It has happened to me so many times! I miss a picture completely at the first go and then I wonder how did that happen!
So for the lazy Sunday here is a picture from Redang Island, Malaysia. And I am left scratching my head, how did I miss it the first time! It didn’t appeal to me at all at the first go.
Call me challenged when it comes to crafts and arts. The only skill I have shown ever in a creative endeavor is with my camera and thank god for small mercies! So I had quite mixed feelings when I got to know that we were visiting the Noor Arfa Batik Complex at Kuala Terengganu.
The building itself is so impressive! Once inside we were given a tour of the complex where we saw skilled people displaying their crafts with a master’s touch. There was a lady who was painting and a gentleman who was working with glass. It was fascinating to watch their skillful demonstration.
Soon it was out turn to try out these crafts. Two people from my group tried the painting and I was given two piece of strings to make a decorative pattern (not relate to Batik I guess). I was very happy when I was not asked to paint. I had drawing as a subject till class 8th and don’t even get me started on what a torture it was. My teachers would not fail me because I was good at all the core subjects, I was good at sports but when it came to drawing something as simple as an apple it would look more like a mango when I was through with it! My teachers took pity on me and would give me the passing marks. So I was happy I was spared the experience again.
Coming back to these strings that were supposed to make a pattern, I thought they made perfect cat whiskers! But our hosts disagreed and wanted me to try it out. Try as I may I would not get the pattern according to which they had to be folded. Very soon others were getting a hang and I relied on the kind souls who got it to weave it out for me!
I of course bought Batik. I have given it to get a kurta stitched and the tailor is giving me a slip for a month now. She keeps saying come this day, come that day. So as soon as I finish this post I am going to call her and shout at her!
When I say beauties on the roads of Kuala Terengganu in Malaysia I mean the modes of transport! When I spotted this bus first I was too far away to click a picture.
But the next day I saw it on the roads near the Shahbandar Jetty area. I was standing on a slightly elevated platform and I jumped quickly to the side of the road so that I could click a picture. This is the Heritage City Shuttle Town Bus for tourists and it looks very pretty on the roads.
I spotted this cycle rickshaw around the central market. Notice the amount of traffic on the road! It is probably these small things that make another country so fascinating?
I loved the time I spent at Kuala Terengganu and Redang. We took a ferry from Jetty Shahbandar at Kuala Terengganu to go to the Redang Island. Before that we also spent a lot of time around the central market area. The sun was high but a bit diffused due to the clouds.
But I got even better skies when we came back from the Redang Island. I hate it when I fall asleep on a vehicle but I did fall asleep both ways on the ferry. My logic is that if I fall asleep I miss out on all the view en-route. Even then I could not help it. I got up blurry eyed when the ferry docked at the Jetty Shahbandar again. But my eyes liked what they saw when I started walking out to our bus. On this trip I was always stealing a photographs while walking. But the good bit was I was not the last as there were others who would take even more time!
This picture was taken from the far side of the mosque from the restaurant we stopped for an early lunch at Kuala Terengganu. In Malaysia food is always high on the agenda. I think we had a 8.00 am breakfast and 11.30 am lunch! Later when I searched I realized it is a part of the Islamic Civilization Park which is massive and river cruises are also available.
I was also wondering why do Malaysian cities have Kuala in their names like Kuala Lumpur and now I came across a Kuala Terengganu! I realized that Kuala simply means an area between two water bodies. Kuala Terengganu was my last traveling spot in Malaysia and it is an amazing place.