Ubud Market, Bali

Candle/incense holders

When in Bali, the colourful Ubud Market is a must-visit. Making it there early in the morning means jostling with mainly the locals for food shopping. But later in the day, the jostling (again!) will be with tourists all over the place! For whatever you fancy.

Posing by a napping stall keeper (BB 2011)

B in her favourite section - Clothes, what else? (CNB 2009)

(BB 2011)

You will always inevitably buy something, however small or mundane. Once I bought a batik silk scarf, another time, angklung wind chimes. B bought, what else but clothes, clothes, clothes? A and SB bought art on canvas. What did M buy? I think sama tapi tak serupa! Anyway there are just so many things that your eyes can feast on. Only the very frugal will resist the tempatations, but for the shopaholic, its heaven.

Fahimeh and I trying out some fancy headwear (BB 2009)

Bali 2009, 2011

Colourful Markets around the World

I have mentioned this a few times before - I simply love markets, and I try to visit one wherever and whenever I can. Not the supermarkets, but the old fashioned 'wet' or open markets. They are just teeming with local life and culture.

One book I love is The World's Markets by John Brunton (published by Page One, 2010). I know I will not be able to visit all the fabulous markets there are on this planet, but at least I can ogle at the colourful pictures of the markets in this book.

What is it about markets that fascinate so much? Let me quote Brunton in his introduction. 'Step even fleetingly into the middle of a market in any country in the world. In just a few minutes, it will paint you a picture in broad, colourful strokes - not just of the cornucopia of food piled on the stalls, but of a dazzling slice of life encompassing traditional dress, culture and religion, transport and cuisine, and smells and sounds. A visit to the market is like a snapshot of the local people's everyday lives, whether they live in a teeming modern metropolis or a remote rural village. Far more than museums or monuments, a marketplace provides insights into local culture'.

The World's Markets by John Brunton

Going by continent, then by the countries within, this book is indeed pretty comprehensive in coverage. Selectively, in Africa, must visit markets include the famed Djemaa El Fna Square and Central market of Marakesh (Morocco), Khan Al Khalili souq in Cairo (Egypt), and the Antananarivo central market in Madagascar. In Europe there are the Christmas markets, especially of Germany, the village markets of France, Portobello Road market in London (England), La Boqueria in Barcelona (Spain), Florence central market, Italy and most other main markets in the various cities. In the Americas, there are these markets; La Brujas market in La Paz (Bolivia), 'Chichi' market in Guatemala, Mercado de la Merced, Mexico City and the Boston Haymarket in the USA.

In Asia the famous markets are the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul (Turkey), the 'Silk Route' markets of Bukhara and Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo (Japan), Kolkata flower market and Chandni Chowk in Delhi (India), Jatujak/Chatuchak market in Bangkok and Damnoen Saduak floating market (Thailand), Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Banjarmasin floating market in Kalimantan and Ubud market in Bali (Indonesia) and in Cambodia, the Phsar Thmey central market and Phsar Toul Tom Poung 'Russian' market in Phnom Penh.

What about Malaysian markets? These have been mentioned; Georgetown/Chowrasta market, Siti Khadijah Market in Kota Bahru, the Central Market, Petaling Street and Kampung Bahru market in Kuala Lumpur, also the market in Johor (the Pasar Malam), and the Kapit and Sandakan markets in East Malaysia.

Ex Libris CNB 1855

Books I Love: Di Bawah Lindungan Kaabah

My 2002 new ed. of DBLK (CNB 2012)

Di Bawah Lindungan Kaabah, an Indonesian novellete by HAMKA (Haji Abdul Malik bin Karim bin Amrullah) was first published in 1938. It is Hamka's first novel actually, and still widely acclaimed today. I watched the 2011 movie adaptation recently on Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) on TV and I cried buckets.

So I re-read the book, a new edition published in 2002 (my earlier copy had gone missing so I went out and bought a new one to replace it). We all know it is the story of star-crossed lovers Hamid and Zainab, who grew up together in Padang, Sumatra. Their love is doomed even before it can really start because of their very different social statuses. When you read the book, do not forget your box of tissues.

The star-crossed lovers (TV grab 2012)

'Hapuskanlah perasaan itu dari hatimu, jangan ditimbul-timbulkan juga. Engkau tentu memikirkan juga, bahawa emas tak setara dengan loyang, sutera tak sebangsa dengan benang.' ... Ibu Hamid

Ex Libris CNB 1253 

Salam Maal Hijrah

Salam Maal Hijrah 1434

May we all 'hijrah' to become better human beings in this very tumultuous world. Have your 1434 resolutions in place, and 2013 will have been taken care of.  Amin.

Note: B embroidered the stylised 'Bismillahhirrahmanirrahim'  
while studying in USM.  

Dining at Rebung

Rebung is the restaurant of Chef Ismail in Bangsar, KL. Although parking there is a bit of a hassle, I guess it is an inconvenience foodies sometimes have to put up with. We have dined there a few times and the food  is good. The buffet spread is just chockful of tempting dishes, so one has to go slow and easy.

Buffet spread at Rebung (CNB 2010)

The food is Negri Sembilan/Minang because the owner is originally from Rembau. The really delicious dishes are masak tempoyak daun ubi kayu, gulai daging salai, different types of kerabu, bergedil, etc., etc.

Once B & A took me there to celebrate Mother's Day and there at the restaurant there was the weekend 'cultural show' where we felt like complete foreign tourists invited to 'tepung tawar' the mock wedding couple.

A by the dessert table (CNB 2010)

On another occasion, we met Chef Ismail and his good friend Chef Florence. Of course the bibliophile in me had to add their cook books to my collection. So maybe I will not have to go to Rebung to savour Chef Ismail's array of dishes, but follow his recipes using my own air tangan. But then again, nah ...! Eating out is sometimes quite fun, really. Especially if someone else is footing the bill!

With Chef Florence and her book (AB 2011)

Happy Deepavali

Making breakfast in Delhi (CNB 2011)

Deepavali Valthugal!
Here's wishing all who celebrate, a very Happy Deepavali. To our kind friends in India, who made our trip there in November last year most memorable, our greetings and may you and families enjoy the celebrations. May there be joy, prosperity, peace and enlightenment. Especially to Mr Babu pictured here in our host's kitchen, thank you for cooking the delicious parathas for breakfast and the nice 'curries' for dinner.

SA Garden Catalogue: Cape Plumbago

The heavy rains came early this year, so the floods in our southern states of Johor and Melaka started early in November. So also in Selangor, there are still many in evacuation centres. When writing about the garden, the weather always comes into play. The rains are a blessing anyway, and so we should be prepared for either a drizzle or a deluge.

Some plants in the garden did not fare too well with the over watering from the skies. The Desert rose plant is no more, some black/brown fungus/moss are attached to the Episcia cupriata (Red trumpet), and even the Plumbago is not doing too well right now because it loves a lot of sunshine. There are not too many inflorescences and one bush I had to drastically cut back because the leaves were being attacked by fungus and drying up.

Plumbago inflorescence in June this year (CNB)

Common name: Cape plumbago/Plumbago
Scientific name: Plumbago auriculata/ Plumbago capensis 
Family: Plumbago family
Origin: South Africa





The Plumbago loves the full sun and flowers all year round. Light pruning always will allow even more new shoots and inflorescence. Grow it in the ground or in containers. The pretty azure blue flowers are always a pleasure to look at. It is so easy to propagate too - just by cuttings.

The Plumbago grown in a container (CNB 2012)

I have Plumbago plants grown in the ground and also in containers. I obtained the first grown cutting from my   green-fingered neighbour next door about three years ago and I have enjoyed the blooms of this beautiful plant since.

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