The amazing thing about this extraordinary labu sayong (water pitcher) is that the special local clay is semi- permeable porous but yet does not leak stored water and the temperature of water stored in them will drop to as low as 19C compared to outside air temperature of 27C in hot tropical countries like Malaysia.

The reason for the drop in stored water temperature are due to the semi-permeable porous clay that allow water to evaporate on the surface of the labu sayong (water pitcher) and during the evaporating participation process, it lowered the water temperature.

The traditional way of making labu sayong involves using the hands to mould the clay into the shape of a "labu" on a piece of solid wooden plate like platter.  (Pottery wheels are not used in traditional Malay pottery making.)
 

After these labu water pitcher pots have been shaped and semi dried, they are smoothed with pebbles and decorated by engraving. Several traditional artistic techniques are use by hands to batik stamp, drawing, carving and painting to add some design on the surface of the labu sayong.

Upon completion, it is allow to air dry for a week before firing it in a small dome shaped bricks wood fired kiln at 1,040 Celsius for 6 to 8 hours before removing it while it is "red hot" dried paddy husks poured over it that will... ... immediately catch fire to create and to impart a black sheen colored labu sayong   When no paddy husks are used, the finished clay labu will have a natural light brown. But the color can range from yellowish brown to rust red, depending on the  inherent minerals and iron content residing in the clay.

The leaders of the Malaccan empire retreated south to Johor, where they re-established their power.

The eldest son of the Sultan, however, soon headed to the north, where he accepted an offer to become the first sultan of Perak.

Today, only Perak among the Malaysian states possesses a royal house descended directly from the rulers of legendary Malacca.

Sayong -- home to the labu sayong at Kam-pung Kepala Bendang where this particular type of water pitcher originated, is about 30 minutes drive from Ipoh on the Perak River in West Malaysia--a village 10KM from; Kuala Kangsar -- the home to a long line of royalty.

This royal town, being the forerunner of Malaysia’s famous rubber industry, it is no wonder the first rubber tree that was planted in the country stands in this town.

Of the first nine rubber trees planted with seeds from the Kew Gardens in London brought by first Perak Resident Sir Hugh Low in 1877, today, one of the original still stands next to the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council building.
In this royal town, stands the magnificent Istana Kenangan completed in 1931 as the residence of Sultan Iskandar Shah, the 30th Perak Sultan who ruled between 1918 and 1938.

What is most intriguing about Istana Kenangan, was that it was built without a blueprint or a single nail. The entire building is painted in the three official colors of the Perak flag representing the three branches of the royal family - white, yellow and black.