A TRIP TO KELANTAN

Wau – Traditional Giant Kites

Flying kites or wau are a favourite pastime for the local people. What makes these giant kites different from the rest is of course its unique shape and beautiful decorative designs. There are three main types of wau shapes available in Kelantan such as Wau Bulan (moon shaped kite), Wau Burung Puyuh (quail shaped kite) and Wau Jala Budi (woman shaped kite). In the early days, the wau is flown to scare of the enemies. Today, the wau is flown after the rice harvest when the locals are free to pursue their favourite pastime. Wau competitions are often held in Kelantan where these traditional giant kites can be seen soaring the blue skies in their own magnificent splendour and beauty. The winner is usually determined by the wau’s ability to fly the highest in the longestspan of time. Best times to fly the wau would        be in the months between May and July where the East Coast would normally experience strong winds.

"Kampung Nelayan" - Fisherman's 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 ritua.