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 Visitors
to
the Waterfront
of Kuala Terengganu will be in awe of and fascinated by the hustle and
bustle of activities taking place there. Stroll down the waterfront and
watch fishmongers haggling for the price of fish and other seafood, or take
a boat ride to one of the many beautiful surrounding islands. Another
appealing alternative is to take a passenger boat to Seberang Takir, where
the most incredible view of the South China Sea can be seen.
 The
Terengganu State Museum Complex
consists of a Main Museum, a Maritime Museum, a Fisheries Museum, 4
traditional houses and botanic and herbs gardens. The Main Museum is built
on 16 stilts, in accordance with the traditional architecture of Terengganu.
Its 4 blocks are adjoined, to represent a big family. There are 10 galleries
showcasing textiles, crafts, historical, royal, nature, art, petroleum,
Islamic, new generation and contemporary arts.
Approximately 6 km south of Kuala Terengganu is
Sutera Semai Centre
at Chendering. It is Malaysia's pioneer silk weaving centre, where visitors
can witness different stages of silk manufacturing. There, witness the
painting of batik designs onto the fabrics, resulting in beautiful batik
shirts, kaftans, scarves, handkerchiefs, etc.
 Batik
painting is an
exquisite and delicate art which requires skill, patience and
meticulousness. In batik painting, brightly coloured floral motifs are
painted in stages onto dyed cloths. Songket, a piece of dyed silk material
weaved with gold and silver threads, is the clothing for royalties, and
Malay brides and grooms at their weddings. It is also often worn during
special ceremonies and occasions such as on Hari Raya Aidil Fitri (The
celebration which marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month). There
are many Batik and Songket Centres in and around Kuala Terengganu which
produce and sell batik and songket.
 Bukit
Puteri is a 200 m
high historical hill, situated next to Istana Maziah. It was used as a
fortress between the years of 1831 to 1876 to defend the state from enemy
attacks. Some of the historical remains which can be seen on Bukit Puteri
are cannons, a flagpole, a large bell and a fort. Today, as it is the
highest point in Kuala Terengganu, visitors standing on top of Bukit Puteri
can witness the magnificent view of the areas sur-rounding it.
 Istana
Maziah is believed
to have been constructed during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III. It
was built in 1897 to replace the Istana HijalJ which was burned down during
World War II. Located next to Bukit Puteri, it is the venue for royal
birthdays, weddings, conferment of titles and receptions for local and
foreign dignitaries. A product of the blend between splendid modern and
traditional architecture, it is also well-known as one of Malaysia's
cultural attractions.
 The
Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah ,
located outside Kuala Terengganu is just 4.5km away. This is no ordinary
mosque but said to be the only one of its kind in Malaysia. Combining modern
and traditional architectural desighs, the mosque creates an illusion of
itself as floating on water.
 The
Central Market , or
locally known as Pasar Payang which is located by the Terengganu River is
one of the most popular tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu. Housed in a
modern building complete with a shopping arcade and a car park, it offers
visitors a variety of traditional handicrafts such as batik, silk, songket,
brocade and brassware, other fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and
'Keropok Lekor', which is a special local delicacy made from a mixture of
fish and sago. Visitors to this market will have a delightful experi-ence
shopping in local fares at reasonable prices.
Desa Craft ,
formerly known as Usaha Desa, is an interes-ting handicraft centre which
showcases songket, brassware, batik, souvenir items and also fashion wear of
current batik designs. This centre was developed by the Terengganu State
Economic Develop-ment Corporation (SEDC) as part of its effort to promote
Kuala Terengganu as a popular tourist destination.
 Pulau
Duyung is the most
well-known boat building ground in Terengganu. There, you can see boats
being made by skilled boat builders who implement skills which have been
passed down from generation to generation. Boat building is an art form
therefore the boat builders take pride in their skill. The boat builders are
unique, for they work entirely from their memory and experience, and without
any set plans. Pulau Duyung is also renowned for its dried and salted fish,
and fish crackers industries. It is easily accessible by the Sultan Mahmud
Bridge, or for those who enjoy using sea transportation, take a boat from
the Kuala Terengganu waterfront.
Chendering, located approximately 6 km from Kuala
Terengganu, is the site of
the Malaysian Handicraft Centre.
The centre offers visitors a wide variety of Malaysian handicraft and also
an insight into handicraft making. Some of the exquisite items which can be
found here are songket, batik, vases, and mats, hats, wallets and bags made
from pandanus leaves. Visitors will also get a chance to witness first hand
the skills of local artisans in songket weaving, batik painting, basket
weaving, etc.
   
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