To market to market

Queen Victoria Markets on the north side of Melbourne city, extended a couple of blocks. When I stepped through the main entrance, the smell of meats had me steering away to the specialized sections of cheeses and even a store that sold crocodile and kangaroo meats.

South Melbourne Markets

Markets anywhere offer an insight into the foods worth savouring. South Melbourne Markets were no exception. From the freshest vegetables, fish or meats to curry leaves, these markets had it all.

Riverside

I headed into New Westminster’s Riverside Markets where once a variety of vibrant shops brought life to a complex similar to Grandville Markets. But most of those retailers had gone.

Grandville Island Markets

One large wrought iron building housed the markets. Fresh produce smacked me in the eye with radiant colours; jewellery sparkled from overhead lights; and the aroma of soaps wafted over me as I meandered around stalls.

Tanzania’s Fresh Food

Photo courtesy: Duniasikuzote — Wikimedia Commons

When I lived in Dar es Salaam, there were often shortages due to factory equipment breaking down or a lack of foreign exchange to import certain goods.

After nine months of abstinence, there’d be Kenyan cheese in the shops for a couple of weeks; or someone warned we should stock up on matches or toilet paper because parts for a broken piece of machinery would take months to arrive.

Foods I’d never tried (or maybe wouldn’t)

I didn’t notice any fruits or vegetables I hadn’t seen before as I wandered through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. As for meats, I didn’t want to go there, especially after walking past barbequed dog. When I approached brains or large chunks of meaty red legs, I looked the other way.

Not just banh beo

One of the joys of travelling for me is food, especially in Asia. So while I sat savouring banh beo, another Vietnamese dish, I heard four English girls order chips and cokes. I thought to myself, why are they bothering to leave England if not to try something new?