pasar malam

 

Most neighbourhoods in Malaysia each have a pasar malam, or night market on a designated night of the week from around 7 pm till 11 pm. It is more defined by what it doesn’t sell (meat generally) than what it does (everything else from food to household appliances, clothes to hardware, not to forget the ubiquitous DVDs and CDs), though the exact composition is defined by the pasar malam in question and the moving traders who set up shop there.

In our case, it was the perfect place to stock up on snacks and music for our jungle getaway. All in the cool of a KL night. It had just rained too, so not too busy either.

NB: Not to be confused with the LCCT at KLIA, though the ambience with hundreds of people milling about is often similar…

birthday dinner

For the first time in years I was home for my birthday this year. And then, what did I do? Make a trip to the deepest recesses of the rainforest (ok, maybe it wasn’t that far away…). So, no phone reception and definitely no internet!

Thanks so much to all of you who remembered, though I did get your messages a day late! All was also more than made up by our gorgeous glass treehouse, superb company in the jungle (leeches not included), very many games of Spite and Malice, a swim at the local waterfall and above all a delicious meal cooked by Lakshmi, the Nepalese caretaker where we stayed. From left to right: dry chicken curry, curry fish soup, fried eggs (to make it special), fried okra, pickles, cauliflower and potato curry, pappadums. Twisties for hors d’œuvres and wine and Tiger beer (in classy plastic cups) to drink. A girl couldn’t ask for more.

More photos of our getaway here. Who’s coming next time we go?