Travel: Is QV Market really world class?
By Francis Nicholls-Wunder • Apr 13th, 2009 • Section: Melbourne Talks
The busy aisles of the famous local market in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.
Everyone loves a bargain, especially when you are travelling. Modern cities are built around fashion districts, supermarkets, specialty stores and groups of market stalls. And when it comes to open air markets Melbourne has one of the best – the Queen Victoria Market. From the half-price, fresh off the bone meat to the vibrant and cheap as chips vegetables, it is hard to pass up a regular trip to the market if you want to save on your weekly shopping bills. This is not to mention the great cheap snacks and gourmet goodies you can get for very reasonable prices in the deli and food court sections. And the market is right on the edge of the CBD! You can’t do much better than that can you?!
Well actually yes you can – markets are universal and there are a few things that even Melbourne is lacking when it comes to markets and supermarkets:
The likes of LIDL:
LIDL is just one of multiple discount supermarkets that can be found in almost every country in Europe. The majority of Australia is still stuck with the exorbitant prices posed by the dominant chain stores. Now it may not be the best quality goods you get from these discount variety supermarkets but hey, who says no to a one dollar frozen pizza? Especially if you can wash it down with a nice two litre bottle of miscellaneous German beer for another buck?
Night Markets:
For a few months QV Market does offer some night market, often complete with bands! But this is nothing like markets you can find in the likes of Luang Prabang in Laos. Here the markets barely begin until the sun goes down. The streets become warmly lit by the soft glow of humble light globes hanging from the coverings of every stall. The local wares take on a magic luminosity as the modest people of Laos smile from the corners.
Topped by Turkey:
Greater Istanbul has a population of over fifteen million and the Grand Bazaar in its centre certainly lives up to its name. How can Melbourne compete with such a huge population pedalling goods left right and centre? The Grand Bazaar, along with its smaller and even more bizarre little brother, the Spice Bazaar, seems never to end. Even when, after walking for what seems like hours, you reach the other end of the enclosed and ancient maze that holds the bazaars themselves, the streets are crammed full with more outdoor stalls selling everything from Turkish delights to “Levi” jeans – for less than ten dollars Australian. It’s one thing to have a market, it’s quite another to have a market district.
The tailors back in ‘Nam:
Why waste your time sorting through the cheapo goods at a market when you can have your clothes made out of the material you want, the way you want and just to fit you. Because it’s too expensive right?! Wrong. Try some tailors from our friendly Asian neighbours in towns like Hoi An, Vietnam. Here you can get a full suit made out of wool or cashmere, complete with a shirt in the colour of your choosing and a nice matching tie for well under $100 Australian…depending on how good your haggling skills are. They will even send it back to your home town if you ask nicely enough!
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Shopping is international, and whether it is for food, clothes or another set of candles for your Mum’s next birthday different cultures and nations do it completely differently. Even if you aren’t planning on making a purchase it is an amazing experience just to stroll through the malls, markets and shopping strips of any foreign city. All this being said, and speaking completely honestly, after travelling to more than one hundred cities around the world I still think that the goods and especially food available in Melbourne is one of the widest and most accessible varieties I have ever seen. God Save the Queen…Victoria Market.
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No euro-style discount supermarket?
Ever hear of Aldi?
They’ve been in Melbourne for years now.
In fact the first German owned Aldi stores opened in Victoria for about five years ago but a lot of the aggressive expansion ahs been concentrated in the last twelve months. Now Costco is planning to open a store in Melbourne as well. Even still whilst living in the very centre of Melbourne 15 months ago there was no easy access to any discount supermarkets, but perhaps the rapid growth and popularity that Aldi is now enjoying is a perfect example of the need for these cheaper alternatives to be more readily available in Australia.
Yeah, I reckon the Vic market should be open perhaps a couple of nights a week until 10 pm or thereabouts. It would add a wonderful atmosphere to the city’s nightlife that is not focussed on the drinking scene.
Actually for certain parts of the year there is a night market. there are bands and a lot of fast food along with some of the clothing sections of the market being open. it usually happens on a Wednesday…maybe a Monday too but I can’t quite remember. Though there is not much of the fruit and vegetable and deli part open i dont think.