of the Kelantanese. You can enjoy the cultural performances and traditional games and pastimes handed down through generations. Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) shows, Silat (the Malay art of self defence) performances and Gasing (top spinning) displays are all available here.

Silat is an ancient Malay martial art, incorporating a lot of interestingly dramatic stances. This particular style of Silatis performed to the increasing tempo of the traditional drums and the wailing of the 'serunai'.

You may watch Wau (giant kite) chase each other playfully in the azure sky. There are three main Wau shapes here, the famous Wau Bulan or moon kite, named for its crescent like tail shape, the Wau Jala Budi or women kite,

which takes on the curves of a women, and the Wau Burung Puyuh, the barred busted quail kite. Each Wau is designed according to its own set of elaborate motifs, adhering to the traditonal style of artwork expected of each design. It is accompanied by a hummer, which produces various buzzing and purring sounds when soaring upon the wind. But apart from creating the kite, one must be able to set the kite to flight.

New Central Market
Kelantan's Central Market is a riot of colour. It is one of the most vibrant sites in the country where traders display brilliantly coloured fresh garden produce.

Kelantan??s Central Market is mainly dominated and ??ruled?? by the womenfolk. It may surprise you that a majority of stalls are run by women. From the early hours of the morning till sundown, these market queens sit across-legged upon their raised wooden platforms, guarding their merchandise.

Perhaps this is a throwback to the fact that Kelantan was once ruled by a princess, Cik Siti Wan Kembang, a female sovereign. Kelantanese women remain fiercely entrepreneurial and have been known to be hard bargainers. The sights, sounds, and colours are uniquely Kelantanese--women traders display garden produce, food stands grill delectable barbecued chicken and craftsmen offer traditional wares like Kelantanese silver rose bowls.

All around the square, or rather octagon, the energy is electric, effervescent colors swirl, as the fruits and vegetables blush in brilliant hues of bright yellow, deep burgundy, rich mauve, strating scarlet, clam olive and stunning lime green. Baskets dance in the crowd, weaving through the throng of sarong clad women with spinach kissed snadals, filling with fresh turnips, cabbages, tomatoes and chilies.

The queens dip their merchandise in refreshing bowls of water whilst others wave about their contraption of plastic bag attached to lidi stick, keeping away bugs Piquant scents waft on the moist air, a mixture of tangy spices, sweet meat floss, chewy 'dodol', a traditional glutinous rice flour cake made with palm sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves, as well as the luscious fried fish paste snack 'keropok lekor'.

A paradise for browsing and shopping, this market offers a myriad of local handicraft including batik, leather goods, clothing and household items. The market is probably the most photographed site in the country and it is especially lively in the mornings.

carved prows are a riot of colours. Then the bargaining begins between wholesalers and the fishermen - a noisy but interesting ritual.

You will also be able to witness other related activities such as fish-curing and the mending of nets. Buses No. 8 and 9 depart every half hour from the old market terminal to Sabak Beach.

Bus No. 28 leaves from the New Central Market to Kuala Besar every half hour.

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