Kota Bharu: A Muslim Movie Set

In my travels across the Malaysian peninsula, there was a small city near the northeastern border with Thailand that really captured my interest. Kota Bharu, the capital of Kuantan province, is generally passed over by travelers or used as a stop-over en route from southern Thailand to the island paradises of Pulau Perenthian, which is a shame; it has probably the friendliest populous in Southeast Asia and the best selection of cheap ethnic eats.

Kota Bharu is the only city in the Malaysian peninsula that is predominately Muslim. Walking through its streets, you can really feel like you’re on a movie set. During any of the 5 daily prayer times, speakers from the mosques blast out guttural chants that serve as a surreal background soundtrack for exploration. Women rushing back and forth from the markets are all dressed in these beautiful batik fabrics, vibrant and colorful, with matching shawls that hide most of their heads but really bring out the more subtle features of their faces. The smells of spicy fish curries waft from every street corner along with freshly cooked noodles and herbal teas.

Anyways, it’s a great little town that was a refreshing departure from Thailand and I wanted to share some shots of the town markets.

Click HERE for the photos.