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.

AFB34074CDD5431695D928CA77D181A8.jpeg

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.

6C3AD5AF206D4B17996B9662D02DD093.jpeg
F713280B6C49490F99B3E455D289C014.jpeg
D97910EEBFB9404FAAA873D235B92E53.jpeg
272945826F0040F7B92A69A9FE44FFAE.jpeg

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.

721BACE58B5849019D24F2C8A46CF850.jpeg
6020CBFDC9D642338C81B886E1A737AB.jpeg
2D7BE95E1A2E4487829D6684B0EE1168.jpeg
46197722B7A64B78BC0C13DC99E40743.jpeg

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

08A69EEAF0974006AF282A2B9E0AE040.jpeg
38B9FEB26ACC4AB39ED1A7DF8D234B11.jpeg
B3DF063A32664B75BF6672E5E77CFD0D.jpeg
FEE8EC21331C465090F560089FB87B79.jpeg

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

00E9279AF0114BF189FD1086489F6E57.jpeg

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

433FF09B2B6F43648A6BCC88365BD541.jpeg

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

777C3165827642E6B58E7D5477A5C6CE.jpeg
0434CEBCDAFA4834B6AF5D75E55898E3.jpeg

Some moments just to reflect

9D15ADA31F2C443EA736F87069BCF2E9.jpeg
5719C4462CA6479A91C99E1F82E6B3C6.jpeg

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