TAMU DONGONGGON PENAMPANG

Dongonggon is the heart of Penampang, 15 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu city. Every Thursday and Friday, it's " Tamu" time. Tamu means open market where farmers and traders come out in full force to sell their products, ranging from fresh vegetables, fruits, livestock to handicraft. Last Friday, I went to this particular Tamu after visiting a friend. The market was filled with a huge variety of local tropical fruits - water melons, papayas, pineapples, oranges, mangoes, durians and many others.

Gingers, pumpkins and pineapples

Lemons, oranges and mangosteens Wild Jungle duriansRambutans and LangsatsGreen mangoesBambangan, wild mangoes (Good for pickles) found only in BorneoA family waiting for customersSome winter melons and bambangan.Ube kayu (Tapioca) and ube manis (sweet potatoes) Local handicraftThe dried food sectionIkan bilis (anchovies)Udang kering (dried shrimps)

Ikan masin (salted fish)

Tapai or lihing (rice wine) cakes What's in the plastic bags?

Eels caught from the Padi fields A fresh water soft-shelled turtle

Ikan haruan, one of the species of snake head fish, has long been used by Malaysians to speed up the healing of wounds following injury, surgery and childbirth. It is also among the favourite sources of protein in Asia.

The gongs, traditional kadazandusun musical instruments

The eggs corner - fresh eggs from the farm

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Visiting the "Tamu" is a worthwhile experience. The tamu is a usually place where friends gather and meet or make new acquaintances, exchange news and gossip especially those from the "kampung" (villages) when they meet once a week.