Pasar Tani Mega Kampung Simee In Ipoh – Part 2/3

December 19, 2009

After we have photographed to our hearts’ content the plants at the nursery stalls, we hopped over to where a strong stench emanated from. The two guys manning the stall were very friendly. When they saw us with our cameras, they encouraged us to take photos of their goods. They were selling a variety of salted fishes, dried anchovies, dried prawns, dried cuttlefishes and salted duck eggs.

I had wanted to get some heh bee (dried prawns) and ikan bilis halus (dried baby anchovies). The heh bee is for cooking dried prawns porridge. The dried baby anchovies I would steam with ginger and garlic in oil and eat with rice. The stall did not have what I wanted. I ended up taking only photographs, enjoying the pungence of the salted fishes and silently salivating over the dishes I could cook with the salted fishes available.

Salted duck eggs - telur itik masin
Salted duck eggs – telur itik masin.

Salted fish - ikan masin
Salted fish – ikan masin.

Dried cuttlefish - sotong kering
Dried cuttlefish – sotong kering.

Friendly stall keeper.
Friendly salted fish stall keeper.

Dried prawns - heh bee - udang kering
Dried prawns – heh bee – udang kering.

Pulau Pangkor dried anchovies - ikan bilis kasar Pangkor
Pulau Pangkor dried anchovies – ikan bilis kasar Pangkor.

To The Pasar Tani We Will Go

Heh bee - dried prawns - udang kering
Heh bee – dried prawns – udang kering

Another road trip to Ipoh is coming up. I am looking forward to this for several reasons – the second being able to go to the pasar tani that opens on Saturdays only. We were there in May but as we woke up late, we reached the pasar tani when it was about to close. Nevertheless, we managed to buy some heh bee (dried prawns) and ikan bilis halus (baby anchovies).

I prefer buying them at such places instead of from supermarkets as I can smell and see if they are of good quality or not. Groceries such as these are also available from the markets and sundry shops but the pasar tani is more accessible. Besides, our planned trip to Ipoh conincides with the day when the pasar tani is opened. So why not?