Bedtime Stories With JuneB - Market Walk

Hello beautiful souls,

This is JB and welcome to a beautiful night's sleep.

Thanks for being here for another in the series Sleep Stories with June B and today you're going to join me for my regular trip to the market to pick up some goodies.

So let's get into your favourite sleeping position,

Make sure you're comfortable,

Close your eyes and slowly imagine yourself melting into the bed.

Now let's go to your breathing,

Slowing down the heart rate,

Let's take some nourishing breaths together.

Breathe in,

Breathe out,

Breathe in,

Breathe out,

Breathe in,

Breathe out,

Last time breathe in,

Breathe out.

So here we are at the market.

I've been coming here for years and what a delight it is to come and be amongst all the sights and sounds of a busy market.

I love when the vendors are shouting one for a pound,

One for a pound,

It makes me feel right at home.

Some markets have been around for decades and have their own particular spin on things and their own individual types of things that they like to sell.

Here are a few famous ones in London.

Columbia Road Flower Market.

This weekly flower market is an East End gem,

Nestled close to Shoreditch,

Every Sunday the picturesque Cobble Street is packed with traders.

Selling bulbs,

Herbs,

Shrubs,

Bedding plants and bucketfuls of cut flowers.

Along the stands are many interesting independent shops and cafes.

Always best to get there early for the best selection of flowers or as the market is winding down to a bag of barbeque.

Flower Market,

Located next to London Bridge,

This iconic food market has existed in some form since at least 1014.

Wow.

It still operates as a wholesale market in the early hours but it's now best known as a foodies paradise.

Where Londoners come to buy top quality meats,

Fish,

Fruit and veg,

Fresh baked breads,

Cakes,

Sweet treats,

Oils,

Vinegars and pretty much anything else they desire.

There's also an amazing array of street food.

Old Spitlesfield Market.

This market,

Opposite Liverpool Street Station,

Has blossomed into a major shopping and eating destination.

In the Central's concourse,

It's filled with stalls selling contemporary and vintage clothes,

Children's toys,

Home items,

Food products.

Inside you'll also find fantastic places to eat.

There's an extra buzz on Thursdays when it welcomes Old Spitlesfield Antiques Market,

A bonus cluster of stalls offering collectibles and objects to art.

Also a bonus is Brick Lane is only five minutes away.

Greenwich Market is situated in the historic Greenwich,

A World Heritage Site.

This 18th century indoor market is no relic though.

It's home to stalls selling jewellery,

Clothes,

Second hand furniture,

Interesting gifts and general brick-a-black.

There's still plenty of delicious street food stalls to refuel you and before you pay a visit to the nearby Cuttisart or the famous Royal Observatory.

You could even hop on a Thames Riverboat back to central London.

I've done it a few times.

It's a great trip.

Portobello Road Market,

The world's largest antiques market,

Occupies a prime stretch of Notting Hill.

Portobello Road Market is really five markets in one with different sections dedicated to hand,

Second hand goods,

Clothing and fashion,

Household essentials,

Fruit,

Veg and other foods and the main event,

Antiques.

You'll find the greatest range of antique stalls on Saturdays.

Portobello also buzzes on Fridays too.

This fascinating street is packed with cafes,

Shops and drinking spots and it's worth a visit at any time.

Brixton Village Market is one of the capital's most vital neighbourhoods and these adjacent indoor markets reflect its unique and varied flavour.

In recent years they've become a place for the foodie pilgrimage where hungry Londoners can grab a table at places serving seafood,

Pizza,

Portuguese cuisine,

Mexican food,

Jamaican,

Ethiopian fusion and all manner of Caribbean delicacies.

They also contain plenty for shoppers too.

As you walk through the arcades it is revealed a treasure trove of independent outlets selling clothing,

Jewellery,

Homeware,

Art,

Antiques and unusual gifts.

I have been to antique markets where you can pick up some amazing,

Well cared for,

Pre-loved furniture.

I have been to specialty craft markets that sell bespoke items for sale like clocks made out of old LP records and one of a kind greeting cards or even functional items like poufs made out of old tyres and wooden trinkets to store your watches or jewellery to put on your dressing table.

There are also markets dedicated to selling clothes apart from not really having a place for you to try on anything,

You can always get a bargain.

Markets then have an emphasis on a lot of jewellery and watches.

Apart from costume jewellery they also include real silver and gold rings,

Necklaces,

Bracelets,

Brooches that are new and you can also get pre-loved items.

Moving right on to car boot markets where anything goes,

The home of Whippa Brack.

Then there are markets that only sell artisan foods from small businesses and there's always farmers markets that are wonderful places to go to pick up your weekly fruit and veg at the best quality and the best prices.

There are a few beautiful markets in the centre of London that sell antique cutlery,

Crockery,

Crystal drinking glasses and small household appliances.

I'm always there picking up a few trinkets when I can.

I have been so lucky to travel to other countries and sample their own markets.

I remember one market I went to in Auld San Juan in Puerto Rico where you had a whole world of items to choose from and at the very top of the market you were treated to some amazing live musicians.

I've never been to a market and heard such amazing talent.

They played for hours to the delight and entertainment of the eager crowd.

I think though out of all the markets that I've been to,

One of the most amazing markets I've ever been to is one in Thailand called Damond Sudap,

Floating market.

It is the oldest floating market of Thailand.

Many of Thailand's oldest communities are based along rivers.

Rivers have been used to bring in trade and the locals would barter for goods directly from the floating vendors.

This market is located at the intersection of three different provinces.

It's fun and I did.

I hired a boat with a Thai driver and we sailed through many canals.

Then we went through the canals experiencing the floating market and we got some food from vendors who prepared you fresh seafood straight from their boat.

There is a small market before you enter the floating market itself where you will find a variety of souvenir shops.

When floating through the canals you will pass by vendors located on the side selling all sorts of goods,

Herbs,

Spices,

Souvenirs,

Artwork,

Clothes,

Robes,

Etc.

I bought many souvenirs when I went there and still have some of those today.

They have a great variety of goods at Damond Sudap floating market and it has some of the largest collections of souvenirs you can find in and near Bangkok making it an excellent place to buy something to bring back to your friends and family.

Did you know due to an abundance of canals in Thailand's capital Bangkok used to be nicknamed Venice of the East?

For me I love a mixture of all of them and I tend to go to a market that combines a little of everything.

So today I'm going to pick up some fruit and veg,

I want to get a little silver bracelet for my niece and a top for a party I have to go to next week.

I'm also going to pick up some lunch while I'm here and some dessert to eat.

First onto the jewelry store.

Oh my what a lovely selection.

Oh hello,

Yes,

Hi,

How much is this bracelet?

Oh really?

That sounds perfect.

Yes,

Can I have that one please?

Yes,

Can you put it in a box?

It's for a gift.

Thank you so much.

Okay,

That's done.

First thing ticked off my list.

So now onto the next item.

Oh those vegetables look so good.

I think I'll pick up some broccoli,

Some avocados for my tea.

I love avocados and these ones look perfectly ripe to me.

Oh look at those grapes.

I love that black grapes and I think I'll have some of those as well.

Now onto the last thing on my list.

Ah excuse me,

How much is that top?

I like it but can you give me a deal on it?

You know,

Just knock a little something off.

You can?

Okay cool.

I can settle for that,

Yes.

Thank you very much,

I'll take that one.

Yes please.

You too.

Okay,

Have a good day.

Oh got a bug in there.

Now off to get a fresh fruit smoothie from the stall over there and there's a shop just on the side that sells some of the most amazing smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese.

Mmm what a delight.

Honestly I can't leave without getting a scoop of gelato made from this little shop that boasts the most amazing authentic gelato.

All I know is that it is amazing and a trip to the market would not be the same without this delicacy.

So that's all of my shopping done and what a great time I had just taking my time and enjoying the market.

Thanks so much for joining me.

So have yourself a great sleep and see you next time for another in the series of sleep stories with JoonB.

Bye now.

On the side,

On the side,

Have a look.

All good.

Good.

That's good.

Number 399.

That's good.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Don't matter.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.

That's good.