7 minute read
Terengganu: Of Beaches And Beyond
Kampung Seberang Takir Mosque is set to be the new Islamic-inspired architectural marvel in Terengganu.
Terengganu:
Of Beaches and Beyond
Text & Images by SHAHIDA SAKERI
Pristine tropical islands. Crystal clear waters. Powdery white sands. Turtles. These are just some of the mental images conjured when we talk about Terengganu. Though these are true depictions, this east coast state’s allure does not just stop there. Now with a newly completed Islamic-inspired architectural marvel, an unexplored eco-tourism spot, and an interactive living museum, Terengganu’s tourism offerings now become more diverse, appealing to a wider range of travellers with differing preferences.
Read on to discover the full list of attractions meant for a well-rounded itinerary that travellers may use for their next visit to Terengganu…
Start the journey right by being immersed in local culture at the recently launched Terengganu Cultural Village, a living museum where travellers can peek into the life of local communities. Expect to be blown away by the impressively restored traditional houses, along with the number of activities that travellers can partake. Some of them include batik-colouring, weaving, playing traditional games and donning beautiful traditional attires. This is also the place to shop for impeccable artisanal batik and songket at affordable prices!
Entrance fees are: MYR15 (adult) and MYR10 (child) for MyKad holders; MYR30 (adult) and MYR20 (child) for international travellers; MYR10 for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Merchang Lestari
Explore the untouched ecosystem of Merchang, Terengganu, where fishery and agriculture are the area’s main economic activities. The local community here under the supervision of Majlis Daerah Marang initiates a new community-based tourism offering called Merchang Lestari, a programme that allows travellers, especially those who are into eco-tourism, to cruise along the Merchang River, learn about the wild herbs on Pulau Ranggut, catch Nipah crab (mud crab) using traditional equipment called bito, find clams, and savour fluffy coconut pancake, which is Merchang’s delicacy, popular for breakfast and teatime.
Drawing inspiration from the iconic London Tower Bridge in England, this first drawbridge in Southeast Asia was officially opened to the public on 2 June 2019, linking Kuala Terengganu city centre and Kuala Nerus. Take the time to go up to the skybridges, where you will get to admire the juxtaposition of the modern and the old Terengganu as far as the eyes can see. On top of this, the state government has many plans in the pipeline to turn this drawbridge into a major attraction. It even bagged the ‘Best New Tourism Icon’ award during the Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2019.
Pasar Payang 2
Shop for genuine Terengganu batik and other unique Terengganu souvenirs like songket and local snacks at Pasar Payang 2, the shopping hub for anything Terengganu. It is located within a new building not far from the old Pasar Payang that is currently undergoing a full renovation. The new site has 762 lots and other facilities such as toilets and Muslim prayer time. The market opens every day, from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Tips: There are two signs that travellers can look for when trying to differentiate the genuine Terengganu batik from the counterfeit ones: 1) Genuine Terengganu batik features the same pattern and colour on both sides. 2) Genuine Terengganu batik has no serial number printed on the fabric.
Kampung Seberang Takir Mosque
Located by the riverbank of Seberang Takir, travellers can reach this newly completed mosque by driving through the Terengganu Drawbridge. Alternatively, they can opt for a breezier ride via water taxis that can be found easily at both Pasar Payang and Shah Bandar’s jetties. The mosque was originally built during the administration of the seventh Terengganu Chief Minister, Tan Sri Ibrahim Fikri Mohamad, in the 1960s. The building got old over time, and eventually attracted the attention of Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, the 14th Chief Minister of Terengganu. He then gave the order for the mosque to be renovated, with a new gallery dedicated to Terengganu’s heritage and culture added into the design. The whole project costs approximately MYR2 million to complete and features the distinctive limas roof style.
Terengganu Monsoon Surfing
Travellers tend to shy away from the east coast during the monsoon season, typically characterised by angry waves, torrential storm, and strong wind. But do you know that Terengganu has some of the best beaches for surfing activity that are surprisingly popular during monsoon? The surfers usually frequent beaches like Cherating and Batu Burok from late October till February or March; but of late, the beach at Pulau Kekabu, Marang, is starting to appear on surfers’ radar too. In fact, the state government plans to make the Terengganu Monsoon Surfing Competition as an annual affair at Pulau Kekabu. In 2020, the competition drew 65 entries of surfers from across Malaysia, including some renowned Malaysian athletes who have competed in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Every inch of the traditional house at Terengganu Cultural Village is carefully assembled, sending visitors back to the past era.
Clockwise from top, left: Coconut pancakes go perfectly with a cup of hot tea on a breezy evening; visitors get to experience finding clams with their bare hands at Merchang Lestari; take the chance to don beautiful traditional costumes for free while exploring Terengganu Cultural Village; the village is also where visitors get to witness how keropok lekor being fried by only using sands; and take time to learn weaving skill from the masters at Terengganu Cultural Village; the iconic Terengganu Drawbridge; some of the beautiful Terengganu batik fabrics that visitors can purchase at Pasar payang 2; and a surfer is seen waxing his board before his surf session at Pantai Pulau Kekabu.
WHERE TO EAT
Kedai Che Ngoh RM1
Kedai Che Ngoh at Kampung Alur Limbat presents a spread of more than 80 breakfast items including local delicacies that are uniquely Terengganu. The best thing is, all items are priced at only MYR1 each, making the shop a food haven for all foodies! Be sure to try deliciously authentic local snacks like pulut nyor and tepung bunga when you are here!
Adil Roti (www.facebook.com/adilroti16/)
Located under the Sultan Mahmud Bridge, Adil Roti is the breakfast hot spot in town that serves over 40 types of flat bread and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. The bestseller here includes ‘roti sarang dinosaur’ (‘dinosaur nest bread’), which is made from a flatbread that is so flaky outside, yet fluffy inside, then topped with soft-boiled eggs and generous amounts of chicken kebab.
Ali King Soup (www.facebook.com/alikingsoup)
Established since the 1980s, this shop dishes out unique recipes to all locals and travellers alike. Our favourite here is the beef noodle soup, but if you’re feeling adventurous, try out the shop’s eel soup, colek kaki ayam (chicken feet salad), kateh (cow’s leg) fried rice and colek perut (cow stomach salad), which all have received raved reviews.
Dine in while enjoying the relaxing river breeze at B’Beteng, which aptly means ‘riverside’ in Terengganu dialect. The restaurant is conveniently located within many tourists’ favourite attraction, Taman Tamadun Islam, so swing by this restaurant when you feel peckish after exploring the theme park. The menu here is diverse, but the seafood dishes are worth a try!
Clockwise from top, left: Ali King Soup’s menu offers light yet satisfying meals that are perfect for a quick pick-me-up; ‘Roti Sarang Dinosaur’ by Adil Roti is loaded with a whole lot of flavors guaranteed to satisfy even the most picky eater ; the food at Kedai Che Ngoh is packed well in advance to help the customers choose the items easily.
