Traditional Local Market

Ethical Trekking in Bukit Lawang

The local traditional market in Bukit Lawang offers a vibrant glimpse into the daily life and culture of the local people. Here's what you can expect to find:

  • Fresh Produce: The market is abundant with fresh fruits and vegetables, sourced from nearby farms. You can find tropical fruits like bananas, papayas, and durians, as well as various leafy greens and other vegetables.
  • Spices and Herbs: A variety of locally grown spices and herbs are available, essential for Indonesian cooking. These include turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, and chili peppers.
  • Seafood and Meats: Freshly caught fish from nearby rivers and meats are sold, reflecting the local dietary staples.
  • Handicrafts: Traditional handmade crafts, such as woven baskets, wood carvings, and batik textiles, can be found. These items make for unique souvenirs.
  • Street Food: Vendors selling traditional Indonesian snacks and meals are common. You can try dishes like nasi goreng (fried rice), satay (grilled skewers), and various fried snacks.
  • Clothing and Textiles: Traditional clothing, including sarongs and other garments, are available. The textiles often feature vibrant patterns and colors.
  • Household Items: Everyday essentials for local households, such as kitchenware, tools, and utensils, are also sold in the market.

Friday Market

  • Timing: As the name suggests, this market operates every Friday. It typically starts early in the morning and continues until the afternoon.
  • Location: The market is usually held near the entrance of Bukit Lawang village.
  • Offerings: The Friday market is vibrant and bustling with activity, offering a variety of goods. You can find fresh produce, spices, meats, fish, and other food items. There are also stalls selling clothes, household items, and handmade crafts.
  • Local Experience: This market is a great place to experience local life and interact with the residents. It’s an excellent opportunity to see traditional Indonesian market culture in action.

To get to the Market from Bukit Lawang:

Walking:

  • Follow the street towards the Bus Station Gotong Royong.
  • The walk will take approximately 15 minutes.

Tuk-Tuk:

  • Head to the Bukit Lawang station (Terminal bawah).
  • Take a tuk-tuk to the Market (Pajak Gotong Royong) is cost 10,000 Rp.

Local Market

  • Daily Market: Apart from the Friday market, there are smaller markets and shops that operate daily in Bukit Lawang.
  • Products: These markets cater to the daily needs of the locals and offer fresh vegetables, fruits, and other groceries. There are also small eateries and vendors selling snacks and meals.
  • Tourist Souvenirs: Some stalls cater specifically to tourists, selling souvenirs like handmade crafts, local textiles, and other keepsakes.

Tips for Visiting

  • Bargaining: Bargaining is common in these markets, so don’t hesitate to negotiate prices.
  • Local Delicacies: Try local snacks and delicacies available at the food stalls.
  • Cash: Ensure you have enough cash, as credit card facilities may not be available.

Here's a more organized format for the traditional dishes and where to find them around Bukit Lawang and Bohorok:

Snacks and Sweets

Putu Bambu

  • Description: Steamed cake made from rice flour, filled with palm sugar, and coated in grated coconut.
  • Location: Bohorok, near the four-way junction by the banks.
  • Price: 500 IDR each.

Martabak Manis

  • Description: Thick pancake with fillings like peanuts, chocolate, glutinous rice, and sweetcorn.
  •  Location: Bohorok (5,000 IDR) and Bukit Lawang’s Friday market (3 for 10,000 IDR).

Pisang Molen

  • Description: Sweet bananas encased in pastry and deep-fried.
  • Location: Main road out of Bukit Lawang at the junction with the road to the Rindu Alam/Ecolodge hotel, just before dusk.
  • Price: 1,000 IDR.

Es Campur

  • Description: Mixed ice with palm sugar, coconut milk, and other sweet ingredients.
  • Location: Roadside stalls, Gotong Royong’s Friday market.
  • Price: 5,000 IDR.

Kue Pancong

  • Description: Cake made from rice flour cooked fresh by vendors.
  • Location: Sometimes found in Bukit Lawang.

Tapé

  • Description: Fermented food made from cassava or glutinous rice, slightly alcoholic.
  • Location: Strolling vendors and Friday market.

Kelapa Muda

  • Description: Young coconut served whole or with ice, palm/cane sugar syrup, and calamansi lime.
  • Location: Outside Bukit Lawang market, weekends in Bukit Lawang, opposite the Muslim graveyard around 7 km from Bukit Lawang towards Bohorok.
  • Price: Whole (10,000 IDR), with ice (5,000 IDR).

Savory Dishes

Martabak Telur/Martabak Daging

  • Description: Bread similar to roti canai, stuffed with seasoned egg (telur) or beef (daging), served with vegetable curry sauce.
  • Location: Travelling stalls between Bohorok and Bukit Lawang.

Mie Tiaw Goreng

  • Description: Fried flat rice noodles with spicy sambal.
  • Location: Most local warung.
  • Price: 10,000 IDR.

Babi Panggang Karo

  • Description: Marinated pork grilled over charcoal with pig’s blood sambal and rice.
  • Location: Gotong Royong (Wednesday to Friday mornings), beyond Bohorok towards Batu Katak (Saturday and Sunday).
  • Price: 20,000 IDR with rice and soup.

Lomok-lomok

  • Description: Pork cooked in its blood with spices.
  • Location: Same places as Babi Panggang Karo.
  • Price: 20,000 IDR with rice.

Lontong

  • Description: Rice boiled in banana leaves, served with curry sauce, yellow noodles, and sambal telur.
  • Location: Various local warung, best spot is the last warung on the left before Bukit Lawang’s cave.
  • Price: 7,000 IDR with egg.

Perkedel

  • Description: Fried potato cakes with egg and seasoning.
  • Location: With lontong and nasi campur places.
  • Price: 1,000 IDR each.

Sayur Asam

  • Description: Sour vegetable soup made with torch ginger, lemongrass, lime, often with fish.
  • Location: Nasi campur places.

Semur Ayam

  • Description: Chicken cooked in sweet soy sauce with spices.
  • Location: Nasi campur places and some tourist restaurants.

Rujak

  • Description: Mixed fruit with spicy peanut sauce.
  • Location: Gotong Royong village from noon till dusk.
  • Price: 5,000 IDR.

Street Food and Common Dishes

Sate

  • Description: Grilled meat on sticks, typically chicken or beef.
  • Location: Gotong Royong, 4-way junction in Bohorok (evenings).
  • Price: 10,000 IDR for 4 sticks with lontong and peanut sauce, extra sticks 2,000 IDR each.

Pangsit Ayam/Mie Ayam

  • Description: Noodle soup with chicken.
  • Location:Roadside carts and vendors.

Bakso

  • Description: Meatball soup.
  • Location: Same vendors as pangsit ayam.

Indomie Kuah

  • Description: Ramen noodles in soup with egg and vegetables.
  • Location: Common everywhere.

Nasi Goreng

  • Description: Fried rice with chili paste and sweet soy sauce, often served with egg and fried chicken.
  • Location: Most restaurants and warung, particularly at Agus’ shack near the parking area in Bukit Lawang (from 9pm).

Mie Aceh

  • Description: Fried noodles with beef or goat in spicy Acehnese sauce.
  • Location: Housing estate above Bukit Lawang.
  • Price: 10,000 IDR.

Rendang

  • Description: Spicy beef or chicken stew.
  • Location: Nasi campur places, more commonly chicken rendang.

Special Dish

Bubur Pedas

  • Description: Porridge dish with mung beans, rice, ferns, shrimp, and coconut milk, sold during Ramadan.
  • Location: Roadside vendors along Bukit Lawang – Bohorok road during Ramadan.
  •  Price: 5,000 IDR.

Visiting the Friday market and local markets in Bukit Lawang provides a rich cultural experience and a chance to immerse yourself in the local community.

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