Vintage Shopping in Melbourne, my favourite places
Melbourne is an absolute paradise if you enjoy exploring second-hand shops and discovering treasures like unique items of clothing, interesting jewellery, knickknacks or home wares. The city is a vintage shopping wonderland! Here’s my guide to the best places to go vintage shopping in Melbourne. There are lots of individual vintage shops in Melbourne but there are also a few bazaars, where several shop owners team together to provide lots of vintage wares in one place. Lost and Found Market 511 Lygon Street, East Brunswick Lost and Found Market offers several different vintage stores (I didn’t count precisely but there are probably around 30). The indoor market has a large…
Thailand’s favourite floating market
Floating markets offer visitors to Asia a fascinating and unique experience. The market activity is colourful and friendly and offers many unusual sights. Who knows you might even end up cuddling a snake? Damnoen Saduak is the most popular floating market in Thailand. It is an hour’s drive from Bangkok and it is worth going early in the morning to catch the best of the market, which is open daily until noon, and avoid the worst of the heat. It is possible to walk along the banks of the river and witness all the action from dry land, but some of the sellers, and their produce, will be out of…
Market day in Bonnieux
Shopping in Bali
The Bali shopping experience is a lot of fun, firstly there are oodles of treasures to be found and secondly there are no fixed prices. Combine this with the friendliness of the Balinese people and shopping becomes a joy! It is a wholly different experience from the average high street. Bargaining is the norm in Bali and the increased level of personal interaction it brings is great fun once you overcome any personal discomfort about offering shopkeepers less than they ask. Shopping in Bali Bali is a veritable treasure trove for those who are keen to buy silk, silver or crafts. Almost every market stall and apparel shop sold simple…
How to bargain
There are some countries in the world where bargaining over the price of an item is the norm. If you are not used to this do not worry about it and do not feel uncomfortable about it; it is all part of the local shopping experience. Here are a few tips to help you. Understanding pricing Shopkeepers and market-stall holders will tell you the price they would like you to pay. This is not normally what they expect to get for the item, but a slightly higher price, as they are expecting to bargain. With this same thinking in mind your initial price needs to be lower than you are…
Have a butchers at Londons markets
Whether you are looking for something specific or just keen to get in amongst the locals and soak up some of the atmosphere, London’s markets will not disappoint. There is always a market on somewhere in London and all sorts of treasures can be found. Keep your ears peeled for cockney rhyming slang too. The phrase ‘Have a butchers’ in my title means ‘have a look’ for example. London has many many markets.I have featured my favourites but there are lots more to explore. Camden Camden town has a thriving market scene. The largest market is by Camden Lock and it is possible to buy just about anything here. There…
