Just like two years ago SWMBO and I wearing face masks boarded the 181 bus at its terminus just around the corner. We had our temperatures checked and sat in the air-conditioned bus for the journey across the city to the medicine and spice market where SWMBO bought tea and some dried orange peel which SMBO assures is a great addition to tea and soups.
We then carried on walking to the pedestrian walkway which spans the monstrous traffic intersection, climbed the circular stairs and then descended to the ancient foot bridge onto Shamian Island.
We walked around Shamian Island and indulged in a cup of tea and a slice of cake (expensive and mediocre) each while sheltering from the afternoon heat and humidity (36C and 70%). Be aware that everything is expensive on Shamian Island.
We then retraced our steps, crossed the bridge, and headed for the fish market.
Its official name is Huangsha Aquatic Products, but everybody calls it The Fish Market. All I can say about the market that if comes out of the sea and it’s not a submarine it’s for sale in the market.
Just be aware there’s water and ice everywhere because the aquatic products are expected to be fresh. The smell is also rather overpoweringly fishy. Also be aware that the rolling pin on a stall isn’t for rolling pastry but for killing fish, if you’re a little squeamish best not to watch or you won’t enjoy your next fish dinner.
It’s a busy place with huge trucks squeezing through the narrow roads while mopeds and tuck-tucks weave in between.
Oh dear! The price of salmon has nearly doubled since our last visit. Nothing under ¥100 a jin, and SWMBO settled for a stall selling at ¥108 a jin.
Note: salmon in Chinese is 三文鱼 (san, wen, yu)。
Note: a jin is half a kilo, i.e 500 grams, and it’s the most common weight measure in China. There are 460 grams to the pound.
SWMBO bought five jin. Two as a present to a good friend, and three for me. The salmon was sliced in very nice ‘steaks’ contrary to the usual thin slices used for sushi in the Japanese restaurants and take-aways dotted around the city.
Another jin of alive shrimps was also popped into our shopping bag. All packed in ice for our taxi ride home.
SWMBO cooked me a salmon steak with garlic, onion and chill, accompanied by plain boiled white rice for dinner. I washed it down with a glass or three of Great Wall Chardonnay. A delicious end to an afternoon’s adventure.