I love markets!

I just came back from the Pasar Malam. What started out as an evening jog with my best friend stretched into a 3-hour jaunt round the neighbourhood…all because we ran past a brightly lit night market, also known as Pasar Malam. Maybe because of our hot weather, these markets in housing estates only come to life after sunset. You’ll find an interesting collection of stalls selling fruit, toys, clothes, movie discs and ornaments at reasonable prices. There’s lots of food too…Ramly burger, hot dogs, chicken wings, otah, fritters, steamed corn and nuts, noodles, ice-cold drinks and all kinds of snacks.

I love visiting markets everywhere I go. From the noisy, vibrant ones in Malaysia and Thailand, to the farmers markets in Melbourne, sunset markets in Darwin, Christmas markets in Munich, village markets in Bohemia, and flea markets across Europe and America, I love them all!

Every market has a life of its own. I love exploring the colorful alleys and treasure-laden corridors, admiring the variety of collectibles... arts, crafts, comic books, belt buckles, jewelry... savoring the local delicacies and be surrounded by music and laughter.

The mother of all markets must be the Global Village in Dubai where craftsmen and tradesmen of the world come together to sell their wares. The village will be thronging with millions of shoppers and over 40 participating countries selling their wares out of elaborately decorated pavilions that replicate some aspect of their home countries -- the UK's features Big Ben, China's a typical red temple. It’s like shopping around the world in a day!

Next stop, Istanbul. I've heard so much about the amazing bazaars in this wonderful city. Oh, I can hardly wait!