#048: Ramadan Bazaar

Here we are, in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month of Ramadan. The month where we observe the fast from dawn to dusk and embrace the community spirit of compassion, self-control and self-discipline. It is now the last week, the final lap, before the Eid celebrations.

And although we refrain from eating and drinking anything during the daylight hours, it is also a time of feasting and celebration, once the sun sets, with the gathering of family and community over shared meals and shared experiences during this holy month. 

But where does all this food come from you may ask... 

Some cook at home for the family, but for most, in my opinion, is this culture of visiting and experiencing the multiple Ramadan food bazaars around town. The sights, the sounds, and the aromas of Ramadan Bazaars are a thing to experience. It is the one time of the year when you get the ultimate spread of local Muslim delights. Here in Malaysia, it is when you may get the full variety of local Muslim food from almost all states and cultures in the country. And alongside all the local delights, I see more and more new fusion food, a mix of local and infusion of food from the West and the East. A harmonious feast for the eyes and eventually the tummies. 

Juicy, cheese-oozing burgers on one side, Nasi Kerabu and its plethora of accompanying dishes on the other. Long lines of people for a popular biryani rice, equally long lines for local sweet delicacies and smoke-filled air from all the open grilling of chicken, fish and lamb on a spit roast.  Satays, stir-fried noodles, soups, shawarmas and fluorescent multi-coloured sugary drinks are all on the menu. It’s also super crowded, at times you can't tell where one line starts or even if you are in the correct line, to begin with. You have to go through it all, to truly get a feel and smell of what is on offer.

The photos you see below are from my two trips to the TTDI Bazaar, taken over the weekends. The TTDI Bazaar is known as one of the best ones to go to in Kuala Lumpur, and judging by the crowds, you can tell everyone knows it too. It does have the widest variety of food near me. There are two other smaller bazaars near me, but they are nothing compared to TTDI's and then there are some other mega Bazaars outside of KL, but I never ventured out to those. 

Side note: Every year at this time, we hear of food waste, it is a thing. Our eyes are always hungrier than our stomachs. We should all be mindful of what we purchase and eat during these times. There are a lot of people less fortunate than us so don't contribute to the wastage of food. Take only what you can consume yourself.  

I don't normally do food photography, so don't expect amazing editorial-style food photos. Plus it was super crowded and having to plough through the sea of people just to check out each stall was a mission in itself. The photos below hopefully give you a glimpse into what you can expect to see at this bazaar. 

Photos were all taken with the Fujifilm XF10 and edited with a particular preset in Lightroom that I’m trying out.

Until next year’s feast, enjoy!

Cheers