate to experience the following Cooperatives:-

1. Koperasi Pandai Besi Darat Seberang Perai,
2. Koperasi GDW Mengkuang Pulau Pinang Bhd
3. Koperasi Pasar Aneka Taman Selat Butterworth
4. Koperasi Homestay Sg  Chenaam Seberang Perai Bhd
5. Koperasi Sri Aman Pulau Aman Bhd
6. Koperasi Sek. Men. Keb (P) St. George Pulau Pinang Bhd

Day 1,18 April 2014

Koperasi Pandai Besi Darat Seberang Perai has been existence since 1841 for anyone who were skilled in making iron tools such as Malay dagger (keris), Machete (parang), knife, betel nut cutter (kacip) and much more. In Malay, these people are known as “pandai besi” (clever in making iron), the reason behind the name. With the help of the Cooperative, the process of making the various iron tools has been upgrade from using traditional utensils and manpower to new machine. 

Machete (Parang) & Knife

Malay dagger (keris)

The next stop is Homestay Mengkuang Titi who owns Koperasi GDW Mengkuang Pulau Pinang Bhd. Address: 679, Mukim 19, Mengkuang Titi, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang, Tel: 04-370 7587. Fax: 04-399 7589. 

The welcome reception

The "Silat", malay martial art

A homestay house at Kg Mengkuang Titi

The Cooperative runs a small business enterprise such stingless bee honey or “Madu Lebah Kelulut”, “Muruku” snack and “Bedak Sejuk”. The latter is directly translated as Cold Powder which my late grandmother used on her face in the evening. She said it is very soothing and act as anti-acne. She used 3 or 4 droplets, added some water and patted on the face to let it dry. The process of making ‘Bedak Sejuk” is also simple; soak the rice for a month, change the water daily, grind it to a smooth paste, use a cone-shaped banana leaf with a small opening at its tip to form droplets on top of a clean linen cloth and let the droplet to dry for a week before storing it in the air tight bottle. 

Anchovies Fingers (Jejari Ikan Bilis)

Me sucking the honey of the Stingless Bee

Cold Powder (Bedak Sejuk)

During the stay at this homestay, I played traditional games such as “Tarik Upeh” where one person sits on a Betel nut leaf pull by another person, “Pancing Botol” where I need to lift a bottle using a bait of small twig (I learned the trick to do it!) and “Lari Dalam Guni” ie running in a sack. The highlight of the stay is the typical Malay dinner with its specialty Curry Papaya and the traditional performance which originated from Penang “Boria” 

Dinner

"Bersila" seating arrangement

"1Malaysia" dance

To be continued ….