K'tan post: Kelantan, food and shopping.

Whenever I’m in Kelantan I’ll be hunting for these; nasi kerabu, nasi berlauk (usually fish with ikan kering), nasi dagang, laksam, Sun Too’s chicken chop and special ice kacang that comes with buah kabung and ice cream, gelotok, daging kering, White House’s steamed bread and etok to be eaten with my rice. All in Kota Bharu. At night whenever we felt that the night is still young, we’ll drive around for food and scenery before finally settling down for some teh tarik and nasi tumpang.

Eating in Kelantan, especially in Kota Bharu, is heavenly especially in the fasting month where numerous bazaars selling traditional and local food crop up. From the sweetest dessert to the most delicious ayam golek @ roasted chicken can be found at the most unbelievable low prices. One of my favourite bazaars was the one in Jalan Hamzah where rows and rows of my favourite food stalls stretched to the point that you would give up surveying all among the huge crowd and resorted to buying at the stalls nearest to you. (Note: beware of typhoid and food poisoning, hygiene is still the utmost priority.)

In short, Kelantan is one of the amazing places for food lovers. Sweet, as one may literally put it here. And of course, there is another famous association with Kelantan, which is shopping, mostly for the women. To the women, for a peaceful shopping trip to Pasar Siti Khadijah in Kota Bharu, leave your men and boisterous children to indulge among the numerous shops selling all sorts of tudung of all names and grades and patterns, along with the beautiful cotton batik caftans and sarongs. 1 hour is not enough, that’s why I advised you to leave the men and children to find their own amusement while your flocks bargain to your heart content. Duty – free shopping at Pengkalan Kubo also I can say mostly for women because aside from Thai – branded stuffs, the other sex would just be there to pay for your newly acquired table wares, clothes, wedding preparations, knick knacks and so forth. For the men, I suppose you can go sight – seeing around Kota Bharu city, hit the museum with your kids, take pictures near the palaces and SUK building or settle down at nearby warong (coffee shops) and chow down the above food.

Here is one webpage that can give you an idea of some of the famous Kelantanese food and travel info. Hope you guys find it helpful.