The way we live

Excerpts and scanned pages taken from The Way We Live by Cliff, Stafford & Chabaneix, Gilles de. [2003]

THE MARKET-PLACE
The fresh food market is the first step in the distribution of foodstuffs from kitchen garden, from farm and plantation, from field and orchard, from river and sea. Leaving aside the supply chains to supermarket and processed food plant, the market appeals to that deep human wish to acquire raw food in as fresh a condition as possible. And nowhere is this more true than in the fish and seafood stalls the world over.

Most markets impress by their colours and the simplicity of their presentation. In fish markets, especially those on the quayside illuminated by the intense light off the sea, the brilliance of the hues and the boldness of pattern make for delicious visual preliminaries to the pleasures of cooking and consumption. Pinks and reds combine with silvers to gleam and glow with phosphorescence in the fresh rays of a coastal dawn - here, in Tangier. And all the colours of the ocean rainbow hang in a quayside fishmonger's in Valparaiso, Chile.

A market is a place of abundance and of richness of display: colours bright and fresh, whether arranged singly or in pyramids. Thank goodness, what is on sale varies from place to place, country to country, but we recognize the authentic market the world over by its evocation of 'plenty', by the display of tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and aubergines in any Mediterranean town, or by the towering arrangements of guavas, papayas, pineapples and breadfruit in the tropics. The breadfruit - proudly displayed by a Balinese chef (pic can be found from the book 'The Way We Live') - is native to the Pacific Islands. In 1793 it was introduced to Jamaica by Captain Bligh of Bounty fame in the belief that it could become the staple food of the slave population. The scheme was not a great success, but Jamaica does remain a major producer.

The imagery of the market-stall, whether a boat in Bangkok or a food counter in Burundi, is among the most potent in our appreciation of the good things of life and as close as many people get to the wider natural world. The imagery is rich in colour, texture, form and pattern, brought to life by the presence of people, often producers, in the processes of exchange. This is a world of buyers and sellers meeting with immediacy impossible in more rigidly formal environments (pic can be found from the book 'The Way We Live'). Sometimes the two parties come together in unplanned, spontaneous ways; this roadside market in Burundi developed as an almost impromptu happening (pic can be found from the book 'The Way We Live'). One man's meagre display is another's cornucopia; but however rich or spare the presentation, there is always the prospect - warm and reassuring - of acquisition and eventual consumption.

Whether a neighbourhood market in Paris, Rome or London or a village or country-town market in Morocco or Mauritius, the gathering together of people and produce is a real point of focus for a community, and any visitor. It is an opportunity for the exchange of views and gossip; and the feel-good fallout from the presence of so many good things is incalculable (pic can be found from the book 'The Way We Live'). Elizabeth David, surely the greatest English writer on food matters, found a unique joy in the sheer volume and variety on display in a good market: tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, melons, asparagus, strawberries, redcurrants, cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and plums. Her remarks were largely confined to descriptions of the markets of Provence and Italy, but her enthusiasm powerfully evoked the feelings aroused by food markets throughout the world.

Discarding the old, in the new supermarkets - Asia

The increase popularity of shopping malls in Asia does help to put its most important tenant - supermarket in winning position over traditional farmers markets. For Kuching it is a double blow as after the closure of Ceko market the city has no markets in the city centre (except the Satok sunday wet market 1km away) hence giving golden opportunities for supermarkets to extend their radius to dominate and continue threaten the remaining old shops at the old quarters of Chinatown and Indian street.

The new Plaza Merdeka to be built in the heart of the old quarters presumably will has a supermarket will take over the original retail pattern left from the Ceko Market nearby (about 150m away) and will pose significant threat to the remaining shop fronts foods and produces and other retail sectors on that area.

Will the people go to the shopping mall to get all they need under one roof ignoring other traditional retails around the area?

The following excerpt taken from article published by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:

The move to supermarkets in Asia is driven by a number of factors - including automobiles...

• Income growth has increased ownership of refrigerators, which has spurred a shift from daily to weekly shopping, and of cars, which permit large volume shopping at distant locations

• Changing consumer preferences led by women's entry into the workforce. "Working women" prefer one-stop, fast, convenient, and value-for-money shopping

• Changing eating habits - with more women working outside the home and families travelling further to work, there is increasing demand for processed food

• Development of infrastructure, e.g. highways and transport, has favoured the development of supermarket chains

• Low retail margins and fierce competition has created a "buyer's market" in which consumers enjoy low-cost services and quality - and happily switch between retail outlets

• Demographic, cultural, social changes, including a growing proportion of nuclear families and "one-person households" and growing use of credit cards.

• Increased travel has exposed Asians to modern retailing, a wider range of products and the availability of fresh produce "out of season".

The following excerpt taken from Differences in Factors Attracting Consumers to Taiwan's Supermarkets and Traditional Wet Markets

Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Exit interviews were used to summarize factors attracting consumers to six supermarkets and three wet markets in a representative city. Using the history of the marketplace as the foundation for analysis, the strengths and weaknesses of the two retail formats are introduced and are compared to the consumer response data. Findings indicate that the decline of Taiwan's traditional markets will probably continue until all are replaced by new retail formats. Currently, the traditional market is in the weakest of all the retail positions since it supplies the needs of a shrinking population of older consumers with preferences and shopping behaviors unlike those of younger, nontraditional consumers. Supermarket expansion is slowing because new hypermarkets, convenience stores, and warehouse stores are competing to satisfy the needs of the younger, more mobile target population. Overall, store formats that provide lower prices, sales promotions, a good environment, good product quality, and good service have the greatest opportunity to build consumer loyalty and increase market share."

Related Posts:
1) Benefits of markets
2) The market that defines the city [Melbourne]
3) Slow Living & Old Market

Streets as places !

"While streets were once a place where we stopped for conversation and children played, they are now more the domain of cars than people. Even where sidewalks are present along highways and high-speed streets, they feel inhospitable and out of place." Quote from article "Reinventing Streets as places"

Website:
http://www.pps.org/

Benefits of Markets

"The number of farmers markets in the United States has increased dramatically from some 1,755 markets in 1994 to over 3,700 in 2004. "

This is the sign of revival of traditional markets in America. In Europe, markets have been the way of life for everyone. In developing nations, many existing markets face the danger of being closed by authority or replaced by modern development; or simply cannot compete with large supermarket or shopping mall. Those which still survive relying on majority of poorer residents but stayed away by the middle class who prefer much comfortable, less chaotic and cleaner shopping malls.

The attitude has changed not only in America but also showing signs in country like Australia. "These markets – i.e., Pike Place in Seattle, Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, and North Market in Columbus – show the tremendous opportunity for public markets in today's world of shopping malls and retail chains. These markets also show that with careful planning and investment, along with effective management, public markets can again become centers of sustainable local economies and community life." Extract from "Benefits of Market". Full article can be view at (recommended read):

http://www.pps.org/markets/info/markets_program

Crossing The River

Crossing Sarawak's Limbang River. Although this photo is not taken along Sarawak River or anywhere near Kuching, it does represent a typical way of life many Sarawakan live along the river. The houses scattered along the river edge are similar to those villages opposite Kuching city.

So similarly you can see many villagers make daily trips by sampan (wooden boat) to Kuching old markets in the downtown to shop of fresh produces and other groceries.

The following photo - 'sampan' was taken from the old market, view to the villages lined along the opposite bank of the Sarawak River.

Crossing The River
At Flickr by Roslan Tangah (aka Rasso)

Diminishing way of life #1 - Beijing

Old Woman
At Flickr by Pawel Maciejewski

It is not hard to find a beautiful scene like this in Italy where locals still live in traditional way (even in the cities) and this way of life will go on pretty much forever.

In China, its own unique cultural heritage and the way of life will be diminished in the name of modernisation.

Click photo to view original photo and narration at Flickr.

At KL's wet market

1. _M220119bw copy.jpg, 2. Wet wet wet market, 3. He's too shy to look at me, 4. _M108552bw copy.jpg, 5. Petai, 6. In the wet Market (Kuala Lumpur)

Bazaar Baru Market (Kuala Lumpur)
This lively market sells clothes, toys, buckets, stationery, noodles, spices, fresh meat and live, flapping catfish, as well as a staggering array of weird and wonderful tropical fruit. Overweight cats loiter around the wet market looking for scraps, and locals struggle through the narrow aisles with huge bags of shopping. Just wondering round is a heady, sensory experience, particularly for the sense of smell. (Lonely Planet)

Pudu Market (Kuala Lumpur)
Pudu Market is KL's biggest wet and dry market. It's a frenetic place, full of squawking chickens, frantic shoppers and porters forcing their way through the crowds with outrageous loads.....Arrive early in the morning to experience the market at its most lively and pungent. You can recover the sensory overload at the attached hawker court. (Lonely Planet)

At the Italian Markets

1. Fruit Vendor, 2. Bologna Street Markets, 3. Spending last penny, 4. Madama di Palazzo, 5. sguardi incrociati, 6. ripe hardiness06


"To Italians, a city without a fresh food market at its heart us a dead city. Their markets are thriving subcultures that provide an insight into the psyche of the city." Terry Durack, Travel + Leisure Magazine

"In an era of supermarket aisles, refrigerated cabinets and processed everything, this is a rare opportunity for the city to meet the country face-to-face." Travel + Leisure Magazine

"You can tell a lot about an Italian city by its market. No two are the same." Carla Coulson