Bagan Ayer Masin Chinese fishing village in Pontian, Johor, is almost 170 years old.
By Foong Pek Yee
It is all calm and quiet on a late Sunday morning in the little village.
The rain has stopped and the sun is out.
Fishermen are out at sea while tourists taking in the sights – enjoying boat rides and visiting floating fish farms and a mangrove island nearby.
A passing buggy along the alley in the village breaks the silence occasionally.
Besides sight seeing, tourists are also drawn to the homestay operators’ authentic seafood cooking, overall friendly and unpretentious community and relaxing environment.

Serenity: Bagan Ayer Masin is known for its beautiful sunset .

Recipe for success: Tourism and fishing in the new era.

Traditional landmark: The main entrance to Bagan Ayer Masin.

New look : A typical house on stilts in the village these days.

A thing of the past: The few remaining wooden plank walkways in the village.

In the middle of the sea: A floating fish farm and its guard dog.

Evolving with time : Bagan Ayer Masin opened up from the 1980s
The village started to draw tourists when it got electricity supply in the 1980s.
The opening of the country’s North South Highway in the 1990s and the advent of social media changed the economic landscape of the tiny fishing village which is about 90 minutes drive from Singapore.
And the good connectivity also makes it ideal for day trips .

Holiday mood : Board ride is a popular itinerary.
Many of the villagers took the plunge into homestay business – rebuilt their wooden houses into modern units and selling holiday packages since two decades ago.
At 63, Ming Zhu who ventured into the homestay business 20 years ago describes it as hard work and rewarding in many ways.
She is known for her authentic home cook food, prawn crackers, salted fish and belachan (shrimp paste)

Warm and friendly : Ming Zhu, her husband (on her right) and Jen catch up at the couple’s home in Bagan Ayer Masin. With them are their two grandchildren.
Visibly happy to meet Jen, 28, who got to know the couple when he and a group of friends from Singapore holidayed in the village five years ago, Ming Zhu is now a grandmother of 10.
She says she stopped her homestay business 10 years ago and, the rooms are now occupied by her growing family.
Her husband in his early 60s, is the family’s third generation of fisherman in the village.
The couple have five children, including two sons who are also fisherman.
The little village has come a long way, but it is its old world charm that is captivating.