Oceania

[Visited: November 2012]

After travelling on atolls and islands with very little in the way of fresh fruits and vegetables, I was happy to find the market of Gizo shortly after my arrival in the Solomons. Just walking around the waterfront where the market is located whetted my appetite, and it did not take long before I bought my first fruit which turned out to be delicious. The marketplace is stretched out along the waterfront, which is very convenient for all concerned. I saw people paddling their dugout canoe, push it ashore, and take their wares with them; others left the market with bags full of fresh produce, paddling home from Gizo.
In fact, the market is probably one of the main reasons Gizo is an important hub in the region. It is on every day, and people come from far away to sell their vegetables, fruit, fish, or other things. It assures a wide variety of produce not necessarily available on the island itself; in fact, when I saw other markets in the Western Province, the supply was noticeably less. Apart from being a great source of delicious fresh fruits (I especially loved the pineapple which seemed as sweet as could be), just walking around the market was a joy in itself, both for seeing people buying and selling, but also for the presentation.
Often, big (banana) leaves are put on the ground, on which piles of peanuts, vegetables, or fruit are made; with a marker pen, the price of each item is then written on the leaf, or on a small carton. The rich colours of the eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and so many other things, contrasting with the bright green leaves, ensured a pleasing scene to which I came back over and over again. Other produce is, however, pre-packed in leaves, or in hand-made palm-tree baskets. With the usage of so many natural materials, it was a deception when I got a plastic bag to take the fruits I had just bought. I should learn how to make my own palm-tree shopping bag next time I go shopping at the market of Gizo.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Gizo market (Solomon Islands). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Gizo market.
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Gizo market > Solomon Islands > Oceania

[Visited: November 2012]

Around the World in 80 Clicks