One of the best places to experience Asian culture is in its markets. There, a traveler can glimpse a segment of everyday life, not through the isolating insult of a telephoto lens, but through eye to eye contact. Most of the time, patience and humor are all that is needed to guide you through a market. Meats, fishes, spices, herbs and fruits are on display, so too is the local costume, culture and fabric of the everyday community.
Fruits are an important aspect of tropical Asian diet.
They are surrounded by tradition and folklore. The richness of aroma, texture, color and flavor is in extreme contrast to that of the limited fruits in American groceries. When trying new fruits, some are immediately embraced while others are appreciated by cultivating a taste for them by repeated trials and an open mind. The rind is discarded and the luscious center is eaten fresh. Its flavor is sweet and tart, and the pulp melts onto your tongue.