Beauty of Life with Jo: Bahau & Kuala Pilah

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Bahau & Kuala Pilah

BAHAU

I was intrigued by the once-upon-a-time famous route named the Jalan Penarikan or the Penarikan Portage. It is where the rivers of Serting (Muar) and Jempol flow within 600km of each other. Early traders used this route as a short cut to cross over in the Malay Peninsula. All they need to do was to drag or pull their boats with their cargo across this 600km distance.

History of the Penarikan Portege...

In the 13th century, Thai armies used this route in their operations against Sultan Johor
In the 14th century, Arab merchants used this route to trade and spread Islam among the Malays
In the 15th century, legendary Hang Tuah used to route when he ran off with Tun Teja.
Sultan Melaka also used this route to escape from the Portugese
In the 1800s, British travelers had jot down their journey using this route and how they had paid men to drag their stuff across the rivers.

Sadly, nobody wrote much about it. Today, I am sure that not many people know about its rich history. What's more disappointing was that I could not find the rivers!!! I found the Penarikan roads but around that area is now a small kampung with wooden houses and cemetery.

Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad or famously known as Za'ba is Malaysia's earliest writer and linguist who modernized the Malay language. Teratak Za'ba is a museum commemorating his life and contributions to the country.

Paddy fields in Bahau

Adorable looking bus stop with a taste of Minangkabau culture.

KUALA PILAH

Downtown Kuala Pilah. Interesting to see a Chinese temple located beside a Mosque. Also in another spot, an Indian temple right opposite a church.

Martin Lister Memorial Arch 1897 was to commemorate Lister as a Negeri Sembilan British Resident. The arch is pretty but the grounds are not maintained. I do not understand why the state abandons important structures like this. It is still part of our country's history.

Eye-catching colors

I was excited when I saw the Musang King banner. Sad when the durian seller said there's no more Musang King :( So, we agreed on trying the 101 instead. Good.

D24. Gooder!!!!

Pisang tanduk @ Plantain or easier known as Cooking Bananas. These bananas that look like horns are only good for cooking and people in Malaysia usually used them to make fritters and chips.

Itik Salai @ Smoked Duck could be found EVERYWHERE! And I mean, everywhere in Kuala Pilah. Stalls by the roadside sell bananas, plantains AND smoked ducks side by side. They have smoked chicken wings and fish too. The duck sells for RM35 each.

Cute furry goats grazing around the grounds nearby to the palace.

An abandoned house but it looked so magnificent. It is the Minangkabau roof. What a waste!

Entrance to the Sri Menanti Palace

Old shophouses outside the ground of the palace. Reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally old.

Kuala Pilah is famous for its Labi-Labi @ Softshelled Turtle. Soooo I have gotta try it, of course! We ordered 2 kinds: turtle in herbal soup and claypot turtle. YUMMMMMMMMEH!