Fishy Business: Tales from the Wet Market

Twice or thrice a week, I go to the wet market of San Pablo, especially the fish section. This has been my routine as our cats don't eat canned cat food and somehow the price is relatively cheap.

Earlier, a funny scene unfolded before us involving my local fish vendor. A mom, together with her two kids, passed by. The little children are grasping air and covering their noses with their hands. They keep on saying "It is stinky here!" and want to leave the premises soon.

When they were far already, I told the fish vendor I was like that too, four years ago. Before getting married, I rarely went to the wet market area to buy goods, since I was living together with my parents back then. My mother was the one who bought groceries for us. The only time that I go to the market is when April asks me to accompany her so that she can buy stuff that she will bring to her dormitory. I don't like it back what can we do, you do things that you don't like sometimes for love.

I could not stand the pungent smell of the fish and other produce, back then each time that a part of my body got closer to other people I immediately rubbed myself with alcohol. I was a drama king being OA with everything ( but not showing it that much back then haha).

My fish vendor also says the same thing! When she started doing the business, she could not stand the smell either, and during her lunch instead of eating in front of her fish she stepped away from her station and ate elsewhere. She asks someone to guard her products while she is away so that if someone buys, her friend can still sell. According to her, it took her some time before she got accustomed to it and since selling fish now is her bread and butter; she has no choice but to endure it.

After our small chit-chat and she cleaned my order I thanked her and bid goodbye.

How about you? Do you visit the wet market frequently? Do you like the smell or have you also got accustomed to it over the years going back and forth?