Make My Trip Advisor

Executive summary by Darmansjah Godjali

For me a trip to the traditional markets, especially markets in a region or state, is tantamount to studying the culture of the area. The market here is of course the traditional market, not the modern market or mall. Already a hobby, if you travel to an area, always looking for a cheap shopping, lively and full. In addition to buy daily necessities, also to see the buying and selling process as well as interact with local communities.

While service in Waingapu, Sumba, the year 2000, I visited one of the traditional market to buy vegetables there. In that market, not many sellers (or maybe I'm late coming huh?), not much choice of vegetables that I get. Cayenne pepper and lemon juice is not sold kilogram, but placed in small plastic dishes. The price per plate sold. Options are not a lot of vegetables, carrots are sold fresh look less and less rooted. When I asked the seller, it turns out carrots imported purchased from Bima meant uh, NTT .. wow, well, too. No wonder, the price of vegetables is quite expensive. Every day the menu that I got at the dinner table Mr. Rector (I live in the home office Mr. Rector) is always fish. It's easier to get fresh fish there than fresh vegetables.


When I lived in Bangkok, my hobby is also exploring the market to market. Both markets Soi Sip (aisle 10) Petchburi who became my subscription to the Danerm Saduak floating market.

Here, I was browsing hobby from market to market. Shop for fresh vegetables and fruits are delicious and cheap, to search for fresh fish is quite difficult to obtain.

Precisely in the market I can see a variety of activities and pulse of life in a region. How honesty and genuine hospitality of local residents. Here, in a country where I live now, I feel how honest traders make buying and selling. There was no deception in terms of scale and always try to give my change in an honest (not replaced with a cheap candy like at the supermarket Indonesia).

By shopping at traditional markets, in fact we actually help the economy down to the middle class. In the market, I often met the farmers who come directly from remote villages to sell their crops such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, fresh onions and potatoes even still covered the ground, which of course the price is much cheaper than at the mall. Many old ladies and old grandfatherly speculate here, come to sell fruits and vegetables. By buying their fruit and vegetables, of course, we will help them earn a living.


While visiting Istanbul, last year, there are 2 old market that had I visited, the Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) and the Grand Bazaar (Kapalli Carsi).

Spice Bazaar has existed since the Byzantine era. The vendors who sell there in the beginning came from Geneva and Venice. This place is also used by traders from Egypt to sell herbs and spices. So that was once known as the 'Egyptian Bazaar' (Misir Carsisi). This market is located behind the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) in Eminonu district, on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. This market is complete reconstructed in 1660 with a total of 80 shop units. But there are now hundreds of merchants and shops hawking wares. Once entering this market, it's delicious fragrant smell of herbs and spices that color is striking, colorful spoil the eye. Besides herbs and spices, we also get a variety of typical Turkish sweets, assorted cheeses, dried fruits, a wide variety of jam to perfume sold here.



the Grand Bazaar Wider than Spice Bazaar. Formerly the Grand Bazaar or Kapali Carsi not as grand and vast now. After experiencing an earthquake 12 times and 9 times the fire, the market is restored back in 1894, after a great earthquake. In 1954 a revision back after a major fire. Currently, the Grand Bazaar or Covered Bazaar is also called (market closed, because it no longer has a sky of clouds, but has been given a roof) the extent of 30 hectares. Approximately there are 3500 stores and 15,000 traders in the market which consists of 80 alleys. It took 2 full days to be able to surround this market, if you're strong legs .. hehe ..

I was so vast, gateway entrance there were 18, but there are 2 most important and most interesting, namely Nuruosmaniye Gate, where the top gate is a symbol of the form of books, weapons and flags as well as written above Bayezid Gate 'God loves tradesmen' in the Arabic alphabet . Inside there are 7 Kapali Carsi this fountain (which is very comfortable for seating, hang around looking at the water fountain while drinking Turkish coffee), 1 well, 1  mosques and 12 small (like praying). In this market sell all kinds of things that exist in Turkey, ranging from herbs, spices, typical Turkish sweets, jams, Turkish coffee, cheese, small pastries (baklava), assorted nuts, perfume, shirts, bags and jackets leather, scarves, shawls, pashmina, until the tiny trinkets and key chains, by-the typical cheap Turkey.


Various small trinkets and key chains typical Turkish
Hmmmm ....be related tomorrow holiday commemorating the Revolution Day, delicious trip to the market again ah .. Who want to come? ^ - ~
Sincerely,