Pasar Malam @ Malaysian Embassy, Abu Dhabi

back in my hometown ipoh, night market is every sunday but here in UAE (united arab emirates), malaysian pasar malam or night market is a rare occasion, celebrated far and wide!

on friday, the embassy of malaysia in abu dhabi hosted the malaysian night market with a variety of malaysian food on sale, as well as traditional dance performance, and even an appearance by malaysian nasyid group, in team.

 

 

* * *

 

from left – me, kak moi’s mom & her daughters, kak moi in pink tudung, kak riri, glowing mom-to-be zura and feeza

 

dengan berkobar-kobar, about 5 cars filled with malaysians (and 1 singaporean on a bike!) drove back to back all the way from dubai to abu dhabi. we first had lunch at indonesian restaurant sari rasa (delicious lauk-lauk nasi padang), hung out at abu dhabi heritage village – and then headed on to malaysian embassy for the night market.

 

 

WHAT?

makanan dah habis! food was slowly diminishing from the tables and stalls! we were too late!

never under-estimate the power of malaysian food and the smell and taste and savours! and NEVER under-estimate MALAYSIANS too! especially hungry ones! hihi. people came in throngs as early as 4pm to get ready for the night market opening.

it’s NIGHT market maa.. we thought night time also still got food lah! aiyo!

 

kecewa makanan dah habis but still ceria dapat hang out with our dubai buddies

 

only the satay stall was still actively operating, and even so, orders have piled up to the brim that whatever satay they’re burning right then, are all booked and sold. the other stalls are either empty (owners have packed up and gone back for the day), or you can see owners packing up.

satay!

 

so what did i come back with?

 

there’s one stall still open selling cupcakes, so i bought those for my boys – a pistachio cupcake and an almond one. also, i bought a few packets of sup bunjut from the last stall. tu je. sob sob. uhuk uhuk. where’s my lepat pisang, nasi tomato and kuih kemboja? semua dah habis…

but what a sweet surprise – one dubai friend, lai shan got her long-awaited order of satay, but she so kesian with us that she gave a few sticks to us since we arrived late and didn’t get any yummies. so sweet of her! thanks lai shan!

 

at night, the malaysian traditional dance troupe performed the popular traditional dance of ‘poco-poco’ for the folks still lounging around. it was loud, festive, and very malaysian!

 

..and interesting enough, these days there’s always a mini bike show of harleys and some other big bikes lined up in front of the malaysian embassy. ramai malaysians bawak harley rupanya, including my mr. khairul lah hihi. since mr. khairul was bringing us, he drove his car. if he had gone solo, his bike would be in the line-up too..

 

at the embassy i met kak mira and a very pregnant rosma! surprise lah! great to see you fine ladies!

 

sigh. didn’t get the food i wanted (except for the satay, itu pun ihsan dari orang hihi THANKS again!) but i must say the gathering of good friends has compensated for the lack of food! it was great meeting dubai friends i haven’t seen in awhile and hanging out sharing stories and gossips.

good food is great, but fine company of friends is better. *smile*

…but put together – is the best! hihi. after the frustration of not getting malaysian food, a big group of malaysians left the embassy towards chinese restaurant ‘noodle bowl’ abu dhabi for a makan besar. i had my favorite char kuey teow, and it was a tummy-filling ending after all..

 

* * *

 

there’s talk of having this night market a monthly event – PLEASE! then i would have a second chance in getting my favorite malaysian dishes! i think i don’t need to say what a great idea that is – malaysians can get a taste of home every month, gather together over our local food and just have fun. let’s do it, then!