Seri tujuh Beach

Pantai Sri Tujuh is a short distance from my house and very closed to Southern Thailand. If you are driving from Kota Bharu via Wakaf Baharu to Pantai Sri Tujuh, you will pass by a few Siamese Temple along the way. Because of it's closeness to Thailand, many locals from Tumpat can speak Thai language. Here are a few sky shots at Pantai Sri Tujuh

Kelantan Cultural

Dikir Barat - Dikir barat is a style of call and response singing originating in Kelantan . It is well known throughout the Peninsular through local television and performing groups. A dikir barat group, which may be of any size, is led by a tukang karut who makes up poems and sings them as he goes along. The chorus echoes in response, verse by verse. Dikir barat groups usually perform during various festive occassions, and their poems are usually light entertainment and may be about any topic, but are not religious in nature. The chorus traditionally consists of all men, but modern groups, especially those performing on television, often include women. Traditionally, no musical instruments are used, the singing being accompanied instead by rhythmic clapping and energetic body movements. Some groups however do use a pair of frame drums or rebana, a shallow gong and a pair of maracas, for accompaniment. In a typical dikir barat performance, the group will perform two segments. The first is led by the tok juara, who is often the person in charge of the musical training of the group. This first segment usually contains the more complex musical arrangements, and will likely feature the awok-awok singing in unison with the tok juara, as well as responsorial segments of singing, similar to what the tukang karut does with the awok-awok, later in the performance. Though musically more complex than what will follow, the first segment is seen as the "low-key" segment of the performance. The creative leader of a dikir barat group is the tukang karut. The tukang karut is usually a former tok juara who was promoted for his talent in creating spontaneous lyrics, for it his ability to do this that establishes the reputation of the dikir barat group. Leading the awok-awok (chorus) during the second and concluding segment of the performance, the tukang karut sings pantuns—most of which are likely original and improvised on the occasion of the performance, but some which may be known to the audience. (Pantuns are an oral poetry form indigenous to the Malay region, and are not exclusive to the dikir barat.) That the dikir barat uses pantuns does not mean that it is a performance of poetry. The tukang karut is expected to compose lyrics that touch upon life, like any poet, but he can also address social issues, legal matters, animal lifestyles, government regulations, and human foibles. The tone can be satirical, sarcastic, or simply humorous, but above all it is expected that it be clever. The tukang karut makes up and sings lyrics on the topic of the performance (which may be pre-established or simply the choice of the tukang karut), and the awok-awok sings the same lyrics back to him. During the performance, members of the awok-awok clap and perform rhythmic body movements, which bring energy to the performance.VIDEO DIKIR BARAT KLIP:- http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dikir+barat+kelantan&aq=0 --> Dikir budu --> Anak tupai

Wayang Kulit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang_kulit Wayang is an Indonesian and Malay word for theatre. When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theater, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. "Bayang", the Javanese word for shadow or imagination, also connotes "spirit." Performances of shadow puppet theater are accompanied by gamelan in Java, and by "gender wayang" in Bali. Wayang Kulit is a popular shadow puppet show in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially those in Kelantan and Terengganu, and also in Johor. The origin of the theatre is still remained a mistery, but it was brought to Malaya hundreds of years ago. Wayang Kulit is a very unique form of theatre employing the principle of light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. Wayang Kulit plays are invariably based on romantic tales, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, "The Mahabarata" and "The Ramayana". Some of the plays are also based on local happenings (current issues) or other local secular stories. It is up to the conductor or "Tok Dalang" to decide his direction. The Tok Dalang is the genius behind the entire performance. It is he who sits behind the screen and narrates the story. With a traditional orchestra in the background to provide a resonant melody and its conventional rhythm, the Tok Dalang modulates his voice to create suspense thus heightening the drama. Invariably, the play climaxes with the triumph of good over evil -->Bunga Andani Bunga Andana -->Said nak bini VIDEO WAYANG KULIT KELANTAN KLIP :-http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAFyD77USui8

Lata Rek

Lata Rek is one of several river attractions in Kelantan. It is a series of cascading waterfalls, each no more than 20 metres tall, that stretches about 100 metres long. This charming river tends to be on the dry side during the dry season. But, it can be quite a sight during the monsoon season which falls between November and February.
Contrary to the usual damp and humid environment that envelop most waterfalls, this place appear arid. This is typical of the terrain on the eastern coastline, the influence of the strong wind and heavy rain from the South China Sea bring very heavy downpours and extended period of drought, broad and sandy basins are testimonies to this effects. Because of the shallowness, Lata Rek may not be an ideal place to go swimming. But you will enjoy dipping your feet into its clear, cold waters nevertheless. For those seeling quite solitude, Lata Rek

Siti khatijah Market

Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah (Siti Khadijah Central Market) in Kota Bharu is arguably the most oft-photographed market in Malaysia. Perhaps it is because of its unique architecture. The market is housed in a 3-storey, octagonal building which has translucent dome roof with its spiderweb-look frame.

This allows sunlight to penetrate and illuminate the central area on the ground floor where the wet market is located. And this is also where the familiar scene of the market activities are normally captured by photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, thanks to the ambient light that provides interesting and even lighting on the pretty large area.

Kelantan other than Terengganu is famous for its enterprising ladies. Most of the traders in any market in Kelantan are ladies and at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah it is no exception. Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah was formerly known as Pasar Besar Buluh Kubu. It was Tuan Guru Dato’ Hj Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat the Kelantan Mentri Besar (chief minister) who aptly changed its name to Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah after he took over the Kelantan State Government in 1990. Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah was named after the first wife of The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Siti Khadijah (r.a) who was a very successful businesswoman herself. It was also a mark of recognition to the enterprising Kelantanese ladies who occupy most of the stalls and shops at the central market.

I have intended to photograph the market for quite some time before but I didn’t get around to doing it whenever I went to Kota Bharu until 2 weeks ago when I managed to spare some time to capture the interesting market scene. However because I went on Friday which was a weekend in Kelantan the activities were less busy than usual and some traders closed their stalls.

Nevertheless I was happy I managed to bag several decent photos that I am able to share with you here for your viewing pleasure. Hope you enjoy viewing it!

Inside – wet market located on the ground flo

Outside the market complex

Stong Waterfall

Gunung Stong (1390m), Gunung Baha (1395m) and Gunung Ayam (1480m) are situated in the Jelawang Jungle, near the village of Dabong in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. The Stong waterfall, at a height of 305m, is claimed to be the tallest in South East Asia (which I doubt so - 300m is not very tall for a waterfall, and I've seen taller one at Kinabalu.)

There are many limestone caves near the vicinity of Dabong village, among the popular ones are Gua Gelap ("Dark Cave"), Gua Kris ("Kris Cave", Kris is a Malay sword), Gua Pagar ("Fence Cave") and Gua Ikan ("Fish Cave"). Sadly, Gua Ikan had been badly vandalized by graffiti, leaving only the other three worth exploring. Arrange with your guide if you wish to go for cave exploration.

To get to the base from the train station, you'll first need to walk across the village to the "Teh Tarik" river. There you take a boat ride across, follow by van from the river to the base. At the base of the Stong waterfall was a resort which is now out of business. There are two trails from the base that lead up to Baha Camp - the Jungle Trail and the Waterfall Trail. The later is more scenic and provides you with a more intimate look at the waterfall, but it is slightly more challenging and there is the risk of flash flood on a rainy day.

Baha Camp is situated near the edge of the 305m vertical drop of Stong waterfall. At the camp is a kitchen cum dinning hut for you to do your cooking and eating, and there are plenty of camp grounds in the surrounding areas. There are also a limited number of huts available for rental if you prefer not to camp, and each hut has a double bed in it. Further upstream from Baha Camp are several cascades and pools where you can swim and dip in. There are also several natural water slides where you can have fun sliding down.

Stong is well know for it's spectacular sunrise. To experience it, wake up early in the morning at about 0630 and get over to "Lover's Rock", which is the giant boulder at the very edge of the fall. The breeze before dawn can be quite chilling, so do remember to bring along your jacket or wind breaker.

Our group consisted of 2 teams - team 1 would attempt only G. Stong alone in 2 days, while team 2 would attempt all three mountains in a 3 days trek.

Irama Beach

Irama Beach / Pantai Irama
(Beach of Melody)

Irama Beach (Beach of Melody) It also name as Beach of Melody whose exquisite beauty has inspired a lyrical name. Pantai lrama (Beach of Melody) situated in the district of Bachok about 25 km south of Kota Bharu.

Many who have been Irama Beach have come back declaring it the most beautiful beach on the entire east coast! So, it is believed that Irama Beach is the most beautiful beach in Kelantan.

Irama Beach is a hit with picnickers and.campers alike. It offers choice picnic spots and eating stalls. Indeed, the beach lives up to this claim with good facilities, clear waters and gentle slopes. It has stretches of clean, white sand, swaying palms and casuarinas. It is no wonder that throngs of people visit the place year after year.

Bisikan Bayu Beach

Bisikan Bayu Beach / Pantai Bisikan Bayu
(Beach of the Whispering Breeze)

Pantai Bisikan Bayu (Beach of the Whispering Breeze) Pantai Bisikan Bayu or Beach of the Whispering Breeze - a name so beautiful truly befits the location. It is also known as Pantai Dalam Rhu.

This beach is located both north and south of the village of Semerak in the district of Pasir Puteh, about 50 km away from Kota Bharu. Tall casuarinas offer restful shade where families can enjoy a picnic. The gentle breezes rustle the casuarina needles producing a hushed sound.

There is also lush greenery around the area that makes lazing under the sun a lot cosier and relaxing. Surfing can be good at certain times of the year, and wind surfers will find excellent sport.

Tok Bali Fisheman Jetty

One of the biggest tourist draws in the east coast of Malaysia is Perhentian Island which lies off the coast of Terengganu state. Most tourists depart for the island from the Kuala Besut jetty terminal in Terengganu. However, another jetty in the neighbouring state of Kelantan also offers boat services to the island. The jetty at Tok Bali, Kelantan, presents tourists with an alternative travel route to Perhentian Island in boats and ferries that are both comfortable and safe.

The jetty at Tok Bali, Kelantan, presents tourists with an alternative travel route to Perhentian Island in boats and ferries that are both comfortable and safe.

The Tok Bali Jetty Terminal is located about 48 kilometres from Kota Bharu. From there, the trip to the island takes only about 45 minutes on Symphony Travel and Tours express boats – the only boat operator at the jetty. Tok Bali’s proximity to Perhentian Island makes it ideal for travellers who prefer a shorter boat journey to the island.

Symphony Travel and Tours has four passenger boats that accommodate up to 30 persons each. The boat leaves Tok Bali at 7 am, 10 am, 12 pm and 4 pm, and departs from Perhentian Island at 8 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 5 pm.

Single journey ticket prices are RM30 for adults and RM15 for children and can be purchased at the ticketing counter at the Pengkalan Chepa airport as well as at the Tok Bali Jetty Terminal. There is free and secure parking at the jetty terminal.

There is a pretty intense competition between Kuala Besut and Tok Bali. Tok Bali often gives taxi operators deep commissions to take tourists there. The distance between Tok Bali and Kuala Besut to the Perhentian is pretty similar - so no lost time. Personally, I prefer Kuala Besut as the infrastructure is more organized.

Pantai cahaya bulan

Cahaya Bulan Beach / Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB)

Formerly known as the Beach of Passionate Love or Pantai Cinta Berahi, this is a picture post card beach. The name was then changed to the current name, which means the "Moonlight Beach". This lovely stretch of shimmering sand is perhaps Kelanian's most famous beach. Its warm golden sands and crystal blue waters amidst tall and graceful palms encourages one to just lay on the sand and bask in the sun. Fringed by swaying casuarinas and coconut palms, providing the ideal place for picnics, camping and relaxation. It is the perfect getaway for the world-weary.

The beach stretches to about 1.2km. Cahaya Bulan Beach is definately a croud puller during the weekends, popular among the local to bath under the sun and cherish the tranquility offered by the natural beauty of the coastal East Coast. The abundance of cultural and artistic shops decorating the path to Cahaya Bulan Beach adding to its charm and beauty to this stretch of beach.

Visitors can stop by the multitute of artifat shops while passing some scenic villages and discover some of Kelantan's rich heritage, including batik prints, songket, kites and copper-tooled handicrafts. Feel free to drop by and have an hands-on to understand the technicality of producing such an intricate artifacts as most of the outlets welcomes visitors.

Kelantan History

History
Though not much is known about Kelantan's early history, Chinese historical documents date back the history of Kelantan between 8000 and 3000 BC. These documents chronicle the existence of a government, which maintained links with China. Kelantan was subsequently referred to as "Ho-lo-tan", "Chih-Tu" and "Tan-Tan" in these records.

The territories of Kelantan and Patani came under Siam in the 14th century. Around 1411, Raja Kumar, the ruler of Kelantan, became independent of Siam and Kelantan became an important centre of trade by the end of the 15th century.

In 1499, Kelantan was conquered by forces of the Malacca Empire and became its vassal state. With the fall of Malacca in 1511, Kelantan was divided up and ruled by petty chieftains. With the conquest by the Siamese in 1603, most of the Kelantan chiefs became subject to Patani. Around 1760, a petty chieftain of Kubang Labu in Kelantan succeeded in unifying the territory of the present Kelantan. Soon after in 1764, Long Yunos seized the throne and proclaimed himself Raja of Kelantan. With his death, Kelantan came under the influence of Terengganu.

In 1800, Raja Muhammad declared himself as the first Sultan of Kelantan. In 1812, he broke from Terengganu's influence and became a separate tributary state of Siam. In 1831, Siam divided up the old Malay Kingdom of Patani into 7 provinces each under a Siamese Governor. Siam played an important role in Kelantan throughout the 19th century.

In the 1909 Anglo-Siamese treaty, Siam surrendered its claims over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis in exchange with the British government for territorial claims in Siam. Kelantan thus came under the control of the Straits Settlements as one of the Unfederated Malay States.

Kelantan was occupied by the Japanese on 8th December, 1941. After the defeat of Japan in August 1945, Kelantan and the rest of Malaya came under the British Military Administration in September 1945. Kelantan became part of the Federation of Malaya on 1st February, 1948 and together with other states attained independence on 31st August, 1957. On 16th September 1963, Kelantan became one of the component states of Malaysia.


Climate
Kelantan enjoys a pleasant tropical climate. It is almost summer all year round with refreshing intermittent rain. Longer and heavier rainfall is observed in November, December and January. Daily temperature ranges from 21°C to 32°C.

Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Kelantan is between February and May as rainfall is relatively less at this time of the year. The July festival that is held here also attracts lots of tourists.


Tourist Attractions/Places to See

Kota Bahru: Kota Bahru, the capital of Kelantan is a bustling town famous for its ornately decorated trishaws. It is the best place to appreciate Kelantanese culture and crafts and offers numerous attractions for visitors.

Cultural Centre: Located on Jalan Mahmud close to the Perdana Hotel, the cultural centre is a veritable showcase of the living heritage of Kelantan.

Istana Batu (Royal Museum): Istana Batu was designed and built in 1939 during the reign of Sultan Ismail I. It was used as a venue for royal weddings as well as to house royal guests. Today, it has been converted into the Royal Museum where regalia and palace items belonging to former Sultans are on display. These include silverware, bedroom items and furniture from the royal household.

War Museum: The War Museum occupies the oldest brick building in Kelantan, dating back to 1912. This historic building now houses Japanese memorabilia and documents relating to World War II.

Islamic Museum/Syura Hall: The history of Islam in Kelantan is well documented in the artifacts and inscriptions exhibited here.

Istana Balai Besar: Built by Sultan Muhammad II in 1840, the Istana Balai Besar was formerly the residence of past Sultans. However, it is now used solely as a venue for official state functions.

Handicraft Village and Craft Museum: Kelantan's exquisite range of handicrafts is on display here. Silverware, "songket", batik and woodcarvings are exhibited and are for sale as well.

Gunung Stong: Kelantan's highest mountain, it is home to Fish Cave or Gua Ikan, a lone rock that looks like a fish.

Merdeka Square: Once known as Padang Kelupang, it is one of the many central open and civic spaces in Malaysia built by the British.

Masjid Kampung Laut: One of the oldest mosques in Malaysia, its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was built entirely without the use of nails.

Pantai Cahaya Bulan: This lovely stretch of shimmering is Kelantan's most famous beach. Fringed by swaying casuarinas and coconut palms, the beach is a big hit with the tourists.

Pantai Irama (Beach of Melody): Situated in the district of Bachok about 25 km south of Kota Bharu, Pantai Irama is believed to be the most beautiful beaches along the entire east coast.

Pantai Seri Tujuh (Beach of Seven Lagoons): Venue of the International Kite Festival, this beach lies on the border of Thailand and Kelantan at Kampung Tujuh in Tumpat, about 7 km from Kota Bharu.

Shopping
Kelantan offers a great variety of local handicrafts. This is supplemented by merchandise from Thailand, which is available at the Malaysian border towns of Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubur. In the shops, richly coloured silks are displayed alongside batik scarves, prints and songket textiles.

Some of the famous shopping places in Kelantan are Bazaar Buluh Kubu and Jalan Temenggong. Bazaar Buluh Kubu is a three-storey shopping complex and contains great variety of locally made souvenirs, knick-knacks, batik, gold and silver songket, fine silverware and imported Thai goods.

Jalan Temenggong is a street lined with craft shops selling gold and silver jewellery, textiles, brassware and woodcarvings.


How to Reach Kelantan
By Road: There is an excellent network of roads linking major towns in Peninsula Malaysia to Kelantan. There are regular air-conditioned busses operating from
Kuala Lumpur and major towns to Kota Bharu.

By Rail: Train services from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan terminate at Wakaf Bharu and Tumpat. From these two points, one can get to Kota Bharu either by taxi or bus. Stop over points en-route include Gua Musang, Kulal Krai, Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas.

By Air: Malaysian Airlines operates daily flights to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur and Penang.