Sunday, January 30, 2011

My beloved hometown, Kelantan

Kelantan, a state located in the east of Peninsular Malaysia. Also known as "Cik Siti Wan Kembang state". The state capital of Kelantan is Kota Bharu. I am Kelantanese and also goes to my father and mother, but because of my father is a teacher so we are always moving to other places.


What is so special about Kelantan? Actually Kelantan is also known as "Shopping Heaven". The popular places that people normally goes for shopping are Rantau Panjang, Pengkalan Kubur, Wakaf Che Yeh and Siti Khadijah Market. Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor is duty free place and located at the border of Thailand and Malaysia. Mostly people go there to buy Thailand product such as sport shirt, shoes and cooking utensil. This places is popular because people can get cheap Thailand product.


Wakaf Che Yeh is kind of night market that really popular in Kelantan. Selling food, dresses and a lot of other thing is one of reason why people love to come here. Siti Khadijah market is general market located at the center Kota Bharu. Selling fresh food such as vegetable, fish, chicken, clothes and dresses and popular with "Tudung Bawal Center" and also selling other food such as "Serunding", "Dodol", and a lot more.



Hmm... When we are talking about food, that's remind me about my favourite food that I will eat each time when I go back to Kelantan. The food that i like such as Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Tumpang, Nasi Dagang, Jala Mas and Nasi Belauk. Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Dagang and Nasi Belauk is being sell every morning in every restaurant or stall in Kelantan. This food is daily food for Kelantanese. But then it is different for Jala Mas because it is the special food that will be found when Ramadhan season.

As a Kelantanese I welcome all of you to my beautiful state and I am very sure that you will love this state as much as I am. Thats all for today, i'll see you next time.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Attending my friend's wedding at Temerloh, Pahang

Today I have an invitation to attend a wedding ceremony at Temerloh, Pahang. Temerloh is the "Center of Peninsular Malaysia" and well known as "Heavens for Patin Fish Lover". Temerloh has been rebranded as "Bandar Ikan Patin", which  mean  "Patin Fish Town". Temerloh also is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River.



Temerloh is a town where I stayed before, when my father was posted to one of the Secondary School  as a teacher. I stayed there for 3 years studying from Form 1 to Form 3 in in one of the secondary school. The thing that I love most  in Temerloh is its famous Sunday Market situated in front of the Temerloh Stadium. This market is known  as "Pekan Sehari" to locals. This Pekan Sehari is a one day open market,  it is said to be the largest  and the longest market place  in the whole of Pahang State. For fish lovers, there are several varieties of freshwater fish sold here. Some freshly caught from the surrounding villages.  Fishes that are really popular  here such as  "Patin", "Talapia" and "Baung".


Fish price sold  here is quite reasonable.  In Temerloh, you will find a lot of signboard showing places where they are selling this fish. From this fish they created the famous dish where locals call it "Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak". Most of fish lovers will not miss this opportunity to enjoy "Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak". Tempoyak is a kind of paste..... actually a process "Durian".... added  with sugar and salt and kept for several days before taken. So the taste is bit different  from fresh Durian.


Along the way to Temerloh from Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, I pass through a place call Bera. This is the place where you can find 'Tasik Bera', fishing heaven for aglers to catch exotic fish like Patin, Baung and also Talapia.

Another popular place in Temerloh,  is "Gunung Senyum" which  offers jungle and wild-life experiences and the most popular place is Gunung Senyum Recreational Forest, a paradise for nature and cave lovers and it is just about 20 km away from Temerloh. Gunung Senyum is located at Bukit Rengit, Lancang. Anyway if you are planning a vacation trip, there is nothing to loose if you list Temerloh as one of your stop over. I am sure you won't feel regret to be in a such nice place especially with your family. That's all for today ... daaaa see you in my next trip bye.

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Green of Cameron Highland...

Cameron Highlands is one of the most popular highlands retreat around Malaysia.  The place that most Malaysian people love to go to enjoy the highland and the fruits such as Strawberries, fresh green vegetable and with variety of flowers. Traveling to the highlands is different from going to the beautiful sun, sea and sand of which Malaysia has many good ones around, especially the Terengganu, Kedah and Sabah beaches

I have been to Cameron for several of times because it just take two and half hours  from my house to Cameron Highland. Last month i planned on a trip to Cameron Highland with one of my friend. We decided to stop by at Lata Kijang on our way to Cameron. Lata Kijang is one of waterfall recreation and it just 30 kilometers before Cameron Highland from Tapah, Perak.


We arrived at Cameron Highland about 1 p.m after picnic at Lata Kijang. After resting a while at Jasmine Budget Hotel at Berinchang, we walking about 5 minutes to Night Market. At Berinchang, there were regularly night market every Saturday night and Morning Market every Sunday. So for those who like to buy fruits, vegetable or any kind of souvenir from Cameron, they will not miss up to this opportunity to go to this two market. The market quite special because the price that they offered are seriously  different from any other place at Cameron. Sometimes they can offered u 10 things with just RM10.


Another place that i like to visit when i am in Cameron is Tea Plantation that stated at Tanah Rata, Cameron. After shopping, We drove down to the tea station, which is situated beside a tea plantation, to have some hot beverage and take some pictures of the scenery. As usual, i ordered two cups of strawberry tea and a set of scones. Can not describe the feel and the taste. So yummy and feel so relaxing because while eating and drinking we enjoying  view of the tea plantation.

For those who love green don't miss the opportunity to visit Cameron Highland, a place that suites to honeymoon, relaxing mind, family vacation and etc.  Hard to describe the feeling for being there. Anyway, feel it by yourself.. hahah daaa

Travel to Mabul Island....

Before Jun 2010, i never know about Mabul island, that stated in state of Sabah, Malaysia. But then the day already come for me to visit Mabul Island and it is undoubtedly the water around the island and not the island itself that is the main attraction of Mabul Island.


I am the person that don't even know how to swim nor diving. Quite scared and nervous but then for non-divers like me, Mabul Island will be a heaven of relaxation and God the view is so nice... Can't even describe the green and blue color of the island..
Mabul is just a small place and small enough to be explored entirely on foot. There are no roads or cars in the island. It is just boats take visitors to various diving and snorkeling sites around the island.


I have been there with 16 of my friend and we stay there almost 3 days. But 3 days is not enough for us because we really enjoyed the view and all the things out there. Last day before all of us going back to Samporna, Sabah. We have been taken to a place name Kapalai. Oh My God, if i said that Mabul so damn beautiful, Kapalai is 10 times more beautiful than Mabul.  


In Kapalai, u can see the crystal clear waters and a floating paradise like no other places. It just take  30-45 minute trip from Mabul Island by speedboat, Kapalai island is one of the many beautiful diving havens out of all the island around Sabah. However, Kapalai is truly unique because it is not quite an ‘island’ because u can't even see sand beach around the place.

For me there is no regret for visiting Mabul Island and Kapalai and i will be there for second trip soon... Waiting for me Mabulllllll.... Im coming for u. hahah