The Kenyah and Kayans were already subdued and made their peace with the Rajah.
In a way Marudi controlled the development of the Baram from that time onwards. Most government affairs were conducted from Fort Hose.
When the Chinese arrived a bazaar was built up next to the river side a little below Fort Hose which stood magnificiently on a little hill overlooking the "entrance" of the river . Any enemy coming up the Baram could be sighted easily. As was the practice of the Brooke Regime...two canons were strategically placed facing the river mouth. Those two canons are still under the Fort today but they are not facing the river. So in a way they are "retired" from service. Now they are pointing towards the back road that leads up to the Fort.
What is Marudi famous for nowadays? It really depends on what interests you. If food is your interest then Marudi is famous for three things : Char Kueh Tiaw Marudi Style. Marudi Bread (a remnant of the White Colonial Days). Tapah Fish.
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| Specially fried fresh deer meat with a frantastic wine sauce. |
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| This is the secret of the Marudi fried kueh tiaw - fat rice noodles which are lovingly hand made. Only two families make them in Marudi I heard. |
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| Another dish from Marudi - dry fry bee hoon with Ikan Bilis topping. |
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| Wet style Marudi Kueh Tiaw with sea food. and vegetabls. |
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| Well sauted kang kong - a good chef comes up with this kind of standard - green and crisp vegetables(the secret is in a fierce fire and a good wok. The chef must also have two fast hands. My mum used to say..a good chef must be ambidextrous - very much like a two knives swordsman. I tend to agree because you just can use one hand in the kitchen.. |
You have not been to Marudi if you haven't tried Marudi Kueh Tiaw.
8 comments:
My catechist sister comes to Marudi for Bible class-teaching once a fortnight.She enjoys fried bee hoon with belachan the most.
My favourite is Fried Kway Tiaw.
Their Kuih is also famous. They use fresly-ground rice flour.
My mum and sis Margaret were ambidextrous until they got hit on the hand by chopsticks each time they used their left hand. In deed, I agree they were smart. Margaret got her PhD at a very young age.
My Mum was so clever in so many things. I think she continued to cook with both hands,
The many forts from long ago days remind me of Fort brooke in Sibu. Not many people know of its existence anymore! These forts provide much needed security in aturbulent time. Wionde rif other places are like that. I have been to a place near the Scottish Borders and saw a mediaval castle that looks very similar to Fort Magherita in Kuching except that it was not painted.
Hi Charles..it seems that we can exchange all the info about good food in Brunei and the Baram Valley. I love the beehoon fried with belacan. Exquisite taste...But the Marudi k.t. is truly unbelieveably good. So soft and tantalising!!
Charles..by the way I found several families still using the stone grinder...and they even told me that that's the best way to grind fresh rice.
Cheers.
Ann...being ambidextrous is a talent given by God!!
My left hand is useful in keyboard work..and I can play basketball with my left hand...hahahaha that makes me quite smart.
Most women who are left handed are extremely smart. Do you know Bill Clinton is left handed? So are many of the other American presidents.
Dear Anonymous..thanks for the info. I really think that the Brookes left us with a great legacy and it is a pity that most of these forts are rather shabby nowadays...People are more interested in shopping malls than forts.
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