Crab Island (Pulau Ketam)

Pulau Ketam, literally means ‘Crab Island’, is located off the coast of Port Klang in the state of Selangor.

Friends told me that it is a beautiful island and easy to access – take the commuter train to the last station, Port Klang then walk across the road to the jetty.

On this beautiful Sunday morning of 31 January, I decided to make a solo trip there to explore and find out a little more about the island with a unique name.

With the backpack and camera on my back, I was all ready and soon I was on the train and before I realise it, I was in Port Klang. From the station, it is quite a long walk to the jetty.

The ferry has a very unique shape, ‘long and slender’, some described it as ‘banana’ shape. It cost RM7.00 one way and it comes by every 45 minutes. The journey took about 45 minutes.

What is special about the island is that all the houses / buildings are built on stilts between one and ten meters above sea level. In fact, it is more like a floating island. And the only mean of transport, other than by foot, is bicycles. No cars, no motorbikes, no buses. So, no pollution!

Life on the island is simple and sedentary. And there is no ‘rat race’, no traffic jam, no parking problem, no traffic lights... Majority of the residents depend on fishing for a living and seafood products and seafood restaurants are a common sight.

While the roads around the houses and shops are impeccably clean, sadly, what I saw in between the houses and shops (below the buildings, at sea level) are much to be desired. They have become dumping grounds! Rubbish is strewed all over the places and rats were seen running about. Something needs to be done!

After walking around for 1-1/2 hours, the sky started to look ‘threatening’ and rain was imminent. I decided to leave. Perhaps I would return one day, in the evening may be for sunset view and seafood dinner!