Indonesia
No Mall, Lets Go to Floating Market
It is true that modern malls and shopping centers give you fun to shop. The lights, air conditioner, the window displays. But, aren’t you bored with the same scenery every week? However, if you get bored, try to find different one in traditional markets. Shopping at a floating market can give you a very different atmosphere. What is it anyway?
Superkids, the famous floating market in Indonesia is in a number of major rivers in the province of South Kalimantan. As a tourist, you can go to the floating markets Muara Kuin in Banjarmasin or Lok Baintan in Tabuk River in Banjar.
To shop, you have to be on a boat called jukung. You can find motor jukung or paddle jukung. Why, boat? Because the market is on the river that why. Traders bring their goods on a boat, buyers take goods on a boat. If the boats are blocked by another boat, you can use a hooked bamboo pole to send money and take goods.
The typical of the floating market is a frenzy. You can hear a lot of people shouting and bid for the goods. You also can see the hustle-bustle when big and small jukung get in front of each other. One thing for sure, you feel the sway slowly or somewhat hard when the waves hit your jukung.
In South Kalimantan, the floating market is a day-to-day activities of local residents. So is traditional floating market in Langkat on the border of North Sumatra and Aceh. However, there is also floating markets designed for tourism. For example, at Lembang and at Sentul City in the province of West Java.
TEGUH WAHYU UTOMO
PHOTOS: PHOTOS
