Pasar Besar Kedai Payang

Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin

20000 Kuala Terengganu

+6096221433

(Coordinates: E103° 8' 7.5" N5° 20' 6.7")

Aah! Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, an iconic heritage, a traditional structure so synonymous with local and foreign tourists' mention of Terengganu, which has made it a must-visit shopping and sight-seeing location here. We heard of some disturbing development concerning this beloved landmark.

Apparently the Public Works Department had initially confirmed the market's compromised safety condition; the Chief Minister then in February announced its revamp; a plan to modernise it into a four-storey, air-conditioned market, together with the construction of a 23-storey, 550-room five-star hotel and a 30-storey apartment in a project involving a whopping investment of RM400 million.

Then on May 23, during the Terengganu State Tourism Association (PPNT) 24th general meeting, its chairman Wan Supian Wan Ishak had asked the state government to review its intention to demolish the central market.

We wait with bated breath as the drama unfolds. In the meantime, we thought we’d capture some images of this beloved market for posterity...

been coming here for as long as I can remember

we headed upstairs first

where the textile shops entranced her

while he was kept entertained

its been a while since I've seen these

souvenir galore

take your pick

the traditional Malay dagger, the 'Keris'

waiting for her change?

more textile

she has her hands full, she has

this was on the ground floor

by the roadside

we then headed to the wet market downstairs

staple fruit growing up

the sights...

sounds...

and scent!

half the usual price in Kuala Lumpur

we then headed to the snack stalls

smiling sweetly

a mountain of munch

doing a little bit of haggling

a win-win?

and again, waiting for her change