Terengganu - Turtle Alley

27 November 2013

Chinatown aka Kampung Cina!!

 

A map to get around

 

Terengganu, situated in the north-eastern of Peninsular Malaysia is my hometown! One may never heard of Terengganu before but perhaps one may heard of the famous Redang Island. Yup. This state is where the Redang Island is. Redang Island or locally known as Pulau Redang is so famous coz many famous movies was filmed there due to it's pearly-white sandy beaches, sparkling clear seawater, lovely sunrises and spectacular marine life. Confessing honestly as a Tganu-ian, I've never step my feet at Redang Island YET. I'm forbid to step my feet at any island as for now. It's sad to see that some uneducated Malaysia, wearing a degree mask but still haven't heard of Terengganu. I wonder how they pass their PMR and SPM when they don't even know that Terengganu is one of state in Malaysia. Sadd.. Well, not to blame them, even when filling up form, sometimes people can be as stupid as this

I've checked countless time yet there no "Terengganu" in sight

Wonder where Terengganu lost

 

So Aunt Jaz visited and chubby girl here decided to bring her on a tour in town. LOL. The first stop is the Turtle Alley. Terengganu has always been famous with for being one of the six hatching sites in the WORLD for giant leatherback turtles. Rantau Abang is the perfect place to catch a sight of turtles laying eggs. Me? Watch turtle laying eggs? Are you joking? Of course! I've been there when I was 11 or 12. Usually, it was during the middle of the year when turtles come up to the shore to lay eggs. I can barely remember but we, Dad, Mum, Uncle, Aunt, Popo, me, Mousy and Tigress drove up to Rantau Abang that night to just catch a glimpse of the wonderful moments. The journey took us about an hour from town. It was around 2 o'clock in the morning that day and we're getting bored of waiting when Dad decided it's time to go home.

 

Suddenly, there's a young boy shouted, "Ada penyu". (There's turtle). Quickly we rushed there. While walking down the beach, the first sight that caught my attention is the mother turtle digging her holes where everyone was waiting there patiently with torchlights in their hands. Perhaps, it's a little inhumane to do that. Can't people just leave the turtle in peace?? Seeing how the mother turtle dropping her eggs into the holes one by one is amazing. And more, seeing the turtle's tears really got me. How to not pity for the mother turtle at the point when you know the people there is gonna collect her eggs to sell and to be eaten? After releasing all her eggs, efficiently she buried the hole and went back to the wide ocean. The sad thing is that youngsters there decided to sit on her back while she made her way back home.

 

Priceless~

 

 

Truth often hurts. Sad to say, turtle eggs are sell in local markets with only RM10 a packet. Mum used to eat turtle egg too once in a blue moon when I was 12 but since I condemn her a killer few years back, she stopped eating. No turtle eggs at home! Doesn't it feel gross to eat such a thing? I've never want to taste turtle eggs no matter how nice they describe it. NEVER! EVER!

 

Hands of a killer!

Credit to Google

 

How to eat knowing such a adorable creature comes from there

 

Turtle Alley is situated at a narrow lane in Chinatown that has been beautified and decorated with numerous art works about turtle to remind us of the endangered marine species that nest at the beaches of Terengganu.

 

Turtle Alley !

 

It was drizzling so hence it explains the wet pavement

 

The entrance of the alley

 

 A wonderful story of Maya and her ocean discoveries

 

The job assign is to spot the hidden turtle in every pic!

 

Like this one for example

The hidden turtle is in the forest there

 

The funniest part here is when we're busy taking the photographs, there's a kind uncle that actually told us that we should find the hidden turtle in the picture. LOL. We don't actually bother to read the story at first and he was so determined to help us find that hidden turtle. Like in almost every pic before walked off. Thanks Uncle but no thank you.

 

It's great to see that the story is translated in 3 languages. ^_^

 

And there goes the story with colorful vibrant colors

 

 

Please say "NO" to turtle eggs !!

 

And yeah, Mousy was with us too that day.

Had finished her SPM the day before

 

Safe it before it's too late

 

Well, the alley is also used by locals daily

Except me

 

And also on the wall, there's lots of information about turtles

 

What caught my attention is the turtle mosaic!

 

There's even turtle on the floor!

 

No doubt that it is indeed really precious

 

Treasure them like how you treasure gold!

 

Si Tembam with Maya

Wanting to have a ride on the turtle too just like Maya did

But think how heavy I am, let's forget about it

 

Red means LOVE

Love is me

Cuteness overload!!

 

Showing more <3

 

Add more facts about turtle in you!!

 

Turtle punya mother

 

=D

 

You know where to go to be involve in the conversation project

 

Turtle MOSAIC !!

It's huge!

I heart TURTLE !!

At least this turtle can stand my heavy weight..

TROLL

 

After 30 minutes in the Turtle Alley, we went to The Cellar for a drink. And we actually sat there till 12 noon. Cut the trip short and we went for lunch after that. It's raining so no point of continuing.

 

I HEART TURTLE!!

 

Do drop by Turtle Alley when visiting Terengganu

 

More information:

~ Turtle Alley Wordpress

~ Facebook Turtle Alley

 

Hence this mark the end of our adventure in Turtle Alley.

Will discover more places in times to come.

 

XOXO~

 

p/s: this is supposed to be posted no later than 9 am but got distracted by Mum again.. >.<