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Located next to the tourist
information center, the State Museum brings together a selective array
of artifacts, crafts, paintings, and photographic displays that are all
connected in some way to the state of Kelantan. Excellent Ming and Qing
Dynasty porcelain and kites are displayed. Local art exhibits portray
nostalgic themes that celebrate "kampung" (village) life.
Located within Kota Bharu,
this is a must on every visitor's itinerary. One will be treated to Kelantan's
rich cultural heritage. Popular folk arts and pastimes, such as gasing
(top spinning), wau (kite flying), wayang kulit (shadow puppet show),
and silat (traditional martial arts) are demonstrated here. Traditional
art forms of "Bendikir Barat" and "Rebana Ubi" are also performed here.
They are specific Kelantanese music that are different from anything ever
heard before. Exhibits of Islamic architecture, ceramics manufacture,
and textile and silk weaving can also be seen.
Taking 10 years to build
(1916-1926), this mosque is a hive of activity on Fridays when thousands
of Muslims throng the prayer halls. To enter, visitors should seek the
permission of the caretaker. They should also be properly attired and
should remove their shoes before entering. The streets outside are busy
with hawkers peddling a variety of wares, such as religious books, chanting
beads, headgear of sorts, and traditional medicines.
 To
this day, the famous Central Market is one of the most colorful and active
markets in Malaysia. Located in a modern octagonal building, stall-holders
conduct their businesses amidst rows of chilies, carrots, seafood, and
farm produce. It is also an unusual place as one will see row upon row
of women dressed in batik adorned in gold jewelry with their heads carefully
veiled, chewing betel-nut and haggling over prices of produce wares. The
Kelantan women remain fiercely entrepreneurial and have been known to
be hard bargainers. Besides, seeing women perform most of the jobs in
Kelantan is no surprise as the Muslims in the state follow the Minangkabau
Traditional Custom of "Adat Perpatih", in which women reign supreme. This
could have been due to the fact that Kelantan was once ruled by a princess,
Cik siti Wan Kembang.
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