I asked the operator and he said he extracts (or blends) the juice from the watermelons without adding water or sugar, as other sellers would.
The stall brands itself as Kaw-Kaw Tembikai Blend. Kaw is the Hokkien word for thick.
Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 125, f4, 1/200 sec.
Putrajaya’s Ramadan Bazaar is refreshingly different and somewhat bizarre. It is more a showcase of clever marketing tactics, than of food.
Many of the stalls have banners with hipster catchphrases such as ‘the real original’, ‘no additives’, ‘infused’ and ‘yogurt-fied’, for example.
Quite a few proclaim a small town’s name where the dish and seller supposedly originate; leaving you wondering why they are not selling in their home towns.
If in doubt, one can always ask via their Facebook (and ‘like’ symbol) displayed on the stall.
Maybe I found all the hipster mantra odd because I spent the last two weeks at rural Ramadan bazaars where traditional food and a smile was the appeal.
Here’s sweet and sulky Aini selling red velvet cakes. I don’t like velvet cakes so I bought some layered blueberry and tiramisu cheese cakes from her.
How can I not? She baked all the cakes herself, all night, while listening to indie music.
Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f6.3, 1/80 sec.
I like this gooey and fragrant dessert served chilled. Contained in a banana leaf boat, the kuih is made from coconut milk and rice flour. The top is creamy and a bit salty while the bottom is sweet pandan-flavoured green.
There is condensation on the surface because I just took it out of the refrigerator.
Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 1600, f11, 1/60 sec.
As such, I wasn’t expecting cooperation when I asked to take a picture of him standing next to the barbecue fire.
I had to. The scene behind him had such wonderful ambience and I needed him to complete the picture. What an opportunity for a mood shot at a ramadan bazaar, I thought to myself. He shouted back “No”
Before I could respond, he asked: “Why me?”
Instead of explaining how beautiful the smoke will look seeping through the rays of the directional sunlight or that the picture is meaningless without the seller, I said: “Cos I like your hair” (which was also an honest reply).
With that, he walked towards the grill and cooperated like a sweet baby.
Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f5, 1/200 sec.
Colourful desserts or kuih at a Ramadan food bazaar.
Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 6400, f4, 1/250 sec.
