Tamu Donggongon, Penampang

One of the places where you can find local produces is visiting the farmer's market or 'tamu' as we called it in Sabah. Tamu can be held at almost any day of the week, depends which district you're in at that time. But in most places, tamu is held on Sundays. In Tamparuli, for example, held every Wednesday, Beaufort on Saturdays and Sundays. The nearest tamu to my place is Tamu Donggongon - which held every Thursdays and Fridays, rain or shine.

I love visiting the tamu once in a while. Cause sometimes, you get to see stuff that the locals bring in from the villages that you can't find in the supermarkets. If you are smart, you can bargain the price and got fresh goods at a cheaper price.

It's really hot when me and Aunty Meg reached the tamu. But it doesn't stop me from able to take the photos below:

The goods for sale just placed on the ground, whilst the aunties from villagers sat on the ground, waiting for customers while chatting with each other.

Ooh...didn't I told you that tarap is in season right now?

Sabah also got petai bah, though not as abundant as West Malaysia.

Everything that they grew and harvest, will be taken out for sale...Those small type of pineapples are famous here...Nanas Babagon, they called it, and said to be very sweet. The small round brown-coloured fruit is 'bambangan', a type of wild fruit...also in season now. Normally if the fruit is not in season, it could reach up to RM5 each.

Cempedak also in season...

This is belunu, another type of fruit. Had a pungent smell when ripe. Sweet white flesh that tasted almost like a mango, but much more 'creamier' like texture.

This is the main ingredient to make the local rice wine. Yeast, if I am not mistaken.

Dried fish and mountains of dried anchovies and shrimp for sale.

Betel nuts, sirih leaves, local grown tobacco and it's wrapper made of leaf (kirai) for the elderly...

Sabahan famous pickles - bambangan (yellow) is made from young bambangan fruit and its seeds can be eaten alone with rice or cook with fish to make soup; tuhau (reddish) made from wild plant, it has quite a strong smell, some said it's almost the same as the posisang, a type of stinky bug, also can be eaten as condiment to your meals; bosou (brown colored) - pickled fish or sometimes wild boar meat with rice.

Looking for potted plants? No problem. Here you can find varieties of flowers and orchids for sale. If you buy more, the aunty will be more than happy to bargain the price with you =)

Fresh water fish for sale...for breeding purposes...

Aunty Meg said she's looking for a basket...so many to choose from...

Traditional Kadazan attires for sale (the majority of people who lives in Penampang were Kadazans)

Beads and the traditional accessories to complete the Kadazan attires. Don't under estimate the metal looking hoop here. It cost about RM800 per pair ok....

Owh, I also came across a group of elderly men beating the gong to make the place a little lively. Here's the video:

So next time you ever been in Sabah, don't forget to visit the tamu ya! ^_^V