LOOFAH SPONGE

I have seen quite a number of loofah sponges sold at wet markets in Ipoh.  Some people use them for scrubbing during bath time, my late Aunt May used them to scrub her pots and pans. 

Here is the loofah before it is dried.

Here is more info about the loofah..

What is a Loofah Sponge"
Natural sponges are harvested from either sea animals or vegetable plants, namely gourds. Loofah, or luffa, sponges are produced from long, thin gourds and are much harder and more abrasive than sea sponges. Most often, loofah sponges are used for scrubbing and exfoliating dead skin. Often seen for sale in stores in the form of back brushes or exfoliating mitts, loofah sponges also make ideal scrubbers for pots, pans and surfaces, such as counter tops. The loofah gourd is an amazingly versatile, no-fuss plant that is relatively easy to grow in warm climates. Making homemade loofah sponges is not only possible, but fairly easy to do.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_5137588_loofah-sponge.html#ixzz2yYTF3wNS