We are big melon fans here, though keener on rock melons than water melons. Every summer, Mark goes to a great deal of effort to grow melons and it is either feast or famine – a complete glut of rock melons or next to none – because they need a lot of summer heat to develop and then sweeten before the autumn rains and cooler night temperatures. But the melons which are often included as part of airline meals on long haul flights were, both of us thought, a terrible disappointment, being served unripe. Not so!

Clockwise from the centre top, bought as honeydew, Galia, rock and Twist melons
The Otara Markets in South Auckland are held each Saturday morning. Because I come from rural New Zealand, I find the mix of cultures, different styles and colour fascinating. We don’t see much of this in Taranaki and New Plymouth. We also pay a great deal more for our fruit and vegetables and have a way more limited range from which to choose.
Selling quick maturing Asian greens from the carpark.
Preaching with a loud sound system but no visible congregation or audience.
A spot of faith healing being carried out beside the carpark.
Colourful korowai – traditional Maori cloaks – made with dyed feathers
There is something so visually appealing about piles of fresh garden vegetables being sold on market stalls.
I went there many years ago with my sister in law who is a chef. She plunged joyously in to the fray examining sniffing and haggling with the vendors. It was amazing to see the stuff on offer. I imagine what is grown and sold is even more multi cultural now.
I can see you know exactly what I felt! I walked out with bags of avocados (both Hass and Reed), big beautiful papaya which were 3 for $10, lush red capsicums (about 6 for $4 or $5). A really smart new vegetable cutting implement that may deliver me from the dangers of the mandolin. Oh and five pairs of stretch cotton boxer shorts as a joke present – but useful – because they were 5 for $20! If I lived in Auckland, I would be a market regular. There are so many to choose from.