Thursday 2 July 2015

Paya Bunga Square


I'm not done with my Kuala Terengganu posts as yet. So let's visit KT's first major shopping mall. Paya Bunga Square had been opened for only a few months when my brother and I visited. There was some excitement because my mum heard from my cousin that there is a Manhattan Fish Market there. Is that cool or what?


On the way down to town, we spotted this signboard. On closer inspection, it looked rather interesting.


But we did not have time to check it out. So we drove on.


Kuala Terengganu has changed quite a lot. There is rapid development with many commercial buildings being built. Traffic is heavy with traffic jams during peak hours. For those of you who think that Kuala Terengganu is very ulu, you will be surprised.


So there we were at the mall. We wanted to check out Manhattan Fish Market before we took our parents there.


The surrounding area was still under construction. There is a new hotel coming up I think.


We were early and the place was quiet. This is the main entrance. 


And this thing greeted us at the door. Arrrghhhhh!!!!


Yes, the local Inland Revenue Board office is situated on the first floor of the mall. How strategic.

Bayor cukai dulu sebelum anda pergi membeli belah
(Pay your taxes first before you spend money at the mall).
Upon entering, we realised that the mall was not fully occupied yet. Only about 30% of the shoplots have been taken up. So it was quite bare.

Downstairs, we saw this kiosk selling Terengganu snacks.


Then I spotted this banner.


Food always gets our undivided attention and the brother and I made our way up to level 3.








It was still early, so we did not have anything to eat here. Besides, we had a lunch date with our parents. Then we walked around. It was quite deserted.

I have heard of 2D and 4D and now this 7D.
Ah! A Shabu-Shabu Restaurant.
Women's clothing stores made up the majority of the shops that were opened.
Now the people of Terengganu can enjoy sushi.
We walked around trying to locate the elusive Manhattan Fish Market. Then my brother asked the shops assistants for help. Nope, Manhattan Fish Market is not opened yet. Haiya! That cousin of mine! Told us the wrong thing tsk..tsk..tsk...


Well, at least Gloria Jean's is here. This is probably THE place to hang out now.

Now, what's this? A blood donation drive.


My brother and I have donated blood before but not on that day. 


On the whole, the trip to the mall was a bit of a let down due to the low occupancy. But still, at least we have visited the mall. 

The only shop that was interesting was this one.


These were what we saw in there. Most of the products are from the Middle East. That was where I bought sumac.

I mistook this for Kit Kat and bought one. But it was some kind
of flaky confectionery filled with chocolate.
Chocolates.
All sorts of honey with ginger, ginseng or blackseed.
Sweets?
Spices.
Snacks.
Olive oil and some other oils and sauces.

My brother was attracted to something....
......this. I was curious too. It's called Gula-Gula Sarang Burung (Bird Nest Sweets?).
But it was a disappointment. Tasted of raw flour. Sorry, we had to throw it away.
After about an hour or so, we left. 


At the carpark exit, it looked like some people were not accustomed to the autopay concept. They had to get out of their car and pay at the autopay machine which was just across from the exit. Luckily it was not crowded and I cannot imagine what it would be like when more and more people visit and are oblivious to the fact that they had to pay before they collected their cars.


It will take a while before Paya Bunga Square comes alive and I hope this mall will be successful. I won't be surprised if the Mek Ganu (Terengganu ladies) come in droves to do a spot of shopping. After all, Hari Raya is just around the corner!

34 comments:

  1. That sure looks like a very nice place. Your brother looks like a cousin of mine...from the back, same shape and size. I wouldn't want to go to those franchise places if I were to go to KT - no, thank you. It's like those tourists coming here and eating at McD or KFC. Makes no sense - could have stayed at home to eat those.

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    1. I wouldn't want to eat the nasi dagang and any of the local fare here either, unless I do not have time or transport to go around, maybe - bet they can't beat the authentic ones at the stalls and the shops in town.

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    2. Exactly, you would want to stay away from the malls. This is more for the locals, especially the young who like to have a place to hang out. I was basically curious and I I hope this mall survives.

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  2. So where you guys went for lunch? Ya wor , lhdn on the ground floor at the shopping mall, ok wor, I like actually..Wah you & your brother geng, can lepak there for an hour, buy kuih and chocolates and stuffs.. I will also be buying chocolates I think, I see lots of interesting flavours leh.

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    1. Louiz, I can't remember where we went for lunch or what day we went to the mall hah..hah..old liao the memory not so good :)

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  3. have never been in there before. LOL...looks a bit quiet ya. Maybe coz normal days kot

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    1. Mostly because it is new and not many shops there. It was the school holidays and traffic was heavy but the mall so quiet.

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  4. Haih, 30% occupancy also they open to the public? Why all these newer mall operators never learn their lessons one? That is a recipe for becoming a dead mall soon. When a mall opens, people see it seems empty, they would not want to go in, then future tenants would balk at the idea of moving in...

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    1. I just read your comments after posting mine.
      I fully agree with you wise lazy man.

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    2. I suppose the mall operators after sinking in so much money, they want to be operational as soon as they can.

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  5. I have sat in many meetings with the bosses of malls and learnt that one should never open a mall with less than 70% occupancy. The damage possibilities will be fatal like the case of UE3 in Cheras which was built by MBF.
    Anyway the shopping culture might be different in KT and I hope they will boom on time for my visit.
    Only an idiot would shun the malls when visit KT. I would explore everything from backlanes, roadsides to high end malls to full discover. I hope this mall is designed and built on high grounds to withstand the monsoon.
    The more I read your KT posts, my heart is racing to go sooner.

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    1. TM, I really don't know how well received this mall is. My thinking is that the KT folks might like to have a mall, something that they only experience when they come to KL or other states. It's too early to gauge and I hope that the mall does well and not end up as a white elephant.

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  6. of course i have not been expecting an end to your KT trip yet, because you were merely talking about what you ate and you promise you will be blogging about where you went too in your earlier post, remember?? hehehe.. so today, PH brings us go shopping (or actually hunting for food)!!!

    what a shame i have not been to KT before, not even once, and so i cannot say how much the place has changed and definitely i have no idea how the place looks like too, haha.. so, this Paya Bunga Square is the latest happening place in town?? but only 30% occupancy?? that is rather low and even disappointed PH for expecting TMFM staff to welcome her into the restaurant, haha.. nvm, i guess the next trip back to KT, your mum will belanja you all go there for sure.. :)

    wah, 7D movie?? what is that?? i am very curious what the 7 D's represent.. and you did not went to kaypoh with the staff a bit?? would be nice to bring your parents to spend a day there, jalan jalan, makan makan and also watch a 7D movie right??

    so the one that got our honorary PH went in was the Eastamar!! looks like a mini market to me, and wow, so many imported stuffs from the Middle East as well as local produce.. hahaha, Kat Kat Kat and that squarish chocolate bar also resembles my favorite chocolate Ritter Sports, did you also buy that?? and i have to say, this place is really loaded with lots of goodies you can buy, even your brother was attracted to browse until he did not realised you shot him from the back!! :D

    ah, autopay carpark is still not common in KT?? hmmm, if this happens in KL, i am sure the honks from each of the cars behind will be able to make the building collapse, hahaha~~ :p

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    1. I was quite excited and curious about this mall even though there is a big mall near my house in PJ hah..hah.. Some more my mum told me that TMFM is there and I have been to TMFM only once, long ago.

      I did not ask what that 7D stand for. Maybe it's just the name of the cinema. It was real quite even though it was the school holidays. Maybe not many people know that the mall is already opened? There will likely be an official opening sometime soon I think.

      I really kena tipu (my own fault of course, never see properly) thinking the chocolate is foreign variant of kit kat. Many products at Eastamar was very exotic to me,

      Anyway, I hope business at Paya Bunga Square picks up and the mall will do well. It will be good for the KT folks.

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  7. If i see the snacks, i will sure can't resist the temptation and buy and eat non stop...

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    1. Me too, Sharon. I also like snacks.

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  8. We have been planning a trip to the east coast, including K.Trengganu but somehow it is still in the planning stage!

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    1. Nancy, one day it will become reality!

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  9. It looks really empty, it seems like you were the only clients. But this is just a begining!

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    1. Ola, it's still new so maybe in time to come, more people will visit :)

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  10. Hi Phong Hong, it's been a long time since I've been blogging and even visiting to comment on yours and others' blogs. What an adventure for you and family to see all these places, so interesting and lovely thing to see. Thanks for sharing all the great photos you took! I'm so glad to be back, and have really missed you, and all my blogger friends!

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    1. Hi Elisabeth! Wonderful to have you back!

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  11. I like the mall's design. :)

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  12. Yeah, it is kind of risky to open when your occupancy rate is only 30%.....hope it does not spell the death for them!

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    1. Hope so too. It would be a shame if this mall failed.

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  13. It will take a while, but once more shops open, it should thrive!

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  14. The mall looks promising! Hope more shops will open soon. So where did you all eat since MFM is not opened yet?

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    1. Mun, we went some place else and I couldn't remember where hah..hah...

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  15. Hi Phong Hong,
    While I like to shop in non-crowded malls/eateries etc. but too quiet also can be quite scary hor ... Paya Bunga Square just newly opened for few months will take some time to attract the crowd.

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    1. Hi Karen! Yes, it will take a while before the mall picks up. In a way it was good too that it was quiet because I don't like crowds.

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  16. It's very quiet and serene over there. I wonder if KT is a bustling place compared to other big cities. Love the kuihs!

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    1. Chris, it was very busy when I went to town during the one week I was there. So I would say that it was bustling!

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