Untouched paradise famed for seafood

Untouched paradise famed for seafood

PRISTINE blue waters dotted with old rickety fishing boats welcome city slickers to Teluk Kumbar - a small fishing village on the southern part of Penang island.

Teluk Kumbar is just one of the many fishing villages stretching from Batu Maung to Gertak Sanggul but there's a unique charm about the place that sets it apart from its rustic neighbours.

Deriving its name from the palmetto "Kumbar Tree" (which used to grow in abundance in the virgin jungles surrounding the bay), Teluk Kumbar's reputation as the island's seafood treasure trove remains strong till today.
Fresh supply: The prawns are sourced from the local fishing community of Teluk Kumbar.

In the 1970s, rice fields lined the fertile bay area soil but since then, it's the seafood eateries that have gained prominence though the slow-paced rural life there remains unchanged.

One of Penang's best-kept secrets is however leaking out. These days, Teluk Kumbar attracts visitors from as far as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with the lure of its fresh and relatively cheap seafood.

Hauled in by the local fisherfolk, the prized catch is snapped up by local seaside eateries early in the morning – only what's left is then sold to the middlemen.

Laughing kids running around barefoot as the fishermen unload their catch at various times of the day are a common sight.

While the place is famed for its Mee Udang, Teluk Kumbar is also home to some top- notch Chinese seafood outlets, the more popular being Good Friend Seafood and Hai Boey.

At the outlets facing the sea, the view of setting sun is unrivalled anywhere on the island.

In the evenings, when the sky turns a brilliant shade of crimson orange, these family-run businesses are usually packed with locals from all over the state.

-Info courtesy of The Star-