Fabulous Fasting Treats in Kelantan

The holy month of Ramadan is a much awaited month in the Muslim calendar. For 30 days Muslims all over the world will be fasting prior to our biggest religious celebration of the year, the Eid ul Fitr, celebrated at the beginning of the month of Syawal.

Face to Face with Badang

Mention the name ‘Badang’ and the older generation Malays will picture a huge and muscular strong man, somewhat akin to the more popular Hercules. According to the story, Badang was a poor young man who made a living from fish he caught in his fishtrap that he laid every evening. He was thin and weak but dreamed of becoming strong. One day all his catch were eaten up and all that was left were fish bones. Badang was devastated and was determined to catch the culprit. The next morning, he secretly kept watch on his fishtrap and it turned out the culprit was a hungry genie. Badang was ready to beat him up after he caught him but the genie begged to be let go while promising to grant Badang any wish. Badang wished to be stronger than any man but had to fulfill an unpleasant condition; he had to eat up what the genie threw up.  True to the genie's words, after downing the genie's vomit, Badang became strong and was able to uproot a tree effortlessly. 

A Wow Experience in Kelantan

“Attention to passengers of Firefly flight FY2244 to Kota Bharu. Kindly proceed to gate number 4. Thank you”. The announcement made via the PA system at Subang Skypark made me grabbed my old carry-on bag, the one I got as a free gift when I bought a set of perfume almost 10 years ago. I was on the go again, this time on the invitation of Kelantan’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture office (MOTAC Kelantan). The event was ‘Kelantan International Lighted Kite Festival 2014’, held in conjunction of the annual 32^nd Kelantan International Kite Festival at Pantai Geting, Tumpat.