If you are looking for a breakaway from your hectic life, east coast of Peninsula Malaysia is definitely worth a trip. During the long Raya and Deepavali holidays, 5 of us decided to venture into this unique land of Islamic and Malay culture. No island hoppings, no snorkelling (monsoon season) - just sheer culture and sightseeing trip. It rained almost everyday, but we were too lucky to be blessed with sun shine at every stopover in the main tourist attractions. Kelantan state was our first stop over. Being the cradle of Malay and Islamic culture of Malaysia, you are able to to see the beautiful mosque, central market, bazaar, Wau and Batik making process in Kelantan. Traditional Malay living at its best. Being city slickers, it was quite an eye opener. It was Malaysia, yet not quite the Malaysia we were familiar with.. For once we felt foreign in our country.. Life is peaceful and slow-paced here. There was no shortage of breathtaking beaches along the coastline, including Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Beach of Moonlight), Pantai irama (Beach of Melody), Pantai Bisikan Bayu (Beach of Whispering Breeze), Pantai Seri Tujuh (Beach of 7 Lagoons) etc. To our amazement, we discovered a lot of temples with Thai buddhism cultural archicture in Kelantan(a state with over 90% Malay population) too. Along the Thai/Malaysian Border we managed to view all 5 of them. We spent 2 fruitful days in Kelantan, enjoying the local delicacies such as Ayam Percik, Kerabu rice, Nasi Kunyit with Ayam Merah, Fresh Coconuts and staying a wonderful night at Pantai Cahaya Bulan. A truly unforgettable trip I shall say. Photos: Ping Chuin & Jon J Text : Ping Chuin & Jon J