// Penang Street Foods

I went to Balik Pulau today and found that the old market is closed. They have sealed up the place with zinc sheets. I love to go to Balik Pulau for its kampung feel and the little run-down market is the highlight of the visit.

The moment you stepped into the old Balik Pulau market, your nostrils will be assaulted or welcomed (depending on how Malaysian you are) with all kind of smells. The above is the bachang (or is it machang) which is a bit like mango but has this very, very strong smell. It is not palatable on its own but good as a kerabu. Then, there are the smell of the famous Balik Pulau Laksa, dried seafoods, belacan, different kind of pickles, nangka, chempedak, durian and a million other ‘homely’ things that make you feel so in touch with your Malaysian roots.

The old market is no longer there. All the traders have moved into this spanking new, huge complex somewhere on the outskirt of Balik Pulau pekan. There is a bus station, hawker centre, wet market, pasar malam wares and the original dried seafoods and pickles stores.

Although I think development is good for any place, somehow, the feel of the authenticity of Balik Pulau is no longer there. It is kind of different to have laksa in a brand new hawker centre. I miss sitting on those wooden benches, around the dinghy market, feeling like one of the villagers. So, I sort of lost my apetite for Balik Pulau Laksa.

The fruit stalls are still there but the number of stores seem to have increased three folds. I hope the traders there will get brisk business in future. At the time when I visit, the place was quite deserted. One of the trader told me it is normal around noon as the people (locals) usually visit the market early in the morning.

Balik Pulau is undergoing very fast development. New housing estates are coming up like mushrooms. So make a visit to Balik Pulau before they totally wipe out the magic of this little corner of Penang island. Balik Pulau is one of the rare constituency which still remains under Datuk Dr. Hilmi’s KADun. The Parliamentary seat was lost to PAS (or PKR) though. I hope they realise that Balik Pulau has the potential to attract tourists because it is less developed.

By the way, the durians are falling now. So if you are going to visit Penang, another week or two will be the best time to visit Balik Pulau for the best durian on earth. (I said so)

Related : 1) Laksa Janggus Balik Pulau

2) SamYeap’s post with more photos.

3) Balik Pulau famous handmade pau