Gianyar, Regency

Ubud Market a Place
for Meeting People

Markets, for the Balinese, is not only a place for transacting goods for daily needs, Markets are also taken advantage for as places for meeting people. Youngsters often meet their marriage partner at markets. It is proved by the life story of a royal servant, Jaya Prana. It is told that a handsome bachelor, Jaya Prana, looked for and met his marriage partner at the market.
Ubud Market is nestled southward of Puri Ubud. It spreads out on the extent of 5,400 m2 (180x30 meters) and managed by the Regional Government of Gianyar. “There are 723 traders operating here generally from the area around Ubud. The market can be accessed through three gates, one in the west and two in the north,” said Wayan Rojana, the Head of Ubud Market, to Bali Travel News.
Entering from the west gate will meet traders that sell agricultural products. They sell their own harvest products like young coconut leafs, coconut, banana leafs, bananas and other crops. Their goods look so fresh as if they were are just picked the day before. The traders here are farmers in the vicinity of Ubud, like Bangkiang Sidem, Keliki, Klabang Moding Village and some others. As soon as their goods sell out, they buy their daily needs that they need to consume.
Here, there are traders that are ‘surrounded’ by buyers. They sell steamed rice with relish of grated coconut and spices, porridge and Balinese cakes. Steamed rice and porridge is usually bought by workers who live at boarding houses around Ubud. They have no time to cook themselves. Balinese cakes sell well because the owners of inns prefer to provide these cakes as a breakfast menu for their guests, as stated by Wayan Balik Rudita, the owner of the Ubud Terrace inn.
When entering through the two gates to the north, the situation is more crowded as more spacious parking lots are available. Those who bring their motorbike will be provided a space at the westward of Melanting Temple (temple of the market). While the east of Melanting Temple is earmarked for car parking. The center of this traditional market is located at the southeastern part, here, traders are allocated space based on the category of goods they sell. Meat traders are located in the northern part, food and beverages in the eastern, agricultural products in the southern, while in the western part are vegetables.
If you happen to spend the night in Ubud, do not forget to wake up earlier in the morning and see how Ubud inhabitants start their daily activity from this market. If you stay more than a day, just ask anybody when is market day.
Market days normally fall once in three days. On this day, the market will be busier than on usual days, caused by the traders around Ubud coming to buy supplies for their home stalls. (BTN/Made Suambara)