Malaysia Tour Part 2: Alor Setar
Jitra connects directly to Kepala Batas Sultan Abdul Halim Airport and Alor Setar. Although small, it's quite convenient for first-time visitors. Simple English, Cantonese, and a little Mandarin are spoken, allowing for easy communication.
Breakfast: Follow the locals. They often order a half-wheat flour, half-noodle kueh chee (a soup similar to medicinal herbs), stir-fried rat noodles (similar to silver needle noodles), and rice noodles (with options of kuey teow, hor fun, rice vermicelli, etc.). Another option is a half-and-half teh ping, half-kopi, or yuan yang (a type of rice noodle dish). Most people order the kopi.
After a satisfying meal, our first stop is the Rice Museum to learn about the rice-growing process. A giant painting on the rooftop features a 360-degree rotating stage, explaining the history of agriculture and the evolution of rice cultivation today. Photos taken upstairs can be printed on-site. Inside, the museum showcases rice-based products (rice noodles, hor fun, cakes, etc.) and a selection of farming tools. Cherishing food is paramount. I met a man who grows black rice tea himself. He introduced himself in Cantonese, which made us feel closer. The basement floor has various exhibition areas where you can check out and try them out. Suggested stay: 1 hour.
Then we went to Aman Central, a large shopping mall in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. It offers retail, dining, and a cinema. It's the largest shopping mall in Kedah, adjacent to the Alor Setar Telecom Tower and has parking.
Being close to Thailand, I indulged in Thai food. The steamed thick toast with kaya sauce was delicious. The boat noodles are MYR0.6 each, and they're bite-sized, perfect for those with smaller stomachs. You can try a few and stack them like conveyor belt sushi. The wait for our food was quite long. I asked a friend and they told me that this is because they don't have pre-prepared dishes and are made to order, which takes time. Estimated time: 1.5 hours.
It was too hot outside, so I stopped by for lunch and some shopping. Retail outlets include Parkson, Lotus, and Beryl's Chocolate, and you can also enjoy Thai milk. If you want to exchange local currency, there's an exchange shop on the G floor of the plaza. Enjoy plenty of shopping and a wide variety of food—two things you can satisfy at once.
Our last stop in Alor Setar today: Across from Chinatown is Shanghai Street, a night market-like street. I tried the local bak kut teh and the delicious Indian atom dish, which is filled with coconut milk. A must-try: stingray. There's also a selection of Thai hot and sour salads, colorful red bean ice cream, grilled chicken wings, Taiwanese and Thai cuisine, and more. The menu offers a variety of dishes, and the flavors vary, so find your favorite.
Tip:
If arriving by domestic flight, we recommend staying in Alor Setar, where there's a wider selection of newer hotels. It's about a 30-minute drive from Alor Setar to Jitra.
📍RESTORAN SERI JITRA 888 Thai village
Unnamed Road, Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia
📍 Muzium Padi Rice Museum
Jalan Gunung Keriang, Alor Setar, Kedah
📍Aman central, Alor setar, Malaysia
Aman Central, 1, Darul Aman Hwy, Kampung Lubok Peringgi, 05100 Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
📍Boat Noodes, Aman central, Alor setar, Malaysia
📍 China Town Food Court Chinatown
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Alor Setar, Malaysia
#jutra #MuziumPadi #ricemuseum #alorsetar