Since my guest, IN is also a diver, I took him to Pulau Perhentian to enjoy the island and the dive sites.
We only had a bit less than 3 days and 2 nights hence, we only have room for 2 dives. Oh well, the visibility was not that great either as it rained the night before.
The highlights were an encounter with a shark, and also cleaning shrimps. The black tip reef shark was not that big and it is a resident shark. Quite tame, so far. The cleaning shrimps were really interesting. Put your hand as close as possible to their little but very colorful habitat, then an army of little shrimps came out to clean your finger - free of charge.
In Pulau Perhentian we ordered water melon juice during dinner. IN needed refill and confidently ordered jus semangka. The islanders were puzzled like
HUH???
What’s that?
It’s watermelon juice. In Malaysia, mainly it’s called tembikai. In Terenganu, exclusively I think, it’s called timun cina, literally translated: Chinese cucumber.
Please don't ask me why it is called timung cina…
Oh by the way, this is the view that I have while having breakfast on the beach. I can certainly get used to this...
8 comments:
shemeq,
on most occasions, the terengganu ppl and the kelantanese dont use much the term 'timung cine' when referring to a watermelon
the term 'timung' as in 'timun' or cucumber is widely used when referring to watermelon
crushhio
crushhio:
compared to me, I think you are more "pure" Terengganu. I guess you are right. But in our family (from Dungun) we've always been calling it timung cine.
but then, what would you call cucumber?
and by the way, i am sorry to hear the sad news. I believe you are ok now.
cantiknya view!!!
shemeq,
i am doing good now, alhamdulillah..
about the tembikai thingy, tembikai is fondly known as 'timung cine' in trengganu and kelantan, its just that ppl are more inclined to call 'timung cine' as just 'timung'.. cucumber is still called 'timung' though..
i have my own theory as to why tembikai is known as 'timung cine' among the trengganu and kelantanese ppl... the theory goes like this..
in the halcyon days of our forefather who settled down in the coastal area as fishermen or farmers in the countryside, cucumber or 'timung' are grown in their yards to vary their meals servings..
the chinese traders later came to their village, traded stuffs that never have been grown in their yards, among others were water melons or tembikai ..
the villagers later found out that watermelon's skin has striking resemblance to cucumber's skin, some smart aleck later exclaimed the fruit that the chinese traders were selling were also some kind of 'timung'..
but to differentiate this special 'timung' with the common 'timung' in their yards, they later named the newly discovered 'timung', 'timung cine' as the fruits were sold and traded by chinese traders..
hahaha!boleh pakai ker theory i ni?
crushhio
pretty:
don't think! pack up and go! great getaway!
crushhio:
glad you are well.
well, quite a theory you got there. based on some unwritten history from my personal interaction with the old chinese community in kampung cina kuala terengganu, the chinese influence in terengganu malay culture (and vice-versa)are significant. so your theory could be valid ;-)
The beach at Perhentian Islands looked so idyllic.
so tempting to just throw a sarong on the beach, lie down, reading a beautifully written book, while listening to sound of the wind swishing between coconut trees and the rhythmic sound of the waves, all day long!
or alternatively, swaying on a very comfortable hammock tied up between poles, while reading magazines after a satisfying lunch and maybe some dodol aceh for dessert.
ramadian:
perhentian island, terengganu is not like the beach of monaco but it's a beautiful playground closest to home, and heart.
I found this post on the internet on Timung cine. Rather interesting :
http://raykinzoku.fotopages.com/?entry=1923695
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