Night Market, Visiting One is Well Worth the Experience
February 22, 2010 - Posted in penang vacation
Night bazaars also called as night markets are very popular in many Chinese communities. These are markets are in fact street markets and are more inclined towards light walking, food and shopping. Night markets can be found in almost all Chinatowns. The main night markets can be found in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. One such night market that is located in Malaysia is in Pakroyal Penang.
Some night markets in general are either purpose built night markets, much of the bigger night markets are like this, although the smaller markets are put up on street ways or roads. Certain night markets maybe specialized towards particular foods but most of the night markets are generalized. These mixed night markets sells apparel, consumer goods, drinks and food. The food is called xiaochi in the Chinese language; this can mean snacks or fast food in English.
Almost all night markets are congested and crowded. Hawkers would shout trying to attract crowds, attention and possible customers. High speed, high tempo music is usually played in the night market via loudspeakers. The night markets usually open at around 6 pm and could be even working well beyond midnight. The earliest Chinese markets can be traced to have arrived at around 836 AD. This was during the Tang dynasty. At the time of the Song dynasty these markets had gone thought out all of China. Thought the modern version of the night markets are generally attributed to have started from Taiwan.
Of course Malaysia has wonderful night markets, with low priced goods. The Pakroyal Penang night market is a must visit if one is in the area. One should find for some Penang accommodation since most of the markets will be open till late in the night. A good place to stay would be a Penang hotel. Penang hotel accommodation apart from providing with accommodation will also provide the visitor with other amenities as well.
Naveen Marasinghe
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/night-market-visiting-one-is-well-worth-the-experience-747143.html
8 Responses to “Night Market, Visiting One is Well Worth the Experience”
Is Taipei, Taiwan worth a visit to have fun and really EXPERIENCE not just see places,buy and eat?
Well,I met a Taiwanese recently who suggested Taiwan as a place to visit for vacation.He said it’s good to shop, dine and have fun with the family.However, when I tried to gather information about famous tourist spots there, almost all were just things for "sight-seeing" and "shopping at night markets/ Taipei 101 etc.". I will bring my family when I go there that’s why I know that my kids would be bored visiting typical public parks. I assume they also won’t enjoy visiting historical places and musuems.
Are there places or theme parks that are made to attract tourists or none? Zoos/Parks that are A MUST-SEE or none? Theme parks that have shows, cable cars, animal shows, rides? Places similar to Disneyland or Ocean Park Hong Kong or Sentosa Singapore?
P.S. : Theme Parks in TAIPEI or near Taipei only that are really intended to attratct tourists. If there are none, please let me know because I want to avoid going/spending money & time to typical places.Thanks for HONEST answers!
Is the ‘MAOKONG GONDOLA’ open for use by visitors this May 2007 to go to Taipei Zoo? How can I possibly go here?
By blaze on Feb 22, 2010
Hi,
You did not mention the age of your kids.
Maokong Cable System should be open in June, It is still being tested.
You can get to the Zoo by MRT o the Mucha Line.
To really experience a place you have to talk to the locals. And here you will get a very refreshing experience on how people really should be all over the world.
Taiwan has some of the best theme parks in the world:
Top Taiwan Theme Parks:
http://www.justaiwan.com/amusemantpark/english/map.htm
CC Posted this:
I think the roller coasters you’re asking about are G5 at Janfusun Fancy World in Yunlin and Gravity Max at Yamay Discovery World in Taichung.
http://www.rcdb.com/id1357.htm
http://www.rcdb.com/id1417.htm
Other roller coasters in Taiwan:
http://www.rcdb.com/qs.htm?quicksearch=Taiwan
Janfusan:
http://www.janfusun.com.tw/
Yamay Theme Park open in Taichung- a couple of hours away by train-
Combines Mala World and Discovery Bay-Two Complete Theme Parks
http://www.yamay.com.tw/
Plenty of Trains or Coaches to Taichung all day
Nearer Taipei:
http://www.leofoo.com.tw/village/
Mucha Zoo:
http://english.taipei.gov.tw/zoo/index.jsp
Miniatures Musuem of Taiwan (small; can be done in 30~40 min.)
http://www.mmot.com.tw
The Taipei Children’s Recreation Center
http://www.discovery.taipei.gov.tw/
At the Night markets in Taipei and Taichung you dont’ just shop – you shop, eat then shop some more then eat some more.
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By Ajeet M on Feb 22, 2010
Ajeet M has pretty much covered it all, but here are 3 Must-sees from me aside from food which is the number one Must!
Must See – Taipei Zoo is awesome! One of my favorite zoos in the world.
There are six National Parks in Taiwan:
Must See – Taroko – east coast of Taiwan
The other two I like are:
Yamingshan – just north of Taipei
Kenting – southern tip of Taiwan
Must See – The National Palace Musuem in Taipei is also one of the finest in the world – best collection of 5000 years of Chinese cultural artifacts (used to be in Beijing’s Forbidden Palace until 1949)
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By cokewww on Feb 22, 2010
Where are you from? Honestly, I think that most western society kids would LOVE Taipei’s night markets. They’re better than zoos! Live, gigantic shrimps and eels swim in tanks at eye-level, clams in shallow bowls spit streams of salt water at you as you walk by, crabs of all different sizes and colors wrestle in buckets, snake salesmen play with snakes on tables, fruit stands make fresh juice and smoothies from mountains of fruit (some familiar, some very strange and alien-looking), street vendors sell everything on a stick, from delicious scrambled egg balls and fish balls and oyster balls to barbequed cuttlefish (so much more fun than corn dogs on a stick!), sandy ice vendors shave blocks of frozen water or milk into gigantic snowy mounds for you to decorate with a buffet of fresh fruit and gummy candy toppings (delicious and healthy), musicians play… it’s so much fun! It’s not like a walk in the park at all!
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By Ashlee on Feb 22, 2010
Ajeet basically told you many of the things for taipei.
A good place to bring kids is Yamay Discoveryworld if you care to make the 2-2.5 hour journey from Taipei down to west-central Taiwan. It also has a waterpark attached so you can beat the heat, called Malawan. Its pretty good, but gets insane on weekends during the summer.
BaiShaWan waterpark is worth looking at, but some of the slides were a little worn looking when I went. It is fun, still. But I haven’t been in 2 years so I cant say much. It also gets insane on weekends.
I highly recommend Taipei City Zoo. It is world class.
Don’t turn up your nose at the night markets! Cool stuff you wont see back in the west are there and not all of them are horrifying and politically incorrect! (-of course the best ones all are!)
You can pass on the monument type stuff ‘CKS Memorial’ or ‘democracy hall’ or whatever the tomb is called now. Most people ignore all that political crap anyways. Probably there will be construction and/or pointless protests about one thing or another around there anyways by the time summer comes.
The Palace Museum is a must see. even most kids will like it for a short period of time, try to keep it to 1.5 to 2 hours and you will amazing things there from Ancient China. All that stuff was saved from the Communist ‘cultural revolution’ (the sacking, burning, robbery, rape and destruction in the late 60′s and 70′s in China by the current government there.) You can appreciate what the ancient culture must have been like before the thugs got their hooks in it. (only referring to their government- the people in China are beautiful and deserve better)
Ilan (about 1-1.5 hours east of Taipei) has a beautiful cultural center worth seeing that has good things for all ages to see and do. Check it out!
http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/en/01.htm
Hualien does have an expensive ocean park/aquarium thing, but I have yet to go. It is designed for tourists. Having no kids, I didnt have much of an interest in going to it, (a bit expensive), I just went to the beaches along the east coast, which are beautiful, by the way.
Just drive along, if you spot a beach that looks good stop at it and swim/build sandcastles. You will want to bring sun protection.
If you can get down the east coast definitely see Taroko Gorge. (tai-ru-ga) Amazing scenery and good hikes for all ages and levels. You can stay in Hualien city for that.
LOTS of places to see and experience. It can take years to see and do it all.
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By matt_of_asia on Feb 22, 2010
Yes , Taiwan Has Many Places That you can Spend the entire day in just One of the places ,
Try to visit Kenting national Park, also Go to Taitung,
Go to The Islands Off Shore , They are very Nice , One of them That i went was Pong-hu .
Taiwan is for Tourist More than any other things, I am so Sure that you Will Go again and again.
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I lived there Almost 5 years .
By S M on Feb 22, 2010
You can go to-
SUN MOON LAKE-a few hours away from taipei, largest lake in Taiwan you can rowboat and go on tours and it is not very touristy, either.
KENTING-at southernmost tip-a beach-beautiful clear water and the sight of mountains reaching oceans is breathtaking.
In TAICHUNG there is an aboriginal theme park with rides and performances from the natives who live there.
I hope you enjoy it!
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By prettyblackcantakeitback on Feb 22, 2010
Nobody mentioned Mt. Ali-Shan!!
This is a must-see.
Take the train. It is one of the world’s most scenic train rides. Start in Chaiyi, and you are at the top in about 3 hours.
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/gunzelgallery/taiwan_.htm
Your kids would love it.
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By allforasia on Feb 22, 2010