Friends in the field trip
The visit to Sungai Pulai is one of the best memory so far. It was the first time I went to a wildlife sanctuary, the first time I encountered with dolphins in the wild, and first time I ever got so close to Singapore. I have captured many memories using my camera, although I'm not in majority of the photos. Personally, I didn't really care much because I think it's a norm that the photographer (will) have least pictures in his photo album. Nonetheless, I enjoy taking photo very much and happy when people acknowledge my shoots.
Uncle Ng Sui Lin, owner of the trawl boat
We went to Sungai Pulai estuary by boarding on Uncle Lin's trawl boat. The boat consists of two groups 1) the trawl boat team - Uncle Lin and two workers and 2) us - researchers/visitors. The trawl boat team were very quiet-type of people and very focus with their work at the boat. The job description at the trawl boat is simple; the captain handles the boat; and the two workers handles the trawl net. Meanwhile our job is to collect some fish as samples to be analyse in lab. As the trawl boat team raised the fish from the water, we picked some of it for ourselves. The rest of the fish are either consumed, sold in fish market, or processed as fish food for nearby aquaculture facilities.
A Tripodfish (Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer)
One of common fish found in Sungai Pulai estuary is the Tripodfish (Malay: Ikan lembu). The fish is called with such name because it has three spines at the dorsal fin and pectoral fins. The spines can be folded and erected, and it is used to protect the fish from other fish such as predator fish. When I dissected the stomach, I found numerous pieces of starfish skeleton (not to mention bad smell). The fish feed on starfish and it is equipped with strong beak which it use to break up the skeleton of starfish. A friend of mine (last picture: The Masked Man) jokingly said the Tripodfish is a form of trinity; 1)its a fish, 2)the Malay name for it is cow, and 3)it taste like chicken.
Encounter with marine police
When I thought that day was like other day at field site, I was surprised when we were visited by the marine police. Well, the first thing in my mind was "Do we even look like Indonesian?". For your information, Straits of Malacca and Straits of Tebrau are major routes for illegal migrants from Indonesia to travel into Malaysia. However, there was not much issue after all. Apparently we were fishing within the forbidden area (too close to the shipping port-Port Tanjung Pelepas), although we have permit to do so. But luckily in the end, the misunderstanding was solved, we're given the thumbs up from them and the fishing continues...
The Masked Man
The Masked Man, the mastermind for the field trip. He looked so much like a pirate ready to hijack a shipping vessel through my eyes. For the incident with the marine police earlier, I blamed him for dressing up so suspiciously (haha...). But ultimately, he is a nice guy and had help me in many ways. Thanks to him and his family hospitality, we doesn't have to spend a cent in this trip for hotel accommodation. Thank you my friend...
No comments:
Post a Comment