Our jam-packed eating schedule eased up a touch on our third and final morning, which started out with a halal dim sum demonstration followed by breakfast at the Grand Riverview Hotel.

Baby Noah amused himself while the Dim Sum cooking demonstration was taking place at Grand Riverview Hotel, Kota Bharu

Then it was off to Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah (literally, Siti Khadijah big market) – which is one of Kelantan’s most famous attractions.

Every Malaysian town has its own wet market, and it’s a hub of activity from dawn. It’s where the locals do their daily shopping for fresh produce and groceries, and have breakfast or lunch while they’re at it. I grew up accompanying my mom to the market every morning, and I always looked forward to it. Pasar Siti Khadijah is in a league of its own – it’s very large, colourful and filled to the brim with enterprising Kelantanese women selling produce, hot food and everything in between.

Here are just some of the photos I took (many were blurry because I was carrying Noah in one arm – there were no escalators/elevators and the place was multi-storey, so I left his stroller in the van).

Our final stop before the airport was to this food court that serves ikan bakar (grilled fish) but because we were there early in the day, they hadn’t started serving the fish yet.

Arriving at Warung Pak Mat in Kota Bharu, famous for its ikan bakar and teh tarik madu (grilled fish and honey pulled tea)

We opted instead for Pak Mat’s equally famous Teh Tarik Madu – ie. honey pulled tea. It was easily the frothiest tea I’d ever seen and it tasted fantastic.

What an incredibly enthralling trip; I wish we had more time to explore the sights, sounds and especially the flavours of Kelantan. It was so different from the parts of Malaysia I’m familiar with, it was almost like visiting a foreign country. I can’t wait to go back.

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