One of the ‘must-eat’ seafood delicacies when you visit 
You’ll have to find and catch the ambal hidden and buried in the alluvial sand and we were fortunate to see how it was caught on our paddle to Bako National Park early on Saturday morning in the ebbing tide when we saw a small group of women on the mud flaps. These ladies ‘ambal hunters’ were dropped off there during low tide when the sandy mud banks are exposed and they would be picked up by boat again before the tide rises back submerging the banks.
In the past before the areas were disturbed by the sand dredging activities at the mouth of Sungai Bako, they could easily collect several kilogrammes before the tide returns. But sadly these days, they would be happy to be able to collect even 1 kilo which they’ll sell to a guy who buys from them at RM14/- a kilo back at the village. It’s backbreaking work for the money but mercifully the weather was slightly overcast that day. We decided not to disturb them as it takes concentration to catch the ambal and we watched silently while I took a few snaps.
Here’s the fine art of catching the bamboo worms:-
- Poke the sand with a sharp stick to disturb it so that the bamboo worm will reveal where it is hiding buried in the sand. A small hole will appear on the sand surface directly where the worm is hiding as it moves a bit when disturbed by the poking.
- Dip the thin ‘satay stick’ in the special potion (made from ground heated ‘siput’ shells and sea salt) and poke the stick straight down the small hole opening.
- The above would irritate the clam so much that they would wiggle to the surface to avoid/escape this rude intrusion.
- Quickly pick up the clam! Ta-dah!
Apart from the impact of sand mining, the waters around Bako are pristine in the absence of any other developments and industries, the ambals and other shellfish caught in the area are very safe for eating without the worries of heavy metals or other pollutants.
So, bamboo worms hunting anyone?
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
can eat raw anot? just suck & swallow!
wuching - i think it’s too sinewy to chew but if u just wanna swallow it u’re not goin to taste anything at all! so what’s the point?
normally if you order bamboo clam or ambal at seafood restaurants,they dont clean the “inside” of the ambal.i prefer to clean them and fry them at home with big onions and some curry powder - nyamai asai..!
very nice story on the bamboo clams. Enjoyed it !
THAT is the best thing since CLAMS!!! it tastes sooo goood.. *yum* omg.. i think i’m drooling…
OOOH!! Monkey’s penis hahahahahahahaha..Wuching, when u come here..will feed u and ur Mrs. some then u can tell people how it taste like…u can try it raw if u want…but don’t blame us if u law sai
QV, is that what u call them? nice anot? if not nice u have to eat them all for me!
its nice..very delicious…definitely worth trying…fried with curry powder and chillies..yum yum
ok, will try..but no lau sai wan please!
i LOVEEEEEEE bamboo clams! especially with onions and curry powder. O.o
I can’t get them here in kl … :’(
i wanna go home to eat ambal…
hehe.
Very cool. Interesting opinion. I think you should write more often. Try to make some money on theflyper.com ! You’re talented.
its firs date to this blog, its nice ! keep work…..
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