Kota Belud Sunday Market

(Entrant of the Market)

In Sabah, weekly market is one of the main interest of the local people. The market only happen once a week. Different town have different day in a week they have their one day market. The most famous day of all is Sunday. There are three places in the west coast of Sabah has a market on Sunday. Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran Town and Kota Belud. Kota Kinabalu Sunday market located in Gaya Street where the street will be closed for traffic just for the market itself. That will be start from 6am and then end at 2pm. In Tuaran town where located about 30km North from Kota Kinabalu also start almost the same time as in Gaya Street. Tourist that stayed in Shangri-la's Rasa Ria can go to the market in Tuaran either by taxi or even they can cycled on a bike which is will take them 30minute. The third place is Kota Belud Sunday market, located about 45km North from Kota Kinabalu. Kota Belud Sunday market is the famous one among this three places. There even a tour can be organize by many Tour Operator to this Kota Belud Sunday market.

(making Traditional Pan cake called "Panjaram")

All three places sell almost the same thing or goods. But the market in Kota Belud is more traditional where there is still many people wearing traditional clothing especially the elderly folk. As for my experience I would prefer to go to Kota Belud as because of photo opportunities is so good. There many different tribe will be there and there is mix between old and new trend.

(Bajau women Selling anchovies)

The Sunday market in locally called "Tamu" as its mean meeting, because the Tamu is a meeting place for many different tribe which is been practiced for many years. Sunday is the for the people in Kota Belud area to meet, to exchange goods and as well as to update them self with a latest news. Kota Belud area has more than ten different ethnic people and all of them doing different thing for a living.

(Selling Traditional cakes and pan cake)

The Bajau doing Fishing and also farming and the Dusun doing farming on the hill area where they grow few different crops like hill rice, pineapple, bananas and sweet corn and few other tribes doing different things. So the Sunday market is the place where they can meet each other and trade their goods where it used to be barter system and now currencies is used most for the trading in the market.

(Traditional food made from coconut sugar and rice flour also called "Kuih Cincin")

So if you are planning visiting Sabah, make sure u had some time to visit the Sunday market. I would most recommend for any photographer who like taking picture of people and culture.

(Anchovies)