Siti Khadijah Market, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

A must visit place whenever any Kelantanese went back to their home town is to shop at Siti Khadijah Market in Kota Bharu. Rest assured that the place is always crowded, extremely crowded during festival time. We, Kelantanese had difficulties driving within Kota Bharu city or any parts of Kelantan small towns during eid, school holidays or other festive season. Everywhere will be crowds of people, who are not only Kelantanese but outsiders tourist and people from other state of Malaysia. Who to be blame? Of course ourselves as most of us are married people outside Kelantan. For example, my husband is from Pahang, my eldest sister also married to Pahang guy and another brother in-law are from Malacca and Perak.

On my last trip, I saw a quite impressive development as there are 2 flyover and overpasses open for traffic in Kota Bharu town. The traffic was not bad as it was not festival season during the period I was there. So, I took my niece, Fazira to shop at Siti Khadijah Market. 

My favourite "etak salai", only found in Kelantan river

Siti Khadijah Market (Pasar besar Siti Khadijah), as its name implies, is a local wet market being named after Prophet Muhammad's wife, whom is known for her entrepreneurial skill, as this market is mostly run by women. Apart from the usual fresh goodies like seafood, vegetables and wide variety of fruits, you can also find ready to eat food like 'ayam percik', nasi ulam and a variety of noodle soups, all unique in flavors and taste of Kelantan, serves freshly for you. Not forgotten the famous taste the local desserts like 'kuih muih'. Kindly visit the webpage, http://kelantan.attractionsinmalaysia.com/SitiKhadijahMarket.php for further information and direction of Siti Khadijah market.

Ketupat Palas

Nasi tumpamg for breakfast

Chicken feet salad good for osteoporosis

Varieties of kueh-mueh

I shopped for 1 piece sampin for my son and few other things. There are varieties of choices 1 can made at the 2nd floor from the famous Kelantan silk to house coat. Check it out in below photos.

Kelantan famous handmade silk

Kelantan latest design of Sampin

Kelantanese lady at her shop, 2nd floor of Siti Khadijah market

Wide selection of tudung

Women's prayer cloth

Last but not least to share with are the photos that I took at the fruits corner. As it was way passed noon time, only few seller was still operating, and I found these 2 Kelantanese men who willing to pose for me while my husband was busy choosing the fruits. These are my favorite shot. The guy in the 1st photo is really creative with his advertisement board placed in between the fruits. I chuckled to my self while taking photos reading those (only Kelantanese would understand the meaning). The guy in black singlet warned his friend not to open his mouth when I took his photo as the man has no tooth left.

I hereby welcome those who wishes to witness and visit my hometown, Kelantan known as "Serambi Mekah" at any time as I assured that you wont be regretting your times and money spent. It's all worth it.

Shabri my brother

I'm the 6th and my brother Shabri is the 5th in our family, a year different in age. My late mother was unsure of my birth date though she remembered it was in August 1966. My late father was working in neighboring state at that time (Terengganu) and couldn't come home to register my birth certificate. Thus, he registered mine as 2nd January 1967 (5 months later). When I was young, I hate everything about me, my name, my birth date, my skin etc etc. I like August month better than January, so, I've chosen long ago to declare on my own that I was given birth on 16th August 1966 following my brother's birth date. My brother was born on 16th August 1965. Everyone knew how stubborn I was (am).

The house, he constructed himself

My brother and I used to be very close until time and distance became a barrier. Most of our sibling who resides outside Kelantan rarely go back after our late parents passed away. The distance became greater, but we made an effort to meet in all special occasions. My sister in-law (Shabri's wife) is an excellent cook. She likes to cook for us whenever we went back to our late parents house in Bachok. So, it was the same on 2nd March - 3rd March 2013. I took numerous photos at their courtyard, planted with vegetables and other stuff beside their livestock (cattle's and sheep's).

Cucumber

6 months old lamb with their mother

Over the time, I saw greater improvements with my brother's working yard. The last I went back, he only had 2 cattle's  but now he has 4 big 1. A mother cow has just given birth to a 2 months calf and unbelievable he turns out so big. 

Beside the cattle, the evening I arrived I saw that they had put up a nice cage for the sheeps. My sister in law was telling me how she persuaded my brother to buy her 3 sheep in May last year. Now, they have 5 as 1 has given birth to 2 lambs. That evening, while waiting for dinner, my nephew and nieces shouted with joy that 1 of the female sheep was giving birth 1 after another until they have 3 lambs overnight. Their excitement and joy on their family faces are priceless.

My brother used to continue working as construction supervisor with my sister and my husband until he decided to retire few years back. 2 years ago, there is a Chinese man who came and encouraged them to take up farming seriously. The guy (they called him towkey) has provided the basic necessities for them to start with. I opined that the Chinese man is a saint, who helped not for money but for his personal satisfaction  I personally met this saint, once, in 2011. May this guy being granted a place in heaven. Amen.

Cucumber flower

Berries for their home made jam

Last but not least, I wish to record for my children so that they will remember to respect and repay the kindness that my brother had given me when I was in Technical School in 1983/84. As he dropout from school when he was about to enter a secondary school (at his own choice and adamant), my brother was working as a construction labor in Singapore. He sent me money, posted under my name regularly. The excitement when I changed the postal order at the post office can still be felt after 30 years. My brother loves me unconditionally. Please remember that, my daughter and my sons. He loves me and he never stop loving me. Therefore, loves and cherish your time with your sibling too.

The above photos are my brother youngest daughter and her niece and nephew @ my brother's grandchildren. He has altogether 3 grandchildren as only 2 of them was married. My brother had 6 childrens, 4 girls and 2 boys.

Rosnani my sister

I'm coming from a large family. There are 10 of us (sibling) and 1 stepsister altogether. My late mother married my late father when she was 16 years old. They had 5 sons and 5 daughters together. When both of them passed away in 2002, we met our stepsister. I'm no. 6 and my sister is no. 4. She's 50 years old when her husband died of cancer in January 2013. When I received the news of her husband death, I was too scared to go back. Scared of being reminded of the pain that I had when my late mother, father, sister Nuraida (no. 8) and eldest brother Mohd Nawi funerals. That was the truth which I never told anyone. Perhaps my best friend (my sister Roshayati, no. 7) would have guessed, but she never asked. Thank sis. My lovely sister, Rosnani is in below photo. 

On Friday, 1st March 2013, I took the opportunity to be with her on special ceremony offering 40th day prayer for her late husband.  It was our ritual for the dead after the 7 days mourning and praying period. I wish to enlighten for those who doesn't know (since Jewish and Muslim are brothers), of Jews observance @ laws of mourning. Similar to Muslim  Jewish funeral will this takes place within 24-hours of death (or if that period overlaps with Shabbat, 48hours) and the body is buried in the ground in a coffin. Cremation is explicitly forbidden for people of the book, including the gentiles. Relatives shall mourn within a seven-day "Shiva" which is where the mourners (the deceased's close family) open up their home to receive well-wishers bringing food and condolences. Jewish has a saying Kaddish, a prayer hallowing God and for mourning the loss of the deceased. Learning Mishnas (Jewish Holy Quran) for the merit of the deceased so that some good can come from the loss of life.

My sister eldest daughter has given birth to a baby boy on 18th day of my brother in-law mourning period. They named him Imran Rasyidin. My niece went back to be with her mother during confinement period of 60 days. My sister and my niece had arranged Imran's aqiqah on the same day. Above photo was my brother Shabri holding on to Imran during "salawat" time. Imran slept throughout the salawat time and did not even uttered any words. Such a fine and nice baby. 

My sister has been blessed with 8 children,  4 girls and 4 boys. Below are the girls with a married 1 (in pink blouse). The girls are very (rather extremely) close with 1 another. During any family gathering, the married 1 will usually forget her husband whereabouts  I always enjoy looking at them 4 from a very long time. As for the boys, the eldest is in Sarawak (married with 2 kids), Ahmad also married with 1 boy and another 2 is yet to be married. Therefore, my sister had all 4 grandsons so far. I pray life will treat her well and she will find happiness with her children and grandchildren.

I'm sharing in this blog3 photos of my 17th grandchildren, Imran Rasyidin at his 21st day. The shirt was given by his aunt's. I have complaint to the girls that pink does not suited Imran but all said it was for a boy.

Tanah Merah, Kelantan

Event date: 1st March 2013

Upon arrival at Tanah Merah train station, hubby took an evident photo that I was there for my journal. Kelantan was declared as flooded state few days before our arrival. God bless, weather was good throughout our 3 days stay in Kelantan. On 4th March 2013, the Kelantan state is declared as cleared from flooding season.

My brother, Shabri was waiting for us at Tanah Merah station with our rented car for 3 days. It was amazing to see an old prototype train at the station entrance. For the record, I was there for the first time though my family spent a great deals of years in Tanah Merah region. My sister, Rosnani had attended boarding school in Tanah Merah (*Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato Mahmud Paduka Raja).

I wish to record below scene forever in my head. Seeing both hubby and his brother in law talking, smiling cheerfully about all subjects in the car and while we went for dinner at my brother's house brought peace to my mind. They are indeed very close item before and from now onwards. Amen.  

Tanah Merah (meaning Red Earth or laterite) is a territory and town in the state of Kelantan, northeast Malaysia.The capital and main town is Bandar Tanah Merah where is situated nearby Sungai Kelantan. It is bordered by Pasir Mas (another territory) in the north, Machang to the East, Kuala Krai to the South East, Jeli to the South West and Thailand in the West. The facts of history mentioned in the history of China  discovered from the website is practically new to me. It was said that historically, Tanah Merah used to be a capital of a kingdom called Chi Tu. Chinese Sui Dynasty records of the 7th century describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu ( mean "Red Earth") was in the area now called Kelantan. The ancient name for Kelantan was "Raktamrittika", meaning "Red Earth" which was later changed to "Sri Wijaya Mala". Chi Tu dynasty along with Langkasuka in Kedah was trading along the Asia route in between 1st to 7th century.

I used to see Bandar Tanah Merah as a small town and often came here with my late father during my childhood days. Today after many years has passed, I've seen seen major changes in the city. Since the last decade when the younger generation started to migrate to the many parts of the cities including Singapore and the Malaysian west coast for higher paying jobs. Money sent back to their families has catalysed growth, expansion and development of the town. The trend is happening to other region of Kelantan, thus, all cities in Kelantan being modestly upgraded.

Even the mosque in below photo had undergone numerous renovation and extension. The choice of color painting matches with the city's decoration. Awesome! 

Tourist may look for a variety of foods and cultural attractions if coming to Tanah Merah, but mostly tourist are more attracted to shopping. For those who want cheap and local products, they can go to Bukit Bunga. There be a variety choices of clothes, house equipment and food and customers can negotiate prices like anything when shopping in Bukit Bunga. Below is the photo taken along the roadside of Bukit Bunga, in very early morning, when it was not yet crowded from tourist.

As for me, I look for a must have Bukit Bunga yummy soup. The soup was still at boiling stage and yet to be ready at the time we arrived. The chef had to expedite when she saw an urge expression on my face. Most recommended for all. The stall is seated next to the junction of the above road sign photo.

Train Ride 2013 - Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan

On Thursday night, 28th February 2013 hubby and I took a train to Kelantan to attend Imran's aqigah ceremony at my sister house in Jeli. My sister had also invited people for offering special prayer for her late husband 40 days after funeral, a normal ritual in Malay Islamic culture and tradition as a way to remember the dead beside reciting Al-Quran and remember them in our prayer. The train departed from Kajang station at 9pm and scheduled to arrive at 8.45am at Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan.

We purchased through on call (ticket to collect 48 hours before departure), a 1st class ticket which had an exclusive cabin for 2, upper and lower berth (fare was RM103/pax). A thick blanket and 2 pillows were provided beside 2 mineral water, 2 snacks and 2 mini soap. Washing basin, 1 chair, TV, fan and a place for luggage are provided inside the cabin (ours was cabin no. 6, car W1). We can switch off the lights inside the cabin unlike other ticket classes.

Hubby has been informed by a ticket cashier that the food served at the canteen is good (in his imagination was an equal to a decent hotel restaurant). To his disappointment  only selected menu are made available in the train, including instant noodle. Despite, we still had a fun ride. That night, our sleep was not really peaceful with a cold AC and a blowing fan. 

The next morning, after freshened up, we went for morning coffee. They had cooked and nicely packed a fried noodle and fried egg. It was not bad after all. As the seat was fully occupied, we had to share a table with En. Kamaruddin, aged 72 who was a regular commuter from KL Sentral - Kuala Krai. 3 of us became an instant friend within 2 minutes. We talked many issues, from work to personal matter and end up exchanging phone number. Hope to stay in touch with En. Kamaruddin again in future.

The canteen assistant in below photo is a fun and easy going guy. I was so happy that I managed to snap a funny memory of him with my Iphoneography.  I hope I will recall his story whenever I open and read this journal again in the future, without writing it down here.

Seeing of how friendly we both are, another canteen assistant sat and chit-chatting with us until almost at the end of our journey (we get down at Tanah Merah station). I started with asking how he managed to work in a moving train. He enlightened us with his story, working 2 consecutive days followed by 2 full rest before repeating the same duty since the last 14 years in the same train. 

We were more alert on a return day, to get on coach W4, seat no. 13 and 15 upper berth of the 2nd class (fare was RM47/pax). As it was Sunday, the train was full. We left Wakaf Bharu station in time (7pm) and arrived in Kajang station as scheduled (7.30pm).

Below photo was a view from upper berth, sunset at Kg. Lemal, Pasir Mas.

And below photo was a sunrise at Bangi area on arrival time the following day.

I wish to thank hubby for suggesting and immediately booking this memorable trip with me. He was on KTMB train during young age, till he was 12, whilst my 1st train ride in Malaysia was when I had to go for OBS training in Lumut in 1994.