Five-Foot Way in Tangkak

Many pre-war buildings in Malaysia has five-foot way. In Malay, it is known as kaki lima. In Hokkien, it is called "goh kaki".

Five foot way refers to the 'pedestrian walkways indented into the ground floor of a building from the road, so that the overhanging upper floors can provide a cover to shield pedestrians from the sun and rain' [Source: Wikipedia]. As implied by the name, a five-foot way is assume to be of five feet wide.

This photo feature a five-foot way in Tangkak town. We stopped by this small town to savour a bowl of its well-known Tangkak Beef Noodle and to buy some locally-made "Tau Sar Pheah" (a pastry with green bean filling). The five-foot way is still decorated with the festive Chinese New Year red lanterns. The two rows of shops along the main street of Tangkak town is very similar to those in my hometown, Melaka. I feel very at home here.