Have you visited several floating markets in Indonesia? Although nowadays more and more modern markets have sprung up, in fact the floating market can still maintain its existence as a place for buying and selling transactions.
If examined from its history, the presence of a floating market cannot be separated from the geographical condition of Indonesia, which is the largest archipelagic country in the world, so it is clear that this country has so many territorial waters.
Therefore, local people who live in water areas try to adapt to the environment and how the environment can be used as a support for daily activities as well as a source of livelihood. And one way is by doing trading activities on a boat.
Over time, the floating market which was originally used as a place for buying and selling transactions has actually grown to become a tourist attraction for tourists. Therefore, if you are one who likes to travel or travel to various regions, visiting some of these floating markets in Indonesia should be made as a mandatory agenda that you should not miss.
Therefore, on this occasion we will discuss several floating markets in Indonesia that should be used as mandatory tourist destinations if you are traveling to the area. What are those? Let's have a look together.
Getting to Know the Floating Market
Before we discuss some of the floating markets in Indonesia that must be visited, it's good if you also know about what is called a floating market. Well, the floating market is a name for a place to make buying and selling transactions which are located right above the waters. Usually, the water area used is a river or lake.
When conducting transaction activities, sellers and buyers are in their respective boats, and that is why this market is called a floating market. Even so, buying and selling activities are not too different from the market in general. Uniquely, some floating markets in Indonesia actually still apply a barter system, you know.
Along with the number of modern markets that have emerged, the number of floating markets has decreased significantly. For now, most of the floating markets are from Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam
Floating Market in Indonesia
Indonesia is the biggest archipelago country in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the country with the capital city of Jakarta also has a large number of floating markets spread across various provinces, including Kalimantan, Sumatra and West Java. For those of you who like to explore various regions, have you visited several floating markets in Indonesia? If not, you should immediately enter it into a mandatory tourist destination.
1. | Lok Baintan Market, South Kalimantan
The floating market in Indonesia that we will discuss first is the Lok Baintan Market which is located in South Kalimantan. More precisely in Lok Baintan Village, Sungai Tabuk District, Banjar Regency. Here, the traders sell on motor boats that can go back and forth here and there.
The market which is also known as the Martapura River Floating Market has started its activities from 6 to 7 in the morning. So if you want to visit, make sure not to be late. And when you get there, you can immediately explore by renting a boat through the surrounding community.
2. | Muara Kuin Market, South Kalimantan
It seems that South Kalimantan is indeed the source of various floating markets in Indonesia. Another floating market originating from South Kalimantan, namely the Muara Kuin Market, which is located between the Kuin and Barito rivers.
For those of you who like to watch television, this market may not look too foreign. Because the article, this very famous market in Banjarmasin City had become a shooting location for private television commercials, you know, which is said to be still legendary today, especially for the generation born in the 90s.
Not much different from the markets in general, here you can also buy various daily necessities, ranging from various fruits, vegetables, basic necessities, side dishes, to household items. It's just that all buying and selling transactions between traders and buyers are entirely carried out on boats which the Banjar people call Jukung.
Muara Kuin Market is the pioneer and the oldest floating market in Indonesia. So, if you are visiting South Kalimantan, visiting Muara Kuin Market must be included in the agenda.
3. | Siring Piere Tendean Market, South Kalimantan
Still from South Kalimantan, the next floating market in Indonesia is the Siring Piere Tendean Market which is located on the Martapura River. However, along with the presence of many modern markets on the mainland, the number of sellers in this one market is decreasing from time to time. Coupled with the younger generation who seem not too interested in continuing the economic tradition on the banks of the river.
Even so, the local government is still trying to maintain this floating market in Indonesia by holding various events and carrying out renovations, one of which is making a pier connected to a lanting or a wooden footbridge that allows buyers to approach traders through the pier.
Not only that, the government also held a folk art party at the location to be able to gather the crowd so that the Siring Piere Tendean Market could survive. This floating market in Indonesia only operates on Saturdays and Sundays.
4. | Langkat Floating Market, North Sumatra
From Kalimantan now we are running to Sumatra. The next floating market in Indonesia is the Langkat Floating Market which is located in Pulau Sembilan Village, Pangkalan Susu District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. This one market was created and inaugurated by the local government on February 9, 2009.
It has a similar concept to the floating market in Kalimantan, only the initial purpose of this market is to be able to maintain the stability of the price of grouper which is the main commodity in Langkat Regency.
5. | Lembang Floating Market, West Java
Another floating market in Indonesia is the Lembang Floating Market which occupies an area of 7.2 hectares located in the Lembang area, North Bandung, West Java. One of the things that makes this market different from other floating markets, this market is not only a place for buying and selling transactions, but also a combination of playing, learning, and culinary themes.
So, here you can not only buy all the necessities needed, but also at the same time invite your family to travel. There is a beautiful gazebo located on the edge of the lake as well as original and ancient houses that were deliberately imported from East Java, making this market even more beautiful and charming.
Not only that, you can also invite your family to rest in a house with Dutch, Thai, and Betawi architectural styles, you know. With such complete facilities, it is not surprising that this tourist destination is always filled with the hustle and bustle of visitors, especially on weekends. Lembang Floating Market operates from 08.00 to 21.00 WIB.
6. | Ah Poong Market, West Java
In the Sentul City area, Bogor, West Java, there is a floating market called Ah Poong. Unlike the floating markets in Indonesia that we discussed earlier, which still maintain the traditional style of the local community, Ah Poong Market actually carries a modern style.
Not just shopping to meet your daily needs, here you can also visit floating restaurants that serve a variety of foreign dishes while watching the sights of traders selling their various wares using their boats.
Initially, this market was initiated by Bondan Winarno who is a writer, journalist, and presenter of a culinary program on television in collaboration with the management of Eat and Eat. The concept is also to combine a market with an open-air restaurant filled with boats on the Cikeas River.
Using a boat from Vietnam, you can even cross the river by renting a boat there.
7. | Nusantara Floating Market, East Java
You can also find a floating market in East Java under the name Pasar Apung Nusantara and it is located in Batu City, Malang. Not much different from other floating markets in Indonesia, this market is also filled with traders who sell various daily necessities on boats, ranging from various vegetables, fruits, staple foods, household needs, and many more.
Here, you can even rent a boat to go around the market while hunting for various culinary delights from across the archipelago, such as Java, Lombok, Kalimantan, and many more. If you want to take photos, it is recommended to come at night because all the lights or lanterns will be lit so that the appearance of rivers and traditional buildings looks more beautiful and charming.
Starting to operate at 12.00 – 21.00 WIB, you can at least find around 80 food and souvenir stands that are very mandatory to visit.
So, those are 7 floating markets in Indonesia that you must visit when you are traveling.
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