What a day of adventure, culture, history, shopping and great food!
On Tuesday 26th March, 20 people converged at Dandenong to experience all that it had to offer. We met at the market first and learnt about its early days as a market town in 1866, servicing the wider Gippsland area. Its growth continued right through to the present day to become a vibrant, multicultural market catering to over 150 cultures.
The morning was spent exploring the market itself – meat, dairy, fish, groceries, flowers, clothing and household goods, fruit and vegetables, nuts, sweets, breads and spices. There were so much to see and taste. Many of the group took the opportunity to do some shopping.
Meeting again at midday we walked towards Foster Street also known as Little India. We stopped off at a fantastic Indian supermarket in Pultney Street, MKs Spice N Things. Here you can buy take away food, fresh and packaged produce and devotional items. A real treasure trove!
Finally onto Little India itself. There are many wonderful, colourful clothing and food shops to enjoy. Some of the group had a late lunch at Calcutta Sweets and Curry Café. Delicious!
Several beautiful murals have been created around Little India and the shops themselves painted with pictures inspired by sari material. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so much colour and to see people from so many places around the world going about their daily lives.
Alison O’Brien
U3A Tutor