Finally, Something in My Size!

Sunday Market at the Lung Center, Quezon City, Philippines

Comments

[Rasa Malaysia]

LOL. Funny.

In the US, I wear a size 0, but here in Malaysia I need L for most skirts, dresses and stuff. I asked for S (thinking that I am a size 0) and couldn't zip anything!!!

[RST]

What, no bakya? ;0) Those flipflops might be the ultimate fashion statement for the contemporary flaneur (and if you were RST, you'd even walk right into the Chicago Symphony with them), but boy are they terrible to wear to the wet markets. They flap too much mud unto the calves: eek!!!! For Southeast Asian markets, try the sensible bakya: traditional wooden clogs, which are apparently a dying breed, although they could still be seen on old ladies in Malaysia, in the Philippine provinces, on Thai-Chinese, and throughout the region. The breathtaking Centro Escolar University volume on Philippine Markets (by Karen Delgado, with marvellous photographs by Neal Oshima) does not even have a single image of the bakya!!! And this is the one unifying symbol of the traditional Southeast Asian market! ;0) But where are these clogs from? From the Hokkienese? the Dutch? Venetians? I would love to see a post on bakya in eatingasia!!! ;0)

baiting, ;0)
Richard
[email protected]

[Robyn]

Alright RST - we snapped plenty of bakya pics in Manila (none on feet, unfortunately) for you and even brought home a mini bakya courtesy of our Cavite hosts. Stay tuned for a bakya post. I suspect they are Hokkienese, BTW. Maybe it's time for a trip to Fujian to search for the origin of bakya (your job).

Bee - rub it in , why don't you. Seriously, size 0??!!! This post was in jest though it is true that I have given up long ago finding any clothing or shoes here in Asia. That's what home leave is for.

[RST]

None on feet!!! Why, was Dave afraid he might get slapped? ;0)

[Karen]

Funny post, Robyn!

I've just been back and might be offline for sometime again but indeed, I'll wait for the bakya post.

RST, to add to your research data, bakya in Capampangan are suecus (soo-e-coos). Might help you tracing their roots.

I still prefer my wooden shoes when traversing a smooth pavement - they won't make you slip, like RST says, when you go to wet markets and on rainy days. No flapping mud on calves, skirts, pants, etc. :)

[RST]

Suecus eh? Dare we drag the Swedes (suecos) into all this? ;0)