What do non-Muslims associate the month of Ramadan with? The food, of course! Ramadan Bazaar, if you do not know, is like a food fair that comes once a year throughout the month of Ramadan where traditional Malay delicacies are sold for the breaking of fast for Muslims. But where there’s food, there are Chinese.

Ramadan Bazaar @ Stadium Perak

traditional Malay dishes

Frankly, I have never been to any Ramadan Bazaar before because of the nightmare of getting a parking spot but I was eager to go and get some photos this month of Ramadan or I would have to wait for a year!

colourful syrup

more colourful syrup

When I went to the “Branded” Warehouse Sale, I wanted to walk across the road to have a look at the Ramadan Bazaar at the opposite car park of Stadium Perak but the stalls were still not fully opened yet so I had to go home and make another trip out. It was OK, though, since I live just a short distance away.

Ramadan food

used to eat these when I was a kid

I went back in the evening and it was milling with shoppers by then. Most were there to buy food to break fast with and there were a handful of non-Muslims who were there specifically for the food. And then there was me.

pancakes

Otak-Otak

Some curious vendors asked me why I was taking photos. I said that these were for “paper” and they were very happy, smiled and even posed for me, unlike the fler at Matta Fair who haughtily told me that I would need permission first before taking photos of the Fair.

ayam golek madu

Laksa Kedah in Perak

It took me about 30 minutes walking from one end of the Bazaar to the other end, going past the four rows or so of vendors selling various traditional Malay food and food that have been influenced by other races in Malaysia like Chinese-style fried rice, pancakes, roti canai and kacang puteh. Even ice-cream vendors and yogurt drink mobile stalls were there to capitalize on the hungry crowd too. I half expected someone to sign me up for a credit card.

kacang puteh

fire crackers

Although I didn’t pack any food home, the Laksa Kedah reminded me of the hot and spicy food in Singapore and the Otak-Otak reminded me of trips to Melaka and Johor. Maybe I should have bought some to reminiscence the good times.

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