Carbon Market in Cebu - More Fun in the Philippines

Carbon Market is the oldest and largest farmers' market in Cebu City, in The Philippines.

Why the quaint name Carbon Market? This over 100 year old market was where coal was unloaded from trains and stored here in huge open heaps in the old days. Coal is not found here anymore but the charming name Carbon Market remained.

Which is apt as this public market where locals do their marketing is indeed charming (it is not really suitable for the attractions and mall shopping type of tourists or for children).

It did charmed me and as I was writing this post, I hoped to revisit the fascinating Carbon Market soon.



The easiest way to get to Carbon Market, or for that matter almost anywhere in Cebu City, is by jeepney. They are plentiful, affordable and I found them fun to ride. The stall lined streets around Carbon Market are often congested with vehicles and people.



Carbon Market is just beside the large blue and white UJSR (University of San Jose- Recoleto) building. 



Locals get their vegetables, fish, poultry, meat and other daily necessities here. Carbon Market is also an attraction for adventurous, intrepid tourists prepared to walk the streets, go local and see Cebu City and it's people at the raw, street level.



The streets were lined with hawkers cooking and selling all kinds of food and snacks in makeshift kitchens under the blazing sun.  (I noticed the food stalls more, perhaps because I am food blogger :P  )

The flimsy umbrella barely kept the sun out and would be quite useless when it is raining or when strong winds blow.



The stall holders were friendly, always ready to give visitors and cameras their warm smiles.



Live chicken on sale.



There were many stalls making these pink looking sausages by the mile (these sausages are popular BBQ food in Cebu) .

Actually, after seeing how the sausages were made, I hesitate to eat too much of these. It's mostly skin and fat mince. The pink you see is not lean meat. It's red food dye. 



Heaps of chicken intestines. Something not seen in Singapore anymore. I love chicken intestines done the chewy, crunchy "glass" way 玻璃肠 at chicken rice stalls in Singapore (used to have) and Malaysia (still have).



Balut sellers are common in Cebu. There were a few at Carbon Market. 



Balut is a duck egg with a foetus inside.



This was my first taste of this Philippines food icon.



It was not bad quite tasty actually. The foetus was very soft, so the texture was just like salted egg white. I could not feel the feathers, bones or beak. The taste too was similar to salted egg white.

But, I don't think I will eat it again :P



There were many small stalls selling fresh fish.

Not sure what these bright eyed cute looking fish were.



Don't know what these meaty shellfish were too. They were like seeham (cockles) but as big as a child's fist. All I can say is Cebu is truly blessed with wonderful seafood.



One of the larger fishmongers at Carbon Market. Big fish like Merlin and Tuna are common here.



A small mountain of sun dried fish.




Taho which is actually bean curd (tau huay 豆花) over sweetened with brown sugar and evaporated milk.



We shared some of our snacks with these curious boys.

We were earlier advised by local friends not to, but we relented.



Boys enjoying a basket game, unfazed by the scorching sun and the barren patch.

Filipinos have a resilient, happy spirit.

I am looking forward to experience the colours, buzz, heat, smells, and flavours of Carbon Market again :D

Address: Junction of M.C. Briones Street and F. Calderon Street
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/VvXEZ
GPS: 10.291622,123.898111
Hours: Morning and night market

Date visited: 9 Mar 2014

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