Traditional Market

Sunday morning bright and early, even before the sun rose, Regina and I headed to the traditional market. At 6:00 a.m. many of the outdoor stalls were only beginning to place their goods for sale. There are two different traditional markets in Cirebon and this one is the largest. Three or four city blocks where chock full of vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables along with fish, shrimp, meat, sweets and clothing, trinkets and toys. . Around each corner was a stand where either a person was cutting pineapple into delicate slices, or fresh jasmine buds and petite red flowers being arranged for cemetery decorations. Within the buildings were narrow rows and dark alley ways of broken cobblestone with every product for sale, imaginable. Butchers were hacking away at sides of lamb and goat, next to a vendor grinding coconut to collect the milk. Red chilies were every where in every stage, long bright red, fresh whole chili, sliced chili, and finally the type I purchased, fresh chili paste. Both fresh and salted varieties of fish were also available. There was the smell of delicious sweet dough being fried. Regina and I stopped to buy some – but the line was too long. So an elderly lady in line took us to another stall deep in the recesses of the building. Next to that vendor selling sweets, I purchased fresh made noodles. Besides the food, there were clothing, toys, and trinkets. We left at 7:30 and the market was teeming with people. It is open every day from 6:00 am until noon – when it is just too hot for both the people and the produce.