A recent trip to Kelantan in the North East of Peninsula Malaysia.
Tok Bali
Tok Bali is near Kuala Besut, one of the jumping off points for the popular Perhentian islands. Although only a few miles apart, Tok Bali is in Kelantan, whilst Kuala Besut is across the state border in Terengganu. There are expansive and mostly deserted beaches stretching across this state line.
The thing that really struck me driving and walking around was the nature and the peaceful way of life. The streets away from the main routes were quiet yet full of livestock wandering around, including cows, sheep, goats, chicken etc.
Along the small single-track beach road from Tok Bali there are a few isolated houses and farmsteads. Many gardens had racks where the locals were drying out fish. This was a very peaceful and quiet walk where I passed the odd abandoned car or deserted house and only met a couple of people.
I took a walk along the beach and came across a young man net fishing in the traditional way that you see across all South East Asia. He was wading in up to his waist to cast the net. It seemed every time he managed a decent catch.
Further back on the beach there were women laying out fish to dry in the sun on a much larger scale than I has seen earlier. They were wearing traditional straw hats to protect themselves from the baking heat.
From here I took a wander in to Kuala Besut. There were a few more tourists kicking around waiting to catch the next boats over to the Perhentian islands. Kuala Besut is a quaint place with traditional wooded shophouses. Despite the tourists, it felt like a working fishing village that hadn't been swamped by the tourism industry.
Kuala Besut
Anyway. I would recommend this sleepy part of Malaysia. Sometimes it is interesting to spend a bit of time in the places we often skip through as tourists. The beaches here were mostly deserted other than the occasional kid flying a kite or someone fishing. Definitely a tranquil place to explore if you enjoy nature and a slower pace.
