Glodok and Pasar Tanah Abang

It is really quite easy to get around Jakarta and the surroundings. Their Busway system is confusing but quite efficient in getting you where you want to go. You just need to pay 3,500 rp and you can then transfer from one bus shelter to another via sheltered walkways without ever leaving the Busway system.

On this Sunday morning, there was some sort of walkathon going on. And the number of people involved, all along the road as far as the eyes can see.

We visited a few markets today. First there was the Pasar Tanah Abang which is within walking distance from our hotel, about 15 minutes slow walk. It is actually a building, almost like an old shopping mall, which sells clothes, men, women, children. But what is more interesting are the roadside stalls around the market.

 

 

There are stalls selling all kinds of fruits, shoes, toys, food, goats and even birds. However, the one thing they didn't have and which I was looking for, was keropok.

So we took the Busway to Glodok, which is supposed to be the "Chinatown" and searched there. Here the Pasar Glodok is even more interesting. The goods available here include Chinese medicine, Chinese artefacts, a whole selection of electronic goods, a wet market in the basement, all kinds of candies and biscuits and even rosewood furniture. I found what I was looking for, prawn keropok, fish keropok, emping keropok and even sugared dried prawns.

Once again, the streets surrounding the "pasar" were more interesting. It is a street market where you can get almost anything. Golden nail clippers, stuffed toys, traditional combs, pots and pans, slippers etc etc etc. Things I have not seen for a long time were also available there. It was definitely worth our time to travel there. All kinds of street food was also available. Unfortunately, I was too engrossed in looking and shopping that I did not take many photos of the place. Next time I will remember to photograph more to show you what I mean.