Yesterday, 30th Nov., was the last day for the Night Noodle Market in Melbourne after a two-week run. I believe this food festival was a resounding success. Two reasons why I know it is a suceess: One, the organisers have announced that Melbourne’s 2nd Night Noodle Market will be held next year and, two, it was ridiculously busy…that I piked on two occasions. Yes, I piked!
Night Noodle Market has been going on in Sydney for 15 years. The last one they held had 40 stalls. Melbourne’s first year of NNM had 18. But in terms of attendance, Melburnians flocked to Alexandra Gardens by the millions. Slight exaggeration but there were plenty of people outnumbering Sydney’s attendance. On both occasions that I planned to go with friends, we started getting photos and texts from other friends who braved the crowds. One mate said, that they had to wait for an hour. Another one said that they have abandoned the idea of getting food because the line was too long and headed to a nearby restaurant. The second week, planning it on a rainier, cloudier and colder evening, another text message arrived saying that food queue is 45 minutes long and it is a good idea to eat before hand and not rely on the stalls to give your dinner to you at the time you need it the most. Damning words. Most hungry people become unpleasant. They (including me) can turn on anyone and would probably start seeing other human beings as food. It is best for everyone that I avoid being in this situation reminiscent of Lord of the Flies and Alive. You can never trust a hungry person.
Now I can’t really dish out (pun totally intended) any advice because I didn’t go and this year’s festival is done and dusted BUT I’m certain that Melbourne’s Night Noodle Market 2014 will be bigger and will have shorter-ish queues. So I will, and so should you, wait for its comeback next year and hopefully not have to think of cannibalism.
