Mah Meri Cultural Village

Mah Meri Cultural Village

The story of how the Cultural Learning Center at MMCV came to serve the community of Carey Island in the district of Kuala Langat, Selangor is a story of many people whose collective vision made it what it is today. It’s the story of young men and women who wanted to bring their Mah Meri cultural heritage back to life. It’s the story of community elders, community partners, who wanted to pass along their knowledge to the young, especially those in need of guidance.

And it’s the story of all the educational partners, from archaeologists to community service organizations, government official, corporations, individuals and ministers who through sweat and determination helped make this vision a reality.

According to tradition the villages were founded due to consistent attacks by pirates. They moved inland onto the island seeking shelter. The moyangs protected them by covering their trails with spider webs and showed them the location of the moyangs abode. later They build their own dwelling homes (rumah moyang) near this site,

 If you visit Carey Island today, you will see Sok Gre’ the sacred mountain towering above the island reaching sharply to the clouds, catching the rain. It used to be the rice bowl of the island providing raw materials for cultural and rituals events, herbs for healing and food.

And in the coastal swamp-land, up to their knees in mud, are the villagers and their children, collecting shellfish for the much needed supplement for their diet.

On Pulao Carey island this Orang Asli village is worth a visit to begin your understanding of the Mah Meri (also spelled Hma’ Meri), a subgroup of the Senoi people who live along the coast of Selangor. The Mah Meri are renowned for their masterful woodcarving, and comically expressive oversized masks.

Drop by the village museum for excellent displays of their art with accompanying write-ups explaining the mythologies and local legends about each piece (such as the story a tiger trapped in a cage that inspired one of the Mah Meri's most iconic wood sculptures).

You can order wood carvings at the village centre, or pick up less expensive, but still wonderfully pretty woven baskets and mats made from pandanus leaves, or palm leaf origami. You can also rent rickety bikes (RM15 per hour) to explore the rest of the island. Up the main road from the turnoff for Kampung Sungai Bumbon look for a sign for Kampung Sungai Rambai and turn left. At the sign for Balai Origami turn right for the Pusat Origami (Origami Centre), where you might be lucky to see displays of live origami making.

If you don’t have your own wheels, there are a couple options for getting to the island. Check out the tour packages available on the website (minimum two people) or hire a taxi to Pulau Carey from Klang (return with a couple hours on the island RM120-150). See Source Below

Address: Jln Kampong Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun, 42960 Pulau Carey, Selangor.

Phone: +60 10-252 2800

source:  http://mmcv.org.my/web/about-us/

Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/selangor/sights/neighbourhoods-villages/mah-meri-cultural-village#ixzz4F0npYRwH