Over the years I have come to realise that the husband has a healthy curiosity for all things aquatic. You know, like oceans, seas, rivers, lakes et al, its creatures...
And fish-farming. This one I came to realise today.
There is a story in this Weekend Borneo Bulletin about how Bruneians are ranked the 9th happiest people in the world. The husband I would say that at 7.30 this morning, Bruneians are the 9th most happiest people in the world, save for a petulant permanent resident, who had to awaken on a Saturday waaay too early for her liking to go see the fishies.
Me: Whaat?? No need to be bring swimming things?? What kind of sea excursion is this??
The husband (quite fearfully, remembering low blood sugar level does not a happy woman make): Have you eaten something??
When we arrived at the Serasa Fish Landing Complex it was damn early, the morning was cool, the sky was a lighter shade of gray and the air smelled fishy. The husband had convinced our mate Michael, who was appropriately dressed like a fisherman in a fisherman's hat (as was the husband) to join us. I, on the other hand, was in a beach hat. Genie, our friend the Fish-Farmer was dressed in an SIA freebie t-shirt which had "First to fly the A380" at the back and a straw hat ala Japanese tourist, which proves that you are definitely NOT what you wear.
Genie summoned a boat to bring us to the floating farm. She also summoned fresh fruits, serviettes, canned drinks and plastic plates and cutlery for my sorry land-lubber ass.
Still, by the time we left the docks, I was feeling quite the happy seafarer, breathing in the fresh fishy smell of the sea, in my bright orange life-jacket and gripping holding the husband's arm. Genie began telling us fishing tales and off we go.
Genie and her mate with their straw hats and a half-gray sky.
A Floating Fish-Farm. Note the colourful umbrellas, thoughtfully fixed for me, I presume, in case I wasn't wearing my SPF130s.
Underneath the rickety planks lurks some of the biggest fishes I have ever had the chance to see up close. In fact, too close they could jump up and bite my ankles.
A pretty large fish known as the Napoleon Wrasse.
I saw these scary mean (and really hungry) looking Garoupas and thought "Don't fall, don't fall." And the Garoupas are like "Look into our eyes and sharp sharp teeth!"
The Garoupas nightmares are made of.
I looked upon wide-eyed at this 40-kilo Garoupa. Apparently friendly, but you won't see me testing this possible fact. The weather-beatened Indonesian man who looked after the farm told us that there was previously a 60-kilo Garoupa but someone had bought it. Obviously as a guard dog.
Freshly caught crustaceans we would soon eat!
A big Blowfish.
The freshly caught seafood and thai sambal for brunch were deeelicious.
The nets are as deep as the sea-bed. That's why you need a diver to net and shower a Barramundi.
Errr, shower?
A Barramundi successfully netted.
"The fishes gets a wash every couple of days to get rid of parasites on its scales", Genie tells us helpfully.
This 4-year old Barramundi was only an inch long when it came to Brunei from Australia.
I dabbled in some fishing and even gamely hooked my bait. I ended up feeding the fish instead. If the fish could talk they would be saying "Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh. Loser."
But after a while of looking at the flat open sea, Pulau Muara Besar on my left, willing the tug on the line, the quietness and heat, the gentle lapping of water hypnotises you and I could understand why fishing is loved by a whole lot of people. I must admit to a shaky start, but I think I am beginning to share the husband's curiosity with all things aquatic.
Thank you to Genie the Fish-Farmer and her Merry Helpers, for the pleasant atmosphere on the floating fish-farm, the fresh seafood available and their palpable and infectious interest in what they do.
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