Terengganu Escape: Hot Weather, Chill Vibes

When life gets too hectic and your brain starts buffering mid-sentence, it’s time for a trip. So I packed my bags (overpacked, obviously) and escaped to Terengganu — land of beaches, beautiful mosques, and enough heat to cook an egg on the sidewalk. I had two options: the bus (8 hours of "are we there yet?") or a flight to Sultan Mahmud Airport. I chose the flight, because I love pretending I’m a jet-setter even when I’m flying economy and eating peanuts for dinner. First stop: the Terengganu Drawbridge. It’s fancy, it’s futuristic, and it made me feel like I was in a sci-fi movie. I waited 15 minutes hoping it would open dramatically... it didn’t. But it made a great photo backdrop while I melted in the heat like a human satay. Next was the iconic Masjid Kristal — a mosque so shiny I almost saw my future in its reflection. Pro tip: visit during the day if you want to see the "sparkle," but bring sunglasses unless you enjoy being temporarily blinded by holy architecture. Then came Pasar Payang, where I planned to "just look around" and ended up with three batik shirts, keropok, and a suspiciously strong urge to bargain like my aunty at a wedding sale. 10/10 shopping experience. Now let’s talk food. I had keropok lekor so fresh, it was probably still emotionally attached to the fish. Chewy, salty, and dangerously addictive. Then I tried ikan celup tepung (ICT) by the beach — deep-fried seafood that made me question why I ever ate. Terengganu, you were a sweaty, shiny, salty dream. Can’t wait to come back for round two. #summervacay #terengganutrip #terengganu #beach #eastcoastmalaysia