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� Cultural Centre � Fishing Village �
Kampung Experience �
 Kelantan
is primarily a Malay state, which has a population of about 1.6 million,
and around 7% of the population is of Thai, Indian and Chinese ancestry.
The people of Kelantan have carefully preserved their customs,
traditions and craft skills over time. One might be pleasantly surprised
to see adults indulging in pastimes such as flying giant kites or
spinning giant tops.
Renowned for their warmth and hospitality, Kelantanese display an old
world charm that captivates visitors. It is however a strictly an
Islamic state and visitor are advise to dress conservatively to avoid
offending the local sensitivities.
 Cultural
Centre
Kelantan is hailed as the cultural haven of Malaysia. It is here, at the
Cultural Centre or Gelanggang Seni that you can witness Kelantan's rich
culture heritage. Watch giant kites chase each other playfully in the
azure sky, see tops the size of dinner plates spin frantically for hours
and listen to the rich resonant of the rebana ubi (drums).
In the evenings, visitors can see cultural performances featuring
traditional Malay music and Wayang Kulit. The cultural centre is open
three times a week from March to October.
 The
wayang kulit or shadow play, is a unique form of theatre inspired by the
great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and MahabrataThe tok dalang manipulates
the puppets (made from buffalo hide and mounted on rattan sticks) and
modulates his voice to create drama and suspense.
Located on Jalan Mahmud close to
the Perdana Hotel
 Fishing
Village
No visit to Kelantan would be complete without a trip to a fishing
village dubbed "the soul of Malaysia's East Coast". Two of the most
well-known villages are the Sabak Beach (approx. 14 km from Kota Bharu)
and Kuala Besar (15 km from Kota Bharu). If you wish to fully capture
the moment, you should arrive no later than 2:30 pm when the boats laden
with the day's catch are first spotted on the horizon. As they come
ashore. their intricately carved prows are a riot of colours. Then the
bargaining begins between wholesalers and the fishermen - a noisy but
interesting ritual. You will also be able to witness other related
activities such as fish-curing and the mending of nets.
Kampung Experience
Savor the hospitality of a typical Kelantanese family by opting to stay
with a family of your choice. This unique homestay program enables you
to get an insight into the culture and lifestyle of these simple folks.
You can choose to be "adopted" by any of these: potter, fisherman, kite
maker, batik manufacturer, silversmith,
top-spinning craftsman
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