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 writeups explaining the mythologies and local legends informing 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).
