My Taste of Trengganu

Food tastes best when savoured at the place of origin, no doubt about it. During our four-day stay in Trengganu we had the best, whether cooked by our gracious hosts, bought, or eaten out.

Our hosts, Datuk Nazli and Datin Badariah, spoilt us no end while we were staying at their Villa Casuarina in Paka, Trengganu. The lunch that greeted us when we arrived was a sumptuous spread of Nasi beriani Arab with chicken, and accompaniments of dalca, kerabu, sambal, etc. All cooked with the Trengganu touch. Really delicious! I even tried eating watermelon 'Geganu style with the rice, not as the usual dessert. For dessert, it was the man of the house's specialty - tapai with ice-cream. Truly, really delish!

                                                                     Our first sumptuous lunch spread

                                                        This tapai with ice cream was just divine!

                                         My lunch plateful of nasi campur on our second day

If our lunches were sumptuous spreads, our late afternoon teas and dinners were served alfresco. With the soft sea breeze around us and later at night, under the moon and stars, food and friends were a heady mix. Euphoric, even.

There was keropok lekor (the best I have tasted), cucur udang (also the best), ketupat sotong* (my first time trying this and I like it). Then there was a night barbecue of the freshest meat, especially seafood (including the sotong of course).

One teatime we had the pleasure of being guests of DB's mother in Kuala Trengganu. Our very elegant host prepared a whole table-full of goodies including a very delectable creme brulee. Another good friend in KT added laksang to completely satiate us.

*Ketupat sotong is the highlight of our visit here because it is squid season and the time for the International Squid Jigging Festival in Kuala Trengganu. At least three of us have expressed an interest to go squid jigging next year. We were not prepared (or scared?) for this year.

                                          The best cucur udang and keropok lekor for tea

                                          My plateful of ketupat sotong

                                         Dinner of mee goreng +, under the moon and stars

Our last dinner was even more special, because not only were we joined by our friend DR and husband, but the chicken chop was specially prepared by our host DN and served with a secret sauce. It was indeed very, very good. (So DN, when do we get the secret recipe? Just kidding!)

                                                       DN's specially prepared chicken chop with secret sauce. Yummy!

And what is a Trengganu visit without a breakfast of the ubiquitous Nasi dagang? Of course our hosts ensured we had the best in Paka during our first breakfast at their Villa Casuarina. Other breakfasts included pulut with kelapa, nasi lemak, nasi goreng, etc.

                                          The best Nasi dagang in Paka 

                                        Breakfast pulut + kelapa to eat with ikan masin or serunding

Then there was the pre-lunch snack of more sotong during our day trip to Kuala Trengganu. This time sotong bakar at the Pantai Batu Burok. Although this is not my snack of choice, some of my friends really love this.

                                                       Julia is ever smiling and ever ready to serve you from her truck

Are you drooling already? Then get up and go holiday makan-makan in Trengganu!

29 May - 1 June 2015

Charmed by the people of Kuala Trengganu

Kuala Trengganu was a day trip for us from Paka. We did the very necessary - visiting Pasar Payang (officially Pasar Besar Kedai Payang) to buy 'made in Trengganu'. The market was busy as ever, and with the start of the school holidays, even more so. I love markets, and the more chaotic the better!

Pantai Batu Burok, sotong bakar, nasi ayam lunch

An elegant host to a sumptuous tea

Again, very much in progress, what can I say?

The Pasar Besar and a Sweet Surprise in Dungun

Dungun

Pasar Besar

The sweet surprise

Very much in progress, ces't la vie!

Paka by the South China Sea

Just posting some photos here before I retrace my post later and write a proper account of our fabulous stay in Paka.

Very much in progress!
29 May-1 June 2015

A Trengganu Road Trip

It was a most interesting road trip to Trengganu and I can only try to do justice to the venture at a later date. So my posts will only be very brief introductions before I try to beef them up later. First an overall look at our Trengganu trip in late May-early June.

1. We were most graciously hosted at the Villa Casuarina in Paka; our hosts thoroughly spoilt us with very kind hospitality, including cooking up the most delectable dishes!

2. We made a road trip up to Dungun for the market, the views and a sweet surprise!

3. On another day, we went to Kuala Trengganu. Again to be received with the utmost gracious hospitality and lunch and tea treats. Also a foray into the Pasar Besar Kedai Payang.

29 May - 1 June 2015

Retro: A Trengganu Vacation Album (1999)

Our Trengganu vacation in July 1999 15 years ago was a prize won. Yay! My second time to this East Coast state of Malaysia with family - A, B and my sister CY. I do love Trengganu and it was a fun trip based at the Sutera Beach Resort. We also did get about to see the wonderful sights in Kuala Trengganu and thereabouts and meet up with B's college friend and family.
Note on the trivial: A third time for me in Trengganu was official for a meeting, so not much getting about then.
Note on the not so trivial: These are re-photos, so they are rather so-so ...

A very early dawn arrival in Kuala Trengganu ...

Trishaws in front of Pasar Payang, Kuala Trengganu

Market jetty opposite Seberang Takir

The Sutera Beach Resort at Kg Rhu Tapai, Merang, 35 km from Kuala Trengganu. Beautiful beach front and infinity pool.

A batek shop in the Marang district

A dried fish sundry shop

The fishing village of Rusila in the district of Marang, 12 km from Kuala Tregganu. Famous as an Islamic learning centre for the common folks of the state.

Another batek making place

The Masjid Terapung Tengku Tengah Zaharah (floating mosque), 10 km for KT town centre.

With B's friend and her parents at the Sutera Beach Resort

July 1999

Traipsing Trengganu

From Kelantan we continued our road trip down the coast to Trengganu, also a first time for me! We had friends in Kuala Ibai who kindly put us up at their home by the beach, and introduced us to authentic nasi dagang - delicious breakfast fare, I must say.

In the capital Kuala Trengganu, Pasar Payang beckoned, also Pantai Batu Burok. There was also our quick foray to see (and buy) batik at the Nur Arfa Batik factory/showroom. The quality of batik in Trengganu is said to be better than its neighbour Kelantan, and I fully concur.

B in the vicinity of Pasar Payang, KT (CNB 1991)

Pantai Batu Burok (MN 1991)

But the highlight was our stay at the Tanjung Jara Beach Hotel (now Resort); the beautiful Malay style timber buildings that won the Aga Khan Award for architecture. The setting was wonderful, and the golden beach, quite flawless.

Welcome to TJBH (CNB 1991)

A & cousin Hazwani at TJBH (CNB 1991)

Awaiting breakfast at the TJBH (CNB 1991)

An early morning pose at TJBH (BB 1991)

Posing with the Aga Khan award (CNB 1991)

The golden beach at Tanjung Jara, Dungun (CNB 1991)

One very dark night, from the TJBH, we were taken to Rantau Abang, to see the giant turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. We were lucky to come across a beautiful one that had just laid her eggs, and watching the behemoth creature haul itself herself down to the sea was a sight not easily forgotten.

A giant turtle heading back to sea (CNB 1991)

We also made it to Tasik Kenyir. It was just a look-see really, as we did not have the time for a house-boat stay on the lake. This largest artificial lake of South East Asia borders the states of Pahang and Kelantan and is a haven for freshwater fishes.

A, Hazwani, Bro AW, B and moi at Tasik Kenyir (QA 1991)

We wanted to spend a night in Pulau Kapas, but we missed the last boat and so had to stay at a nearby lodge in Marang. Believe me, I can still remember the katak (frog) in the toilet and the putrid smell of the pillows. No doubt from the sweat of a thousand backpackers! But Marang beach is picturesque, the locals very friendly; only we were quite sad to come across a dead turtle there, strangled by the fishermen's nets.

B & A (very serious) & the pretty boats of Marang (CNB 1991)

The local children on Marang beach (CNB 1991)

A really sad end to a very beautiful creature (CNB 1991)

1991