Hawkers used to ply the streets selling homemade noodles or ‘tok tok mee’ (also known as ‘kok kok mee’). They would attract customers by hitting a bamboo striker against a piece of split bamboo. The rhythmic 'tik tok' sound became the hawkers' distinctive food call, alerting customers in the vicinity. The hawkers went around with three-wheeled wooden pushcarts, complete with ingredients, charcoal stove, pots, and porcelain bowls such as the one shown here, as well as utensils.
