Sungai Setar is a sleepy little Malay village in Nibong Tebal, South of Seberang Perai…

Sungai Setar was named after pokok setar (Bouea macrophylla), the same tree for which Alor Setar was named, as it used to grow abundantly there…

Visitors to Sungai Setar can enjoy beautiful views of lush paddy fields during the growing season, or paddy fields that are hues of golden yellow during harvesting season…

Thanks to Tourism Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia Northern States, some friends and I were given the opportunity to visit this charming village and be the adopted “children” to the villagers…

When you visit a homestay, you will normally be assigned to a family who will host you in their home and also feed you (at very least, breakfast)…

We were warmly welcomed by the ladies from Sungai Setar village with a kompang performance and local food demonstration /tasting…

Then we were brought on a mini tour around the village on motorbikes  who took us to a little fig and chilli orchard and given a chance to try out real figs that were plucked by the owner….

Then we headed to the mangrove forest where the villagers grows a variety of mangrove plants and herbs…

And from these Berembang plants the villagers cook dishes as well as prepare tea, jam and juices…

Once we were done with our little visit, we were sent to our respective homestays…

I was assigned to this lovely lady Jamilah who was a widow and she was just such a lovely and friendly host, you cannot help liking her, she was just so friendly and her daughter bakes some of the most delicious cakes ever – we had the opportunity to try it out at breakfast….

Homestays are a great way for visitors and foreigners to feel how the locals live and go about their everyday life in a typical village..

It is also a great opportunity to make some new friends and enjoy the sense of belonging for some of the city dwellers or loners who do not have any family members like me…

Address – No. 1495, Kampung Sungai Setar Besar, 14310, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang

This little heritage trip was organised by Tourism Malaysia Northern Region and Tourism Malaysia as part of the Family Fun and Heritage trip to Ipoh, Taiping and Penang… My humble thanks for allowing me the honour of participating in this wonderful trip…