3 impressive experiences in Kota Bharu, Malaysia
With its strong Islamic culture, Kota Bharu is a place where one can enjoy food, architecture, culture, and history.
I am going to share impressive experiences as a Japanese living in Kuala Lumpur.
1. Breakfast in local cafes
Many people in Malaysia enjoy eating out for breakfast in the morning, and we enjoyed breakfast at a popular local Malay restaurant on the first day and at a cafe near the square on the second day.
At the Malay restaurant, I enjoyed a Kota Bharu specialty called Nasi Belauk.
It was not as spicy as it looked, and the rice base made it easy for a Japanese to get used to.
On the second day, I went to a cafe near the Muhammadi Mosque and ordered egg toast and Nasi Kapit, a sweet pastry with a hint of sweetness.
Breakfast at a cafe will give you a glimpse into the life and culture of the local people.
2. Museums and markets in the city center
The city’s Istana Jahar Square is filled with people taking pictures.
The Muhammadi Mosque, a mosque next to the Istana Jahar, offers visitors the opportunity to enter and enjoy Islamic architecture.
The Kelantan State Museum, also known as the Museum of Fine Arts, exhibits Malaysian arts and traditional handicrafts.
The Handicrafts Village displays traditional costumes and crafts, and the museum also offers painting classes and a souvenir shop.
The city’s market, Siti Khadijah Market, offers various fresh fruits, vegetables, pastries, poultry, and seafood.
The first floor is mainly fresh food stores, while the second floor is a food court and bakery store.
Few tourists visit this place, and you can catch a glimpse of the vibrant daily lives of the locals.
3. Coconut juice at a local food stall
We went to a stall selling coconut juice and snacks near a Malaysian friend’s house, about a 20-minute drive from Kota Bharu city.
Inside the stall, the owner cuts fresh coconuts on the spot, writes out the juice and coconut kernels from inside, and sells them as juice as they are.
The owner, a man, cuts the coconuts with a knife and places the fruit and juice in a plastic container.
After that, the women, who appeared to be his wife and daughters, transferred the juice into containers and took care of serving the customers.
This is a rare sight in Japan, so I asked the owner if I could take a video, but he shyly said “No.”
People in Kota Bharu speak English, but since there are many ethnic Malays, the conversation among the locals is mainly in Malay.
According to my friend, it is okay because it is a joke.
So, I resumed shooting.
After that, the owner came to our table again and added coconut as a service, and I realized that he is really a kind and service-oriented person.
The fresh coconut juice tasted especially good because the temperature was so hot in Kota Bharu.
