Shopping

The perfect end to a day-long city tour of Malacca is shopping and dinner at Jonker Street. With the setting sun, the street starts bustling with life. The square lights up filling the air with mouthwatering smells as hawkers start shouting to sell their wares. It goes from being a quiet street in the day to resembling a party at night. 

Things to do at Jonker Street

The night market at Jonker Street on the weekend proves to be the perfect setting for the locals and tourists to mingle. So, enough varieties in the food will help you eat like a local. Sample and nibble at the multiple hawker stalls and restaurants around.

The quirky presentation and aromatic smell of the food will make you want to taste everything that catches the eye. The entire street turns into a stage with live performances and music events set up. The setting seems magical and will truly make you feel like a local.

Among locals, Chicken rice balls, Satay Celup, Nyonya Laksa and Gula Melaka cendol stay on the top of the list.

Shop till you drop

On your walk along the street ensure to keep an eye out on the merchandise available for sale. You can buy anything and everything during the night market. The street is lined with antique shops, shops selling handicrafts, local art pieces, jewellery and a lot more. The night market offers a whole variety of street shopping so haggle for the best prices.

Opt for a local travel guide if the chaos and the bargaining overwhelm you. Connect with a local tour guide from Locaguide before planning a trip to Malacca. Make sure to take suggestions and tips from your guide while purchasing stuff on the Jonker street. An evening at Jonker Street takes you on a completely different note because of its infectious energy.

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Experience the local culture and get to haggle like an expert in the oldest street market in Jakarta — Pasar Baru. A pedestrian market, Pasar Baru must definitely feature in your places-to-visit list of central Jakarta. Get a glimpse of daily life and meanwhile also browse and eat to heart’s content at this one-stop marketplace.

History of Pesar Baru

Built in 1820, it remains one of the oldest pedestrian markets still functioning in Jakarta. Ironically, the name Pasar Baru means New Market. Often referred to as “Little India”, the market is filled to the brim with items you would end up bargaining for. Known for its massive selection of quality textile and fabric, this vibrant market will truly test your bargaining skills. If that’s not your forte then take help from your local travel guide to make purchases at a fair price. Antiques, art, footwear, spices and much more can be bought from the lanes of Pasar Baru lined with small stalls.

Take the help of your local guide to taste the soul of Jakarta’s culinary culture right at this market. Filled with hidden gems for a foodie, the market definitely classifies as food heaven for those who love exploring food. Meanwhile, the legendary noodle shops remain one of the best places to visit in Jakarta for anyone obsessed with food.

Not only a paradise for shopaholics and foodies but also for those who love to sightsee and enjoy religious history. The oldest temple in Jakarta, Sin Tek Bio temple constitutes a part of every Jakarta city tour. Located at the end of a narrow alley in Pasar Baru, the temple stands well-known for its candles lit for protection of individuals and families. Thus, the altars covered in candles placed in circles form a hidden gem of Pasar Baru.

We suggest you make up the craziest list of items you want to shop and taste beforehand. And therefore, set off to explore this buzzing market with a little help from a guide from Locaguide.

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Have you ever wanted to be in two places at once? Head to Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur and you will find yourself teleported to China! Popularly known as the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Street lies between Jalan Pudu and Jalan Sultan. It is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. Petaling Street maintains its traditional atmosphere — more so at night when vendors display their wares along the street bringing the entire area alive.

Petaling Street

At first glance, Petaling street is an explosion of colour and noise, a street thronged by locals and tourists. The stalls that cover the main street remain filled with merchandise and you can buy everything, ranging from clothes to women’s accessories or even decorative pieces and souvenirs. If you are a seasoned shopper and know how to spot the hidden gems among the huge volume of merchandise, you should make your way to the walkways on this street. You never know where you get the best deals and bargains!

Bargaining and haggling have almost become a norm here. Thus Petaling Street is the best place to put your skills to a test and get the best rates possible for your purchase. Meanwhile, if you aren’t a skilful bargainer or feel that you may get cheated, opt for a local guide. A local travel expert from Locaguide may help you get a good deal. Perhaps, bargaining is best left to the locals, don’t you think?

The food lovers pit stop

Once done with shopping, it’s time to enjoy some delicious local street food on Petaling street. With dozens of stalls and restaurants selling a variety of food, its definite to be spoilt for choices. The hawkers here offer many of the local favourite foods as well as traditional Chinese food; one of the many reasons why this street features in every list of places to explore in Kuala Lumpur.

The energy on the street feels infectious! Upon shopping and eating to your heart’s content, take a moment to just observe the chaos of the street as it unfolds itself for miles ahead in front of you.

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The moment you land in Bali, you’ll notice the rich cultural tradition of this fascinating destination. The influence of the traditional art is quite evident in everything you find here, The Sukawati Art Market is a must visit location. 

As any experienced tourist would tell you, if you wish to keep a souvenir of the distinctive Balinese art and culture, one of the best places you can check out is Sukawati Art Market or ‘Pasar Seni Sukawati’ as the locals would call it.

This sprawling traditional market, located in Jalan Raya, Gianyar, is well-known for its amazing artwork, sculptures, and hand-crafted items. Unlike many tourist shopping streets, everything in Sukawati Art Market is sold for a song!

What to expect

Sukawati Art Market is indeed a paradise for souvenir-collectors. The crowded market has everything, from handcrafted jewellery, bags, and accessories to wooden sculptures, traditional kites, framed paintings and ceremonial items at dirt-cheap prices. On the ground floors, you’ll mostly find colourful clothing stalls that sell all types of dresses and fabric. There is also an aromatherapeutic section towards the backside of the market, where you can buy aromatic candles, incenses, and fragrance oils.

The market at Sukawati is open on all days. You can find most stalls open even before the clock strikes 8 in the morning, and the pedlars awaiting their first visitors. The crowd would often start pouring in as early as 10 am. However, the best time to practice your bargaining skills would be in the late afternoon hours and evenings, until all the shops close at around 7 pm. Having said that, if bargaining is not your forte, having a trustworthy local guide with you in Bali will ensure that you’re not paying higher prices. A personalized guided tour with Locaguide will give you a unique experience of this traditional market.

So if you’re planning to visit Bali, don’t forget to pay a visit to this bustling local market where you’ll be looking at an entire collection of paintings, jewellery, handicrafts, and accessories made by the Balinese craftsmen. But even if you don’t end up purchasing anything, just a stroll through the market is bound to make your day come alive!2