Central Market
At the end of Jalan Bandar (Bandar Road) is Central Market. This 2
storey square building is the hub of K.Terengganu. The ground floor
is bustling with the haggling of vendors selling everyday needs. Fresh
fish such as trevally goes for RM10 a kilo. Women dressed in colourful,
vibrant tudungs (head scarf) and baju (malay top and long skirt) selling
grain, fruits and sundry items. Shops selling brassware, batik items,
books, local medicine. On the top floor, there are more shops selling
a great selection of baju, scarves, songket- handwoven cloth, batik
clothes. Don't worry if you don't have cash with you, many of them
accept credit cards (mastercard, visa).
There are also a number of shops selling colourful malay and indonesian
cakes(kuih). Daintily wrapped in banana leaves, the 'dodol' is a
strange tasting candy. It may take a bit of getting use to for first-timers
- it's goo-ey in texture, is made from coconut and is extremely
sweet. The other local must-have is the 'serunding'. This is usually
sprinkled on rice or on the vegetable/meat dishes. Beef, chicken
or lamb pieces are finely grated, fried in a helping of hot oil
and generously seasoned with red hot chilli peppers. Serunding goes
great with bread too. Try it only if you can take really spicy food.
Occasionally, travelling medicine men are seen peddling their
wares on the side lanes. Talking through their microphones, they
entertain interested crowds with fancy concoctions for all sorts
of illnesses bottled in fancy containers- sometimes throwing in
personal demonstrations for added effect.
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