Town abuzz with last minute shoppers

SERIAN: As Christmas draws near, the town of Serian experiences a festive buzz with the arrival of the Christian celebration.

In times past, this predominantly Bidayuh area witnessed local residents flocking to the town for last-minute holiday shopping, causing the roads to become congested.

Recalling my high school days, I vividly remember the intense traffic jams extending up to my village intersection, approximately 5 kilometres (km) from the entrance to the bustling Serian town.

Typically, the town congestion peaks a day or two before Christmas.

In recent times, the development of Serian Piazza by Tecktonic & Sons Holdings Sdn Bhd has transformed the landscape, providing additional shopping options for the local residents.

Moses and his wife shop for Christmas

Susie Mikol

Despite the rise of supermarkets like Lepapa and Unaco, the community still seeks raw ingredients at the Serian market.

Serian market stands out as one of the best markets in Sarawak, particularly renowned for its abundance of jungle fruits and vegetables.

Local products such as ‘mawang’ fruit or better known as ‘bambangan’, wild vegetables, and livestock like live fish remain a preference for residents and can only be found in the traditional market.

A recent visit to the Serian market revealed that many still choose to purchase essential items there as part of their Christmas preparations.

The market continues to thrive, serving as a hub for those seeking a traditional touch to their holiday shopping experience.

Moses Rinsun, 54, holds a strong belief that, despite the convenience of finding raw ingredients like vegetables in supermarkets, the market remains unparalleled in offering the freshest produce.

Engaged in selecting ‘mawang’ fruits with his wife at one of the stalls in the bustling market, Moses expressed his preference for the market’s offerings.

“As we prepare for Christmas, we are here to pick up a few items for our festive cooking.

“Most of our shopping has already been done, but there’s a unique quality about the ingredients available in this market that you just can’t find in a typical supermarket,” he said to the New Sarawak Tribune.

Moses emphasised the challenge of sourcing certain items in regular supermarkets and highlighted the market’s distinct advantage in providing fresh and rare choices.

“The variety here is not only diverse but also incredibly fresh. It adds a unique touch to our Christmas preparations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Susie Mikol, 48, visited the market after an extended period away from her hometown.
 
Currently on holiday to celebrate Christmas, Susie, who works in Peninsular Malaysia, emphasised that a visit to the market is a tradition whenever she returns home.
 
“Every time I come back, I make it a point to source raw ingredients here. It’s not easy to find local products like ‘asam paya’ fruit and such at the peninsula.
 
“Moreover, the items sold here are guaranteed to be fresh. Even if they’re not, you can definitely tell the difference. It’s all about choosing wisely,” she said.

A glimpse into the market’s lively atmosphere, where locals find joy in selecting fresh produce for their Christmas celebrations.

Despite the convenience of supermarkets, the allure of the market’s authenticity and freshness remains a compelling reason for many, like Susie, to make it a vital part of their homecoming rituals.

On a different note, Magdeline Kimpui, 33, came to the market with a specific mission: to find pork.

She expressed frustration, stating that in recent days, it has been extremely challenging to locate pork in the market, and when available, the prices are inevitably high.

Magdeline shared that during festive seasons, her family typically makes advance bookings for a certain quantity of pork to be used in their celebratory dishes.

However, she lamented that the usual place they reserve from hasn’t provided any updates on their booking status.

“So, I came here to search for the specific cut of pork my husband desires. It’s getting increasingly difficult to find a supply of raw pork on the market these days.

“Fortunately, I did manage to find some earlier. Although the price was a bit steep, it’s okay. Festive celebrations don’t happen every day. It’s not wrong to indulge occasionally,” she said.