Haadyai, Thailand

Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่), also Haad Yai or Had Yai) is a city in southern Thailand near the boundary to Malaysia. It has a population of 157,359 (2008) in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in Southern, and third largest metropolitan area of the country. It is often mistaken as being the capital of the province, but Songkhla is the capital and the center of administration and culture, while Hat Yai is the business center. The two cities are considered as twin cities due to their close connection, and accordingly, Hat Yai and Songkhla form the Greater Hatyai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area. The name "Hat Yai" is a short version of "Mahat Yai", meaning big mahat (มะหาด) tree, a relative of jackfruits in genus Artocarpus

Filipino Market, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Filipino Market, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah are mostly run by Filipino immigrants. A variety of Filipino and local handicrafts are sold in the hundreds of cramped stalls, along winding alleyways which are strung by low-slung curtains of shells, baskets and bags. You can find a diverse range of products available at the Filipino Market - from traditional foods to medicine and toiletries. Even if you're not looking for anything in particular, a trip to the market can offer a great cultural experience and an enjoyable excursion when visiting this area. The Filipino Market is a good place to buy cultured pearls and has everything from fake gemstones to camagong-wood salad bowls, fibre shirts and traditional Indonesian medicines. Just outside the stalls all along the kerb of the road there are makeshift sheds where Filipino tailors station themselves and their sewing machines. They provide very cheap stitching services to those who need their jeans altered or patched, bags or clothing mended.

Pasar Petisah, Medan, Indonesia

Pasar Petisah merupakan salah satu pasar tradisional yang cukup terkenal di Kota Medan. Pasar yang seusia Kota Medan ini selalu ramai dikunjungi oleh para pembeli, termasuk oleh para pelancong yang datang dari luar Kota Medan. Para pelancong tersebut biasanya membeli oleh-oleh untuk dibawa pulang. Di pasar yang bertingkat dua ini, para pengunjung dapat menemukan berbagai macam dagangan, mulai dari sayur-mayur, ikan asin, sampai busana dan perlengkapan elektronik. Barang-barang elektronik, pakaian jadi, dan furniture berada di lantai atas, sedangkan para penjual sayur dan buah-buahan berada di lantai bawah. Di pasar ini juga banyak yang menjual hasil kerajinan tangan khas Sumatra Utara seperti patung kayu, gelang, kalung, tas anyaman, cincin, dan tikar anyaman. Untuk kerajinan bordir dan kebaya menempati lokasi di lantai satu dan beberapa berada di luar pasar dekat tempat parkir, sehingga cukup mudah dijangkau. Para pengunjung yang ingin membeli kebaya, dapat langsung memilih beraneka model dan warna yang banyak tersedia. Dan jika ingin membuat kebaya yang didesain sendiri, di lokasi ini juga tersedia para penjahit yang siap membuatkan kebaya yang sesuai dengan keinginan pembeli. Di samping itu, di pasar ini juga dijual berbagai manisan buah tanpa bahan pengawet, seperti manisan buah mangga, kedondong, salak, rambutan, dan jambu biji, sehingga merupakan tempat yang ideal bagi penikmat manisan. Hal yang menarik adalah di sekitar botol-botol manisan, banyak dihinggapi lebah madu, sebagai penanda manisnya buah manisan.

Pasar Ikan Lama, Medan, Indonesia

Pasar Ikan Lama, Medan (Traditional Market) selling anything under the sun; especially fabrics, telekungs, toys, shirts, pants, handbags, belts, shoes, laces, curtains, carpets, dolls, cushions, baskets, souvenirs, food, drinks, wedding materials, etc ... but must bargain till you are out of breath!