BEST SEAFOOD Island! A Life in a Water Village | Malaysia

BEST SEAFOOD Island! A Life in a Water Village | Malaysia

Labuan Island in Malaysia sits off the north coast of Borneo. It has a unique and strategic place in history. Patau-Patau Water Village is located on Labuan Island. We decided to stay in their village for a week to experience their way of life. Now, let’s take a look together at their traditional lifestyle! It takes about 3 minutes on foot from the entrance of the water village to the homestay. The paths in the village are quite winding.
Please use this video as a guide so you don’t get lost. Patau-Patau Water Village sits on the northeast coast of Labuan Island. It is a typical stilt village built by the Brunei Malay community. The area has calm waves and long, shallow waters.
These conditions made it easy to build stilt houses. Seafaring people, like the Bajau and Brunei Malays, settled here long ago. Living on the water offered both economic benefits and protection. Most of the residents are Brunei Malays and follow Islam. The social structure is centered around extended families. Generational ties are seen clearly in both living spaces and fishing skills. This unique cultural landscape is an important example of Southeast Asian maritime culture. In recent years, however, it faces challenges. Urbanization, pollution, and growing tourism put traditional life at risk. We’ve arrived! The homestay adventure begins now. They have welcomed guests from many different countries. Family and relatives have strong bonds here.
They live by helping and supporting each other. The buildings in Patau-Patau Village are mostly wooden stilt houses. They are designed with durability and good airflow in mind. My children have already fallen in love with these airy and roomy home. On Labuan Island, boats are a key part of daily life.
They play an important role for getting to school and work. The owner is going to take us on a boat tour. Let’s take a look at the traditional water village together from the sea! He’s curious about whether this is a river, sea, or ocean.
It’s a great opportunity for some social learning! He also seems concerned about the plastic waste floating in the sea. Dumping waste into the water is one of the issues in this area. The houses are built at a height that can adjust to tidal changes. They are connected by wooden walkways called “jambatan.” Public facilities like mosques, schools, and shops are also built on the water, creating a kind of “water city” structure. This layout is a result of traditional knowledge that integrates living spaces and transportation. It highlights the community’s strong ability to adapt to the climate. We can see our homestay now. It’s just ahead! That’s it, the one with the red and white fence. The sunsets here are truly beautiful, and you can feel nature up close. The sunset turns into night.
Let’s see how life in the water city changes as it gets darker! It seems like they still need some time to bond with the host family. It’s time for dinner!
We were truly impressed by their welcoming dishes. The table is filled with traditional dishes like crab and potato curry, beef, and sweet and spicy chicken stew. I wonder how much it would cost to order these dishes in the city? The taste was, of course, amazing.
This was the moment we knew this trip would be unforgettable. When we visited, it was Hari Raya, a Malaysian holiday.
The houses were decorated with lights. 6:00a.m. It’s a quiet dawn in the village, wrapped in the beautiful morning sun. Soon the children woke up.
It’s the start of a lively morning! The owner has woken up too. Today, it looks like he’s going fishing with a casting net. The bait is leftover rice from yesterday. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch a single fish this time. Since we didn’t catch any, he’s going to show us the fish in the fish cage. He showed the fish up close to the children. It’s a valuable experience for kids from the city. He’s suggesting to the kids that they try drawing the fish while looking at them. Getting to touch things, keeping memories of the experience — these are the special moments only a homestay can offer. Round two!
Will we catch anything this time? We did it!
We caught a beautiful fish that shines with a silver glow. Of course, we enjoyed them later as a delicious meal. Here comes the exciting breakfast time! This is fried mee hoon.
They made it not spicy so the kids can enjoy it too. We sit around the table, sharing a warm and joyful time together. Now, the auntie is preparing the fishing gear to head out for a catch. These fish pieces are mainly used to catch crabs. With the trap closed, the crabs inside can’t escape. Here, he’s tying up the crabs he caught the day before, getting them ready for sale. Tying up the crabs helps keep them safe by preventing them from fighting each other or getting too tired. Here we go — it’s time to head out for crab fishing! The waves are calm, and even for kids, the boat feels safe. He’s pulling up the traps that were set the day before. We catch all sorts of things, like crabs and sea snails. We caught a big fish!
Can’t wait for dinner tonight. Many of his fellow fishermen are out on the sea as well. We caught lots of fish and crabs! Alright, let’s drop the traps for tomorrow and head back home! He tied the fish together with a string to make it easier to carry. Let’s show off today’s catch.
Can’t wait to see the aunt’s reaction! Look at this — all these crabs and fish from just one trip! For the small crabs, just a rubber band is enough to keep them tied. Big crabs have really dangerous claws, so you can’t catch them with bare hands. Those claws are no joke — they look like they could snap a finger in no time! Looks like his buddy caught two big catfish! They keep the crabs in a net and leave them in the water. The kids got excited and wanted to catch some fish too, so the owner kindly handed them a rod. Seeing them fishing side by side, it’s just like watching a sweet moment between a grandpa and his grandkids. Alright, now it’s the kid’s turn to give it a try! The kids got bored since nothing was biting, so they ran off. Let’s take a tea break! They’ve prepared some tea and banana cake for us. Oh, what are they up to now? Looks like they’re helping out with something. We can’t just play all day. Let’s help out with watering the plants! Alright, let’s use the freshly caught fish and get dinner started! He gently scales the fish and cleans out the insides. Every step is a learning experience for the younger ones. Auntie gets to work making the sauce, using plenty of fragrant herbs and veggies. The fish will be fried, so they’re getting it all prepped now. Let’s go all out and fry the whole fish in one piece! Today we’re making “Tiga Rasa”. It’s a dish of fish in a hot, sweet, and sour sauce. The sweetness of the pineapple goes perfectly with the spicy sauce. Once the veggies are stir-fried, she adds ketchup and chili sauce to season it. It sounds so juicy and delicious! We’re almost there — it’s nearly ready! Here it is, all done! Just pour on that amazing sauce, and it’s ready to enjoy! I wish I could share the mouthwatering smell with you all through this video! The fluffy, tender fish and the sweet and spicy sauce were absolutely amazing! After the meal, we enjoy some cozy, happy time chatting with everyone. This is a sparkling drink made with butterfly pea flower. The kids have slowly started to grow closer to the host family. Looks like they’re teaching each other how to spell their names! These digital-age kids handle a phone like pros, even at this age! It’s so heartwarming to see how comfortable they’ve become with each other! It doesn’t really rain much during the day, but come evening and night, it tends to pour. The kids were all tuckered out and drifted off to sleep
by 8 pm, looking so peaceful. Auntie was up early, wiping the floors that got wet from last night’s rain. On top of that, she had already prepared breakfast for us — we were so grateful. Wow, looks like we’re having some tasty fried rice for breakfast this morning! Let’s enjoy breakfast under the beautiful morning sun! We’ve got a situation! The big catfish we caught yesterday is… eaten by a giant lizard called biawak!
What a wild surprise! It vanished for a bit, but when we returned, it came back hungry! The weather is great, so today we decided to take a walk around the village. I saw a bike, so I stopped. The road’s kinda narrow, so you have to be careful when passing by. You can spot cats all over the village. Looks like they’re well-loved by the locals. We’ve walked to the edge of the village.
Can you guess what this is? This is the boat taxi stop.
You just sit on this bench and wait. I saw a local fishing right from their window! He did it!
How cool is it that you can fish right from inside the house! The villagers are all skilled drivers who care about safety.
But if you can, it’s better to step aside. The village has water, electricity, and internet.
It also has services like garbage collection. It’s tough to walk straight on such narrow paths while carrying heavy trash. Much appreciation to them! Alright, it’s lunchtime!
Today we’re having butter milk crabs. Of course, this crab is the one we caught together on our fishing trip. I wonder where he’s taking us today? He brought us to visit a friend who’s catching krill. This is where they’re drying the krill under the sun. They say the dried krill is sold for 5 ringgit (about USD 1) per kilo. If you lightly toast them in a pan, they turn out super fragrant and delicious! You could snack on them endlessly. Alright, let’s get back to our journey! What’s next? Let’s go check out where his fishing friends are working! It looks like they’ve caught a huge catfish! Surprisingly, some small horseshoe crabs got caught in the net too! The city boy, who couldn’t even touch a fish on the first day, has now become quite the tough guy! This is truly an island with beautiful, unspoiled nature. Let’s head home and share the adventures! A child’s curiosity surpasses everything. Now the time has come to enjoy Hari Raya as the night falls. During Hari Raya, people visit relatives and close families to celebrate together. They generously offered us many cakes, snacks, and juices as well. We all laughed together at Auntie’s phone, which has a broken screen with pink horizontal lines. We didn’t stay long because we had to visit the next houses. After chatting outside for a while, they invited us inside. These are traditional Islamic hats. The design is really cool! Duit Raya is a Malay tradition where money is given to children and young people. In Malay, “duit” means money and “raya” means festival, so when combined, it carries the meaning of “festive money” or “money for celebration.” The kids are urging to move on to the next house. This will be the last stop. The adults are pretending to be kids, acting silly, to receive Duit Raya. They are truly cheerful and enjoy every day to the fullest. The night is dark, so they use their phones’ flashlights to light the way as they walk home slowly. The fun party has ended, and a fresh, sunny day has arrived! Today’s breakfast is fried noodles. It’s my favourite! It’s the perfect, most luxurious moment, feeling the sea breeze. So, where am I heading after finishing breakfast? I saw the lady across from our homestay fishing,
so I went over to say hello. She told me the tide isn’t great today, so she’s not catching much. She said that on a good day, she can fill this whole bucket with fish. Even if we don’t catch anything, just sitting here and feeling the nature is so relaxing. She invited us inside, saying it’s hot out, so let’s have some tea together. She warmly welcomed us with homemade rolled cake and some juice. Alright, there’s a birthday party today, so it’s time to get lunch ready a little earlier! Here, she’s cooking everyone’s favorite—chicken curry! This is coconut cream, a staple ingredient in Malaysian cooking. This is fish cake, an ingredient for curry noodles. Of course, fried chicken is a must as well. It will be coated with sauce later. This yellow noodle will be served with curry sauce. Now, this onion paste will turn into the sauce for the fried chicken. Look at this! This spicy chicken has the perfect balance of flavor and heat. The party preparations are almost complete! This is beef simmered in coconut cream. Happy 9th birthday! Since it’s a holiday, he’s celebrating by throwing firecrackers. Now, he’s not afraid of fish anymore! This time between sunset and night is when the island is most beautifully colored. During the holiday, fireworks light up the sky all around. It’s become a regular morning walk now. I saw a man casting a net from the bridge, so I stopped to say hello. They’re small fish, but perfect for cooking. He told me stories of swimming in this sea when he was a child. Even today, the village kids swim everywhere. A variety of fish can be caught. Let’s walk around the village a little more! I came across a man fishing without a fishing rod. He simply hooks a small shrimp onto the line and throws it into the sea. Within seconds, one fish is caught. It’s truly a fishing frenzy! He made sure to create fishing memories for the kids too. Some people enjoy fishing using a fishing rod as well. Today, Auntie is going to show us her specialty dish, Ambuyat. It’s a dish made from the powder obtained from the inside of the sago palm tree trunk, and it’s eaten by dipping it into a tangy sauce. She’s currently making the tangy sauce. Ambuyat is a traditional dish from Brunei, but it is also eaten in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. As hot water is added, the texture changes from a thin consistency to a stretchy dough-like form. Since it’s my first time, I couldn’t roll it properly. The tangy sauce was so perfect, I ended up rolling and eating it over and over again! Today, a lot of fish are caught in the net. He can even handle crabs with his bare hands now.
Go show mom! Here’s a traditional Malaysian breakfast, Nasi Lemak. The spicy sambal sauce and crispy little fish are irresistible! The awkwardness between the kids from the first day is completely gone. They’re like best friends now! The language barrier doesn’t matter at all. The kids’ ability to adapt is truly impressive! It is a cultural greeting to gently touch the back of an older person’s hand to your forehead. They prepared seafood-centered meals with various seasonings every day. I’m filled with gratitude. It’s finally the last sunrise. The time to say goodbye is approaching. After a rainy day, it’s necessary to scoop out the water from the boat and perform maintenance. “Roti Boy” is a beloved, fragrant bread that Malaysians adore! Let’s have a little fun together before school starts, just one last time! It’s time to say goodbye. I wonder if he’ll remember us until the day we return? Drive safely, buddy! He wants to leave a lasting memory for his host family, something they can cherish. It looks like he’s painting a picture of the water village with a red and white fence. The crab is painted so nicely in the sea, though the purple color is a bit unexpected. He wrote a message himself to express his gratitude, though it’s a bit awkward since he’s reading it upside down. Now, will the uncle be happy with it? Now, let’s show it to aunty. She was really happy with it, and it was worth all the effort he put into the drawing! The host family was incredibly warm-hearted, and throughout our stay, we never once had an unpleasant experience. It’s nice to stay in the usual hotel and eat familiar food. But I believe the true rich experience comes from connecting with local people. That’s what I felt during this homestay. Thank you, Labuan Island. See you again!

Seafood Heaven! This is Labuan Island, Malaysia. Here, people live in Patau-Patau Water Village. How do they keep their traditional food and fishing methods alive? Through a one-week homestay, we’ll share their story in a full documentary!

Many young people leave the village for education.
This raises concerns about the loss of traditional knowledge and weakening family ties.

At the same time, some educated individuals return to work in tourism or local administration.
They are helping support the village’s sustainability.

Patau-Patau Water Village holds value as a “living cultural heritage.” It represents their architecture, culture, and history all together.
It may also be worth considering efforts to nominate the village for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.

LELA HOMESTAY
Location: Kampung Patau-Patau 2, Labuan, Sabah, Malaysia, 87032
Phone: +60 128148515
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3JRsqFH8Qv8LpjBQ9

00:00:00 intro
00:01:25 How to get to LELA Homestay
00:02:35 Our first meeting
00:08:57 Traditional cast net fishing
00:14:27 How to make a crab trap
00:17:12 Traditional crab fishing
00:27:45 How to cook Malaysian dishes using fresh fish
00:35:38 Getting closer with the homestay family
00:39:50 Uninvited guest
00:40:28 A walk through the Water Village
00:43:18 Boat tour to the nearby areas
00:43:46 Making dried shrimp
00:45:25 Unknown creature
00:48:27 Hari Raya post-celebration with relatives
00:54:04 Fishing with the local
00:56:25 Preparing various Malaysian dishes for a birthday party
01:05:37 A birthday party
01:08:37 Early morning cast net fishing by the local
01:11:05 Local fishing with just simple thread and hook
01:14:23 Making traditional Brunei dish Ambuyat
01:20:45 No longer afraid of fish or crabs
01:23:06 Overcoming language barriers, becoming best friends
01:25:18 The morning of farewell
01:26:12 A farewell gift
01:27:53 The reactions of uncle and aunt

🔴For business inquiries:
streetfoodking.br@gmail.com

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

➤ Leave us a comment below & Subscribe to this channel 📺
https://www.youtube.com/c/STREETFOODKING-MY/?sub_confirmation=1

➤ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE…
BEST 10 BANGKOK MICHELIN STREET FOOD 2024 / Thailand Michelin Guide

Open for only 3 hours! THE ROAST PORK BELLY MAESTRO in Kuala Lumpur l Michelin Malaysia Street Food

Thailand COCONUT Cutting Master and Coconut Secondary Processing Plant – Bangkok

How Chinese Families in Malaysia Are Keeping Their Traditional Food Alive

BEST THAI STREET FOOD Compilation 2024 l Bangkok

BEST 10 KUALA LUMPUR MICHELIN STREET FOOD / Malaysia Michelin Guide

BEST 10 SINGAPORE MICHELIN STREET FOOD / Singapore Michelin Guide

➤ PlayList
STREET FOOD in MALAYSIA

#streetfood #malaysia #homestay #streetfoodking #documentary #labuan #SFK