Kelantan-my own definition

Assalamualaikum, readers.

*gasp*

*gasp again* 

How long has it been since my last update? 7 months?

seriously? 

*falls to the ground*

So, it's been 4 years since I lived in Kelantan. There were lots of stigma about how Kelantan and the people really are. 

I've been planning to blog on this since first year but I kept forgetting...

Ready for the TOP 5 MYTHS about Kelantan that are not true?

anyways, here we go!

1- Kelantanese are poor

To be honest, I have no idea how do you judge a person poor or rich just by looking at the person.

Some people may drive imported cars, but they still struggle to pay their bills every month.

Some people don't own lots of jewelleries, but they have lots of savings in the bank.

Based on my observations, majority of Kelantanese are involved in business. Whether it's selling tudungs, kitchenware, vegetables and food or toys, they are up for it. And surprisingly, the ones you see running the business are both teenagers and the elderly. 

Pasar Siti Khadijah: 3 floors packed with all kinds of stuff you wanna shop for!

Most of the teens who start business at an early age are the ones who refuse to further studies and the elderly are just spending some time doing something else other than sitting on a lazy chair at home, watching TV and sleep all day.

Nevertheless, there are people who are so poor, they starve every day. I've came across a small boy eating french fries from the floor because he had no money to eat. 

2- Kelantan has no tar roads

This was the first thing I imagined when people even mention Kelantan. I've always imagined the roads were sandy with no tar, and people either walk or use bicycles to travel because they had no cars. 

*laughs hard*

Much to my surprise, people here drive imported cars and own more than one car! and yes, the roads are tarred!

3- Kelantan is an Islamic country, ALL Muslim women wear tudungs, zero crime rate.
It took me by surprise as well when I first stepped foot in Kelantan. 
Kelantan is ruled by an Islamic political party (PAS) and is by far the only state ruled by it. *PAS is known as the opposition party here*
The politicians in this party are very religious, or appear religious. I was told once that the state fines any Muslim women who does not cover their heads (part of aurah), about 10 years back. 
I have no idea what happened after that, but now, nobody is fined anymore. And so, you'll still see Muslim women exposing their hair, men and women who aren't married sitting so closely...just like anywhere else.
Zero crime rate? Pfftttt...
People has nothing to do with a state. If a person is bad, then, nothing you can do to change the person to a good one, none other than the person himself. That's pretty much it.
Not in the mood to elaborate on this any longer...

4- Kelantan is under developed, there's no proper buildings there.
Excuse you! 
There's a few malls in Kelantan now. And the malls are always packed with people. 
We have Sushi King, Domino's Pizza, Big Apple's, Watsons....you name it, we've got it! 
*eh, since when did I become a Kelantanese myself?* *oppssss*

5- Food in Kelantan are all sweet, highest diabetes prevalence.

Nasi kerabu

Not TRUE!

You can ask for your food to be less sweet, if you want. They'd actually make yours just the way you want it...

Kelantan also serve savoury food like sambal pedas and masak lemak cili padi. And, we also have nasi kerabu. It's pretty spicy because of the chilli...
About diabetes...
One question. Will you get diabetes if you drink two glasses of sugar dissolved in water?
NOPE!
You'd get diabetes if your Beta cells on your pancreas are resistant to glucose or your Beta cells are not producing enough insulin. 
If you exercise and monitor what you eat, you'll be safe from diseases. Nothing to do with the state or whatever.  

What do you think of Kelantan now?
I hope you realize that Kelantan is just another state, the people are as NORMAL as the ones in KL, Johor or Sarawak. 
They have the right to live, just as much as we do. 

Wallahua'lam.