Best Artisanal Buys {A Feature on Malaysia 3/4}

Welcome back to our feature on the shopping scene in Malaysia! 

Most travelers are into buying souvenirs... especially us Filipinos! It's one of the first few things that we look for when visiting a new place. In Malaysia, it'll be nice to know what signature arts and crafts are available. They're the perfect gifts for family and friends back in your home country. 

Given the diversity of ethnic groups in Malaysia, these vary from place to place. Because of this, many resort to going to Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market at the end of their trip to fill their suitcase with items from all around Malaysia. However, you should always be on the lookout whenever you're out and about the places in Malaysia. One huge tip is to find artisans and buy directly from them so you’ll get better prices and you're assured that your money goes to the creators directly. 

Craft stalls in markets like Kuching, Sarawak are good places to pick up locally made products.
Photo by Joanne Lane.

 Here are five main crafts to look out for during your travels:

Batik and other fabrics 

Yes this is inherently an Indonesian craft, but batik is also prevalent around Malaysia and somewhat different in style to its neighbor's. Batik is basically created by drawing or printing a pattern on fabric with wax. It is then dyed. This design is often reproduced on anything from clothing to tablecloths or cushion covers, but you can equally find it simply as wall hangings or art works. 

The best places to find batik crafts are on Malaysia’s eastern coast in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu but you can also find it in Penang. In Malaysia most of the batik designs are floral motifs and quite colourful and the patterns tend to be simpler. 

The Malaysian government is actively promoting the development of batik patterns and promoting it as a national dress. There’s also a biennial convention, Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention and Exhibition, that brings in anything related to batik. The last event was held in December 2011. 

Another kind of fabric to keep an eye out for is kain songket. This textile with hand woven silver and gold threads was once reserved for members of royalty only. Now anyone can wear it but it’s usually only used for special occasions. Kelantan, Terengganu and Khota Bharu are where you’ll still find small cottage industries making this product. A songket factory is located at Kampung Penambang north of Khota Bharu. Try the Buluh Kubu Bazaar, also known as Bamboo Fort Bazaar, for a variety of other textile products in Khota Bharu. 

Malaysia is renowned for its many fabrics and woven materials. Photo by Joanne Lane. 

Metalwork 

If silverwork is your metal of choice you may want to look out for the silversmiths of Kelantan where their work is generally considered intricate and of superior quality. They use two techniques here – filigree and repousse – and you’ll find everything from tea sets to brooches and bracelets. Visit the silvercraft factory at Kampung Sireh, Kota Bharu. 

If brasswork is more what interests there are ample industries producing various work in Kuala Terengganu. Silverwork, textiles, woodcraft and kites are also produced here, particularly in the waterfront district of Kampung Cina. 

Woven products 

Various weaving methods are used around Malaysia to produce an array of gift boxes, mats, bags, hats, shoes, fans and more. You’ll see many of these practiced as a cottage industry all around the country. 

Pua kumbu weaving is common in Malaysian Borneo amongst Iban people for producing ceremonial items for use in birth, marriage, funeral and other rituals. For example a child may be cleaned when first delivered and then laid on apua kumbu, or a corpse may be screened with such a cloth. Pua kumbu are also used to veil structures. To produce the pua kumbu a special dyeing process called ikat is used by which the designs are dyed onto the threads before they are woven. 

Mengkuang is the practice of weaving the strands of the pandanus tree that grows in mangrove forests and jungles. The leaves are stripped, split into strands, soaked, dried, boiled and dyed with vegetable colours. The colourful woven fragments are then used to make various products. This practice still thrives in the eastern states of Peninsular Malaysia. 

Woodcarving 

The Kenyah and Kayan peoples of Malaysian Borneo are generally considered very skilled carvers. In places like Semporna you’ll also find designs of lepa boats, a traditional wooden-hulled single-mast boat. 

A carved lepa boat in Semporna, Sabah. Photo by Joanne Lane. 

Woven baskets 

Woven baskets are commonly found in Malaysian Borneo and produced by a variety of ethnic groups including the Iban, Kayan, Kenya and Penan. Here you’ll find baskets, mats, seats and other materials made from rattan, bamboo, swamp grass and pandanus. These are commonly sold in markets around Borneo such as in Kuching but you’ll also find them in longhouses where they maybe available for purchase.

Now that you know what to look for when it comes to souvenirs in Malaysia, it won't be difficult to shop your way around.

Camel Corner Souvenirs

I remember the time when we posted our entry on the Kikay Camels, we got a lot of queries where we bought them. For a time, there was a bazaar in our workplace that sells them but it was gone after a month so we didn't know where to direct readers. I've been on the lookout for these ever since and I chanced upon a rack in Manila Center, near the Al-Rajhi Supermarket beside Military Hospital (RKH). 

Well, worry no more, dear readers because we know where you'll get the kikay camels... and more!!! Camel Corner in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center will be your oasis. (Kung maka-oasis naman talaga?! Haha!) You'll find the perfect souvenir items for everyone back in your home country! Bags for your wives? Check! Shawls and table runners for mothers? Check! Mugs and shisha models for your husbands and fathers? Check! Keychains and ref magnets for your sisters? Check! Camel stuff toys for your little kids? Check! You can even get a snow globe for you! Check, check, check! (Even if snow raining down on the Kingdom Center and Faisaliah Tower is kind of ironic, don't you think? Hahaha.)

The souvenirs that launched a thousand queries. Kikay camels, anyone?

And some ref magnets... (SR15 each)

Mugs that will earn you major points... it's totally unique! Haha! (SR15 each)

Display plates featuring Riyadh's iconic landmarks. (SR15 up; depending on sizes)

Sosyal camels!

Coron: Paradise Found {3/3}

I'm now down to the last entry on my adventure in Coron, Palawan {Part 1, Part 2} and just like what I felt when I left Palawan, I have a separation anxiety going on here. I love talking about my Coron experience because it's one of those travels that I did not expect to live up to my expectations, and go beyond it pa. Coron was a random choice my friends made when a promo seat sale came and boy am I glad their finger landed on this island.

Our view from Ralph's Pension Lodge

I'm sure you're wondering about the accommodation and the food and the souvenirs... very touristy! :) Well, the good news is, accommodation and lodges in Coron are very affordable (bordering on cheap pa nga). The semi-bad news is for picky travelers. The very affordable price comes with basic amenities. There are no grand hotels here that will give you five-star service and amenities. My friends and I are not picky travelers and we can even rough it out if the going gets tough. We had a decent stay at Ralph's Pension House in the town proper. They gave us a competitive package that has everything we need for this vacation (thanks A for arranging everything!). They were easy to talk to and they made sure requests were taken cared of. Here's our room good for five.

The Babydoll Room: 2 queen beds and 1 single bed.

There were towels and a clean bathroom in the room.

Climbing the steep, roughly-hewn steps to get to our room

We paid around P5,000 each for the accommodation, tour, and meals. Speaking of meals, their food are awesome and more than adequate for the five of us. They gave in to our request of seafood on our last night in Coron. I super duper love their huge crabs! And their shrimps too. Even their simple adobo and chopsuey were tasty.

What's for lunch?

Oh my goodness, cholesterol dinner is served!

If you're not satisfied with the food in your accommodation, you can try a lot of restaurants in Coron. There's Lolo Nonoy's Food Stations, Kawayanan Grill, Coron Bristro and Bar, etc. They mostly serve house-cooked meals (lutong bahay). If you're not sure what to order, go for the grilled meat and seafood in the menu. As for the nightlife, hmnnnn, restaurants close rather early. After all, this is still a sleepy town in the middle of the sea. There's one 'bar' though known as Subasco.

As for souvenirs, either go for the tried and tested key chains, ref magnets, t-shirts, and displays at the shops in the town plaza or buy their kasuy (cashew nuts) and daing (dried fish). I picked a few colorful fish key chains for my collection, pairs of pearl earrings for my grandmother, packs of cashew nuts, and a kilo of daing. You can buy them in the stalls near the harbor plaza.

Coron shirts

The usual pasalubong; nothing beats a key chain! :)

Ooooh lovely colors! So summer lang ang peg.

For the cashew nuts, you must go to Coron Harvest. The proprietess is a legend in cashew nuts. 

Nanay Lita of Coron Harvest

Nanay Lita has been interviewed and photographed countless of times already because she sells the most awesome kasuy nuts ever. I think I finished two packs in a few sitting. Hindi nakakaumay! They were supposed to be pasalubong for my sisters but I ended up eating them. Haha, guilty!

Once you stop munching, you'll never stop!

Coron's dried fish is a little bit different from the daing in Manila. Theirs is not too dry and not too salty. It's crunchy but still has soft meat in it. We loved it as 'dasilog' (dried fish-garlic fried rice-egg)... perfect breakfast!

Saraaaaaap!

After a hearty breakfast and a walk in town, we went back to Ralph's to prepare our things. With our bags packed, we bid Coron goodbye and headed back to Manila. 

Goodbye, Coron! Thank you for an awesome vacation!

Aside from what I've written in Part 1, 2, and on this entry, here are some tips more for future Coron travelers:

1. Pick an accommodation that is near the port like Coron Gateway Hotel (it's the nearest) or those hostels that are in the town proper, esp. when you just come for the usual island tour. It's easier to go to the port and meet your boatmen and guide.

2. Pick an accommodation that is on the other islands if you want to have a peaceful, relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of it all (ie. honeymoon). They're far from the town proper and are usually 30-45 minutes away from the Coron port. Talagang 'middle of nowhere' ang dating. Survivor Series with the amenities! Haha. I recommend Chindonan Resort and Dive Center (a separate entry on it soon).

3. Bring a lot of family and friends so you get cheaper packages with everything included.

4. For divers, try Sangat Island Resort. They're nearer the wrecks of Japanese boats sunk in WWII and really specialize in diving. They have the complete gear and equipment for it.

5. Bring your own snorkel and water shoes if you have so you won't have to rent.

6. Bring a waterproof camera (or rent one in Coron). It's a must!!! (I regret not bringing/renting one!)

The whole Coron experience still feels surreal for me. Was it really possible that I've been to paradise? On earth? In this lifetime? Ahhhh... I couldn't believe it but I have the photos to pinch myself with.

So, what's your travel plans for 2012? I promised myself that I'll travel outside Saudi Arabia this year. I mean, aside from going to the Philippines, I will have a RUH-(somewhere)-RUH itinerary. I'm thinking Morocco or UAE to visit friends. Hmnnn... Maldives is beckoning too. Where are we going next?! :)

Kikay Camels

Look what we found in the souvenir stand in our workplace:

Pink Tarha camels! Lol.

These camels are so kikay! Can you match the Pink Tarha lady to their camel counterpart?


We'll leave you to ponder on that for a moment. Apart from these four, there are other cool and cute designs:

Lost in Saudi

They cost SR15 each and are perfect souvenirs and giveaways to family and friends in the Philippines. There are ref magnets and paperweights too. They're really unique items depicting Saudi Arabia's, er, national animal (may gan'to ba?!). However, why are we not surprised that they are...

:D