In the Heartlands: WET MARKET
The Bare Necessities
Our daily routines are mundane, yet essential. Here's some insight.
The Market Culture
Though supermarkets are common nowadays, the wet market has not been 'overthrown' by these super marts.
Some background information on the wet market:
> almost every neighbourhood has one
> made up of individual stalls (stalls are specialized, e.g. the fruit stall will not sell vegetables)> also known as 'morning market', where the early bird gets the worm; almost all stalls close around midday
[All photographs below are taken by our team members.]
To the market we go!
| Typical stalls in the market sell vegetables, fresh flowers, fish, pork, spices, dried food stuffs and yong tau foo (a traditional Chinese cuisine of tofu and vegetables stuffed with fish paste.) | The shopkeeper tending her stall! |
The Wet Market over the Super Mart
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Better Bargains
Prices generally cheaper than at supermarkets -- with the liberty to bargain, nothing will stop market goers from getting the best price? also, a typical young tau foo stall in the market sells food items at 20 cents per piece, but over at the super mart, they charge 25 cents per piece.
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New friendships forged, old ones maintained
"Eh..uncle! sell cheaper lah! I every morning partronize your stall!" [Uncle, could you sell it at a better/cheaper price? I've never failed to patronize your stall every morning!]
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Convenient
Opens early in the morning to the public (it's a busy scene even at 5am)
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It brings the people of that neighbourhood together
With its walk-in conveniency and somewhat narrow aisles, it encourages interaction between customers.
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Wide variety of fresh products
Every edible vegetable and fruit you know, as well as all kinds of fish and poultry are available.
To the market we go!
| The elderly make up the main population of market goers. One reason could be that they grew up in an era where supermarkets were rare and were only for the rich to patronize. | An artistic shot of an old lady shopping for groceries in the market. |
