THE HUMAN STORY · COVER STORY
Beyond the Waves: Love, Loss and Everyday Courage on Malaysia’s East Coast
Beyond the beaches and photographs is a community built on patience, work and love. Meet the human stories of Kemaman, from the fishing boats of Chukai to families who wait for their safe return.
AUTHENTIC MALAYSIAN LIFE, SHARED WITH THE WORLD
OUR CULTURAL HEART: TERENGGANU
Stories to linger over
THE SERUMPUN SELECTION
THE CULINARY JOURNAL
Wrapped in Leaves, Kissed by Fire: Terengganu’s Most Delicious Secret
Wrapped in banana leaves and kissed by fire, Terengganu’s pulut lepa turns coconut rice and savoury fish into an unforgettable culinary discovery.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
When Batu Buruk Was a Festival: Terengganu’s Forgotten Shoreline
Discover Batu Buruk’s forgotten Main Pantai harvest festival, the haunting legend of Ulek Mayang and the evolving heritage of Truly Terengganu, illustrated with ten credited 1962 archival photographs.
Discover Terengganu
ARCHITECTURE & MEMORY
Rumah Tele and Peleh Gables: Terengganu’s Traditional Malay Houses
Steep tiled roofs, curved peleh gables and carved cengal walls without nails: how to read Terengganu’s traditional houses and where to see them.
AN ISLAND WITH A PAST
Pulau Bidong: The Beautiful Malaysian Island That Once Became a Refugee City
Discover the extraordinary history of Pulau Bidong, how to visit from Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia Airlines connections via Kuala Lumpur, and practical USD travel-budget tips.
THE KEMAMAN JOURNAL
Kampung Air Jernih, Kemasik: Inside Malaysia’s Hainanese Wooden-Shophouse Village
Timber shophouses and a 1906 stone: the story of Kampung Air Jernih near Kemasik, one of Malaysia’s oldest Hainanese settlements.
EXPERIENCE KEMAMAN
A Weekend in Kemaman: Twin Rocks, Turtle Beaches and Terengganu’s Quiet South
A slow, sea-salted weekend in Kemaman, Terengganu: the twin rocks of Pantai Kemasik, sunset at Teluk Mak Nik (Monica Bay), a 1830 timber mosque, river views and the best of Chukai.
Culture and heritage
THE MAKERS & THEIR CRAFT
Mengkuang and Batik: A Guide to Terengganu’s Woven and Hand-Drawn Crafts
How Terengganu’s pandanus mats and bags and its hand-drawn batik are made, how to spot quality, and where to buy them in Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur.
THREADS OF BORNEO
Pua Kumbu: The Ritual Textiles of the Iban of Sarawak
Tied, dyed and woven on a back-strap loom: what to know about the pua kumbu ritual textiles of Sarawak’s Iban people, and where to see them.
Style
CLOTH & IDENTITY
Woven Gold, Worn Daily: Terengganu Batik and Songket, the Modern Way
How to wear Terengganu batik and songket the modern way, from office batik to a songket samping with sneakers, plus what UNESCO and geographical-indication status mean for buyers.
Eat
A TASTE OF MALAYSIA
Malaysian Kuih Guide: Traditional Sweets and How to Tell Them Apart
Seri muka, onde-onde, kuih keria, akok and kuih angku: how to recognise Malaysia’s favourite traditional sweets, and when and where to eat them.
Living
THE ART OF SLOWING DOWN
Forest Bathing in Malaysia: Where to Walk Slowly Among Ancient Trees
Where to practise forest bathing in some of the world’s oldest rainforests, from FRIM on the edge of Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara.
Explore Malaysia
BEYOND THE EAST COAST
George Town, Penang: Heritage Streets, Clan Jetties and Hawker Food
A guide to George Town’s UNESCO heritage centre, from Khoo Kongsi and the Blue Mansion to the Clan Jetties, plus the hawker dishes to order and Penang Hill.
OUR EDITORIAL HEART
Local lives.
Endless discovery.
Serumpun Living is a local Malaysian lifestyle, culture and travel magazine written for readers around the world. Our stories begin in Terengganu and follow the people, traditions and everyday experiences that make Malaysia unforgettable.
SERUMPUN LIVING
Of the same stem.
Serumpun means “of the same stem”: kin who grow from a shared root. Many communities, many flavours, many stories, one home.
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