China Town

"China Town is actually a row of prewar old building at Jalan Kg Cina. These buildings are believed to be the residence for the Chinese from China mainland who arrived in Peninsular Malaysia in the 19^th century. Most of the houses are 2 stories, with brick or concrete structure and wooden flooring in the second storey. Some still keep its wood carving on the windows and huge heavy wooden front door whereas some were turned into the renewed modern concrete building.

The colourful long roof has created a unique and beautiful photographing spot for photo taking especially in evening before the sun disappears from the sky.

These century old building are now sundry shops, local coffee shops, offices for several tour operators, batik and souvenir shops, restaurants etc. Recently there are people who buy over the house from the original owners and turn it a ‘swiftlet house’ for their bird nest business.

There is also a Chinese Temple painted in red colour standing at the corner. The local believe that ‘Goddess’ of the temple has given them very accurate guidance and ‘protection’ during the hard time, therefore there is always worshipers redeem their vow to the God."

http://www.terengganutourism.com/city_town_kuala_terengganu.htm
http://www.pbase.com/kenkeoh/kuala_terengganu_china_town
http://interesting-place-in-terengganu.blogspot.com/2006/04/kampung-cina_18.html

Marang

"Marang is 20 km from Kuala Terengganu. It is a gateway to the famous Kapas Island and Gemial Island.

It was once a tiny fishing village with only two rows of wooden houses in the town center, and other old wooden Malay houses with zinc roof spreading in the village which is separated from the town centre by a shallow river. This little town was called the ‘cowboy town’ in those days. Several groceries shops and guesthouses lining on the street, joining with old residential houses, making Marang a favourite stopover for tourists especially free-independence-travelers or backpackers before they jump onto a boat and head to the island.

However, the rapid development in the state especially the tourism industry in mid 90s, these old houses were demolished and replaced by modern concrete shop lots, leaving only the fishing village.

Even so, Marang today remains greenly with lush vegetation and old Malay village houses. The villagers are still maintaining their simple traditional life style and belief while the remaining little old fishing village is still standing among the coconut trees. If you are keen for photography, the fishing village can let you snap at any time, in any topic, till you are satisfied.

Marang river safari is another good attraction, you can book the trip with the tour operator, the boat will take you cruise along Marang river where you can enjoy a picturesque view of mangrove forest. You also can see animals that live along the river such birds, monitor lizards, monkeys, crabs etc. The boat trip stop at Jenang traditional village, where you can witness the villagers making coconuts sugar, weaving for attap roof and monkey plucking coconuts.

April to June is time for fisherman in Marang to go for squid jigging (Candat Sotong ). If you do not have seasickness problem, try candat sotong, boat departs around 7.00pm and reach the jingging point near Kapas Island in 45-60 minutes. Then you may try your luck. The squid are attracted to the light and tent to cluster around boats where fluorescent lamps are lit. A jig is a weighted lure with nine hooks arranged in a circular pattern at one end. The other end is secured to a fishing line. Normally the fisherman can land 30kg to 40kg squid a night, if the boat anchored at the right squid shelter or lubuk, its can easily land up to 100kg during a night of jigging.

During fruit season, market in the town center is a good place to get all kind of local fruit for the season. Villagers from inner Marang area will bring their harvest to sell their products in the market every Wednesday and Saturday, the market also know as pasar minggu (weekly market). If you happen to be in Marang on Sunday (Marang market) or Friday (Kg Sungai Kerak), visit the night market that start around 4.00pm end 8.00pm.

You can visit this fishing village by taking a bus from Kuala Terengganu to Marang or Rantau Abang."

http://www.terengganutourism.com/city_town_marang.htm
http://shw.fotopages.com/11598007/pemandanagn-dekat-jeti-marang.html
http://www.cuti.com.my/Sub/Terengganu/guide_marang.htm

The OLDEST and LARGEST CENGAL tree in Malaysia

"In the vast Pasir Raja Forest Reserve bordering the National Park, stands the world’s oldest and largest Chengal tree. Known for its remarkable quality and durability, The Malaysian Book of Records estimated it to be 1,300 years old with a diameter of 16.75 meters at the base and grows to a staggering height of 65 meters."

http://vacationoflife.blogspot.com/2006_08_23_archive.html

Songket Terengganu

"After graduating in 1975, Bibah was employed as a designer at Malaysian Handicrafts in Terengganu, acclaimed as the home of finest woven songket. Two years later, she join her husband in managing the Malaysian Handicraft centre in East Malaysia, in the state of Sarawak, where she came in contact with another weaving technique - the pua kumbu.

What impresses Bibah most as far as the pua kumbu is concerned, is the incorporation of warp ikat, tie-dyed pua in which the threads of the two weft have been tied together for the dyeing process, reflecting mirror image patterns. Such high fascination it was that when Bibah began using this weft technique, it was a revolution in the craft of songket weaving.

In 1982, with the breadth of experience over the years, Bibah started her own songket enterprise called "Bibah Songket" at her residence in Chendering, Kuala Terengganu. From there, her passion continues to fuel her creation of masterpiece songket as if it were fine art, and her dedication has not gone unrecognised. Bibah was given the commission to produce songket sarongs as gifts for Britain's Queen Elizabeth during the Head of Commonwealth Conference at Langkawi in 1989. The recipients of many songket design awards, including the award trophy in the Biennial Wicitra Competition in 1984 organised by Malaysian Handicrafts and the Best Textile in Traditional Design category in the same year that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, her songket today graces the interior of Mutiara Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Istana Melawati, Menera Tun Razak, Shangrila Hotel in Putrajaya, and Petronas University, just to name a few."

http://www.bibahsongket.com/bib/index2.html