donggongon.tamu

friday, a WFH (work from home) day for you which give you some space and room to be creative in the kitchen.  you tried out a new recipe in preparation for next weekend and run some errands but nothing is as interesting as the tamu that you been to when you were at kota kinabalu...

tamu, that's how a local market is called here in borneo. a daily obsession brought you to this local tribal market not too far from where both of you live. dongongon market is the name.

a rather down to earth and a market that you can stroll at ease. there are plenty to see and touch here. and you like the fact that when you see something foreign to you, you can just ask the stall owners and they are willing and most importantly they take time to explain to you.

these fruits are no foreign to you and you just love how these local produces trigger your memory and take you to another nostalgic ride of a local dish that your mum used to prepare with these - sarawak eggplant that is not in purple but deep yellow or orange color. you remember your mum prepares asam fish where generous Sarawak brinjal will be cut into quarter and cook in tamarind soup together with the fish.

sarawak pineapple, and in sarawak this is called sirikei pineapple, they are smaller in size and sweeter in taste and probably grown in serikei too!

the fern native to sabah and sarawak. this is best to stir fried with shrimp paste.

in europe, you only have one sort of banana, but here you are spoiled of choice even in reality you are not a fan of banana.

sour sap, another south east asia fruit with green skin but soft white flesh. A little sour as it's name suggests.

 some native herbs which are unknown to you but is interesting to see these as comparison to the chinese herbs...

 something pinkish, pretty but you don't even know what is this.  perhaps some root vegetables like ginger. it's very common but you just don't know what this is... you will go back and ask the next time >.<

strolling in a local market is a joy and the best way to know the local culture. donggongon is a kadazan town but the market is represented by chinese, malay and local tribes alike, a true reflection of malaysia - a multi racial society.

 local avocados, a lot bigger in shape but less intense in taste...

 and the lady who brought you to this market, check her out at a daily obsession, a mother of three and an excellence cook too. watch out for another post on her culinary skill...

happy friday!!