(Note: This has been published in my other blogging site (click here) and reposted here with revisions. Contents including photos are mine unless specified otherwise.)

WARNING: CONTAINS PHOTOS OF SLAUGHTERED/BUTCHERED ANIMALS AND FRESH CUT MEAT IN COLOR. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

It was still dark when I accompanied my sister to the city market. We had to go purchase some stuff we needed for cooking. We had to go early to avoid the rush and so that we can start early and accomplish more that day. Also, it's when produce are arriving or have just arrived which makes them fresh. One of the reasons why tourists like Baguio City is that highland products are fresh and cheap as compared to the same goods sold in their own places but at an expensive price.

We got there and I thought it would be less chaotic. I was wrong. It is the same as it is any time of the day at the market - busy, busy, busy. Only the minor alleys were almost empty just like the photo above. I did not expect it to be that busy for I do not go to the market this early. What I see on the other parts of the market, which is less activity, is not the same in most areas.

The market was claustrophobic especially the main roads where traders/farmers load and unload their goods. Cars had to drive ever slowly and people have to watch where they are going. Either you crash into a moving car or someone. The road is wide enough for two cars but because of limited space and no parking or loading/unloading area, one side of the road is used as parking. Thus, it is just one-way road for cars.

There was that sense of rush. Everything was on the move, transactions everywhere. Every item must be sold and thus there was competition. People sell the same stuff at the same price more or less. Aside from that, there were opportunistic fellows waiting for the right time to take away what they can grab from you. So the chaos and noise would make one anxious.

We started with the colorful vegetable and fruit sections. Some vendors were still setting up while others seem to have never left.

I didn't know they added stalls in this part of the market. This used to be an empty space but now more meat and fish stalls were added.

We did buy the fish that we needed here. It is more convenient for us for we did not have to explore more of the market for the kind of fish that we needed. Sea produce are imported from the lowlands mostly Pangasinan and La Union which are the nearest. Our mountains in return supply them with our vegetables.

Again, I would like to reiterate this one. That is if you have reached this far.

WARNING: FROM THIS POINT ON, PHOTOS OF SLAUGHTERED/BUTCHERED ANIMALS AND BLOODY FRESH CUT MEAT IN COLOR ARE POSTED. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

We then headed to the wet market where fish and meat were supposed to be sold. Only then did I find out that the other level of fish and meat section was under repair. No wonder the other vendors were relocated some place else. This was our final stop before heading home after buying the kind of meat that we needed. There were heads of cows that I saw but I am not sure if those were still being sold and if they do, what kind of dish will you make out of them.

I used to see a lot of kids and adults alike selling plastic bags then. Now they are selling reusable bags. Eco bags some call but I do not see anything eco-friendly about it. They are mass produced and cheap but they break in places depending on what you put in it. They do last longer than plastic sometimes but still are just for limited use. I saw this kid on our way home. I commend her for at this early time of the day she was there at the market selling bags. Some of these kids are persistent. Even if they see you already have a bag, they still insist that you buy from them.

We did not go to the areas of the market for we got what we needed. There is a more "presentable" area where tourist can buy fresh products like strawberries and souvenirs. Before the market is the right place to go for there were just a few souvenir shops. Now, anywhere in town you can see the same products sold everywhere.

Do you like going to the market? Show us what your market looks like.

Thanks a lot for your reading.