Hawkers endure extra heat from cooking hot food

GEORGE TOWN: The scorching heat coupled with steam from boiling soup is physically draining for some hawkers who set up shop by the roadside.

In bracing the hot weather, hawkers here are guzzling water, taking more rest in between and some even resorting to wrapping up business earlier.

Choo Soon Chow, 73, who runs a koay teow th’ng stall, constantly handles hot soup.

“I am used to working like this for the past 11 years but recently the heat has worsened.

“My son-in-law drops me off by motorcycle, so as to make sure we do not have to do multiple trips in this heat. I leave behind some of the ingredients at my stall.

“This way, I just bring the items that need to be stored in cool places.

“So far, the only way I have been dealing with this heat is by drinking water,” she said.

As she ages, the heat does get to her so she finds time to sit and rest in between orders.

“I have someone to help me serve, so I get to sit down.

“Although I am located in a coffee shop, my stall is at a corner and the outside heat hits me. The boiling soup also adds to the extreme conditions,” she said.

Loh Lee Ooi, 53, who is helping run her family’s Hakka mee stall, said she grew up helping her father but it had never been this humid.

“Right now I am on dish duty, which means I wash the dishes and dry them. Although keeping my hands wet does help, I am closer to the edge of the stall so the sun does hit me,” she said.