Macau: Shopping at the Red Market with Antonio Coelho

Antonio Coelho shopping inside the Macau Red Market
Antonio Coelho shopping inside the Macau Red Market

It was time for a little refreshment on one of the backyard stalls in Macau after that walk in Camoes Garden and Old Protestant Cemetery. We Sipped on some soy drink on a low chair and then buying some almond cookies and other goodies at the nearby pastileria. It was freshly cooked and packed so we bought a few boxes for ourselves. Going through a street corner, we waited for a few minuted when a Portuguese male in his 50’s donning a dark blue chef uniform over his heavy build. “Guys! Here’s Chef Antonio. We’ll join him do some shopping”

Antonio Inspecting Clams
Antonio Inspecting Clams

I haven’t heard about Antonio Coelho before, but he is said to be a celebrity chef here in Macau. He is known for his unique touch on Portuguese Cuisine at his restaurant in Taipa, Antonio Restaurante. We’ll be dropping by his restaurant in the evening. For now, we’ll tag along he buys ingredients he’ll be using for tonight’s dinner.

Red Market Lighting
Red Market Warm Lighting

We tailed along Antonio like a crazy paparazzi. We were inspecting his choices, trying to decipher (to no avail) his conversations with the vendors at the market place. We were inside the Red Market, one of Macau’s well known wet market. I tread carefully along the tiled wet floors to avoid slipping.

Fish Slice
A vendor guts a fish

For a wet market, it’s not as foul or dirty like some of the Wet Markets I’ve seen. The place has been named such because of the red brick walls that make up this three story market. The structure was built in 1936 and is considered as an architectural heritage. We didn’t make it to the upper floors but I like what I’ve seen in the place.

Fish Vendor
Care for some Fish?

A Market Place is a good venue to go shoot some interesting people shots, whether candid or not. So while Antonio was picking up lots of seafood ingredients like shells, clams and lots of prawns, I was busy looking around for some interesting subjects to shoot with my Olympus PEN E-PL1 as well.

Antonio Crabs
These crabs looks good

We bid good bye to Antonio but we’ll be seeing him again tonight. I’m excited to see what he’ll bring to the table with all the ingredients he bought. Something to look forward to for the evening.

Antonio Coelho Portrait
Antonio Coelho Portrait at the Red Market

BP Lake Sebu

Don’t miss Backpack Photography’s Explore Lake Sebu Photo Tour. A Journey into the T’boli culture and Lake Sebu’s natural wonders. Join us on August 21-23, 2010. Check Backpackphotography.net for full details and registration.