AmyHuang
The coastal city of Kuala Terengganu
After our stay in the beautiful Kota Kinabalu we flew across to the western Peninsula to Kuala Terengganu, the gateway to many of the beautiful islands of the east coast of the peninsula, as well as the famous Taman Negara National Park.
The city is trying very hard to attract tourists - there is a free tourist heritage bus that will take you around the difference attractions, including the state museum, the central market, many beautiful mosques including the 'floating' mosque and many of the harbour points around the coast.
The city centre itself isn't extremely exciting. Even the 'large shopping mall' promised in our Lonely Planet has been closed down due to lack of interest and investment. After having strolled the major streets over and over, we decided to take the tourist bus out to visit the Islam Civilisation Park.
It may be odd to have a theme park dedicated to a religion, for all I know, if there was a Catholic park I would never visit it. However, this place is significant in today's society. Remember what I said about the harmonious Malaysian multi-cultural and faith society? Well, with the world fighting over religious believes everyday, and the many major misunderstanding about the Islamic faith, the park's objective is to educate, both the non-islamic locals as well as foreign visitors about the Islamic faith. One part of the park is dedicated to the major mosques and important Islam sites around the world, where there are mini models of each of the mosques in detail, as well as a description and stories behind them. From the Malaysian national mosque to the Taj Mahal, the Dome of the Rock in Palestine, mosques in Thailand, China, Mozambique and even Russia. There is even a model of the Mecca, the most important icon in the Islamic society. Videos and displays of texts and local clothing are great insight into their religious life, showing one side of Islam you don't near often from the 7pm news.
On the theme park compound, there is also the beautiful Crystal Mosque. Built with mirror like facade the mosque sits on the river bank, quietly broadcasting the daily prayer, the atmosphere is serene, opposit to what we are told to believe otherwise by the international media.
Back in town, we head over to Chinatown. Pretty little corner of the city with lots of colonial buildings in various style and colours. It's odd being in a chinatown without it being crowded with tourists though, but hey, we didn't have to push to through the street!
The city is trying very hard to attract tourists - there is a free tourist heritage bus that will take you around the difference attractions, including the state museum, the central market, many beautiful mosques including the 'floating' mosque and many of the harbour points around the coast.
The free heritage bus by Terengganu tourism
Fishing boats lining the harbour shores
The city centre itself isn't extremely exciting. Even the 'large shopping mall' promised in our Lonely Planet has been closed down due to lack of interest and investment. After having strolled the major streets over and over, we decided to take the tourist bus out to visit the Islam Civilisation Park.
The model mosques in the Islam Civilisation Park
It may be odd to have a theme park dedicated to a religion, for all I know, if there was a Catholic park I would never visit it. However, this place is significant in today's society. Remember what I said about the harmonious Malaysian multi-cultural and faith society? Well, with the world fighting over religious believes everyday, and the many major misunderstanding about the Islamic faith, the park's objective is to educate, both the non-islamic locals as well as foreign visitors about the Islamic faith. One part of the park is dedicated to the major mosques and important Islam sites around the world, where there are mini models of each of the mosques in detail, as well as a description and stories behind them. From the Malaysian national mosque to the Taj Mahal, the Dome of the Rock in Palestine, mosques in Thailand, China, Mozambique and even Russia. There is even a model of the Mecca, the most important icon in the Islamic society. Videos and displays of texts and local clothing are great insight into their religious life, showing one side of Islam you don't near often from the 7pm news.
On the theme park compound, there is also the beautiful Crystal Mosque. Built with mirror like facade the mosque sits on the river bank, quietly broadcasting the daily prayer, the atmosphere is serene, opposit to what we are told to believe otherwise by the international media.
The beautiful crystal mosque at the Islam Civilisation Park
Back in town, we head over to Chinatown. Pretty little corner of the city with lots of colonial buildings in various style and colours. It's odd being in a chinatown without it being crowded with tourists though, but hey, we didn't have to push to through the street!
The cute little chinatown in Terengganu city
