top of page
Home and Horizon: Weaving Heritage Into the Future
Dear friends, Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to look outward while holding fast to where we come from. About how...
Ikan Masak Rampai – A Brani Jetty Lunch
This dish recalls the jetty-side meals prepared by Hajah Siti, whose kitchen overlooked the straits. As the men returned with baskets of...
Isle of the Brave Ep 5: Continuing the Story
Amira and her cousin, Izyan, reflect on their identities as second generation islanders who were not able to visit Pulau Brani once it...
Isle of the Brave Ep 4: Building a Home
Amira, Mardiana’s daughter, remembers with her grandmother the importance of community on the island. The family home, which was built by...
Isle of the Brave Ep 3: The Move
Azman and Mardiana visit current day Pulau Brani, now a port facility, and reflect on what has changed since their childhoods. They...
Stories My Grandparents Told Us
“So you’ll know where you come from.” When we were children growing up in the flats, my grandmother — Nenek, in Malay — used to tell us...
Ghost Stories from Pulau Brani
When we were children, we loved sleepovers at our grandparents’ on weekends. We would gather after dinner in the living room and they...
Haunted Waters: Ghost Stories and Myths Between Pulau Brani and Pulau Belakang Mati
The narrow straits between Pulau Brani and Pulau Belakang Mati (now Sentosa) have long served as a physical and spiritual threshold....
Siput Laut Lemak Pedas dengan Daun Selasih
Spicy Coconut Tiger Clams (or Whelks) with Wild Basil On Brani, siput (clam) were foraged at low tide by women and children who knew the...
Kerang Sambal Hijau dengan Sayur Laut Acar
Cockles with Green Chili Sambal and Pickled Sea Vegetables When the tides pulled back, Brani’s women would gather kerang (cockles) in...
Ikan Sumpit Panggang
Spit-Grilled Fish with Tamarind & Torch Ginger Glaze In the early mornings on Brani, fishermen would return with speared fish, sun still...
Kupang Masak Lemak Putih
Steamed Mussels in Fragrant White Coconut Broth This dish was once a go-to for Brani’s women after a morning forage along the tidal...
Irish Stew (As Grandpa Made It in the Army)
For cold nights, empty cupboards, and full hearts. Ingredients: 500g mutton or lamb shoulder, cut into chunks (or beef if that’s what you...
Mee Rebus Laut Brani (Sea Harvest Mee Rebus)
A rich, spiced, and slightly sweet noodle dish with a velvety gravy—thickened with sweet potatoes and layered with prawns, squid, and the...
Ulam Brani Segar (Fresh Village Ulam with Sambal Belacan)
A raw herb and vegetable salad eaten with rice and sambal—crisp, cleansing, and nostalgic of warm afternoons and smoky kitchens....
Gulai Ikan Pulau Brani (Brani Island Fish Curry)
A mellow, coastal-style gulai, fragrant with lemongrass and turmeric—shared at verandas when guests visit or when the weather calls for...
Nasi Lemak Bungkus Nenek Limah
My grandmother used to sell this to supplement the family income. Humble, satisfying, and portable—wrapped in banana leaves, eaten at...
Sambal Udang Brani (Brani-Style Sambal Prawns)
A dish bursting with bold, spicy-sweet flavour—made with prawns fresh from the morning haul, with hand-pounded sambal. Ingredients: 500g...
Interview: (Arwah) Hajjah Nafisah binte Mansor
With gentle humour and deep clarity, the late Mdm Nafisah guided us through her memories of Brani — stories of resilience, rituals, and...
Interview: Haji Salim bin Suleh
Historian, footballer, and fierce advocate of Brani pride, Haji Salim shares with us a sweeping view of island life — from his days at...
STAY CLOSE
TO THE ISLAND,
WHEREVER YOU ARE.
Sign up to receive new stories, archival finds, and upcoming events from The Pulau Brani Project—right to your inbox.
SHARE YOUR
OWN STORY
Your memories are part of the island. Whether it’s a family recipe, a photo, or a moment you still carry as a Branian, every story adds to the living archive of Pulau Brani. We’d love to hear yours.
bottom of page