Introducing Kuala Terengganu

A microcosm of Malaysia’s economic explosion: fishing village strikes oil, modernity ensues. Kuala Terengganu is surprisingly attractive despite the number of newly built (with petro-wealth), sterile-looking skyscrapers. There’s a boardwalk, a couple of decent beaches, a few old kampong style houses hidden among the high rises, and one of Eastern Peninsular Malaysia’s prettiest Chinatowns. With seafood-heavy local cuisine and good transport links, KT is worth a day or two in between the islands and jungles.