Souvenirs of Terengganu

I like to tell you about the possible souvenirs available in Terengganu that you can bring home either as a remembrance or to give away to your friends. There are many types of souvenirs that are sold in the shops and markets at affordable price.

The souvenirs that I have in mind are handicraft (clothes, batik, songket, hats, mengkuang mats and basket, bamboo and rattan baskets, silver brooch, brass ware, t-shirts, key chains, wood carving plaque,etc) and food (dried and fresh).

Dried food like fish crackers, prawn crackers, dodol, local biscuits while the fresh food are nasi dagang, keropok lekor, sata or pais which can easily go bad if you do not take care. I know there are many other souvenirs that you might take home are not listed here. It is your choice.

Small baskets made from mengkuang (pandan leaf).

Colourful food cover made of mengkuang leaf and the bamboo trays can be good souvenirs. It is so unique.

Tepak Sireh

Tepak Sireh (made of brass) has its set like kachip and 4 small container. Kachip is used to cut the areca nut. The small containers are used to put lime (kapor), areca nut chip, cloves etc. Old people used to munch sireh (betel  leaf with lime paste, areca nut and gambier). Indians also are used to eat this betel leaf. If you are lucky, you can get this Tepak Sireh for RM110.00 per set. You can put this Tepak Sireh in your showcase as an exhibit..

Apparatus made of brass. They are used to make traditional cakes and biscuits.

Key chains.

Key-chains and fridge magnets depicting Terengganu's icon, Turtle are one of the cheapest souvenirs ever sold in the Pasar Kedai Payang. The price range is around RM3.00-4.00.If you buy in dozens, it will be cheaper.Note the container/tray is also made of bamboo that can be a souvenir too.

Traditional daggers like keris and golok. Keris is an ornament now and golok is used in cutting wood or meat.

Songket.

Terengganu's authentic songket of various designs and colours can be a souvenir. The price may vary.  It may cost from a simple hundred to thousands of Malaysian Ringgit depending on quality. The above are price more than RM3000.00 per piece. The RM200-400 is considered okay and have quality. Songket is usally is used as a sampin for Baju Melayu (Malay male traditional dress). The songket also can be used to make lady cloth (kebaya). Now, designers are more creative in using this songket where they mixed with other clothes. Some songket is used as bookmakers, book covers, head gears, tie, graduation robe etc. This is to make variety use of songket  rather than being used as a dress gadget.

Terengganu's batik looks beautiful when you put on these models. This batik cloth is selling around RM300.00 per piece, enough to make a lady's shirt and sarong.

Dodol

Dodol already packed in certain kilograms for you to take home. Dodol is made of rice flour, sugar and coconut milk mixed and cooked for a few hours to become solid. Some dodol maker has put flavour into it such as durian or pandan.

To those interested to buy souvenirs, Pasar Kedai Payang in the town centre and Nor Arfa Craft Complex (NACC) in Chendering (10km away) offer plenty souvenir items. When you buy, do bargain especially when you buy at Pasar Kedai Payang. At NACC, the price is fixed and you can use credit cards. Happy travelling.