It’s easy to fall into life’s mundane routine. You wake up. You eat breakfast. You go to work. You come home. And you fall asleep.
Day in and day out, without you even realising it, life begins to slip by you as you fail to experience the beauty that you’re surrounded with. To give ourselves a break, most of us decide to take a trip. Whether that’s travelling overseas, or taking a domestic flight to another city, a good holiday is the perfect way to unwind and get yourself out of a rut.
But even then, many people choose to simply explore the “tourist” spots of a foreign city, which is fine, but there’s one particular thing you should do every single time you visit a new place.
Head to the local market.
It may sound bizarre, but a local market is the best way to receive a truly authentic experience. With cabbages flying past your head, and hundreds of people crammed in one tiny quarter, it may not seem like the most desirable activity.
But not only will you be discovering a hidden gem of the city you’re in, you can often purchase items for a much cheaper cost than if you were to go to a big shopping centre.
The best way to visit a market is to go early and to go hungry. No one serves food like a local market, and this way you will be able to try out the cuisine of the place you’re visiting. Give yourself some time to take it all in. No photos, no rush to get to one place from the other. Just a simple moment of relaxation as you absorb your surroundings.
So, whether you’re heading to Singapore’s Tekka wet market or Florence’s Mercato Centrale, you can rest assured that you will be in the company of artisans who respect food and the story behind it.
Do you have any must-see destinations on your list? Let us know in the comments below.