Merdeka 2016 Roadtrip

Merdeka 2016 Roadtrip

31 Aug - 3 Sept 2016 (Wednesday to Saturday)

4D3N

3 pax

Green View Garden, Tanah Rata

31 August 2016 (Wed)

0700 - 1200 : Penang to Gua Musang

1200 - 1300 : Lunch in Gua Musang

1510 - 1545 : Reach Tasik Kenyir. Take pics

1700 - 1730 : Check-in @ Seri Malaysia Hotel Kuala Terengganu

1900 - 2000 : Dinner @ Air Buah Pak San

Lake Kenyir

Evening in Kuala Terengganu

Air Buah Pak San

1 Sept 2016 (Thu)

Subuh & Sunrise

Breakfast

Taman Tamadun Islam (didn't do)

Muzium Negeri Terengganu

Lunch at B'Beteng

Masjid Kristal

Kota Lama Duyung (didn't do)

Ikan Celup Tepung

Sunset

Kuala Terengganu

Terengganu State Museum

Crystal Mosque

Chinatown Kuala Terengganu

2 Sept 2016 (Fri)

Subuh & sunrise

Breakfast

Chinatown

Pasar Payang

Check-out from Seri Malaysia Hotel

Check-in at Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa Cherating

Dinner

Pasar Payang

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque

Teluk Bidara Beach

3 Sept 2016 (Sat)

Subuh & sunrise

0800 - 0900 : Breakfast

0930 - 1000 : Check-out

1105 - 1230 : 

Muzium Sungai Lembing 

Sungai Lembing Mines (Tai Pei Tong)

1800 - 1900 : Dinner & head home

Cherating

Sungai Lembing Museum

Hanging Bridge in Sungai Lembing

Budget Estimate

Budget for 3 pax, 4 days 3 nights

Accommodation = RM1000

Meals = RM1000

Fuel & Tol = RM400

Shopping = RM300

Entrance Fees = RM200

Estimate RM967 per person

Expenditure

Actual spending

Accommodation = RM895 (RM299/person)

Meals = RM165 (RM55/person)

Fuel & Tol = RM245 (RM82/person)

Entrance Fees = RM69 (RM23/person)

Average RM459 per person, excluding personal shopping.

Note: The huge difference between estimated budget and actual spending is because we skipped Taman Tamadun Islam and cruise. I also overestimated fuel and tol budget =P

Kelate Roadtrip Overview

Gang Penang Ke Kelate
Date: 3rd - 5th June 2016 (Friday to Sunday)
3 pax

A few days before fasting month, we visited the Land of Good Food a.k.a Kota Bharu, Kelantan. I didn't get to have the delicious laksam special during my visit on Labour Day so I was hoping that I'll get it before fasting.

  We left Penang in the morning and used the scenic East-West Highway a.k.a Gerik-Jeli Highway. Everyone should see this highway at least once. Drive safely though because the road can be quite dangerous especially at night. It is nothing like the more modern PLUS Highway.

East-West Highway

There are many gorgeous spots along the way as you'll be passing mountains and lakes and forests. Take your time to stop and take photos but be sure to choose safe areas to stop. Hentian Titiwangsa and Belum Rainforest Resort parking are among the popular stops. There is also a monument near Sri Banding Army Camp to commemorate those who died during the highway construction.

Hentian Titiwangsa (rest stop)

By noon, we arrived in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. It was too early for Friday prayer so we just took photos and drove to Krung Thip Restaurant for lunch. It was closed :(

Beijing Mosque Rantau Panjang

We also went to Mok Su Nasi Sup Daging Bakar but it was also closed :( 

  So we went directly to Adni Studio homestay and checked-in.

Adni Studio KB City Point

In the evening, we went to AEON Mall Kota Bharu to buy some supply before heading to Tambatan Diraja to catch sunset. Once dark, we walked a block away to see the Muhibbah wall murals. 

Kelantan River

Lukisan Dinding Muhibah

If you're a fan of mango sticky rice or pulut mangga, remember to have some at Restoran Selera Kampung Padang Bank just a few steps from the wall murals.

Next, we went to get my laksam fix. Remember, the restaurant closes every Saturday and opens late in the evening (go after 4 pm to be safe).

By-T Laksam Special

Second day, we woke up early to hunt for sunrise.

Raja Gali River at sunrise

Kundur Beach

Then breakfast at our favourite Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo before walking to see Palestine street art near our homestay.

Air halia telur puyuh

Mural Palestin at Medan Ilmu Kota Bharu

Before going back to the homestay to rest, we had brunch at Nasi Kak Wook.

Nasi Kak Wook Jalan Telipot

I can't remember why but we were late going out for sunset. It was kinda dark when we reached Senok Beach so we didn't get to take pics among the trees. Tak dapat feeling-feeling Nami Island.

Senok Beach Lighthouse

Light dinner was at Pantai Cahaya Bulan. Luckily the shop we chose served nice fried thingy. I even tarpaoed some for midnight snack. Remember to choose Wan Zainab Seafood!

The next morning, we went to Pasar Siti Khadijah for last minute shopping. I bought some flowers for bathing and the boys bought lunch from the food court. And yeah we bought fish crackers and serunding as well.

Flowers for flower bath

Rantau Panjang Free Trade Zone

Before noon, we checked-out and left for Rantau Panjang before heading to Penang.

Wan Zainab Seafood, Pantai Cahaya Bulan

Wan Zainab Seafood

Pantai Cahaya Bulan

This time, I tried a different shop and although the shaved ice wasn't as pretty as the other shop, the batter fried thingy tasted wayyyy better than the last. So do visit this one to avoid risk of biting into almost-rotten food on stick.

Batter thingy. I dunno what they are called. (RM2 - RM3 per stick)

Shaved Ice (ABC) *love love love*

Taste - Good

Price - Fair

Ambiance - Average. Ventilation could be improved.

Overall 3 <3<3<3 of 5

Serimas Murtabak Diraja, Kota Bharu

Serimas Murtabak Diraja

Hajah Nik Faizah bt. Haji Nik Abd Rahman

Section 4, No. 19, Jalan Merbau

15300 Kota Bharu

Kelantan Darul Naim

(+609) 748 3898

Shop Outlet

Wisma Yusmah (along Billion Mart)

Jalan Long Yunus

Kota Bharu

(+6019) 984 7660

Operating Hours

Saturday - Thursday : 0900 - 2100

Closed of Friday

Murtabak diraja or royal murtabak (martabak) is roti canai-like (pancake) filled with eggs and savoury minced chicken or beef, about 3 times thicker than the normal murtabak.

The place I went to looked like a normal house if not for the streams of visitors and delicious smell wafting from the kitchen. Apparently, they also sold a variety of Kelantanese traditional cakes (kuih) and people phone in to order in advance. 

At first, I had no idea what people were buying. Some looked like sliced mangoes but they were piping hot! So we asked a kind guy behind the counter and he told us a list of traditional cakes, none of which I was familiar with (or even catch the name). 

Based on Google and from what I can remember about the cakes' shapes, I'm guessing these cakes:

Akok

Buah Tanjung

Jala Mas

Cek Mek

... and God know what else. Really, I've never even seen some of them before. But they are popular with the locals. There was a queue and some people simply went into the kitchen to collect their order.

Other stuff sold here

Since I didn't catch any of the names given by the nice seller, I decided to just buy murtabak as planned.

To be honest, I am not a fan of murtabak since most people just packed them with onions. I like the one from Khalifah Restaurant near my place and this Serimas Royal Murtabak. I even like their pickled onion (I mean the liquid part. I don't eat the onion) and I'm a fussy eater!

Chicken (RM14)
Beef (RM15)

Frozen Murtabak

 Heat in microwave oven or pan for 8 minutes at 100ºC

Serve hot

Good for 4 portions

Finding this 'house' is a bit tricky. It is opposite Maahad Muhammadi Perempuan. Look for a small lane and the house is just behind a used car dealer and a workshop.

This is the 'shop house' of Royal Murtabak!

Telephone them in advance to book if you fancy the traditional cakes. Many customers had to leave without their akok cakes; I'm guessing that akok is another specialty of Hajah Nik Faizah :)