Kota Kinabalu : Markets

After the Gaya Street Market, we wre both sweaty and hungry so we took a seat at the Sugarbun Cafe nearby. I love Sugarbun. Especially their saucy kano menu and their fish burger. Takes me back to those high school moments where we would go to Sugarbun behind St Jo to have lunch (and also 'wash eyes'). Ever since the existence of McDs and KFC popping up like mushrooms after a storm, Sugarbun has been hiding behind the shadows of these big monsters of fastfood. Don't worry Sugarbun, I'll have your back. After all, it's supporting local entepreneurs.

Lunch was dragged to almost 2 hours. Maybe it's because of the heat. Owh Malaysian weather, how I miss you. But we had our time well spent. Me and Val talked about everything. We have'nt met since 3 or 4 years ago after her family moved to Kota Kinabalu. My friend could almost remember every memory i engraved on our history books. After lunch, it's time to venture around more markets. This time, it's across the road towards the open sea, where the Pasar besar, Pasar ikan masin and Philippino market is situated.

KK main road.

Milimewah Store. The last one I saw was back in Labuan. Almost 5 years ago.

 

On the overhead bridge going to the other side, they were local folks selling handicrafts and souvenirs. Nothing fancy, just sitting on their mats beading beads and arranging their products. As I was looking through the bells, we spoke to the aunty selling them. She came all the way from Kudat to have a chance on her economy. She sells traditional costume jewellery and brass bells. In Kuching, it's so hard to find these things. I've scouted for a bell chain anklet all the way to the Mediterranean. A string of those small bells cost Rm30. There'S about 100 bells per strand. The bigger bell costs Rm8 per piece. In the olden days, the parents would place a bell on the child, either as a necklace or an anklet to guard the child. Guard, I meant it as in if the child runs to the back of the house or anywhere else, they would know where he or she is. I used to have bell anklets when I was younger.

Pasar besar is more of a vegetable market. It's generally the main market of the area where you can get fresh vege, fruits and other local products from. Usually it'll be at a cheaper price if compared to supermarkets as farmers sell their harvest here themselves. Normally, a main market has two stories. Below, where people sell fresh products and above it, a food court filled with hawker stalls. Always a fav. Especially the one in Serian and Batu 7 back home.

By the smell of it, you can tell the freshness of their fruits. These jucy orangy tan pineapples are so tempting. have them chilled and you'll be spoiled in the scorcing heat.

These were also sold in the market. At first I thought it was ginseng.

Seems to be dried eel if I'm not mistaken. they cost quite a bomb too. AT ard rm100 to Rm300 per piece.

Philippino kids hanging around their family stally selling Phillipino mangos which are abundant in Sabah. These mangos are brought by boat from the Philipino Islands nearby.

 

Next to the Pasar besar would be the Pasar ikan masin, which is the dried salted fish market. Salted fish is like stable food to us. We have them fried, served with sugar and lime juice on a hot plate of rice or we make anything out of it. Name it. fried rice, sambal, Nasi lemak. We're creative heads when it comes to gastronomy.

Here you can also get famous Sabahan food products already packed to take home like amplang and kuih cincin.

Dried fish, dried anchovies, dried prawns.
And a local deli, kuih cincin. As my aunty calls it, kuih lubang hidung (nostrils)

Hi bang. Saya tingok2 sja.

 

Last of the row would be the Phillipino market which is famous for its pearls. the trick to shopping here would be bargaining. They would mark the prices high and it's your job to get it as low as you can. The price of a stand of perals would usually be Rm180 which is stated on its price tags. But you can actually get them for as low as Rm50 if you bargain desprately. You can also ask them to design a bracelet or a neckland for you if you have any ideas in mind. I did not take lots of photos here because I spent my 2 hour here supporting the economy. lol.

Glorious pearls.

Always the best choice in a womens wardrobe.

After the time spent making pearly eyes, we walked down back towards the hotel. Then we had teabreak with fried banana fritters in Sinsuran area. When I thought I wont be spending anymore money. So wrong. An outlet named Jamilah Jewellery sells your dream collections. With a license to rare fresh water pearls, their products are to die for. Their store in SInsuran doea wholesale cultured pearls. Not only pearls, they do sell Swarovski crytalls (and they have the license to do so) and Austrian pearls. Even better, they pasted that  'Visa Mastercard Accepted' upfront on their entrance doors. So without guilt, yes, I slide the card.

These are some pictures of children playing in the area. I was told that this is the Phillipino area. I don't know how to explain it to make it sound not so bad, but they are immigrants that come to Sabah for a living. Some without pass and paper work. They stay in shop houses accomodating more families then it could. Usually they would send out their kids to earn money by selling titbits, cakes and drinks.



Around evening, the kids would play aroud in the area between the shophouses. Hopscotch, ball, rubberbands. Those once upon a time loved games before Nintendo to childhood away. It's quite fun to see, since it's very rare nowadays especially in areas where people could afford mor than one car per household.

So this ends my posts to Kota Kinabalu. I'll be starting on my trip to Bali posts.