Chow Kit wet market

The Boy's family have been visiting for the past week so I have been busy playing tour guide in my free afternoons while he is at the office. Yesterday being the Australia Day public holiday back home, I had the whole day free and decided to take The In-Laws to Chow Kit wet market to look at what I hoped would be some weird and wonderful fruits and vegetables.

Instead of taking the monorail to Chow Kit station, we decided on the scenic option and caught the LRT to Kampung Baru and walked. Despite being just a stone's throw from KLCC, it felt like a different world! Wooden houses with sheets hanging in backyards, so many little food court/mamak stalls I lost count, and a general vibe that here is a peaceful community going about their daily life undisturbed by tourists...until we showed up!

We passed a durian cart on the way, its pungent smell announcing its presence well before we got close, though after our experience The In-Laws not surprisingly passed on the tasting opportunity.

A 5-10 minute easy walk later, we arrived at the bustling Chow Kit market. Heading past the first few fruit stalls into the undercover wet market area, we were greeted with sights and smells that completely overloaded the senses. 

Giant green beans towered over my head

Chillies galore!

There were the familiar - apples, oranges, bok choy and chillies...and then there were the not-so-familar - whole chickens fully plucked with feet still intact, cows' heads, hooves and hides, and other things I couldn't even identify.

Fresh seafood at Chow Kit market

Catfish (very much alive) splashing around

At about 10 in the morning, the place was lively with locals buying their groceries. For the most part the shopkeepers let us take photos in peace, occasionally calling out a greeting. 

Whole chickens with feet still intact

Cow heads for sale made for a startling and slightly morbid sight

Letting nothing go to waste...cow hooves hanging up

Living up to its name, the floor of the market was wet and princess that I am, I pranced delicately around the puddles to avoid getting more fish juice on my feet than absolutely necessary. 

Bags and boxes of crackers at Chow Kit market

After walking the full length of one aisle at least a hundred yards long, we emerged out into the sunshine and fresh air and decided that was enough fresh produce for one day. A quick walk to Chow Kit monorail station (100m if that) and we were heading for Bukit Bintang, where the delicious Heritage Food Court awaited us.

We only saw a fraction of what was on offer at Chow Kit, but I highly recommend paying a visit to see another side of KL!