COCONUT DRINKS

young coconut flesh in its juice

COCONUT DRINK - COCONUT JUICE AND YOUNG FLESH

It is one hot afternoon in my place, Kuala Terengganu city in Malaysia. It wasn't rain for weeks already. The heat, temperature and strong wind from the South China Sea have made the situation much more challenging here. The humidity that we always have as a Tropical country could not cool down the weather. Even the fresh water we'd drank could not really quash our thirst. 

The answer for me is the coconut jelly plus its juice. This combination is really a quashing thirst drink and it is cheap too. With MYR6 only (USD2) I can enjoy this drink together with the whole flesh from a single fruit. Believe me or not, the drink is really satisfying me. I felt a bit fresher too.

Make sure you do not take the coconut with matured flesh because you cannot enjoy the mixing taste of young flesh and its juice. Matured flesh is good for coconut milk.

Coconut juice is different from coconut milk. Eating the coconut jelly together with its original juice is good for your health. It is not similar with drinking the coconut milk as practiced by certain people with scientifically unlike results. Perhaps and maybe (in my incorrect opinion?), the coconut is the only consumable fruit in this World which has rich and plenty of juice inside the shell and/or the fruit flesh itself.

sources of fresh coconut fruits from its tree

Taking the juice from the coconut shell freshly will certainly quash your thirst accordingly. Use a straw to suck the juice. The moment you swallow the juice, your body will equally enjoy its unique taste almost immediately. But be sure to choose the one from a tree which has proven its quality. Some coconut trees produce fruits which contain a bit sour or tasteless juice. You could hardly finish even a cup of it then! 

There are many ways to enjoy the coconut fruits. It depends on one's creativity. One can enjoy the young flesh only, or the juice only, or the combination of them, or the foods and beverages from coconut.

coconut flesh and other stuffs in shaved ice

coconut ice cream

Jeti Shahbandar - gateway to city's exotic islands

The Taman/Garden Shahbandar also has its own jetty. The jetty is the gateway to the nearest exotic islands such as Kapas Island, Gemia Island, Bidong Island and Redang Island.

From this jetty visitors or tourists will board the vessels or ferries to their own destination or the islands. Some of the resorts management from those islands will provide the ferries, vessels or speed boats to their guests and the jetty is the popular take off and arrival for them.

the parking lots

There are a parking bay just beside the jetty provided for the visitors to park their cars or buses whilst they are visiting the islands. Some parking fees will be charged on the exit depending on how long the parking is consumed.

There are some places where you can sit and relax just beside the river bank and facing the estuary. During the weekend, this place is crowded too.

I have been here many times already and I am brave enough to convince people to visit this place in the evening...not necessarily in weekends, normal day will be perfect too. Bring your children here. Let them enjoy the space and the pace freely. But, be sure not to let them getting close to the river bank...just to avoid any tragedy and/or regrets.

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.

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!!!