Market Market: The Art of Shopping

Visiting any market in Asia is both an experience and an education.  An experience because you are confronted with an array of exotic goods and foods that over-stimulate the mind, the body and the purse.  An education because you learn so much about the commerce, culture and psychology of other countries. It is also refreshing--you don't get to haggle at Macy's!

Flower Market in Kuala Lumpur

Visiting any market in Asia is both an experience and an education.  An experience because you are confronted with an array of exotic goods and foods that over-stimulate the mind, the body and the purse.  An education because you learn so much about the commerce, culture and psychology of other countries. It is also refreshing--you don't get to haggle at Macy’s!


We visited markets in Singapore, Thailand, Burma and Malaysia.  We did not get off the ship at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands (India) and never found out whether the exotic spice market (so prominently featured in Holland America's shore excursion literature) actually existed.

Here are some photos that cannot really do justice to the colors, sights, sounds and fragrances of the various markets we explored.

Rice and cassava in Rangoon

Food Opera in Singapore

Fruit and vegetables in Chinatown, KL

Gluttons Bay Food Market, Singapore

Puppets in Rangoon

Ducks in Chinatown, KL

Art Market in Rangoon

Prada market in Singapore

Durian in Rangoon