Hawker stall 101

As it turns out, hawker stalls are relatively easy for that uninitiated foreigner to negotiate. Most stalls have big signs advertising their specialty, and most of these are in English (or at the very least, the Latin alphabet).

So you stand in thrall of whatever is being prepared and using either hand gestures, English, or a combination of the two, order something delicious.

They will ask you where you're sitting, you'll look around, uncertain, and between the two of you, you'll decide upon a place. 

You will then take your seat, they will being you your food, and you'll pay. 

More or less.

A couple of things to note: you will be required to buy a beverage from another vendor who will approach your table. I do not think this is negotiable, so it is incumbent upon you to do all your ordering at once (or be required to purchase as many beverages as the number of times you are seated). (The food being spicy and the weather tropical, this shouldn't be an issue.)

Also of note is something I encountered this evening, which was a stall that for some mysterious reason did not seem to have one of these back-scratching arrangements at all. Or if they did, it was opaque to me. The place they seemed partnered with seemed to be serving soup, as opposed to beverages, which seemed to defeat the entire purpose, you ask me. Anyway, not wanting the soup, I said I'd try back another time.

Of course, it is possible, just, that I misunderstood the entire exchange I had with the duck rice guy. I'll report back later.