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Shopping Travel / New Zealand Travel / Markets / Food Travel / Auckland Travel / → All Tags

Shopping Two of New Zealand's Best Farmers' Markets: What to See, Smell and Taste

Based on our recent experience eating our way through New Zealand, the country’s food scene is bursting at the seams not only with talented chefs discovering the agricultural bounty of their island nation, but also farmers' markets where the producers and purveyors of all these fabulous foodstuffs are peddling their wares and showing off the best of what they grow.

To find out just where all these tasty products are coming from and to meet some of the growers, we stopped by two of the country’s best known weekend farmers’ markets at opposite ends of New Zealand:

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Holiday Travel / Britain Travel / Christmas Travel / Shopping Travel / London Travel / Markets / → All Tags

Three London Christmas Markets That Nod to the German Tradition

Christmas markets are an advent of countries like Germany and Austria, but the honored holiday tradition has been adopted by cultures the world over.

In London, there's yuletide market merriment to be found stretching from the Thames to Columbia Road. Sprinkled throughout the city, these shopping fairs feature vendors hawking everything from fresh mulled wine to crafts to handmade jewels, offering ample opportunity to shop for presents and partake of seasonal cheer.

There are only a few days left to peruse the "chalet" stalls for last-minute gifts as you take in the sight of strung lights and sip on hot cocoa. We've highlighted three of the city's best Christmas markets:

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Bangkok Field Trip / Thailand Travel / Bangkok Travel / Photo Gallery / Markets / Shopping Travel / → All Tags

The Musts of Bangkok: Browsing the Melee of Chatuchak Weekend Market

These days, when you think of Bangkok, does the "Hangover 2" phrase "Holla, city of squalor" pop into mind? It did ours, until we freaking went there and got tangled in its web of awesomeness. Bangkok is truly a world metropolis to be experienced over more than a few days, but we'll be detailing several places and things that simply can't be left undone. Join us, but watch where you step.

You MUST get good and lost at Chatuchak.

If you've been to one, big market in a major Asian city, you've been to them all, right? WRONG! Each metropolis comes with its own flavor, its own grime, its own crazy insane buying and selling spree. Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok is the market in Thailand, mainly because it's the largest market in the entire country, but also because it's a place infamous for being able to buy anything (though times have changed).

What hasn't changed, however, is the labyrinth of small aisles that weave through vendors piled high with everything from run-of-the-mill cheapie Pashmina scarves (see photo above) to wall-size original works of art, to puppies wearing barrettes.

It's a melee, but it's worth it.

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Markets / Thailand Travel / Bangkok Travel / Bangkok Field Trip / Fashion Travel / → All Tags

You Know You're in a Market in Asia When...

What do you think of when you imagine a street market in an Asian metropolis? There's probably the stereotypical image of a slew of carts hocking spicy meats, plus tons of T-shirt stands and some knock-off purse booths. All of that is correct, but then you can turn a corner and encounter some of the more special offerings, like puppies. Or flowers made from a carved bar of soap. Or contact lenses that make your pupils look huge, thus making you look like an anime character.

And this is Japan, right? Wrong. It's Thailand. Sometimes it's difficult to tell, however. Bangkok has its districts like any great city; there's Chinatown, an Indian neighborhood, the Japanese district and—of course—the foreign backpacker ghetto that is Khao San Road.

While we don't advocate buying things off the street which you will then stick into your eyes, shopping for such things is a great only-in-asia experience. If you're dead-set on buying, though, the sushi-shaped contact lens cases were super cute.

[Photo: Jaunted]

London Travel / Food Travel / Shopping Travel / Markets / → All Tags

Five Reasons London's Broadway Market is Cooler than Borough Market

Borough Market is routinely heralded as the Queen Bee of London's farmer's markets, a locus of organic cuisine that is every gourmand's dream come true. On Saturdays, however, it is aswarm with even more tourists than usual, clogging pedestrian walkways and bringing about stall lines that can be unbearably long, however skilled and quick their proprietors may be.

Though we have a special place in our heart for Borough, a recent trip to East London's Broadway Market has converted us to devotees of the latter haven for pesticide-free produce. Read through our Top Five Reasons Broadway Market is Cooler Than Borough Market, after the jump, for a few convincing arguments in favor of the slightly less-trafficked neighborhood gem.

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Food Travel / Philadelphia Travel / Markets / Philadelphia Field Trip / Photo Gallery / → All Tags

One Last Philly Cheesesteak, at Reading Terminal Market

A few days ago, we related to you the results of what could be the most important scientific test thus far this year: our taste test of Philadelphia's best cheesesteak joints. We laughed (at the church groups at Pat's), we cried (over Geno's xenophobia) and we ate some damned awesome cheesesteak (at Jim's), but in all of our fervor to taste these three, we completely forgot that we actually visited a fourth: Carmen's Famous.

Carmen's was our first stop when we arrived off the train in Philly, and it joins a couple other cheesesteak booths inside of Reading Terminal Market. You won't hear folks from the City of Brotherly Love exclaiming their passion for Carmen's like they do for Pat's or Jim's, simply because their cheesesteaks are pretty standard. Nothing to write home about, but edible.

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Adventure Girl in Macau / Macau Travel / China Travel / Twitter / Markets / → All Tags

Adventure Girl Gets Lost in the Markets of Macau

Have you ever wanted to explore the Las Vegas of the East, Macau? Sit back and count your chips then as we follow Twitter celeb Stefanie Michaels, aka Adventure Girl, as she explores this southern Chinese leisure town. Each day this week, she'll reveal another adventure. Join her 1.5 million followers on Twitter for more Macau conversation @AdventureGirl, and don't forget us @Jaunted!

There are many places to find off the beaten path in Macau. If you’re adventurous and like to “get lost” while traveling, Macau’s local vibrant marketplaces offer a safe haven to explore, along with a culture-filled adventure. I love the idea of “getting lost” in a foreign land and felt totally comfortable doing so in Macau.

The only hitch for some travelers may be the language barrier. Chinese or Portuguese, Macau’s other official language, are primarily spoken by the Macanese. English is spoken in most tourist areas, yet I was hard pressed to find English speakers at any of the local market areas. For travelers who don’t speak either of the nation’s two main languages and find this intimidating, guides can be hired to get around the local’s areas.

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Markets / Food Travel / Chicago Travel / → All Tags

Chicago Opens Its First Indoor, All-Year European Market

The Windy City picked a perfect time to open Chicago French Market, the city's first indoor market that's open all year long, since the snowy, brrr-inducing winter weather doesn't really inspire you to go out and hit Michigan Avenue for shopping.

Housed in the West Loop's new MetraMarket, which is conveniently located in the Ogilvie Transportation Center, the European-inspired market offers products from local artisans, farmers and purveyors, primarily gourmet food and wine.

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Best-Bazaars / Bazaar Travel / Tunisia Travel / Shopping Travel / Culture / Markets / → All Tags

Mint Tea And Handmade Carpets: Tunisia's Kairouan Market Delivers

Avoid the temptation to purchase the "local color" of your trip at the airport gift shop and step into the magical labyrinths that are city markets. Practice your haggling and strap on that money belt as we profile some of the world's best.

One of the best travel decisions we've ever made was to forego the typical Mexico spring break for a far more cultural (and culture-shocking) one in Tunisia. And it only got better the further we went into the North African country, as prices dropped and hand-made carpets got more colorful. Speaking of carpets, we headed to one of the capitals of this industry: the city of Kairouan.

As the fourth most important city in Islam, Kairouan attracts its share of foreign visitors, and all are attracted to the vibrant market of the city in the walled-in medina. Here is the place to purchase hand-painted ceramics, glassware, and especially the meaning-laden carpet you've always dreamt of owning.

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Turkey Field Trip / Markets / Grand Bazaar / Spice Market / Istanbul Travel / → All Tags

How To Survive The Grand Bazaar and Spice Markets in Istanbul

Last week Shira Levine spent a few days getting her Turkish Delight on in Istanbul, Turkiye ("Turkey is a bird; Turkiye is the country"). Any questions about what to do in Turkiye? Send 'em to us and we'll have Shira answer them for you.

We've been through plenty of shuks, souks, ferias, and open-air markets in both developing and developed nations. The Turkish Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market take the pistachio or saffron-flavored cake in offering interpersonal adventures, thanks to the unbelievably high levels of persistence shop owners have in hopes of making a sale.

Even if you don't buy, these sweet and sensitive guys get very offended if you don't engage them in conversation and step into their shops. Resist! No one has that much time or patience.

Here's our list of tips on how to make the most of your trek through the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.

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Jaunted Field Trips / Embedded Travel Guides / Tel Aviv Field Trip / Markets / → All Tags

Eats in Tel Aviv: The Carmel Market

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, and happily ate her way through the city so she could share her picks with you.

We're major fans of visiting open-air markets while traveling, and Tel Aviv's got one of the best: The Carmel Market, at the intersection of Allenby, Nahalat Binyamin, King George and Sheinkin Streets. Make sure you set aside ample time to stroll through the hundreds of stalls where you can pick up everything from sunhats to nuts to nougats to spices, fruits, coffee and more.

Skip the "Clothing Only" section at the start (unless you are looking for overpriced Levi's) and walk towards Sheinkin Street for a great path through all the food stands. The Mediterranean produce is amazing and cheap and vendors are happy to comply with taste-testing for potential buyers.

We scored ourselves some delish burekas (traditional breakfast bites with filling) and fresh strawberries to take to the beach later.

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Events / Tokyo / Madrid / Paris / New York City / Brooklyn / Museums / Markets / → All Tags

This Weekend in the World: Markets and Museums, Oh My!

· New York City: Can it be true? Is New York finally going to enjoy some 70-degree weather this weekend? Since this spring will find more urbanites with less cash for indulging their al fresco fantasies, we turn to the opening weekend of the outdoor Brooklyn Flea Market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Saturday. From 10am to 5pm on the grounds of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, 200 or so vendors will pitch their tents and hock everything from vintage vinyl and handmade baubles to churros and organic everything. Read all about this weekend's deals and the fun for the rest of the summer at the Brooklyn Flea's website.

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