Wet Market

Today I shopped at the wet market for the first time; very cool experience. The wet market is where locals buy most of their food, especially produce and meat. The markets are usually in the street and sometimes in a warehouse. There are small stands for each vendor. Often the produce is in the street and butchers on the sidewalks, as well as, seafood stalls where everything is live in tanks. Some stalls sell dried products, fresh tofu, fresh bean sprouts, nuts, and flowers. It is a very different way of shopping than in the US, and it can be very intimidating and creepy. There are lots of fruits and vegetables that I have never seen before and have no idea how they are prepared. Nothing is refrigerated, including meat and eggs. Some stalls have live chickens and birds, and I have seen cages of live turtles and frogs. Even though shopping in the wet market is 'different', in many ways I think it is better. Everything is extremely fresh, because the Chinese insist on great quality, and you are closer to your food--it's genuine.

I went to the Yau Ma Tei market which is very close to our house. Here is what I bought all for just under $8.00:

scallions, 1 bunch
cilantro, 1 small bunch
grape tomatoes, about a pint
limes, 2 small
apples, 4 big Fuji
garlic, 3 heads
onions, 2 yellow
cucumber, 1 huge
peppers, 2 (not sure what kind, was hoping for jalapeno--these are bigger)
peppers, 1 small pack of hot red chilies
lemons, 3
corn, 2 ears
carrots, 3 huge
plums, 2 huge
I only bought produce today--need get more nerve to buy flesh.

Here are some pictures I took in the Central market, not the one where I shopped today. It is hard to take pictures because you feel intrusive and very touristy, but it will give you an idea. I plan to take pictures of things that I have no idea what they are.