The stalls at Hakaniemi farmers’ market are set up every morning for the locals to buy groceries and fresh flowers, amongst other things.
Two types of fresh flowers vying for space and attention at the Hakaniemi farmers’ market. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
By afternoon, however, all that’s left of the market is a large empty plaza, as stall holders tear down their stalls and call it a day.
We’d just gotten off the ferry from Helsinki to the off-shore sea fortress of Suomenlinna. While the excited tourists and local families with children hustled and bustled around the pier, I spied this old couple quietly cycling away from the hullabaloo into the tranquility of the island’s interior.
An old couple cycles slowly down a gravel path on a hot summer’s day on the fortress island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Suomenlinna actually comprises eight islands, five of which are connected by bridges and sandbars. There are about 850 inhabitants on the island, while 400-500 people work there.
Here’s wishing all Muslim friends: “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri“!
Custom designed twinkling lights specially for Hari Raya Puasa. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
It’s Hari Raya Puasa today.
Hakaniemi is a part of Helsinki city centre traditionally associated with the working class and workers’ associations.
Fresh flowers being sold at the Hakaniemi farmers’ market. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Every morning farmers set up stalls at the farmers’ market selling groceries and flowers to the locals.
The new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is an approximately 7.8x high-power normal zoom lens compatible with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras; while the Speedlight SB-300 is a compact and lightweight camera flash unit that can easily be taken anywhere.
Just announced in Tokyo by Nikon. Price and availability TBA. Not shown to scale.
The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR high-power normal zoom lens covers the frequently used wide-angle 18mm to telephoto 140mm (equivalent to 27-210mm in 35mm [135] format) range of focal lengths.
Lifestyle and technology blogger Mohd Hisham went on a Ramadan walkabout at the night bazaar.
Waxing lyrical – literally – about his wares. Photo taken with a Nikon D90 with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Photo credit: Mohd Hisham.
What caught Hisham’s eye was this guy perched on a high chair holding a microphone and selling his wares by reciting traditional 4-lined poems.
According to Hisham, the Malay poem style is known as pantun, comprising usually 4 stanzas, sometimes 3.
The gentleman in the photo was reciting the traditional and more common 4-stanza poems.
Hisham blogs at his Lifestyle and Technology blog: mhisham.org.
These mannequins give an idea of what it’s like to be dolled up with the prettiest outfits.
These mannequins look so life-like you wonder if they might actually come to life! Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
These mannequins look all ready to welcome the approaching Hari Raya Puasa.
My favourite dish not only in the local night bazaar but also when I travel overseas – the variations of kebabs – especially the shish and doner kebabs.
Nothing beats a smoking hot kebab on a Winter’s night in temperate countries. But here in tropical Singapore, it is no less inviting. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Originating in the Middle East, kebabs have become popular in many other countries for many years now.
They are delicious and affordable, and can be eaten at a roadside kiosk, a proper restaurant, or taken away to be enjoyed on the go.
If you’re looking for a new pair of sandals, you’ll be spoilt for choice at the Ramadan Night Bazaar.
Sandals snaking down the wall at a stall in the Ramadan Night Bazaar. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Most of the stalls at the night bazaar were open to photographers, especially if you ask the stall holders politely before snapping away.
Some even offered to pose with their wares.
What’s Hari Raya without those twinkling lights that brighten up the neighbourhood at night?
Lights galore at the Ramadan Night Bazaar. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
One of the distinctive signs that Hari Raya is approaching is the lights that you see decorating homes – both inside and outside – as the festival approaches.
