Suzuki Night Market

The Suzuki Night Market is what I'd call a mini-Summer fest. of sorts, as it takes place during the summer period in Australia, which is from the end of November to the end of February. This event, held in Melbourne's famous Queen Victoria Market, has being attracting thousands of people, both local and foreigners, over the past 10 years.

~ Assault of the Senses ~


The first sight that met our eyes was the crowd. Never had I seen so many people in one small area since my not too long ago experience of Shibuya Station, Tokyo at rush hour. At the entrace, people are milling around, sitting on white plastic chairs and tables that have been specially set up for the night market. Many of them are sitting and waiting for their friends and family to come and join them, while the listening to the strains of a street band and drinking to distract themselves from the dry summer heat.

Inside the night market, the air is stuffier and smoky from the twenty or so food stalls that offer a tempting array of international treats. Fried Chinese noodles in boxes, German sausages, Italian pasta with a generous amounts of seafood, Greek pitas wraps, Australian meats (kangaroo or emu anyone?); it seems like the whole world was represented in this little market. There was even a African themed stall with offerings like zebra and ostrich meat.

Eventually, we manage to find a seat and I set out on my quest through the long snaking lines in search of food. I settle on a basic but delicious dish of Risotto Porcini (a type of mushroom), and a glass of cool hand-made lemonade to quench my thirst. Dessert came in the form of cute honey dumplings with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, drizzled with honey syrup. Yum!





After dinner, we go to walk around the other part of the market, a collection small but interesting stalls selling an assortment of things from scarves to jewellery, designer fish tanks, tribal handicrafts and even eco-friendly clothes.


(witches fly on their brooms overhead, as if guarding the sparkling gems in this trinket store)

We end the our little night adventure by watching some happy crowd members trying to salsa to the music from a band playing what sounds like latin music.
(Although, calling it a night market is a little strange, as at 8.30 pm, the sun is still gleaming at us from his place in the cloudless sky).



(once again, food, music and dance transcends cultures and generations, bringing everyone together)


For more Information on The Suzuki Night Market, you can visit:

http://www.qvm.com.au/night_market.php