We made a stopover in Pusa. Initially, I was told that Pusa translates to “cat” in Bahasa Sarawak. I later found out that Pusak (with a k) also means cat in the same language.
Interestingly, Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, also means cat in Bahasa.
I learned that Pusa is classified as a Pekan, a populated area falls between the size of a village and a city. It is renowned for its Ikan terubok (Toli shad fish) and gula apong (palm sugar). The residents of the Pusa area are predominantly Malay and Iban, with a small Chinese population. The majority of the population engages in farming and fishing. However, the younger generation from the Pusa Region has achieved success in various sectors and has worked in various other industries.
As we parked the car, we strolled around the town area, searching for a kopitiam to grab a bite. The burning sun heated our skin while we walked through the peaceful pekan. While most of my friends headed to find a toilet, I explored the small shops, curious about the things they were selling. Since there weren’t too many options in town to eat, we decided to drive a bit further.
I wanted to quickly look around and I stumbled upon a sign that read “Kamek heart Pusa”. I heart Pusa. Intrigued, I followed the sign and discovered parts of an amusement park, including a flying swing ship, a colorful little train, surrounded by semi-green grass. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was still in use. Next to it, I noticed a wet market. As it was late in the afternoon, not many people were around. Only one stall was selling goods, creating a serene atmosphere.
The rimbas river flowed alongside the wet market. I recorded some videos and walked back to the car. However, when I reached the parking area, the car was nowhere to be found. I didn’t immediately panic because I knew there was more to explore and how far away could they have gone?
“Where are you?” I heard a voice on the phone when I picked it up. I walked back and noticed empty food stalls that are part of a night market. This place would be a nice place to visit in the evening, I thought. I got into the car, and we continued our search for a place to eat.