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ABOUT TERRAPURI
Terrapuri (The Land Of Palaces) is
a conservation and restoration project of Terengganu Malay Classic
house. Its feature 29 antique hundred years old Classic Houses. The
layout of the resort is inspired by the 17th century Terengganu Palace
and its surrounding. Terrapuri consists of 20 exclusive restored villas,
a Spa, a Malay fine dining restaurant, a private dinning villa, a
gallery and a beach house.
Terrapuri sits on the land flanked
by the South China Sea on one side and mangrove river on the other (Setiu
Wetland). By day coconut trees sway amidst sea breezes with stunning
view of Pulau Perhentian, Lang Tengah, Pulau Cepu, Redang and Bidong
islands, shimmer invitingly just offshore in emerald iridescence. By
night, fireflies flash about while, in different seasons, ocean-going
green turtles and painted terrapins lay their eggs on their respective
sandy shores.
Between the South China Sea and the
hill forests lies a speckled array of habitats lagoons, marshes, deltas,
peat swamps, Melaleuca forests - that offer refuge to many plants and
animals. The wetlands serve as feeding and roosting ground for seasonal
birds and are stopover sites for migratory birds. Marine turtles find
their way to the beaches between May to September. Adding to Setiu's
ecological value are the presence of endangered Painted and River
terrapins that travel down river to nest in the sandy shores of the
river mouth and beach fringes. Setiu is a priority for the Malaysian
Tropical Forest Conservation Project (MTFCP) run by the Coral Cay
Conservation, a not-for-profit group headquartered in the UK and WWF
Malaysia run conservation of marine turtles and painted terrapins.
Terengganu Classic House
The early ancestors of the Malays
came from the ancient civilization of Champa in Indochina and Cambodia
and settled along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. From 2nd to the
16th century, Terengganu was part of the Malay kingdom of Langkasuka.
Many of traditional Malay art forms know today originated there,
including wayang kulit, Mak Yong, Menora, sobek (filigree-like wood
carving) and kerawang (piercing- like wood carving).
Terengganu classic house (Rumah
Bujang & Rumah Bujang berserambi) features similar to Cambodian and Thai
houses. With its raised platform on stilts, triangular shape, steep
gabled roof, gently curved gable ends (Peles), rhomboid shaped
terracotta roof tiles and walls made of timber panels which slotted into
grooves frames.
Built entirely of Cengal wood (Neobalanocarpus
Heimii), the walls, doors, windows and gables consist of separate wood
panels which are fitted together using wooden joints held in place by
pasak (wooden pegs) from penaga wood. Amazingly, No nails are used, thus
the entire structure can be taken apart and reassembled. In Malay
Terengganu dialect masang, meaning ‘assemble’. The house can be easily
assembled or dismantled and move from one location to another. Imagine,
Terengganu already making prefabricated homes over hundreds year ago !
Terrapuri Heritage Village is a
conservation and restoration project on Terengganu classic houses with
objectives as follow :
Rescued and restored centuries old
Terengganu classic houses otherwise would have been demolished or would
have fallen into ruin.
Preservation, understand the
cultures, motifs, symbolic, tales and values behind it.
Gain more appreciation of Malay
architectural and to educate young generation of carpenters (Tukang Kayu)
on eroding heritage of a Terengganu Malay classic house.
Contact
Kg.Mangkuk, 22120 Setiu,
Terengganu, Malaysia.
Tel : (609) 6245020 Fax : (609) 6228093
E-mail :
info@terrapuri.com
webpage :
www.terrapuri.com
Article
Resource Magazine (volume 19 No. 3)
Gaya Travel Managazine (issue 7.1)
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