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Article and photos by Shela Porto
New Year has finally arrived. Have you been doing exciting and fun activity since the Year of the Snake started? Or you still go with that usual boring routine you have been doing ever since the world began?
Well, first weeks of the year have been amazing to me because of the different places I have visited. And one of those places is where many Lipeños (and even locals of neighboring towns) are frequently flocking at – the Night Market at the heart of Lipa City.
I had been on that Night Market when I was in high school. My sister and I wandered on this place but only for a short period of time because it was getting late by then and Mom was shouting over the phone when she called us. And for the second time around, I have visited this uniquely interesting place that not only nocturnal people, or even party bums, or call center agents, can go to. The place is for everyone who wishes to experience such delight in buying cheap items and making their tummies full of Batangueño and non-Batangueño street foods.
The experience started off as having my friend as company. We took a jeepney ride to the public market and realized that it was nonsense because we were dropped off too fast. The traffic was there before us and so we decided to just walk. But the ten-minute walk was worth it because we enjoyed watching the hordes of shoppers and vendors on the street (it’s only a few days before Lipa City fiesta so the streets of the city proper were really busy).
We took random pictures around, bought the cheapest items we could ever find, and ate street foods you can rarely find in one entire strip.
The most random things you dare to find are present in the night market. From your mother’s set of plates down to your baby brother’s toys, plus accessories for your gadgets — all of these can be found on that street of goodies and foodies combined.
Because it was my friend’s first time to go to the night market, I tried to convince her to taste all the food that she hasn’t tasted yet but she refused. Her stomach is sensitive that’s why I was the one who tried them all. I tried their yummy balut with spicy vinegar, the famous isaw (chicken intestine) drenched in sukang maanghang with sibuyas, the betamax (coagulated chicken blood) that even in the first taste, I wanted to have more and more, and the mini-isaw that tasted like kilawin that was so cheap for only two pesos.
I also bought one hand of bananas for only P20. Some pasalubongs for my pamangkin and sister like cute pens with their names printed on them, plus jackets and sweat shirts which eventually made my bag heavy.
I just indulged on the aroma of the other food and got satisfied with just smelling them. I had a great time eating a lot that night and luckily, I did not suffer from stomachache after ravishing them all.
There were also vendors who asked me to take photos of them and I gladly obliged. I took photos of them and their goods and even had picture of myself with them. They were so nice and approachable. That added to the fun I had upon roaming around the Night Market. The crowd on the street is not a hindrance for us to enjoy after all.
The three-hour experience in the Night Market was unforgettable. It’s really nice to have this kind of place where everybody can enjoy. So if you want something exciting to do for this year, first on your list should be to visit the Night Market in Lipa City, that is if you ever have any qualms by doing so.
Where else could you go but to the nearest place in your home that could give you an unforgettable experience you could treasure forever. Oh yes, it’s among life’s simple pleasures! 🙂
