ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET

If you are a visitor to Adelaide, the Central Market is one of those must-see venues in the city.

If you live or work in the city, it is part of the scene, but for those of us who live the suburbs, it takes some effort to get there.

Last week I had to cook a Cambodian dinner for a themed evening we had. What a perfect reason for me to do my shopping at the Market.

My Fish Amok dish needed fresh white fish,

and other spicy ingredients.

My table needed fresh flowers.

Korean dishes don't need cheese, but that didn't stop me...

Then I needed a coffee break,

and my shopping assistant needed an ice cream break,

while also supporting the local music scene.

We decided to come back more often. 

It's good for the senses.

Adelaide in Pictures 3: Junktion

In my pursuit of a place to join the Knitting in Public Week, I came upon this little gem of a shop in Marion.

Junktion is more than a shop though, it's a place where people meet, drink coffee, shop, share with the community and make friends.

The proprietor is a lovely woman called Pixi, who welcomed me into her shop like an old friend.

She describes Junktion as a Non profit Recycle store, but it feels more like a treasure trove filled with lots of clothes, household items, some furniture, books, lots of hand made stuff and... food.

The shop is delightfully decorated with all sorts of knitted and crocheted things to celebrate not only KIP-week but also International Yarnbombing Day which just happened to be this past week.

I went there to knit, but we talked so much, that between all the chatting and browsing, I didn't do any knitting!

I will have to go back for that...

So, if you are looking for a bargain, or a coffee, or a nice chat, or a piece of cake,

Junktion is the place to go.

Visit her Facebook page here.

Layer Cakes and Jelly Rolls

My favourite shop in Dubai is Craft Land.  It is a dedicated to all things needlecraft, has wonderful fabrics, yarns, books, etc - and great staff.

There is only one problem:  I can never leave empty handed.

They always have things I absolutely have to buy - like these layer cakes and jelly rolls.

They are irresistable...

So much for my resolve not to buy anything new before I worked away all the old stuff...

More Souks

Two years ago I met Mignon at the Decorex Show in Johannesburg.  She is visiting Dubai at the moment with 3 friends and I showed them around the old part of town this morning.

The nice thing about having visitors is that I get to visit those parts of Dubai which isn't part of my everyday life, like the souks.

I know part of it is a tourist trap, but the most part is really interesting, colourful and good fun.

Look at these silk scarves.  Above as they are packaged, all twisted up in little plaits, and below unwrapped and gorgeous.

An embroidered umbrella,

a few ottomans,

some colourful shirts,

and awesome fabrics.

A quiet corner.

Bags of liquorice (on the right) and some other unknown woody spice (on the left) from Pakistan

According to our very helpful shop assistant these pods contain seeds which, when consumed after being soaked in water for 20 minutes, will give your man a "strong machine", 

And if that fails, you can always try these packages.  'One for Papa and one for Mama'.

Or you can just settle for a cup of beautifully packaged tea...

Look what I bought today

I have just installed it, and still have to educate myself, but I can't wait.

Only good things can follow..

Haberdashery Souk 3

A few of the items I acquired at the Haberdasher Souk yesterday...

Do I need any of this?  Of course I do!  Silly question.

Haberdashery Souk 2

Let me show you what the shops at the haberdashery souk look like on the inside:

This one only sells trimming.  Floor to ceiling.  Trimmings.

This one looks like nothing at all from the outside.  We almost didn't even go in.  But wow!  what a treasure trove.  This is the ground floor space as seen from the door.

The stairs going into the basement.  It is lined with beads.

The stairs going to the first floor. More beautiful things.

A few of the shops as seen from the street. No hint of what is going on inside.

Another shop front.

The button wall.  Part of it.

Sample sheets of what is hidden in all the boxes.  It is impossible to display everything, although some shop keepers surely try.

The floor of one of the shops.  It is made up of display boxes covered by plexiglass.   It is too wonderful!

Just in case you feel you have to go there immediately, I marked it on the map for you. Print it out and take it with you.  If you are unfamiliar with Dubai, start from the Gold Souk, (all taxi drivers know where that is) and just walk the two blocks down the street to the area marked on the map. The intersection  marked with the arrow is c/o 107 Al Sabkha Road and Sikkat Al Khail Road.  Start there and just browse the whole area.

Happy shopping!