During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observant Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. In Kuala Lumpur, preparations for buka puasa, the fast-breaking meal, often begin in midafternoon with a visit to one of the city's many pop-up Ramadan bazaars.
There's always a sense of excitement in the air, even when you don't overhear a long-forgotten adventure theme blaring tinnily from a streetside TV. There's also a feeling of fellowship: That same evening, several men on separate occasions made their greetings, asked if I was traveling alone, and invited me to join their table in breaking the fast. And of course there's the food, some of which is prepared especially for Ramadan; my slideshow barely begins to capture the bewildering variety. You should see for yourself, if you can.
Ramadan bazaars
Kuala Lumpur
(From a 2010 visit)
