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?

Favorites, 2009 (Part 2, Scenes)

Sometimes, a single snapshot of a particular place can convey so much about that place or time. Here are some of my favorite photos from last year that seem to have done the trick.

I snapped this photo on a bus tour through San Francisco. I just loved how this mural seemed to envelop the entire building. (May 2009)

The clear-blue sky just seemed to melt into the glittering ocean near Waimea Canyon, Kauai. (July 2009)

I loved how this family in Amsterdam repurposed these clogs into decorative flower holders. (August 2009)

In Strasbourg, France, you can just walk along a street and—all of sudden— you might just find yourself at a beautiful cathedral. (August 2009)

Beit Shean, ancient Roman ruins in Israel, are lit up at night. (September 2009)

Thoughtful graffiti in Akko, Israel (September 2009)

Lanterns in Israel (September 2009)

Candles in the Old City of Jerusalem (September 2009)

Textiles in the Old City of Jerusalem: I loved how colorful they were. (September 2009)

Jaffa, an artists’ colony just outside of Tel Aviv, felt like a little microcosm unto itself. (September 2009)

An interesting building in Tel Aviv (September 2009)

The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe at sunset (December 2009)

A guestroom decoration from The Peninsula Tokyo: The contrast between the gilded leaves and red backdrop was stunning. (December 2009)

The bamboo grove in Kyoto’s Arashiyama neighborhood. I couldn’t keep my camera still or in focus because my hands were shaking—it was so cold! (December 2009)

Same goes for this snapshot, taken as we crossed the Togetsukyo Bridge by rickshaw. (December 2009)

I took this photo as Eliot and I made our way up to the Senko-ji Temple in Kyoto. (December 2009)

Eliot and I literally stumbled onto the Rakkudo Temple after making a quick pit stop at a Starbucks in Kyoto. (December 2009)

Visiting the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima (December 2009)

It was so moving to see all these thousands of paper cranes at the site of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. The cranes became a symbol for peace in Hiroshima in honor of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who developed cancer from the bombing. She attempted to fold 1,000 cranes as she was dying from her cancer, in the belief that if she could accomplish such, she would be granted her wish. (December 2009)

It was equally heart-wrenching to walk around Imjingak, South Korea, where families have left photos and mementos of loved ones who never came back from the north. (December 2009)

On our last night in Seoul, we went up to Namsan Tower where we saw thousands of literal locks of love. (January 2010)

(All photos © Deanna Ting)

April (Foods)

Okay, so I’ve started noticing a pattern. For work, whenever I can write about stuff that’s not a hotel review, tour review or a destination piece, I will almost always write about food:

From the Farm to My Fork: I wrote about my recent KCC Farmers’ Market experience, likening it to the annual Nathan’s Hot-Dog Eating Contest. (I'm showing off my first-ever barbecued abalone at left  // (c) Candice Lee Kraughto) 

Fave Five 2009 Travel Experiences, Part Two: I listed eating blowfish testicles in Kyoto, Japan, as one of my favorite experiences.

Overcoming My Own ‘Fear Factor’: I go into more detail about said blowfish “gentleman bits.”

Fave Five European Fast Foods: I adore fast food almost anywhere, but Europe has some especially tasty offerings.

Fave Five Vegas Buffets: One of my top reasons for going to Vegas at all, really.

Hawaii—Local Style: I wrote about all the places I ate at with my boyfriend and his relatives.

And today, I just turned in a piece called “Fave Five SoCal Ramen and Soba Spots.” Needless to say, I really like food—both consuming it and writing about it.

Looking back on my travels last year, there are so many great meals that I savored, from the best pasta ever (in Tel Aviv, no less) to the best $110 ever spent on a meal — an elaborate omakase (chef’s selection) dinner in Kyoto (where I ate those blowfish bits). Here’s a taste:

Dining at Hashem Restaurant in Amman, Jordan // (c) Deanna Ting

My friend Jennifer shows off the gigantic bacon pancake we shared in Amsterdam. // (c) Deanna Ting

Contemplating my choices at Febo in Amsterdam // (c) Deanna Ting

Currywurst in Cologne, Germany // (c) Deanna Ting

Pommes frites smothered in mayo, ketchup and fried onions, also in Cologne, Germany // (c) Deanna Ting

My individual, goblet-size portion of Chimay beer in Germany // (c) Deanna Ting

A half-eaten croissant from Strasbourg, France // (c) Deanna Ting

Falafel from Tiberias, Israel // (c) Deanna Ting

Cleaning up the mess that my melting gelato made in Tel Aviv // (c) Deanna Ting

The best pasta--ever. My friend Cindy, a fellow travel writer, also agrees. // (c) Deanna Ting

My favorite meal from Costa Rica // (c) Deanna Ting

Smoked chile butternut squash soup from the Anasazi restaurant in Santa Fe // (c) Deanna Ting

A breakfast meal of champions--chorizo and huevos motulenos from Cafe Pasqual's in Santa Fe // (c) Deanna Ting

Room service breakfast from The Peninsula Tokyo // (c) Deanna Ting

Handmade soba noodles from the restaurant at the Hoshinoya Kyoto // (c) Deanna Ting

Eagerly anticipating my breakfast of nabe (Japanese hot pot) at the Hoshinoya Kyoto // (c) Deanna Ting

Uni (sea urchin) -topped eggplant drizzled with ponzu sauce from Tempura Matsu in Kyoto, Japan // (c) Deanna Ting

Shirako (blowfish testicles; center), flanked by grilled fugu (blowfish) on the sides, also from Tempura Matsu // (c) Deanna Ting

Room service tea from the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so // (c) Deanna Ting

Ramen with savory pork cheeks in Tokyo // (c) Deanna Ting

Afternoon tea at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi--note the kobe beef sliders and churros // (c) Deanna Ting