Kota Bharu

For our first actual "vacation" we decided to head to the east coast of Malaysia before monsoon season hit. We took the overnight train into Khota Bharu, where we stayed for a day before taking a boat to Perhentian Kecil. We stayed there for 4 days and then went to Perhentian Besar for 2 days before flying back to KL.



At this point we were actually excited about the pending train ride. That excitement rapidly faded when more and more and more people kept boarding the train all through the night. Kids running up and down screaming at 3am. Fun. Then the train was 2.5 hours late arriving at the station....

Once in Khota Baru, we went to the local museum where they had displays set up depicting various ceremonies and traditions of native Malays. Included in these was a wedding and a circumcision.


Perfume anyone??


We then went to the cultural center where a bunch of local men get together twice a week to practice some of the traditional pasttimes. It had the feel of an old boys club, with many older villagers gathering together to chat it up over a few pints and cigarettes. They seemed to be completely oblivious to the 10-12 people who gathered around to watch. These guys started by playing the traditional drums.

As the drum session started winding down, the top spinners started getting ready. They would wrap the top up tightly in a rope before tossing it.

They have two types of top spinning competitions - battles and spinnning time. This was an example of spinning time. The spinner is on the left. He throws the top onto the mat in the center and the scooper scoops it up on a small wooden plank. He then transfers it to a stand where it can spin for well over an hour.

This guy had nothing to do with throwing or catching the top, but he was very proud of "his" top nonetheless.

By the time we left they had 8 or 9 tops spinning in these little holders.

The final activity at the culutral centre was a band playing traditional music. There were two dancers doing kung-foo type moves to the music.