Page 44 - Explore Magazine Winter 2016

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FOOTPATH FEASTS

Kuala Lumpur’s street markets offer a fascinating introduction to
one of the most diverse cuisines in Southeast Asia, writes John Corbett.

“Monday is a quiet day at the market,” said Miss Julie, our guide from Our destination was Pasar Pudu (the name “pasar” means “market” in
Mayflower Acme Tours, interrupting her commentary to peer through the Malay) one of the city’s largest and oldest traditional wet markets where
minibus windows at the slow-motion ballet of morning traffic in central fresh meat, produce and live animals are sold in the open air. Located close
Kuala Lumpur. At 8.45am, this part of the city was still in full spate, the to KL’s “Golden Triangle” of shopping streets and plush hotels, Pudu is an
drivers around us performing feats of Zen-style manoeuvring that in New old part of the city that was once synonymous with a grim colonial-era
Zealand would cause a storm of honking and road rage. In Kuala Lumpur, prison, now demolished. After a few more minutes of traffic Zen the minibus
where everyone unites in the task of getting to where they want to go, stopped abruptly beside a row of old shophouses and we disembarked into
nobody turns a hair. the tropical heat.
“Saturday and Sunday are very busy,” continued Miss Julie. “Many “Dokong!” said Miss Julie, pointing to a stall featuring some unremarkable-
housewives work during the week these days so they go out specially during looking brown fruit. She cast a glance at the stall owner for permission
the weekend to get their fish and meat and vegetables. The supermarket is before opening one to display its translucent, lychee-tasting flesh.
only for certain things in KL. Many people still buy their food at the market.”

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