Sungai Tabuk Sub-district, Banjar District, South Kalimantan. It is one of the famous floating markets in Indonesia. It has existed for centuries, long before roads connected places and the invention of money. At that time, the waterways served as a means of transportation and the hub of economic activity. Hence, people consider it as a surviving local wisdom. Up to now, they have used barter as the primary method. Meanwhile, the Rupiah and QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) are alternatives.
It takes around an hour's trip from Banjarmasin, the province's capital city. We can go there by klotok or traditional boats. On the other hand, we can go for land transportation, but it will take twice, or even thrice, longer because of the road conditions.
In addition, we can see the lives of people living near the riverbanks and doing their daily routines along the way. As bonuses, we will meet lovely sites, for example:
Jembatan Pasar Lama (Old Market Bridge)
Kampung Biru (Blue Village)
Kampung Hijau (Green Village)
Tambak ikan (fish farm)
Jembatan Gantung (Rope Bridge), Sungai Lulut Street.
You can guess from their names that the houses in the villages are painted blue and green. They do it for a reason: it is an easy way to single out the differences between them, and it embellishes them as well.
The market opens daily from 6 to 8 a.m. Following the river stream, there is no fixed point. Sometimes it goes upstream; the other day, it goes downstream. As a result, it adds its uniqueness.
Farmers and sellers, dominated by the Banjar tribe, use boats to trade (or exchange) goods and supplies. You may ask how to set the price in the barter method. Well, it depends on the agreement between them!
Therefore, one product possibly has diverse prices.
Women play as sellers for the most part, while men work on the farm. For the Banjar tribe, Lok Baintan is more than just a spot to trade agricultural and fishery products; they make the most of it to mingle among them.
When the weather is clear, the sunbeams spruce up the view. A blend of a calm and serene place, kind-hearted people, and fresh morning air fashions treasured memories. Believe us, you will never regret it!