This morning, my wife and I took a late trip to the market in our hometown, Negara. Unlike the bustling early hours, the market at ten o'clock had a quieter charm. The usual rush of buyers had dwindled, leaving only the dedicated sellers with their vibrant displays of fish, vegetables, and fruits.
My wife picked up bananas and papayas for an upcoming festival at our family temple. She also wanted to buy some vegetables and asked for my opinion. I looked around and saw long beans, cabbages, and carrots. I was a bit confused and couldn’t decide. Then she suggested we get some klong kang, a vegetable I'm not familiar with in English. I nodded and agreed, and we added klong kang to our basket.
As we continued our shopping, I noticed the sellers chatting among themselves, probably discussing how they managed to survive the morning rush. There was a fish seller arranging his fish to look as appealing as possible. A vegetable seller was stacking fresh produce, making sure everything was in perfect order.
After finishing our shopping for the day, we decided to head home. We usually shop for little things daily, buying fresh produce in the morning to cook for that day. This means we’ll likely be back at the market tomorrow, continuing our routine of daily fresh shopping.
The late morning market has a different vibe. The sellers are still there with their cheerful smiles, and the stalls are still vibrant with colors, but it's calmer. The market is like a stage after the main performance – the crowd has gone, but the essence remains. It’s a charming side of Negara that I hadn’t fully appreciated before. The quiet moments let you see the market in a new light.