Traditional Market

On the day of celebration for Chinese New Year Sister Bench took Elder and I to a traditional market...the largest one in Surabaya.  We do not shop at traditional markets because the prices skyrocket when they see a white person!  The market was like a maze...walking down cobblestone streets, weaving in every direction, going on for maybe a mile or so!  We would have been completely lost without a guide!!  One woman reached out and grabbed my arm while speaking Indonesian...Sister Bench said something firmly to her and she finally let go!  Some called out to us, but most simply stared!   We try to be friendly and smile and say 'halo' (hello) to each person we see...and most respond in the same way :)

Couple selling scallions

Baskets full of chickens....they grab a chicken, throw it in a pot of boiling water (pot on right), pull it out of that pot and toss it into another one ( pot on left) where the feathers come off.  Then they pull it out and throw it onto the table where the insides are removed.  A man was sitting on the ground with a bucket of filthy water cleaning the intestines as they came out of the chickens (they sell those separately).  Restaurants, groceries and individuals then come and make their purchases!

Baskets of dried fish and fish parts...you can imagine that the olfactory organs are on overload :)

Women preparing scallions...note the chicken walking through....they are all around!

The fresh fish market...they were waiting for the trucks to arrive with the days catches

Photos do absolutely nothing to actually describe the experience....wish you could be here and go with us!!