I Took These Images At A Local Balinese Market Near Ubud, And I’m Posting Them Here To Give You A Taste Of Local Life.
Bali is undoubtedly a hot spot for tourism in South East Asia. The Indonesian Island is a favourite amongst tourists and travellers alike, and at times the busy streets and hawkers can become overwhelming in the more popular areas.
Part of the long appeal of Bali has always been the locals. Their openness to visitors and foreigners is hospitable at worst and legendary at best. Their culture is unique amongst the thousands of islands that comprise Indonesia, their ceremonies and traditions are like no where else.
Sometimes this can be lost on the crammed shopping streets selling Bintang shirts and offering massages, or amongst the hustle of taxi drivers fighting for business. The local culture becomes hidden and obscured under a veil of tourism and profits.
The lingering beauty of Bali though, the compelling reason why so many people still flock here is that away from the bulging tourist spots Balinese life goes on in its own way, and the traditions and everyday habits of the locals continue as they have for years. And that’s what many come here in search of.
Near Ubud- a town synonymous with tourism, ever heard of Eat, Pray, Love??!– I took a step away from the busy streets and found myself in a small local market as the vendors sold not souvenirs but local produce and food.
Any market in the world offers an insight into local customs, it’s a snap shot into a different culture, a different way of life and different traditions.
In Bali, a place at times exhausting for visitors, it is a welcome reminder of why this island was always so intriguing to travellers in the first place.
Here are the latest Photos From The Road, images from a Balinese market near Ubud!
This local market was hidden away in a small village just outside of the tourist hub Ubud. It was a place surrounded by green, watery rice paddies and winding roads full of mopeds.
The market was a cramped space, with narrow walkways and makeshift tarpaulins keeping out the frequent downpours and keeping the space relatively dry, but perpetually gloomy.
Amongst the darkened stalls were flashes of colour on the tables, as locals sold freshly gathered fruits and vegetables from the surrounding villages.
Other stalls were full of chickens and sliced up meat, ready to be sold and then turned into local Balinese curries with the rest of the ingredients for sale at the market.
The food for sale was a real insight into the culinary aspects of Balinese culture, the ingredients used and the type of cooking enjoyed by the locals.
There was plenty of chilli up for grabs too, used locally to make a fiery and delicious Sambal Paste for cooking and garnish.
The Balinese are very religious. It’s hard not to come across ceremonies and offerings in the streets, and the market is no exception. Incense is lit and for sale are little bundles of rice and flowers which are left at temples and shrines each day.
Bali is still full of hidden spots across the islands, the locals are welcoming and their traditions, religion and culture are unique. It’s a place that at times can seem like one big holiday island, but just around the corner will leave you immersed in a new culture and new experience.
All Photographs Property Of Richard Collett
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