Kelantan is considered the Malay heartland, and Kota Bharu is a diverse, interesting city that is well worth a visit.
There are many things to do and see in and around the Kelantan capital, so here are five to get you started.
1. Visit Pantai Cahaya Bulan
Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) is the most famous recreational beach in Kota Baru.
It was formerly called Pantai Cinta Berahi (Beach of Passionate Love) before it was changed to Beach of Moonlight.
There are rows of food stalls selling local delicacies and kite flying is a popular pastime, or just chill out and relax and watch the sun go down.
2. Eat ‘celup tepung’ and other delicacies
While at Pantai Cinta Berahi, treat yourself to a grazing meal from the food stalls near the beach.
The most famous is the celup tepung – seafood, fish balls and sausages deep-fried in a tempura-like batter.
Make this a side to luscious crab noodles or some spicy tom yam. Be warned though – since this is a tourist spot the prices are on the higher side.
3. Buy a batik kaftan
As the heartland for Malay culture and traditions, Kota Bharu has a thriving arts and heritage scene.
The Kelantanese are well known for their batik painting, and what better souvenir than a Kelantan batik kaftan to wear once you get home.
Prices range from RM10 to hundreds of ringgit, depending on the quality of the fabric or whether the kaftan is stamped printed or hand drawn.
4. Eat at Siam
With the Recovery Movement Control order in force, popping over the border to Thailand is not an option.
But you can satisfy a craving for Thai food by heading over to Siam. The food is amazing and it tasted just like in Thailand.
One of the more interesting sounding dishes was daging harimau menangis (crying tiger meat) – barbecued beef served with a hot dipping sauce. Or try the stuffed homemade sausage.
5. Visit Pasar Siti Khadijah
Last but not least on the list is a visit to Pasar Siti Khadijah – a must for the shopaholics out there. It is interesting to note that almost all the sellers at the market are women.
Many things are available at Pasar Siti Khadijah, from fabrics to batik shirts and kaftans, to local snacks and local delicacies.
A visit to Kota Bharu is not complete without stopping in at Pasar Siti Khadijah.
Khai and wife Amira are Malaysian travel bloggers who blog at Kaki Jalans. Their travels have taken them to almost all the countries in Asean and five countries in Europe. They are still actively travelling and adding to this list.