For those of you who think that shopping in Malaysia is all about the Mall, well, it’s not all about the mall.
Our local guide informed us that there are normal markets like the kind we find in India – bazaars where we actually get fresh fruit and vegetable sold by individual vendors ( BTW you do get fresh fruit and vegetables in the supermarkets as well!) but if you need to locate one such market, you have to ask for a WET market.
Since our FAM TRIP was tied up with 1MYES, there was no question of going to something like a wet market particularly since none of us were going to cook anything. But he did take us to the local market where we could find stuff that tourists like to find.
Central Market which is in Pasar Seni ( near Chinatown) was the original wet market of Kuala Lumpur started in 1888 by the famous Chinese Captain Yap Ah Loy. At that time it also served as a club of sorts for the immigrant Chinese labourers who came here to relax with some marijuana (yes it was sold there!) and some company. It gradually got a its Art Deco structure in 1928. When KL undertook a huge renovation program in the late 80’s, Central Market was under threat of being demolished but the Heritage Society successfully petitioned against this move and the building became an iconic KL colonial structure housing a centre for Arts, culture and handicrafts.
Walking into its powder blue entrance, one is transported back into time. With tiny stalls selling handicrafts, Jeevan explained to us that each part of the market sold handicrafts from a particular area of Malaysia – so shopping in Central Market was like shopping in Mini-Malaysia
” If you have no time to shop all over Malaysia, visit Central Market and you can get things from all over Malaysia!”
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| A former wet market converted into a tourist attraction |
Central Market is like walking into Aladin’s Cave with all the amazing stuff it sells – Pewter , pearls, artefacts, frames of gorgeously coloured butterflies, exquisite head scarves, batik parios and shirts, modern day fashion, traditional handicrafts, coloured candy, saris, wigs and hair doodads. Almost anything that you want can be found in this fascinating place.
Apart from the merchandise there are food stalls too and one can easily pick up Malaysian snacks, Japanese food, Nyonya delicacies, regular subway sandwiches , a cup of tea or coffee from one of the numerous food outlets
So if you’re looking to get a customised T shirt or leather handicrafts, souvenirs, antiques, jewelry or even looking for a money changer or a courier service, you can find it all at Central Market.
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| The adjoining street which is a great walkabout |
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| Tiled steps at the entrance |
Alongside the Central Market is the Kasturi Walk which is an open air market that will satiate your senses and your palate with the wide variety of stuff , so do take a walk under the archway of the Wau Bulan or the Moon shaped kite that is true blue Malaysian and discover yet another al fresco shopping experience.
Central Market is truly a shopper’s paradise that retains the charm of colonial Malaysia – recreating some of the hustle and bustle of a town with its distinctive architecture and feel. Sadly modernisation which is both essential and welcome has detracted from the personality of cities making them almost characterless with a synthetic cookie cutter feel. But this of course is my personal opinion.
A word of advice for those wanting to go to Central Market, while it is true that everyone understands English, especially your guide, it would do well to research what you want to buy and see before you set out for Central Market because it is like a maze and you can very well get lost when people tell you to turn right and then left to find the shop you are looking for! So take a few minutes off, visit the website and then plan your next move.
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| Information counter at entrance lobby |
ps. There’s always the information counter at the entrance lobby!
Twenty- five Seven 