Diary of a Wet Market Adventure in Los Baños

Hey besties! 🌸 So today was such an adventure, and I just HAVE to spill the tea about my wet market escapade here in Los Baños. Like, who even knew grocery shopping could be this eventful? 👛✨

The morning started with me setting my alarm for 6:30 AM (early bird era ✨), but let’s be real, I snoozed it twice and finally got up at 7. 😂 Anyway, I threw on my comfiest shorts, a cute oversized tee, and my trusty crocs (pink, duh 💕), grabbed my eco bag, and hopped on a tricycle to the market.

The vibe when I arrived? Chaotic but in a very "local queen thriving" way. You know that earthy smell of fresh produce and a hint of fishy realness? It hits differently when you’re surrounded by vendors enthusiastically calling you “Miss!” and competing for your attention.

I started with the veggie stalls. OMG, the talong (eggplants) were so plump, and the sitaw (string beans) looked like they were straight out of a gardening vlog. The tita selling them was super sweet, calling me “Iha” and suggesting which veggies would go best with sinigang. I didn’t even tell her I was making sinigang, but like, tita powers, right? 💁🏻‍♀️

Next stop: the seafood section. It was giving mermaid core, but honestly, the smell was intense. I walked up to this guy selling bangus (milkfish), and he was flexing his “fresh catch” like a pro. I asked him how to check if it’s fresh, and he said to look at the eyes – they should be clear and not cloudy. I was like, "Okay, kuya, thanks for the TED Talk!" 😂 I ended up buying two bangus, and let me tell you, they’re gonna slay in the kitchen later.

Then came the meat section, where I felt like a total clueless city girl. I was lowkey intimidated, but the vendor was so nice and helped me pick the best pork cuts for adobo. He even wrapped it all up with banana leaves instead of plastic because, you know, eco-friendly vibes. 🌱

By the time I got to the fruit section, I was feeling like a full-on domestic goddess. I scored some mangoes (the yellow Carabao ones, of course), and they smelled heavenly. The guy slicing watermelon gave me a free taste – 10/10, juicy and sweet. Like, is this what peak adulting feels like? Buying fruits and feeling proud?

Before heading home, I grabbed a fresh buko juice. The vendor cracked it open right in front of me, and I was like, “Is this a live mukbang moment?” 😂 It was so refreshing, especially with the heat today.

On the way home, I sat in the tricycle with my eco bag filled to the brim, feeling like I conquered life. Who needs fancy supermarkets when the wet market gives you fresh, affordable, and local realness?

So yeah, that’s my little diary for today. I can’t wait to cook everything I bought and pretend I’m in some aesthetic food vlog. If you haven’t hit up your local wet market recently, this is your sign, girl. Go live your tita dreams and support small vendors! 💕

Till next time, love you all! 😘✨