One of the perks of living in the city, is getting to escape from it! If a sweet elusion from the daily monotony in Kuala Lumpur without being further stressed by the travelling is what you are looking for, then Sekinchan is a brilliant choice. Just a 1.5-hour drive away from the capital of Malaysia, this fishing cum paddy town seems very modest for what it has to offer!
I fell in love with it at first visit and it is still doing pretty well at the top of my recommendation list. Quite unbelievably, this little town has all you need to remedy the harried soul- scenery, food, beach and play. It is one of those places where you can getaway and not need to recover from a burnt pocket too.
Here are 5 reasons why Sekinchan is simply wonderful!
1. The amazing paddy fields
It does not take much for you to know that have reached Sekinchan. The sight of carpets and carpets of green/ golden fields that know no ends will greet you. Picturesque scenes of the paddy fields have given a lot of photo opportunities to people from near and afar and earned a name as one of the top places for pre-wedding photoshoots. With or without a wedding gown, Sekinchan's velvets will effortlessly make your shots impressive.
Well, it would be very remiss of me not to have myself shot at such a photogenic place. Thus I planned a slot just for photo-taking. Just drive along the paddy fields and find a spot that you like but make sure not to destroy any of the plants during your photo taking!
Photos taken in this post are just before harvesting. The golden hue may not be so distinct as the paddy bent due to its weight, exposing green grass.
The colour of the fields depends on which time you visit. Check them out to avoid disappointment.
Jan-Feb- no crops
Early March- transplanting
Mid March till early May- green
Mid May- very gold
June- gold (harvesting)
July - August- no crops
Early September - transplanting
Mid September till early November- green
Mid November- very gold
December- gold (harvesting)
*timingse can differ*
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| When you are a village girl |
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| Sun on dew |
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| The land that is devoted to grow our staple |
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| A scene so surreal |
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| A blade of paddy leaf |
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| Taking in the positive energy from the sun that sheds light for the paddy to grow |
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| The view when I wake up |
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| The paddy grew right in front of our room! |
2. Cheap and fresh seafood
Sekinchan is not only blessed with arable land for paddy planting but also proximity to the sea which
allows fresh seafood at a fraction of the price in the city! With a majority of population which livelihood depend on the sea, seafood restaurants are quite conveniently available and usually able to cook up anything from the sea, anyway you like.
I did not wait until proper meal time to get my hands on those fresh sea yield. While heading towards Pantai Redang, I chanced upon a row of stalls that dish out seafood like snacks. The indulgence began with one plate and before I knew it, there were stacks of them. At an affordable price of RM10-25 per plate, it was not easy to look away from the menu. Dig in all sorts of crustaceans you can think of and molluscs that you have never heard of. Waze Pantai Redang
Sekinchan homes a fishing village after all. Thus, do remember to stock up on some live catches and seafood products- cheap and fresh!
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Savour briny sweetness that will keep you mum with satisfaction while you hollow out the shells of these steamed crabs
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| Crunchiness of steamed fresh prawns cannot get any better |
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Steamed squid with the perfect combination of homemade sweet chilli sauce and a sprinkle of peanuts for winning taste.
You can tell the texture by its picture. |
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Yes you saw it right. Do I look like I care?
Pandan coconuts that contains fragrance that you |
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| Oyster omelette (oh chien) is one of the must-haves |
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| Be reminded that decadence can be in the humble form of cockles |
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| Indulging |
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| Lala tong with sufficient ginger and a dose of chinese rice wine Waze Ririfatt Restaurant |
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| Shark porridge |
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| This is a fishing village after all, so take the opportunity to stock the fridge up with some seafood, cheap and fresh! |
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| Coffee shops here are authentically vintage effortlessly, unlike recreated cafes in the city |
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| Sometimes, a plate of perfectly done soft boiled eggs is all you need breakfast to start the day |
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| Enjoy that smooth cup of classic coffee |
3. Nostalgia
When you travel to Sekinchan, you are also time traveling back to the time when our grandmothers had darker hair. Coming to this wooden establishment, ungated with a creaking swing and infused with the smell of charcoal imbued me with the nostalgia that I never had, being an urbanite. Everything is so manual, so basic but yet so charming.
Quaint products that I managed to catch glimpse of when I was a child were displayed as if modernization have not stamped them out.
Waze Ah Ma House
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| It is weird that swings like this creak but are still comfy |
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| Nostalgia that I never had |
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| Sweets that I managed to catch glimpse of when I was a child |
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| Carcoal-burnt, hand-folded kuih kapit |
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| The culprit behind those white faces in the 80s |
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| Enamel wares |
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| Rattan and wood environement |
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| Now these kind of kitchen is extinct in the city |
4. Fisherman village lifestyle
This fisherman village gives the perfect opportunity to slow down and absorb the positive vibes of nature. Restore organic fibres that were leaching in the concrete jungle and rejuvenate in an unadulterated environment. Chase some free range chickens, eat home grown vegetables and let the sound of the waves replace the cacophony of traffic.
Waze Pantai Redang.
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| Mum and I at a beach hut |
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| Opportunity to chase free range chickens |
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| Spot the rainbow |
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| A wishing tree at Pantai Redang |
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| Just relaxing |
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| Back to the basics of finding food from nature |
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| Sunset at Pantai Redang |
5. Learn About Harvesting
Learning might be the last thing on your mind while on a getaway but it can be quite refreshing. Displace thoughts of climbing statistics and perfecting reports with something more tangible like the paddy fields which hold their own importance without being pretentious. Learning about how paddy is grown and harvested at the rice factory can throw light at a whole new perspective in life.
Waze PLS Marketing (M) Sdn. Bhd.
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| Just like that, the golden field is reduced to brown hay |
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| The smell of freshly cut crops is one of a kind |
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| There is still beauty in such destruction |
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| Until the next season! |
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| Rock while you watch how food is harvested |
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| The rice museum at PLS Marketing Sdn. Bhd. |
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| Don't forget to support our local rice and its products |
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| Bak chang madefrom Sekinchan rice |
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| Treat yourself to some cendol while you are at the factory |
6. Mango King
Mango smoothie asam boi is deliciousssss! The soil in Sekinchan not only is fertile for paddy, it produces gigantic mangoes too! When in Sekinchan, don't be fixated on just the paddy fields. Go straight after passing by Ah Ma's Hse and PLC Rice Factory till the end of the road and you will reach Mango King. Mangoes here can be as long as the forearm. But most satisfyingly, I got to relish their pure mango smoothie which is naturally sweet. Made of just ice and mango flesh with a sprinkle of asam boi, my afternoon was a bliss! Each cup is RM6. Enjoy it under the shady mango tree while enjoying the breeze from the paddy fields. Of course you can pick your giant mango and have it cut for your consumption on the spot.
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| Huge mangoes |
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| Go straight after passing by Ah Ma's Hse and PLC Rice Factory till the end of the road and you will reach Mango King |
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| Mango smoothie assam boi is deliciously refreshing! |
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| I love Sekinchan! |
Close to Sekinchan too, there are attractions like the
SkyMirror,
fireflies and
eagle feeding that would be fun for visits. There is no public transport to Sekinchan and attractions nearby. Thus, driving your own car is the most ideal and convenient way to explore them.
