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Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia »
August 18, 2010
16:00. Last day in Kuala Terengganu. The city is dead, as usually. Some shops are open, the bus station operates, but otherwise tere is nothing that would indicate any social life. It's Ramadan time. It becomes busy only around half past five in the late afternoon - everyone shows up at open markets to buy food. They stock up and wait with their prised possessions in plastic bags at the park until 7:20 pm, when a firework marks time to eat. And I must say the this wait is worth all the suffering - Malaysian food is really tasty and there are many kinds of it. I am not thrilled to be during the Ramadan here, but at the same time, while I miss on seeing a bit livelier cities, I am having a chance to explore the local cuisine easier than it would be without Ramadan. This food fare happens every evening now in designated areas, with constructed tents and spaces for each vendor. Every one goes there - the food people and the hungry. So, thanks to Ramadan, I am seeing all the culinary goodies in one place. I tasted a few things - you can't eat it all in just a few days, but I have been also guilty of becoming addicted to cooked in banana leaf sting ray. They serve it with some magical spicy souse, which they pour it over the fish after it's done. The whole thing swims basically in it. Then a couple of lime-like small fruits except that they are orange on the inside and sour yet sweet at the same time. I had it three times in a row. I can't stop, and every night I buy a bigger one. Combined with rice or local pastry to soak the sauce in, which is not just a regular bun but some local specialty, it's a simple dish but to die for.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. People waiting with their food baggies. In this particular photo there are only women, but that's just coincidental.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. My last supper in Terenggu - of course a sting ray. A whole half of it, as usually. The fish, quite big, is 8 Ringgit, which is about dollar 2.50. And of course - eating is done with fingers.
Mornings are different though. Only tourists look for food. Local Chinese eat in Chinatown, and Indians go there too or go to their own places. I skip waiting for McDonald's and KFC opens at 3 in the afternoon - way too late. But every morning I go to sit on the street in front of the KFC for about an hour and use their free WiFi. At least they don't turn off the internet! I am there every day, guiding new tourists as about the times when the food establishments open and where to find food now.
This morning, after my internet session, I went to Chinatown again. Had a small snack of veggies and an egg. Then went to an Indian cafe for milk coffee - 1 Ringgit.
Yesterday, and today, I did the two things I wanted to do here before leaving this town. One was going to see the Kristal Mosque, and the other one was a trip to a place where they build traditional wooden boats. Both were great.
I haven't written my yesterday's entry yet, so I will do it now. That's about the mosque. Today is the 18 th, so you can read about it on the August 17 page. See you back in a few hours!
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I am back! It's almost 9 pm. I am stuffed.
Now to what happened today. I went to Palau Duyong, a place where they build traditional wooden boats - the traditional way. It was very interesting. They let me to climb on the boats and see the inside. I felt like I'd like to be on a boat again.. There were two boats - the bigger one was just still just a shell without a deck, and the other one during the finishing period. It was awesome to see the skeleton of the boat, what they use and and how it's put together.
This place is a short bus trip from Terengganu - just a few kilometers. After the visit I just walked back.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong - the traditional boat making place.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong. The second, smaller boat but closer to the finish.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong. The second, smaller boat but closer to the finish.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong. The second, smaller boat but closer to the finish.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong. The interior, as well as exterior, is made from hard wood.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Palau Duyong. There are two engines on this boat - the main one and a smaller auxillary one (top).
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. There were fishing boats visible from the bridge on which I walked on the way back from Palau Guyang.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Photo: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. And this how under the bridge looks like. It's a pretty long bridge.
So, tomorrow I am off to another city. I am not sure yet where I will sleep, but it will be somewhere close to Kota Bahru. I am going to Palau Perhentian, so I might endd up all the way there. Most likely it will be Kuala Besut - this is where you catch a ferry to the island.
I am going to upload this entry at the KFC hot spot tomorrow morning, walk a little around, maybe to the market and snap a few more photos, then pick up my bag and off to the bus station. Now I am going to sleep to the lovely sound of rain. See you later!
Oh, I am going to the Palau Perhentian, and I will have no internet there, so if you don't hear from me for a few days don't worry - I am OK.
My life has always been about freedom and I shall continue to walk this path.
Safe travels ! ........... Stan
Check out my Photography Portfolio
stan@ancientnomad.com
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