Painted in rainbow hues, sleepy village becomes ‘Insta-worthy’
ONCE a sleepy fishing village with rows of shabby houses, Kampung Sungai Budor here is now a spectacular setting to capture great Instagram photos. Ever since the houses were painted with colours of the rainbow, its rural landscape has changed, bringing an air of freshness and creating a cheerful atmosphere.
Today, this charming Instagram-worthy hidden gem, featuring houses in colourful hues, is a must-visit location for tourists to the state.
The idea to add colour to this once dreary village was mooted by the Kelantan Women’s Association in collaboration with the Kota Baru Municipal Council and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2018.
Villager Wan Rosdi Wan Ismail said ever since the houses in the settlement were painted with vibrant colours, local and foreign tourists had been drawn to visit the idyllic, riverside spot.
He said to date, almost 10 village houses had been painted with bright colours and hundreds were waiting in line to add more cheer to the village.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign tourists from South Korea, Japan and Australia have been visiting the settlement as the unique and magical backdrops have transformed this place into a favourite photography location.
“We are grateful to the parties involved, including the state government, for their efforts in beautifying our homes because with our low income we simply would not be able to afford it,” he said.
The 56-year-old barber said the villagers were so thrilled with the project that some, including himself, took the initiative to paint their houses themselves.
Another resident, Wan Nazrul Sham Wan Samat, 23, said the effort had not only revived tourism in the state, but the arrival of tourists in the village to experience local culture and food had also helped to generate economic opportunities for the locals.
“I plan to open a batik shop at my house early next year to earn some income,” he said, adding that some residents had set up food stalls to cater to the visitors.
Painting contractor supervisor Azizan Hadi, 45, said under the project, six people had been assigned to paint the houses with the seven colours of the rainbow.
“The workers work on the houses from 8am to 6pm daily, and it would take them about one to three days to complete one house, depending on the area to be covered,” he added.