Ramadan Bazar and its colours.

Oh, at times we are a bit lavish with food, buying more than needed, then later feel bad about it. We fast the whole month of Ramadan. It should bring back some senses to everyone, that we can do with less, and a time to appreciate the hardship the poorer has to go through in life.

Kids are induced into fasting bit by bit. Mothers would encourage children to fast half the day. No food til lunch, and slowly get them to fast dawn to dusk, joining the adults. The whole development is very much tactical, encouragement and rewards. Mothers would promise new clothes ( or anything within their means) if children manage fasting well. Favourite food on the table for berbuka (breaking the day fasting) will be one of the inducement. Mothers would cook or go out to Ramadan Bazar to pick a few for children.

With the rule of supply and demand, Ramadan Bazar is here to stay, the whole length of fasting month. And mothers will continue the tactical game to induce children to fast the whole day and the whole month. That's how it goes, the perpetuation of life.
 

beautiful tents, the hallmark of Ramadan Bazar

A hot day, blue sky

seller and buyers

home made drinks

Look at the kid..., wondering which one to choose.

Kakdah settled for pulut udang

RM2 and 5  pulut udang changed hands.

I turned back for a final picture, farewell to Ramadan Bazar

It is in this part of Malaysia that I learn a delicacy "Tok Aji Serban". I bet Puan Asmara had forgotten what's the taste like, being away for far too long. Kakdah however prefer the name seri muka (translated roughly as as shining face), because to her that's more feminine.  We can build a long list of nice food for ramadan breakfast: cucur udang, akok, ketayap (that's sound a little bit like tok aji serban), bihun goreng, mee goreng, cucur keriya, tepung talam, cakar ayam, bubur lambok ( or kanji for northeners). A mere mention of their names, tickle anyone's appetite!. In the old days, we did food exchange. Children would take a plate of something to the neighbor, then wait for the exchange. Mothers prepare one, but end up with so many on the table......., a communal value that is slowly fading.......

Kakdah bought 5 pulut udang, which in fact is glutinous rice with coconut grating  in the middle mixed with chili and prawns, wrapped with banana leaf and grilled. Its is nice.....

Bangchik and Kakdah