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Ali is a fisherman who lives in Bachok, a quiet fishing
village on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, in the state of Kelantan.
His day begins at dawn, when the air is still chilly and the sky is dark. As
Ali gets ready, his wife, Laila, prepares coffee and cooks a simple
breakfast of rice, fish, and vegetables.
After a quick meal, Ali heads to the beach where his boat is moored. His
good friend, Ishak, soon arrives to help him. Together, they check their
fishing nets, bait, and sails before setting off to sea.
As the first rays of sunlight peek over the hills, they set sail. The cool,
refreshing sea breeze brushes against them, making them shiver slightly.
With the wind filling their sails, the boat glides swiftly over the water.
When they reach the middle of the vast, shimmering sea, they begin lowering
their nets. The sky at sunrise is breathtaking, painted with shades of
orange, gold, pink, and blue. They are thankful for the clear, sunny weather
and hope for a plentiful catch.
From time to time, they haul up their nets. Sometimes the nets are heavy
with fish, prawns, and crabs. At other times, they come up almost empty. By
noon, they start rowing back to shore under the hot sun — a tiring and
demanding task.
When they arrive, their families are waiting to help sort the day’s catch by
size and type. Once the baskets are filled, buyers arrive in lorries to
purchase the fresh seafood, which will later be sent to markets in the
larger towns.
In the afternoon, Ali finds time to sit under a shady tree to repair his
fishing nets. He also tends to the small vegetable plot behind his hut. As
evening approaches, Ali feels happiest. It is finally time to relax and
enjoy a quiet meal with his family after a long, hard day at sea. |
