Terrapin Museum :: Day 04 :: Progressing Slowly But Surely

For those who have been following our Terrapin Museum journey (thank you), we are almost there and we are scheduled to receive of first “visitors” on Day 05 as we’ve been connecting and mingling with the locals at Kuala Berang town. A few highlights include the owner of a hardware shop (a fine gentleman with a very orderly hardware shop) and a night food stall by the Sungai Berang (Berang river) who rears his own river fishes (till the floods gave his fishes “merdeka” [read: freedom]) & runs kayaking activities all the way up to Sekayu water falls (an agriculture park with tropical fruits that can be eaten at a small fee).

Day 04 was full of small wins! We’ve put up all our printed exhibits (kudos to Pelf for working day-and-night to lay them out digitally and get them printed). Prof Chan who meticulously rearranged and categorized all the exhibits and info charts! Not forgetting how “hands-on” she was with ALL the carapaces, infographics exhibits and even sniffing thinner to remove Dunlop glue from the carpet-removed-flooring!

‘Sniffing’ glue aka cleaning Dunlop glue off the flooring

We also managed to repair a broken Giant soft-shell turtle and bring it back to its full glory! It involved using lots of usual hardware shop items (cable ties, epoxy glue, steel links) and some ingenuity! Due to the flat nature of the Giant soft-shell turtle, this would be our “Smithsonian” hero exhibit so come by and see it the next time you’re around the corner, ok?

Our ‘Smithsonian’ exhibit

We also retrieved our red “buckets” from another Perhilitan store room and this treasure trove is filled with formalin exhibits and we will be doing the refilling on Day 05! Most of them took months, if not years to prep and sew and preserve.

Preserved turtles in jars

At about 1pm, we broke for a quick lunch break at a nearby “gerai kaki lima” (translated: roadside stall): authentic-motherly-home-cooked-grub!, super-cheap and fresh, as they’re operating under a tree and right beside the Kuala Berang main market. This is what I had and for the 3 of us (similar portions and fish & veg taken) only came up to RM14.30 with RM2 “keropok lekor” (fried fish fingers) & fried cempedak inclusive!

Food glorious food

I take leave to continue Day 05 (more hanging of carapace and screwing in of exhibits! Wee!) today with a few success pictures from Day 04 below:

Working on the exhibits

Sharing a good laugh while putting up exhibits

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TCSMalaysia/~3/sXkD8WsffmU/

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Turtle Conservation Society

The Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia was established in October 2011. The aim of the society is to bring about the recovery of depleted wild populations of turtles, with particular reference to freshwater turtles, in Malaysia through partnerships with like-minded organizations, individuals and local communities as well as through its own programs.

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