This is uncle chek whose kids have all grown-up which made him decide to become a hawker as a way to earn a small income.He does not want to rely on his children for income he says as he feels that they should spent it on their children.

He likes to keep his stall neat and tidy as he says it keeps his mind organized and clear(easy to get ingredients).

"Even though it is small,it means a lot to me.I feel independent with it." he says proudly in Hokkien.

"I make sure my food is not only fresh but cheap too.I know how hard it is to earn money"~Translated from Hokkien.He seems to be a really humble and independent man who just wants the best for his children.

This is Uncle Ong who declined to show his face.He owns a mini bread store where he makes his own bread and sells them.He says that life is tough especially when you are only selling bread as a source of income.However,he gets through with the government's incentives and support from his sister.He is a kind man and always give my family and I free biscuts whenever we buy bread from him.

My family and I have been buying fish from this stall for more than decade.While their stall may seem dingy,they are actually really kind and hardworking people.My family and I know them as Mr and Mrs Ng.

This is his wife,Mrs Ng, who aids him in manning the stall and attending to the customers.She works part-time too as a sales assistant while her husband works part-time as a taxi driver.

Together they work together as a couple to earn a living for their 2 young daughters.It is not easy for them but they are willing to do anything for their children."I just want the best for their future" she says.

This is Uncle Soh who unfortunately lost his daughter to cancer last year...He shaved his hair as a way of remembering her...Her daughter even made a website for him.Link:http://www.porkypink.com/

The youngest in his family,he occasionally helps his mother and aunt to run the stall especially during the weekends.He hopes to be able to sell the store one day once he has enough savings to provide for his mother.He currently works as a property agent.

They sell mostly pork,chicken and pig intestines/liver and have been selling for roughly 15 years.Previously,his great-grandfather had also set up a stall at a market.

This photo was taken when a customer ordered something from them,I think it must have been a really large order which is why they have such exaggerated expressions.That is his aunt on the left and his mother on the right.

I decided to add this photo as it shows the unity in their family,something that I really admire about them.It must be tough selling at a market but I know that as a family they can pull through.

This is Mdm Tan who sells vegetables in a stall she purchased with her sisters more than 1 and a half decade ago.

This is her sister who aids her in manning the stall during weekends when crowds are more likely to form.They usually wake up about 5,sometimes even 4 am in the morning to set up the stalls for their regular customers.

Most if not all of their vegetables are freshly brought in the day before and washed to ensure its cleanliness.It is a tough profession but they are happy with what they are currently doing and do not want to give up their stall anytime soon. "It is a very good way to pass time and earn an income"they said.

While they too declined to have their faces in photos,I managed to snap this shot of one of the sisters amidst all the greens.

Our hawker centres and market are no longer ubiquitous and slowly disappearing into the winds of the past.Once gone,they might never come back.As technology evolves and our country advances,markets are being replaced by supermarkets while hawker centres are being replaced by air-conditioned foodcourts.

It is paramount to preserve them as they are our past and define our "Rojak" culture with the variety of food and ingredients.After all,nothing can substitute the rustic nature of this places as our country's own unique heritage and as a significant piece of our history.