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Located just off the
Selangor coastline, Carey Island or Pulau Carey
is well-known for the unique Orang Asli or
aboriginal community known as the Mah Meri. The
Mah Meri have assimilated into modern life with
jobs in the nearby plantations and farms but
they retain their unique culture and way of
life in which they are well known for their
craftsmanship which are the main reason that
draws tourists to this place of interest in
Selangor.
Apart from exhibitions of their
traditional dance and music, the Mah Meri are
particularly known for their sculptures which is
made from a kind of swamp hardwood known as 'Nyireh
Batu' and their wood carvings made from mangrove
wood will definitely make good gift items to
relatives and friends since they are considered
collector's item. Pion anak Bumbun is one of the
most famous Mah Meri woodcarver in Malaysia.
Legend has it that these wood carvings, gleaming in
deep red which shows strange creatures, were
once used by traditional medicine men to ward
off evil spirits that are making people sick.
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