Pualu Ketam, Malaysia, Part I

[tirediron]

These are a series of images taken recently in Pulau Ketam, or Ketam Island, a small fishing village about 10 miles off the coast of Klang, Malaysia (Just west of Kuala Lumpur). There's nothing touristy about this area, it is the way it is simply because that's what works. While the residents now have running water, electricity, and television, they still fish with the traditional long boat and process their catch locally. There are literally miles of boardwalks, and the only way to get around is either by foot or on bicycle; no gasoline powered vehicles.

http://www.rthtg.net/john/malaysia/pulau_ketam/Pulau_Ketam_5x7_2%20(Medium).jpg
The village meat market

http://www.rthtg.net/john/malaysia/pulau_ketam/Pulau_Ketam_5x7_4%20(Medium).jpg

http://www.rthtg.net/john/malaysia/pulau_ketam/Pulau_Ketam_5x7_8%20(Medium).jpg
Typical housing

http://www.rthtg.net/john/malaysia/pulau_ketam/Pulau_Ketam_5x7_9%20(Medium).jpg
No shortage of plastic shopping bags, empty bottles or any of the other detritus of modern life.

These are primarily meant as documentary images rather than artistic ones, however as always comments/critique/observations are appreciated.

[Marko]

I like these shots tirediron. You are right they feel more like photo journalistic/documentary style shots than artsy shots but that's cool.

I really like shot 1. Too bad the meat blocks the face.... and I'm HAPPY to see the guy is wearing a glove on one hand.

The shots of the housing make me feel so thankful that I was born in Canada. Most of Canada's poorest people still live in shelters that are of substantially higher quality.

You have used the lines of the bridges quite well, especially the diagonal bridges. Good captures. Marko

[tomorrowstreasures]

Seeing the housing sitting on top of the water makes me think of mosquitoes, malaria, west nile.....
I itch.

We take so much for granted. I would imagine since the towns people aren't used to amenities they do not miss them, which means that they probably don't miss the head aches of modern society. They probably don't have issues with weight and fuel shortages and home-owners ins and so on and so on.......

Thanks for sharing a bit of your travels with us!

[tomorrowstreasures]

Tirediron, was that a dog house (the yellow house up on the stilts in middle picture)? And if so, how does it get there?

[tirediron]

Tirediron, was that a dog house (the yellow house up on the stilts in middle picture)? And if so, how does it get there?

No, they're little shrines; most of them have incense burning in them. Not sure which god(s) they're too however. As for diseases and mosquitos, no worries. This is all salt-water. There isn't a mosquito within 20 miles o fthis place.

[Travis]

interesting images as usual

[tomorrowstreasures]

Tirediron, thanks for answering my questions. And wow!! no mosquitoes! I wish that were true here!

[kiley9806]

these remind me of the fishing village Bang Bao in Thailand - on a tiny island of Koh Chang. most of the houses & shops were on the water, on stilts and platforms like this. although, they had cars & bikes too, just on the land side of things. the little houses for praying were everywhere there - i believe they all pray to Buddah, but its a place to remember & pray for family as well. the messiness reminds me of cambodia though - very polluted... thanks for sharing!