These are the photos that you won't be able to find anywhere else. I took this during an early morning visit to the local market. They're not on Facebook. I don't plan to upload them. All I can say is that there is more to the weekend than just going shopping.
A makeshift fishmonger's. All he do is just to get his fish in the open air(hence the stench),and soak them in water instead of packing ice cubes above. The weather's cold enough to freeze it, and keeps the fish fresh.
This is how they set up shop. The pavement is where all the human traffic is, so stall owners just set up their goods along the pavement, and people are free to stop and buy whatever they like.
I don't remember what this guy was selling, was it potted plants?
But I liked how all the notices made a pretty cool background.
This is a food stall, where the lady inside will make your breakfast on the spot.
Another fishmonger's, but this time, it has more variety. They have shrimps, prawns, squid, eel, but no crab.
Fruit store! They have oranges, peaches, strawberries and no imported fruits. Singapore comes out much luckier.
I don't know what is this, I remembered that he was looking for something.
Someone trying to buy strawberries. Are they bargaining?
You can really see where the crowds are. At the back of the picture.
Residents take the chance to bring their dogs out for the usual exercise as well, so there are plenty of dog walkers about.
Think this was when the fresh stocks from the fish market had just arrived and everyone's getting a closer look.
Yep, it's the fishmonger's again. And they have more fish.
Some people leaving after their usual market rounds. I noticed that people there don't wear slippers out, even to do marketing. I guess the weather's cold and the pavements sometimes dirty. But it's still a good habit, I guess.
I haven't got the faintest idea why there is this rather crooked picture is doing here. But some vendors sell vegetables from the back of their van.
Another alleyway, and this one shows just how crowded it is. There is a supermarket in the district, just that prices are steeper and they stock things like household items and food like biscuits and bottled water or soft drinks, instead of the fresh produce to prevent direct competition with the wet market. I guess people there trust their wet market more than the supermarket. The supermarket is always quieter and you don't see many local residents who go there.
Somebody selling dried goods. Singapore's a strict teacher on hygiene. I don't think they'd allow anybody to sell anything like that. They would have gotten a fine on their heads.
People do sell things other than food. This lady decided to hawk her own hand made jewellery, with pendants, bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings. Sometimes you can't trust the jewellery chains too much.
This is the one which is slightly more interesting. This guy was selling stoves on the street, which you can buy back and fix it yourself. You see the coolest things here.
A playground/exercise corner for residents. Singapore does have that, and it's a great opportunity to socialize as well. I think this came out after the daily morning exercise routine, so the park is empty and everyone's off to do something else. Strangely, I didn't see any office folk in their usual office wear and funny shoes cause they don't see to walk well in them. I wonder if they really like wearing them.
This looks hazy. My bad. Sorry.
More breakfast.
There are no hawker centers like Singapore, but many roadside stalls. Do not attempt if you don't like risks. The food may be delicious, but the seasoning may get out of hand sometime
Fortune telling from a small stall. I never tried. I never dared as well. I don't want to hear that I will live for the so and so years.
2 dogs having a scuffle. One says "Get off my turf you nimwit! The Car is MINE!" The other says "You Liar! That stretch is my turf! Where did that car come from?"
Fixing bicycle.
I'm gonna ride my bike until I get home - Mark Ronson, The Bike Song
Blur again
Converted Pigeon cage balcony. Simply put some chicken fence around the walls, affix a few bars for birds to rest, a gap in the fence and a caged bottom, and you're ready to go!
Bicycles are still more popular. I'm ditching cars for bikes. Unless it is the Volks New Beetle 2004.
I remotely forgot what was this about. Is he the locksmith?
Blur
Ground vegetables. Sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers,brinjals.. Looks nice
Crooked again! Why?
Something more towards household items here. They are interesting folk. Self sufficient is hard to come by nowadays.
Shopping with the bicycle in hand. Just be careful of it
Vegetable again. There aren't many butcher shops and fishmongers, and you can tell a lot of people's dietary habits just by looking at what they sell at the market.
A slight scuffle we have again. We're good, no one's hurt.
Sad society truths. We must be more accommodating and accepting of other's shortcomings and plights. I still remembered that there a were a group of Hearing Impaired students who stayed in the hotel with us during the second half of the trip. I still remembered some of my friends who couldn't find a way to communicate with them, and they became flustered and quite helpless.
Vegetables. I'm never wasting you again.
Some dried goods. Check out the giant cubes of rock sugar! AND ALL THE HAW CANDY:)
There are shop fronts. Like the bags of rice in the background, with the soy sauce bottles and sugar sacks.
Tomatoes! Ladies eat more of these babies.. Good for your skin. And it's 100% community trade.
People do sell stuff from the back of a van, no surprises there.
Sweet potatoes, cabbages, long beans, green chili, radishes, brinjals... Look at the size of the cabbages! Farmers have no choice but to use chemical fertilizer and insecticide just to improve their vegetable sales, which isn't good for everybody. Please buy from organic farmers, push the drive for organic farming, it benefits everybody..
More reasons to go on diet. You would support community trade than corporate, rights?
Nice. They make their commute to the housing districts to make the daily sales, and drive back to the farms when they're done. Life as a farmer isn't the best, but at least you can save on food.
Butcher's. Feel free to go vegan anytime now. I'm cutting down on my intake
Egg seller. He was the only guy selling eggs in the whole market. And they're straight from his own farm! Support community trade people!
Apples! Man, I can make enough juice for a month with those.
It's kinda competitive, given the number of people who sell the same things and try to set themselves from the rest. This is where you should hire your advertising executives from.
Going home after the market rounds. The market is open twice a day. Once in the morning, and the other in the evening. They usually start at 7 am, and end about 9, so this stop won't be in the tourists guidebook. Most tourists won't come.
Breakfast. You can choose between buying in the morning to eating from the night before. I'm not the one to decide which one I prefer.
Dog by the roadside. Poor thing
Just an idea how busy it actually is. And Singaporeans like the supermarket more.
Dogs. I never understand how they work. Just gimme more time
Support community trade. It is time to turn the tide
A lone bicycle by the fruits. I feel hungry already
I don't know how is there so much people in a single place at the same time. I will never understand how.
I'm never gonna understand how you can put all your grocery shopping on your bike. I was told that all of it will never fit in there.
Nothing much here
And this
Hope they sell out everything at the end of the day. There's loads of food about
like here
And here.
They love their pears. I've been eating loads since
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