Full-Day Mah Meri Cultural Village Tour with Coconut Wine and Home Cooked Lunch
- Overview
Old Malaysia is at it's best when you are up close to nature and enjoying the slower pace of life. This full day tour starts in Kuala Lumpur and takes you to the old tribal area of Carey Island, Immersed in culture and tradition this trip and will give you a real insight into old Malaysia. Lunch is also included. This tour showcases the older tribal areas of the Mah Meri aborigines. A Mah Meri Guide will take you on a comprehensive tour of the village. The tapping of coconut wine was a practice that was copied from India and other parts of the world. The drink, which has an alcohol content of 4%, was popular with the Indian laborers in Malaysia as it was quite affordable to them. The tapping of this wine is slowly being faced out due to its alcoholic content and is now a health drink.
The Mah Meri are an indigenous tribe subgroup of Senoi aborigines, who were sea gypsies, around 2,000 remaining. They are soft spoken, depend on fishing and agriculture and excel in woodcarvings depicting rich mythological meanings with spiritual connections. Their ancestors come in their dreams to tell them what to carve. Mah Meri is listed in UNESCO.
The tour will starts after a breakfast around 8am, and departs for the countryside. You will arrival at the Mah Meri Village after an approximately 2-hour drive. Mah Meri guide will take you on a tour of the village, explaining their culture and traditions. After visiting the Rumah Moyang (Ancestral Home), move on for a demonstration of wood carving and origami by the folks. A simple souvenir awaits you with their soft spoken and awesome hospitality.
Around 12pm, visit a coconut plantation to watch coconut tree climbers moving from tree to tree on mere ropes to harvest a unique drink - the coconut wine (toddy). Toddy is a health drink that cleanses the urethral and liver systems. Fresh toddy is served.
Next, visit a typical Malay home for an herbal garden tour of traditional plants for blood pressure, cancer, diabetes and other ailments. A delicious home cooked meal will be served.
After lunch, drive past scenic villages and houses on stilts with photo stops along the way. Then its time for a toddy party, fresh toddy and some snacks such as wild boar, chicken and mutton, before departing for Kuala Lumpur and arriving approximately 5pm.