To Market, To Market

Nearly every Saturday—if I can actually manage to wake up in time—I make it a point to walk to my nearby farmers’ market. My boyfriend and I lace up our shoes, grab Odie’s leash and head off toward the park for our weekly walk. It’s become one of my favorite rituals.

Once we’re there, it’s hard for me to peel myself away from all of the stands and, well, mainly, the food. And as guilty as I feel for having Eliot and Odie wait for me outside the market (dogs aren’t allowed in the main shopping area), I can’t help but want to take my time—which, much to their chagrin, I often do. It gets even tougher when Odie looks like that (see above right). I love examining each and every vegetable in season, tasting the free fruit samples, gawking at all of the fresh flowers and deciding what to buy for our brunch, from pupusas and tamales to currywurst and chocolate croissants. (What can I say? It’s a pretty eclectic farmers’ market.)

It’s no different when I travel. If anything, my desire to visit local markets only grows—and not just because I love to shop and eat. Visiting the market really does give you a better understanding of the destination you’re in by introducing you to that culture, and in the best ways possible—through your senses. I’ll never forget that first whiff of stinky tofu that I mistook for open sewage in Shanghai. Or how Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market was the only place in Japan where people were actually sort of impolite, cursing under their breath at the ignorant and dumbfounded tourists (ahem, me) standing in their way of a much-needed sale. In Hong Kong, I was a total sucker for beautiful jade necklaces and silks that were cool to the touch—so much so that I nearly tipped the baggage weight limit on my way home. In Tel Aviv's Carmel Market, I was awestruck by the rich colors of so many different spice stands. And in Honolulu, I blissfully ate my way through the Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market which, not so secretly, is my favorite farmers’ market thus far.

No matter where you travel to, there’s always something new to discover at the market and, with that, here are some of my favorite discoveries…

I never knew squash blossoms could look so pretty until I saw them at the market in Amsterdam.

Even the tiny little farmers’ market in Hoorn, the Netherlands, was bustling on an early Saturday morning.

I seriously doubted whether or not this man would be able to fit into his mini mobile bakery.

I loved how locals in Strasbourg, France, toted their dogs wherever they went, especially at the market…

And how you could even buy Asian specialties there, too, from beef and curry-filled samosas to…

…Chicken egg rolls.

Also, who doesn’t love a bouquet of fresh flowers?

In Tel Aviv, I was reminded that I was in the land of olives…

…spices...

...and gummy candy—lots of gummy candy.

I also realized I wasn’t the most inconspicuous of photographers.

And I was perplexed by this silly and hideous-looking—yet intriguing—contraption: a visor with built-in shades that retract up and down. (Photo © Cindy Sosrotuomo)

Another realization: Infomercial sales strategies will work pretty much everywhere.

Kyoto’s Nishiki Market is another favorite market: I loved seeing so many different types of vegetables and snacks on display…

Watching folks pounding fresh mochi…

…and taking in the aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts.

However, I didn’t even want to guess what these might be, but I have my suspicions.

Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market was overwhelming, but in a good way; I’ve never seen so much ahi before in my life.

And although the tuna auction was closed to the public on the day that I went…

I still saw plenty of big tuna throughout the market.

But, if there’s anything I’ve realized about what I love most about markets, it’s not only discovering new things—but savoring them on the spot—just like my fellow travel writer, Margery, did when she two-fisted a fried-green tomato with a Portugese sausage in Honolulu.

Now that’s a market experience with traveling for, don’t you think?

Hawaii, March 2010 (Part Three, Oahu)

While driving into Waikiki from the Honolulu Airport, the driver remarked, “It looks just like home for you, huh?”

Well, not quite exactly. His argument did have some merit, though. It certainly helped that it was a particularly voggy (volcanic fog) day, with the clouds doing their best impersonation of L.A. smog. And yes, it was a change to finally see tall buildings along the highway that weren’t just hotels or resorts. But still, Honolulu is not L.A.— and thank God for that.

I love that Oahu has so much to offer—beautiful beaches, plenty of shopping, city life, country life and most of all, good eats. This was my third time to the island and I loved revisiting it and discovering new things along the way.

The first thing I did when I arrived was to start exploring Waikiki. I hadn’t been to Waikiki since I first visited Oahu nearly 19 years ago, and it’s changed dramatically since then.

It also happened to be Saint Patrick’s Day, which had people getting into a festive mood.

The view from my room at the Sheraton Waikiki was beautiful…

…As was the view from the infinity-edge pool.

On the lobby level, guests can take ukulele lessons with Bruce Shimabukuro at the Ukulele Puapua store. His brother, Jake, is also a well-known ukulele player.

The store also sells, you guessed it, ukulele-playing Obama bobbleheads, too.

Next to the Sheraton is The Royal Hawaiian—one of my favorite hotels, ever, I think.

I loved this old-fashioned telephone near the main elevators.

A snapshot from its restaurant

My idea of paradise

After strolling around The Royal, we went down the block to the Moana Surfrider where I had afternoon tea at the Beachhouse at the Moana.

I thought it was kind of fun to see this at the restaurant—a family photo. Of whom, I have no idea, but you gotta love the matching aloha shirts.

By far, my favorite thing to do on Oahu is eat, so it certainly whet my appetite when we embarked on a North Shore farm tour. Our first stop? The Dole Plantation, where I saw pineapples taking a bath…

...Examined coffee berries up close...

…and tasted fresh cacao. It’s not bad, but don’t bite into it, or it can be really bitter.

Later, we stopped to have Waialua coffee (also from Dole) and some of the best biscotti ever.

Of course, since we were in Hawaii, we just had to do our farm tour in our flip flops, no less. (I'm the odd one out, wearing Birkenstocks.)

The day before, I had to wear these adorable booties on my tour of Iolani Palace.

The second farm we visited was Twin Bridge Farms where they grow asparagus, tomatoes…

…and even blue Russian potatoes.

The farm employees were so friendly.

I loved this shot from the farm, too.

Afterward, we headed to the North Shore Cattle Co. where we were got stuck in a rush hour of cow crossings.

This is where I met Jasmine, an adorably chubby dog—so cute and incredibly rotund.

I loved this shot of the ranch owner’s son—he was equally adorable.

After our farm tour, we took the long way back to Honolulu, traveling along the North Shore coast and checking out both beaches and shrimp trucks.

The next morning, we left bright and early to head to the KCC Farmers’ Market—probably my all-time fave. I love that you can buy chilli water there…

…And even get serenaded with a performance by Makana, a famous slack-key guitarist.

You can also buy beautiful flowers here…

And encounter really large—but incredibly friendly—dogs.

Or you can be like this little fella (the same one from the ranch) and find pure bliss from a grilled Portuguese sausage. Look at that face!

And for our final meal of the morning, we headed to Diamond Head Market & Grill where you really can buy beef bourguignon to take home.

I can’t wait until my next trip…

(All photos © Deanna Ting)