Day and night markets | Penang shopping guides
Day and night markets | Penang shopping guides | ||||
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Wet Markets A wet market is the name given by locals to a place where one can buy fresh fruits, greens and meats in the mornings and evenings. Wet markets were always located at strategic areas, for example within the 'heart' of the different communities in Penang. This serves several purposes – the daily needs of households living within the area; as a meeting point for people to catch up with the latest news; a centre of sorts for cultural activities of communities, particularly events like the Hungry Ghost Festival, Chinese New Year and the Jade Emperor's Birthday. Suffice it to say that wet markets and surrounding shops and hawkers sell almost anything under the sun, so housewives need not travel hither and tither to get what they want. CAMPBELL STREET MARKET: At the junction of Campbell Street and Carnavon Street, Penang One of the oldest wet markets in George Town, built in 1900 on part of the Kapitan Kling burial ground. Although the graves were exhumed and remains relocated, a shrine dedicated to Mustafa Wali, patron saint of poulterers remain within the market. Housewives living within the vicinity of Campbell, Carnavon, Chulia and Buckingham Streets shop here for fresh cuts of meats, fish, vegetables and dry goods. Around the corner are stalls selling fresh fruits. CECIL STREET MARKET: Cecil Street, Penang Located about a 15-minute walk from Komtar, via Jalan Gurdwara and a left turn into Lebuh Nanking. A late afternoon market selling dry goods like salted fish, dried vegetables, anchovies and mushrooms, fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken and pork, roasted meats, canned food, clothes and household items. Also includes a hawker centre selling a variety of Penang's most memorable dishes – duck meat koay teow th'ng, wantan mee, chee cheong fun, char koay teow, dumplings, chicken rice, nyonya cakes and laksa. CHOWRASTA MARKET: Ground Floor, Lower Penang Road, Penang The Chowrasta Market, built in 1890 is definitely the most popular in Penang. The word Chowrasta is Urdu for four roads, and indeed the market sits on crossroads formed by Chowrasta Street, Tamil Street, Kuala Kangsar Road and Penang Road. The front area sells a huge variety of Penang goodies like pickle nutmeg, tau sar peah, durian cakes, dodol (coconut taffy), bedak sejuk (rice powder for the face) and medicinal ointments. A choice selection of fresh meats, fish, fruits and vegetables are found inside the market, on the ground floor. Upstairs are Penang's famous second hand book dealers (last relocated from Macalister Road), clothing and shoe stores, barber, tailors and a kopitiam (local café). The streets behind the Chowrasta are just as busy in the mornings, especially when the Chinese New Year approaches. Here, roadside stalls sell everything from dried roasted meat, clothes, sundry items to toiletries, clothes and food. Prepare to jostle with the crowd as you walk around! Other wet markets in Penang include:
Pasar Malam (Night Markets) 7pm to 11pm As if shopping and eating in the daylight hours weren't enough, the night markets exist to cater to those who must shop and eat round the clock! But seriously, one of the most convenient things about night markets is that they give office workers (who only get off around 5 to 7pm) a chance to shop for necessities cheaply and easily. Night markets are usually located near modern villages or housing communities, so one can actually walk to and fro. The goods sold do not vary much from market to market, and some operators actually travel caravan-like from one locale to another every day of the week – same concept, different location. For example today at Jalan Datuk Keramat, tomorrow at Teluk Bahang and the day after Tanjung Tokong and so on and so forth. What's usually available at night markets are food like satay, roasted chicken, kebabs, burgers, roti canai, noodles and cakes, fresh fish and vegetables, clothes, shoes, CDs. DVDs, perfumes and toiletries. etc. Some of the areas where night markets operate, from 6pm until about 10pm: Sunday: Sungai Nibong pesta site carpark, Jalan Tengah, Bayan Baru Batik retailers | Chain stores | Flea market | second hand goods | Jewellers & goldsmiths | ||||
