Taman Shahbandar - the big trees park

Dataran Shahbandar, Kuala Terengganu

After finishing my survey at Dataran Maziah, I walked across the road to Taman/Dataran Shahbandar. Taman Maziah and Taman/Dataran Shahbandar were the places where you can walk under the shade of big trees. Trees over hundred years age are still living strongly here.

The trees are high and have many branches, fresh leaves and flowers too. 

Walking underneath the trees in the gardens made me felt fresh and relax.

a building like a boat hosting a small shop attached to it

a T'Shoppe  store attached to the boat structure selling refreshments and groceries

hawkers stall selling refreshments

 big trees are everywhere

I think it is a perfect place to rest or sight seeing with family or love one.

Taman Dataran Maziah

Taman Maziah, Kuala Terengganu

For citizen of Kuala Terengganu, Taman Dataran Maziah is not much different from other places of interest of the city. Is it because of the place is not attractive or not good or maybe, the existence of the garden itself is not really needed by the public?

 

I have had passed by the garden many times before but I did not feel to drop by. Yesterday I have to send Kakmie to the Post Office which is located nearby the Maziah Garden. After parked my car beside the road, I walked to the Garden. 

the Post Office is in the background

It was a warm shiny noon and the sun was well above my head. I could feel the heat. I rushed to the shadow of one big teak tree. I could feel the strong warm wind coming from the estuary of Terengganu river which was just 400 meters from the Garden.

I walked over the remaining part of the Garden. There were stone benches and chairs under the shadow where visitors can rest and relax. 

a view of the Garden with the historic Bukit Puteri in the background

I tried to catch some view there with my hand phone, but the Garden keeper was there, scowled and turn his face when I click my phone. I knew he was angry to me because I have captured his photograph  for relaxing and enjoying his sweet time whilst he was still on duty. Moreover,  the seat  is supposed to be sat by a visitor like me...not him. His job is to clean and sweep the old leaves dropping almost every minute from the big threes there. With due respect thereto, I have opted no to produce the picture of his sour face here.

 

I spent about one hour walking and sitting in the Garden. I noticed that the flow of visitors there were very poor...just 5 persons (inclusive of  the Garden keeper and me)  in an hour. I did not know why. Perhaps that area is not a crowded portion of the city or perhaps the place is not attractive enough.

But, in my opinion the Garden is beautiful. Maybe its location is so near to the other garden called Taman and Dataran Shahbandar and not far away from the city's Central Payang Market. Just maybe. 

a view of the historic Istana (palace) Maziah taken from the Maziah Garden

Somehow or rather, the Garden is suitable for recreational activities and relaxing in the evening. Fresh air from the open South China Sea will make you feel healthier and happier.

It is a location I recommend you to visit...perhaps just for few minutes only.

Local Fruits - Ciku/Sapodilla

Ciku/Sapodilla

Sapodilla, or ciku as called in Malaysia is the edible fruit of Manilkara zapota (formerly Achras zapota), of the family Sapotaceae. The fleshy, brown fruit is the size of a small tomato, and has the mixed flavor and texture of cinnamon, apple, and pear. Ciku is also called as Sawo Manila in Indonesia, Chico in Mexico and Naspero in Venezuela.

The fruits are very astringent when young and must be fully ripened and soft to be eaten. The latex of the sapodilla plant is also the source of chicle, the name  for the chewing gum of the Aztecs. The gum obtained from the latex of the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota) are used in manufacturing boots and machine belts and other related products in tropical American countries or regions. 

Sapodilla is an evergreen tree measuring 15–20 m tall, and has ovate or elliptic leathery leaves and small, white flowers. The rounded or oval fruits, which measure 5–10 cm across, contain 2 to 4 hard black seeds( usually not more than 5 seeds in a single fruit). Apart in tropical Asian countries, the sapodilla also grows in tropical rain forests of Central and South America; where it is cultivated in all tropical countries as a fruit and industrial plant. The milky juice obtained from the bark contains 20–25 percent of a substance closely related to gutta-percha, which is used to manufacture chewing gum too.

The ciku fruits will ripe between 6 to 8 months from the date of flowering and it is best for harvesting when approaching the eight month. The newly harvested fruits normally are not ready for direct consumption as it needed times to ripe. In my place the newly plucked fruits will be wrapped with newspapers or old clothes and stored in a container such as boxes or big vases for a period of 2 days. Matured fruits will be ripened within 2 days and will taste much more sweeter than the immature fruits.  

The best way to enjoy the ripen ciku is to peel of the skin and keep it in the freezer for 1 or 2 hours. But do not let it frozen. Keeping it inside the refrigerator is advisable.

The name of ciku is synonym in Malaysia, to the extent of the government's agency called FELDA has a palm oil plantations by the name of FELDA Ciku located in the state of Kelantan.

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PERFECT TIME TO VISIT MARINE PARKS IN TERENGGANU

To the Islands' Maniacs:

Have you forgotten your traveling schedules?

Have you forgotten those islands and the marine parks you visited before?

and the white powdery sandy beaches?

and the crystal clear water?

the turquoise blue sea?

and the colorful corals?

 

 

and friendly underwater inhabitants and anemones?

 

 

...and all the beautiful memories and memoirs and peaceful minds that you have tasted whilst you were there...with your friends, your family or your loved one...

To those who have not been there yet:

Make your vacation meaningful, unforgotten forever with the love one...

Welcome to the paradise!

You can never miss the chance to dive or snorkel in the crystal clear blue ocean of South China Sea when you are here in my state, Terengganu Darul Iman. 

Colorful creatures lay underneath the water and fishes playing around are an irresistible temptation for whoever pampering themselves with a holiday in any of the islands or beaches. There are 11 Marine Parks in the state, after the monsoon wind turns its steering to other sites of the world, the marine parks will be overwhelmed by visitors from all over the country and the world. 

Now, it is the perfect time to visit any of the marine parks or all of them. 

Day trips or package tours are always available, check with your agent for the packages...NOW!!!

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Local Fruits - Malay Apple

Jambu/Malay Apple

Syzygium malaccense, commonly known as Malay Apple, is a species of flowering tree that is native to Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java) and Southern Vietnam. It has been introduced throughout the tropics, including many Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Suriname, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also known as jambu bol (Indonesian, meaning "ball guava"), Malay Rose Apple, Otaheite Cashew and Pommerac (derived from pomme Malac, meaning "Malaysian Apple" in French). Highly ambiguous terms, such as "rose apple", "water apple", "mountain apple", "pomarrosa" or "plum rose" are sometimes used for this plant or its fruit; they can refer to almost any species of Syzygium grown for its fruit. 

The fruit is oblong-shaped and dark red in color, although some varieties have white or pink skin. 

The flesh is white and surrounds a large seed. But there are some species which do not have seeds at all, like the one in the picture below.

seedless Malay apple

 

 

 

 

Malay apple is good for jam too. Jam is prepared by stewing the flesh with brown sugar and ginger. 

 

Malay apple trees thrive in tropical climates with an annual rainfall of 152 cm (60 in) or more. They can grow at a variety of altitudes, from sea level up to 2,740 m (8,990 ft). The trees themselves can grow from 12–18 m (39–59 ft) in height. They flower in early summer, bearing fruit three months afterward. In Costa Rica they flower earlier, with ripe fruit in June.

The color of the fruits can be identified by the color of its flowers. If the color is light yellow, the fruits will be in light yellow or light green.

 

 

 

If the flowers are red or pink, then the fruits also will be in red or pink too.

In Hawaii Syzygium malaccense is called Mountain apple, and was brought to the islands by Polynesians probably 1000 to 1700 years ago. The Polynesians reached the Hawaiian islands bringing plants and animals that were important to them. Mountain apple was one of the 'canoe plants'.

Ripe Malay apple fruits are delicious and widely sold in Malaysian markets or at the Highway stalls.

the apple look Malay apple