I visited Lombok Island in August and had a chance to swing by a Sasak market along the eastern coast.  Coming from Thailand and it’s pork-centricity (a new word?), health system this was a fantastic sneak-peek into an ethnic, Muslim culture and especially during Ramadan.  The market was a small space, but crammed with spices and dried goods, including beautiful fish the colour of molten silver.  It wasn’t as camera-friendly as other Southeast Asian markets (I asked permission for all the photos and was hastily refused by some), reminding me of the ask-first atmosphere on Zanzibar Island, off the coast of Tanzania.  Nonetheless, I bought some lovely white peppercorns to use back home in Chiang Mai.

Thanks to the co-owner of Tiara Homestay (located in Labuhan Pandan) for translating!

View at Picasa Sasak market in Labuhan Pandan10-Aug-2012 07:37, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 4.0, 6.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa Tapioca chips (raw) - when fried they expand quite large10-Aug-2012 07:37, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 4.0, 6.1mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa Sprouted mung beans10-Aug-2012 07:38, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320
View at Picasa Spices! The small squares are dried betel juice that people will chew.10-Aug-2012 07:44, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 160	View at Picasa Fire shields for cooking (the U shaped things)10-Aug-2012 07:47, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 160	View at Picasa Sasak woman selling spices10-Aug-2012 07:47, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 160
View at Picasa Freshly caught fish10-Aug-2012 07:52, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 160	View at Picasa 10-Aug-2012 07:57, Canon Canon PowerShot G12, 2.8, 6.1mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 160