When you reach Kuala Terengganu, you certainty must find a good accommodation. There are many types of accommodation to suit your lifestyle. You may choose hotels from 5 stars to no stars at all. Good hotels are limited but you can try Primula Beach Resort, Grand Continental, Felda Residence, Seri Malaysia, Mid-town, Permai Park Inn, Batu Buruk Chalet or inner city hotels with no stars. You also can choose hostels which are located close to the markets or bus station. Or you can stay at homestays in a faraway locations from the city centre. What ever accommodation that you choose, it must be convenient to you in terms of location, price, accessibility (to services like taxi, food kiosks etc) or your itinerary.
Old Palace (Istana Maziah) where the King gives away awards to the chosen recipients.
The palace's other entrance , view from another angle. On the left is a large landscape garden. It was formerly known as Padang Malaya. This padang is used for city folk for gathering, political campaign etc. Not many people knew this history.
For the first day, take a morning walk along Jalan Sultan Zainal Abibin to Jalan Kampong China. You can start from the Grand Continental Hotel to the Central Market (Pasar Besar Kedai Payang). You will notice Dataran Shahbandar (a square) on your right, Old Palace (Istana Maziah) on your left, then continue walking. You will see the Post Office, Bukit Puteri on your left, Jetty to the island (on the right) and finally you reach Pasar Besar kedai Payang. I consider this walk is The Heritage Walk as all buildings around this area are more than 60 years old and it is an old urbanisation area of Kuala Terengganu.
The General Post Office of Kuala Terengganu was built in 1967 after the old wooden office was demolished in 1966. It can be considered as one of the heritage buildings. Inside it, there were big old oil paintings (mural paintings) drawn in 1960's by a local, Mr. Chew Teng Beng, a teacher-turned artist.
Bukit Puteri, viewed from Padang Malaya. It has a big chime (we call it genta). This chime will sound to mark the opening of fasting during the Muslim month of Ramadan. It also functions as a light house in those times. The staircases going up the hill is built next to the Post Office and the Information Centre.
This market sells many things, ranging from food to clothings. When you buy, do bargain. The market opens at 8.00 am until 5.00pm. The upper floor has food kiosk, shops that sell souvenirs, clothes, batik, songket, brassware, dried food such keropok (fish crackers), fish, prawns etc. The ground floor has sundry stores, goldsmiths, fruits, dried food products, traditional food and cakes, vegetables and wet market.
You will be amazed by the local activities which are foreign to you. You can observe and learn unwritten culture display in this market. I suggest you go to the first floor and buy clothes like batik and songket for souvenirs. They are handmade and of different quality. T-shirts are also cheap that you can buy as presents to your friend back home. I suggest you enjoy this area for 2 hours.
Bazaar Warisan (shopping arcade) is the latest addition to this historic area.
Pasar Besar Kedai Payang has many items or products to offer. The building behind is the multi-car parks. On the left, there was a small roundabout with a clock tower. The clock tower was removed in 1970's.
Next walk is to continue to Jalan Kampong China, a Chinese settlement. It has 2-storey shop houses. You can feel this area and it reminds you the similar road in down town Malacca. Take a lot of pictures. Drink a lot of water to keep you hydrated. This road will end when you see Hotel Seri Malaysia, a riverine hotel. Then you can reverse your walk or turn left to Jalan Sultan Ismail until you reach City Council building and turn left to bus station.
Around the bus station, there are many restaurants that you can visit to quench your thirst or eat. There are also a Central Mosque which called Masjid Putih (white mosque) and a taxi station. I suggest you can end your morning stroll here.
Menara Permint which houses the present City Council Office and State Economic Development Corporation.
Kampong China, a settlement of the migrant Chinese ethnic in the early 19th century. It is still exist and being preserved. Look at the road pavement, it was changed from the bitumen to brick pavement.
The Seri Malaysia Hotel, a hotel located in Kedai Binjai next to Kampong China.Behind this building is the Terengganu river.
The central Mosque or Masjid Puteh, a historic building.
Terengganu Museum at Bukit Losong. Its architecture resembles Terengganu's Malay traditional house.
For the evening, you can visit Taman Tamadun Islam (Monument Park) in Pulau Wan Man and Terengganu Museum in Losong. Monument Park has 21 miniatures worth visiting. It is one of its kind in the world. Museum has many collections of Terengganu civilization. Both park and museum are located in same locality. You can take a bus or taxi to these places. By the way, Museum and Monument park are close to each other (you can walk if you like). Both places have entrance fee (museum Rm5; monument park RM25). You need at least 3 hr at monument park and 2 hr at museum (that also it depends on your interest). Museum close at 5.00pm and monument park close at 6.00pm. If you can not complete both places in one go, you can go the next day.
At night, you can take your dinner at many food outlets. But if you want local experience, do visit food court at Batu Buruk Beach. It is lively. You must have your transport as the public transport is not efficient at night.
The day two, you can visit a batik and brass ware factory at Kampong Ladang, near the school. Ask people around, they will tell you. Or you can take a taxi or town bus (C01) to Nor Arfa Craft Centre (NACC) in Chendering (10km from the town towards Marang). It is a craft centre where you can buy more batik and other crafts from this centre. You can watch a demonstration on how batik paintings are made.
On your way back to the city centre, you can visit the Floating Mosque nearby and Terengganu Equestrian Resort (TER) in Kuala Ibai. TER has many horses for you to ride on. TER also has facilities like hotel, games court, conference, swimming pool, bowling centre etc. With these visits will end your second day in Kuala Terengganu. For the night, Kuala Terengganu has limited entertainment outlets. But you can still enjoy the night strolling along the beach especially Batu Buruk Beach or sit around Shahbandar Square watching big screen.
The final day, it is up to you. You can continue your visit to Kapas Island nearby which takes only 1.5 hours from the town. You can day visit to Kapas Island. The take off is at Marang Jetty 12km from the city centre and 20 minute boat ride. Spent half day and rush back to the airport.
You can extend your stay by visiting Redang Island which is 2 hours by boat from Kuala Terengganu (Kuala Terengganu jetty near Shahbandar Square). This island is beautiful and it open from March to early October only. From November to February, the island is closed due to strong winds and big waves which make you unsafe to cross the sea. Here you need at least one night stay. The ferry leaves in the morning to and from the island. You have to plan your itinerary carefully as it involves time, transport and money. Happy travelling.
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