Vanakbara fish market, Diu, Gujarat State, India #wednesdaywalk

So having travelled round Gujarat for the last 12 days, I was happily told by my guide Aanal, that “yes yes yes you can buy beer here” thanks anal I said, the irony flying miles above his head.

You see Gujarat is mostly a dry state even to tourists, (you have to get a written permit to buy beer even here. Having to even state how much you are buying, Indian bureaucracy never ceases to amaze me).

Well I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth and loaded up with the recommended brew, “Hunter” a very pleasant lager it was too; taking my stash and a suggested brown paper bag to the local beach for an afternoon people watching. Sip watch, sip wave, sip chat, sip, sip sip. There was a lot of sipping going on that afternoon.

Sipping and sun go well together in moderation, or so I’m told,(I don’t do moderation in my life I’m afraid) feeling a little light headed meeting up with anal and the others on the trip for another curry with lime soda “ no no no you can’t bring your beer with you, not drinking in restaurant” said the wonderful anal. ‘no no not even in a paper bag’

Some people have no sense of adventure. ‘and anyways’ he went on “ in morning we are going to the fish market, early”

Oh hello, “ how early”?
“We leave at 0500 hrs”
“Oh for fuck sake that’s the middle of the night”
“For the fishermen it’s middle of day” anal was amused at his little aside.

So piling back into the mini bus at 4:00am, bleary eyed, no breakfast, sucking on extra strong mints for all I was worth. Promising never to drink Hunter lager again ( well apart from the last half dozen sitting in my room fridge). Off we set.

Now, apart from the occasional fish finger I don’t eat anything out of the sea or the river. But I love people I’m very gregarious, so I put up with the overpowering scents and enjoyed the chance to mingle with the fish wives of Gujarat. Walk with me.

Day had broken, the mercury already rising significantly, the boats had landed their catch early.

There was still a lot of activity to enjoy sights and sounds, if you have never experienced a hundred or so voices all raised, all shouting, all haggling, all female: what a treat you have missed.

I have never challenged the statement “the brighter the sari:The poorer the wearer”. The colours here were just sublime

Away from the herd it’s never too early to do the washing up..........

.........nor for eating ones breakfast

Fish fish and more fish.
Fish everywhere, the birds ready to pounce the birds ready to feast.

Some moments just to reflect

And so the catch was made the sales made the quayside walk made, time to get back in the bus and enjoy Anal.

At least he didn’t burst into song,I too refrained

Come on Ladies, Come on Ladies,
Come on Ladies, Come on Ladies,
One pound fiiiiiish
Have, have a look, One pound fish
Have, have a look, One pound fish
Very, very good, One pound fish
Very, very cheap, One pound fish
Six for 5 pound, one pound each
Six for 5 pound, one pound each
Very, very good and very, very cheap
One pound, One pound

[source](https://www.metrolyrics.com/one-pound-fish-lyrics-fish-man.html