Chukai

On 3 March 2019, we finally set foot on Terengganu soil. We explored a town by the name of Chukai which was located at the Terengganu-Pahang border. The locals call it Kemaman town. Chukai means "tax" in the Malay language. During the British era, taxes were imposed on the river traffic as the Kemaman River runs by Chukai. 

We walked around the town and Chukai's waterfront. Noticed some boats lazying on the water. The town itself is pretty quiet too even though there was a Sunday market going on.

Old shop houses in Chukai

Old market in Chukai

Look right to the back! That's the toilet!!!

Turtle eggs. Fresh. RM50 per bag. I was shocked that turtle eggs were sold in the market in Chukai. This is because Terengganu is well known for its various turtle sanctuaries. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

The famous Tong Juan restaurant, well known for its stuffed crabs. Apparently stuffed crabs are one of Chukai's specialties. There are a few more restaurants that featured stuffed crabs too and they are located along the same row of shops with Tong Juan.

I see youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Stuffed crabs - RM5 per crab

Baby kailan cooked with oyster sauce

Oyster omelette

Drove to a turtle sanctuary located in Cherating, Pahang. I could not believe that this sanctuary sat right next to Club Med Cherating! They shared the same beach too.

Little museum

Critically endangered Painted Terrapins

Green turtle hatchlings

Cherating beach

Club Med is on the right

Keropok Lekor @ Fish crackers are hot items in Chukai

Teluk Mak Nik (Monica Bay)

Warung Aziz Satar

Grilled satar. Satar is kinda like fish nuggets which are made out of mashed fish, grated coconut, ginger, chillies, bay leaves and tumeric.

Keropok Lekor @ Fish "sausages"

Satar goreng @ Fried fish nuggets wrapped in popiah/wantan skin

Laksam is a dish of flat noodles served in fish paste gravy, veggies, chillies and salted fish, all cooked in coconut milk.

Life for Hai Peng coffee shop started back in 1940. Coffee is great here.