5 must-visit bazaars and markets in Bali

Bali is full of colorful markets. Whether it is textiles, art, jewelry or even food, there are several scattered across the island that will suit all budgets. Shop for art at Sukawati Art Market, Ubud Art Market, and Pasaran Art Market at Hubud.  Snap up finds at Samadi Sunday's Farmers Market, Love Anchor Weekend Bazaar, and Old Man's Market in Canggu.

Love Anchor Weekend Bazaar – Canggu

The most popular market in town and one of the most hipster markets in Bali. Here they sell everything from clothing to souvenirs and heaps of beautiful jewellery. It is undoubtedly the perfect set up with music playing and happy faces. A real good vibe.

Address: No.56 Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung, Bali
Market opening hours: 9a.m to 9p.m (daily)

Samadi Sunday Farmer’s Market – Canggu

This is it, you have been transported to Bangkok – the capital city of trendy night market shopping. Whether you are a self-proclaimed foodie, a fashionista or a beauty treatments’ obsessed, the market at Mercure Resort in Sanur is bound to keep you busy on Sundays.

The Sunday market has lots to offer, the large, grassy expanse, food stalls and groovy ambience at the resort make it a popular place to snare unique items. Stylish fashion, handmade crafts, jewellery, fresh produce and lush homewares are scattered around stalls on the well-manicured lawn.

Address: No.39 Jalan Padang Linjong, Echo Beach Canggu Bali
Market operating hours: Every Sunday 9a.m to 2p.m

Old Man’s Market - Batu Bolong, Canggu

On one Saturday of each month, one of Canggu’s most favorite place at Batu Bolong beach, transforms into a market. Whatever you fancy, you’ll find it at the Old Man’s Market. We absolutely love the Kevala Ceramics stall, Bali’s original fine-pottery studio that collaborates with Australian designers and sell-off samples and leftovers. You will not manage to go past without buying something out of their colorful collections.

Address: Jalan Batu Bolong, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Market opening hours: Weekends, 8a.m to 3p.m

Pasar - Pasaran Art Market at Hubud – Ubud

This is a “stray” event that is really going places. Organized by local Balinese artists, this market is the free spirit of Yogyakarta (the artistic capital of Indonesia) that reins in Bali. Crafts and more crafts, all beautifully displayed by the creators themselves who are always open to a friendly talk. Paradise for the kids, as there is so much to do.

Address: No.1 Jl. Kayu Cendana, Seminyak, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Market operating hours: Twice per year

Ubud Art Market – Ubud

A holiday in Bali always calls for some shopping for souvenirs or memorabilia of the trip, and the best place to make the search would be the Ubud Art Market. The Ubud market offers not only exemplary Balinese items, but also rather a universal and international assortment, catering to visitors of all tastes. The items found here also tend to be of a higher artistic value compared to other art markets such as Kuta.

Address: No.35 Jl. Raya Ubud, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
Market operating hours: 6 a.m to 18 p.m

Read more: 10 must-try activities in Bali

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Visit 4 best colonial architectures in Hanoi

Architecturally, the French left their mark throughout Vietnam, and Hanoi is the city that still preserves it the most in this country.

1. National Museum of Vietnamese History

Built between 1925 and 1932, this architecturally impressive museum was formerly home to the École Française d’Extrême-Orient. Its architect, Ernest Hebrard, was among the first in Vietnam to incorporate a blend of Chinese and French design elements. Exhibit highlights include bronzes from the Dong Son culture (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD), Hindu statuary from the Khmer and Champa kingdoms, jewellery from imperial Vietnam, and displays relating to the French occupation and the Communist Party.

2. Hoa Lo Prison Museum

This thought-provoking site is all that remains of the former Hoa Lo Prison, ironically nicknamed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by US prisoners of war (POWs) during the American War. Most exhibits relate to the prison’s use up to the mid-1950s, focusing on the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France. A gruesome relic is the ominous French guillotine, used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries. There are also displays focusing on the American pilots who were incarcerated at Hoa Lo during the American War.

3. Hanoi Opera House

This glorious neoclassical centrepiece of Hanoi's French Quarter is unmissable with its Gothic pillars and domes. The French-colonial 900-seat venue was built in 1911. On 16 August 1945 the Viet Minh–run Citizens’ Committee announced that it had taken over the city from a balcony on this building. For some drama today, book ahead for a performance here, even if just to experience the grand interior. Most weekends you’ll see Hanoi wedding couples getting photographed on the elegant front steps.

4. La Badiane

This stylish bistro is set in a restored, whitewashed French villa arrayed around a breezy central courtyard. French cuisine underpins the menu – La Badiane translates as ‘star anise’ – but Asian and Mediterranean flavours also feature. Menu highlights include sea-bass tagliatelle with smoked paprika, and prawn bisque with wasabi tomato bruschetta. Three-course lunches (385,000d) are excellent value, and there's an evening degustation (1,490,000d).

See more: Take a trip to Hanoi

Source: lonelyplanet

Regional dishes you need to try in Japan

Japan has a wonderful unique cuisine. Different regions have their own traditions of agriculture, produce and recipes. So in addition to the traditional Japanese dishes found throughout the country, many regions and cities in Japan have their own specialties.

Yubari Melon (Hokkaido)

Known also as “Yubari King”. Yubari melons are grown only in a small town called Yubari city. The sweetest melon you can ever taste. Some Japanese people present Yubari King melons as gifts during the holiday called chugen. It becomes the must-have dessert in Hokkaido.

Takoyaki (Osaka)

Takoyaki is the main street food associated with Osaka. This tasty treat is a fried round mixture of batter, octopus, ginger, and usually some vegetables and spices. The best place to sample takoyaki is at one of the food stalls along the Dotonbori, but this dish can be found all over the city. Many locals even have special takoyaki-making grills at home.

Goya Champuru (Okinawa)

Goya (bitter melon) came to Okinawa from Southeast Asia and quickly became one of the region's most favored vegetables.Champuru means "stir-fry" in the Okinawan language. This dish is a stir-fry of goya, pork, tofu and eggs. It is prepared by stir-frying various ingredients.

Monja-yaki (Tokyo)

Originally a children’s treat, monjayaki is now established as a specialty of the Tsukishima area of Tokyo (near Ginza). It’s a “cook it yourself” dish with ingredients such as dried squid, sweetcorn and cabbage are cooked on the hotplate. Then a runny batter is poured into a hollow in the middle. It is all scraped around with a small spatula and eaten off the spatula as it is cooked.

Chagayu (Nara)

Chagayu is a traditional breakfast food from Nara that’s made by boiling rice in roasted green tea with salt until it becomes a soupy porridge. The dish was originally enjoyed by monks at Nara’s Todai-ji temple as part of the Omizutori festival, but eventually became a common food enjoyed by locals throughout the region. Chagayu can be eaten hot or cold, and the roasted aroma of the green tea gives this wholesome dish a complex, but highly satisfying flavor.

Yudofu (Kyoto)

Popular with Japanese Buddhist, a yudofu is a simple yet delicious hot pot. Minimal ingredients used in this dish as a typical Yudofu only contains tofu cubes and vegetables in hot water. However, as with many recipes, there are options with various meats and more ingredients. Kombu also is known as edible seaweed can be added for extra flavor. The Yudofu is a winter favorite amongst the Japanese monks and can be as simple or as complex as you fancy.

See more: Japanese healthy dishes for cold weather

Source Internet