Street of Spices

Shopping for spices is made easy in Kuching. At Gambier Street are found many spices shops that are operated by Indian Muslims. Here spices from all over the world are sold in small outlets that encroached onto 5-footways and sidewalks. The place is bustling everyday and must have been like this in the early 19th century when 'gambier' a shrub widely cultivated in Sarawak was traded here for its extract used in dyeing and tanning of leather,hence its name 'Gambier Street'. Close up of a shop fully stocked with spices and related ingredients for making spicy dishes like curry.

Gambier Street sellers

Walking through the shopping area at Gambier Street (Kuching city), I noticed the shopkeepers have no qualsms about displaying their wares right to the very edge of the '5 foot way' here called 'kaki lima'.

A unique way of displaying and storing her goods. Never knew that a wheelbarrow can be used to sell canned or bottled drinks. In this case it would be easy for her to move places .