Is This Still Malaysia? Thai Temples 15 Minutes from Kota Bharu | Malaysia Road Trip Day 12

Still in Malaysia – Day 26: Thai temples in Kelantan, 15 minutes from Kota Bharu. A viewer told me Kota Bharu is a 98% Muslim city, and it felt like that. Then I drove out of town on a Sunday morning and found Thai Buddhist temples on the roadside in Tumpat: a golden standing Buddha, a dragon boat, a giant sleeping Buddha and a giant sitting Buddha. Still Malaysia, but a different Malaysia. The temples: Wat Mai Suwankhiri, the dragon boat temple (Ketik Perahu Naga) in Kampung Bukit Tanah, about 400 years old according to the sign; the present temple cost RM 300,000 ($73,943 / €66,194) from public donations. Wat Phothivihan with its sleeping Buddha, where I was the only visitor, apart from the monks, a cleaning lady and a bunch of dogs. And Wat Machimmaram with its giant sitting Buddha. Question for you: have you ever been somewhere that felt like another country, without crossing a border? Tell me in the comments. CHAPTERS 0:00 Is this still Malaysia? 0:13 98% Muslim, 15 minutes away 0:48 The first temple 1:13 Wat Mai Suwankhiri 2:21 Wat Phothivihan 3:38 Wat Machimmaram Exchange rate 1 Nov 2026: RM 1 = $0.246 / €0.221 The whole day, four police checks near the Thai border: "4 Police Checks in One Day Near the Thai Border | Malaysia Road Trip Day 12"    • 4 Police Checks in One Day Near the Thai B...   ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Leaving Dutchland: I'm 59 and settling in Malaysia. Real costs, daily life and the off-track Malaysia most tourists never see. Subscribe if you want to see the Malaysia most tourists never see. Music: "One true love", "Last laugh" and "Save me" by Patrick Patrikios; "Pawn" by The Grey Room / Golden Palms (YouTube Audio Library) #ThaiTemples #Kelantan #Tumpat