Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

322 Coventry Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Sat, Sun, Wed: 8.00am - 4.00pm Fri: 8.00am - 5.00pm Let's take a look at another well-loved market in Melbourne that's older than  Queen Victoria Market . Established in 1867, South Melbourne Market covers an area of approximately 4 hectares. Did you know that the market has banned the sale and use of caged eggs in its food stalls since 2014?

131 King Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Tue, Thu, Fri: 6.00am - 3.00pm Sat: 6.00am - 4.00pm Sun: 9.00am - 4.00pm Affectionately known as Vic Market by locals, Queen Victoria Market has been a central part of daily life in Melbourne since it officially opened in 1878. Spanning several city blocks with an area of approximately 7 hectares, it stands as the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.

Cundinamarca, Colombia As a quick recap, in  Part 1 , I immersed myself in the beauty of Guatavita Lake outside of Bogota, Colombia. After a delightful lunch, the full-day tour continued to the awe-inspiring depths of Zipaquira Salt Cathedral. Completed in 1950, this remarkable structure is hailed as one of the most notable achievements in Colombian architecture. 

Bogota, Colombia Monserrate is a mountain that rises above 3,000 m, overlooking the city centre of Bogota. Considered sacred since pre-Columbian times when it was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca people, the mountain is a pilgrimage site with a church perched at its summit. Beyond its spiritual significance, it's also an iconic tourist attraction.

18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Daily: 6.30pm - 11.00pm I hope everyone has been having a great Christmas season! Known to be the biggest yuletide event in Singapore, Christmas Wonderland is back to illuminate the Supertree Grove area of Gardens by the Bay from 3 December 2021 to 2 January 2022. Visitors can enjoy light displays, have fun with carnival games and shop for gifts at the Christmas market.

9-1 Mihama, Chatan, Okinawa, Japan It's no surprise that there are still numerous American military bases in Okinawa if one thinks about the history surrounding the prefecture. One of the most notable military facilities that's been redeveloped as a commercial area is Mihama American Village. The entertainment complex first opened its doors to the public in 1998.

Changi Airport, Singapore Daily: 24 hours Jewel Changi Airport is a nature-themed shopping and entertainment complex within the premise of the world's beloved airport in Singapore. Officially opened on 18 October 2019, it covers a total gross floor area of 135,700 square metres. While it's not a new attraction to Singapore residents, I'm pretty much dedicating this post to our overseas friends who've yet to visit Jewel or simply miss the sight of it given the current travel restrictions.

Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan We all know that Tokyo isn't the place to seek the old charm of yesteryear, but have you been to Shibamata? The old-fashioned neighbourhood that's situated near Edo River, the natural border between the metropolis and Chiba Prefecture, has stood the test of time, offering a respite from the fast-paced city life.

2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan [Temple Grounds] Daily: 24 hours [Main Hall] Daily: 6.00am - 5.00pm Senso-ji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, is Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. The construction of the temple was completed in 645. It's dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Formely associated with Tendai Buddhism, it became independent after World War II.

6-6-1 Toyosu, Koto, Tokyo, Japan Mon-Sat: 5.00am - 5.00pm Toyosu Market is a wholesale market built on reclaimed land at Tokyo Bay. It comprises an auction seafood market, a general wholesale seafood market and a market selling fruits and vegetables, each housed in a separate building. First opened to the public in the last quarter of 2018, it has replaced the historic Tsukiji Market as the largest seafood market in the world.

2-11-2 Nihonbashi, 5/F Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan [Pokémon Center] Daily: 10.30am - 9.00pm [Pokémon Café] Daily: 10.30am - 10.00pm First opened to the public in March 2018, Pokémon Center Tokyo DX is the largest shop selling Pokémon-related merchandise not only in Japan, but also across the globe at the point of writing. Measuring about 1,300 square metres, it also also features the world's first permanent Pokémon-themed café.

Gurney Drive, Penang, Malaysia Today's short post is on Gurney Drive, a popular seafront promenade in George Town. Even though my group didn't really spend a lot of them there and neither did we actually get to enjoy the view of the sea, I think it's still worth mentioning about the globally known hawker centre as a separate post.

Chuo, Kobe, Japan It's been 25 years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake that happened on 17 January 1995, which was one of the worst earthquakes of the 20th century in Japan. Kobe Luminarie is an annual winter light-up held in memory of the earthquake victims, taking place in the vicinity of Motomachi train station for two weeks from early to mid-December.

1-6-2 Higashikawasakicho, Chuo, Kobe, Japan [Museum] Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm [Mall] Daily: 10.00am - 7.00pm Did you know that Anpanman is one of the most popular anime series among young children in Japan? Though I'm not a big fan of it, I did grow up with the superhero that's the personification of  anpan (Japanese sweet bread filled with red bean paste). Out of curiosity, my BFFs and I went all the way to the shopping mall dedicated to it in Kobe.

10-13 Shinchimachi, Nagasaki, Japan Nagasaki Chinatown is the oldest among the three designated Chinatowns in Japan. Most of the Chinese members there are of Fuzhounese descent. In 1980, Nagasaki and Fuzhou established ties as sister cities to recognise the historical connections between them and Fuzhounese immigrant community.

8-2 Tetorihoncho, Tsuruya Department Store, Chuo, Kumamoto, Japan Daily: 10.00am - 7.00pm Who hasn't seen Kumamon before? Created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture in 2010 to draw tourists to the region after the opening of Kyushu Shinkansen line, the black bear has been enjoying tremendous popularity not only in Japan, but also throughout the world. When in town, you can see it in action at Kumamon Square.

Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufuin, Oita, Japan When it comes to shopping in Yufuin, the pedestrian only Yunotsubo Street is the answer. Stretching over 500 m, there are plenty of shops to eat and drink, as well as to buy gifts for your families and friends back home. This post also features Yufuin Floral Village off the main shopping street.

3-11-3 Nagahama, Chuo, Fukuoka, Japan Nagahama Fish Market is the largest commercial fish market in Fukuoka, Japan. The wet market sells the best catches of the day to local traders and clientele, but today's short post is about the Fish Market Centre where you can find restaurants and a small information hall.

False Creek, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Once an industrial manufacturing area created in 1916, Granville Island is now a hotspot for shopping and entertainment in Vancouver, Canada. Named after Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville of the UK, the island is said to generate more than C$215 million (~S$223.8 million) in economic activity every year.

Al Teelah Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates The dhow harbour of Abu Dhabi is nestled within the Al Mina region in the northern part of the city, which is said to be the place where good old traditional practices are still preserved. Are you interested in taking a dhow cruise? There's also a fish market at the marina.