Some random pictures of a bustling Kampong Baru wet market in Bukit Mertajam on the eve of Chinese New Year. It was Jee Kow Meh (the 29th day of the 12th lunar month in the Chinese calendar), and I had hoped to catch sight of the last moonrise of the Year of the Snake before the Year of the Horse dawns tomorrow. Unfortunately, a very cloudy sky dashed my plans.
Instead, I wandered into the market to pick up some last-minute foodstuff and was greeted by a throng of early-morning shoppers. Back in the good old days, markets would be packed until two days before the holidays began, and by Chinese New Year’s Eve, the crowds would have thinned to a trickle. These days, it’s a different story. Shoppers now seem intent on grabbing the freshest deals right up to the last moment, before the Chinese traders siew kang (close their businesses) for the festive break.
Even the Indian and Malay stall owners now follow suit, keeping their stalls closed on the first day of Chinese New Year. As a result, the market will likely be unusually quiet tomorrow, with at least a full day of rest for everyone.
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