A Visit to Jimbaran

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One thing I always make a point to visit on my travels is local markets. Markets offer a chance to see everyday life up close and “for real,” in a way that no brochure, tour, or itinerary could ever offer. On this particular day, I decided to venture out to Jimbaran (about 20 minutes west of Tanjung Benoa) to check out the local fish market. Initially, I thought about being there for 6:00 a.m. when the market opened so I could witness the action straightaway. Then, realizing that I was, after all, on holiday, I decided to go a little later in the morning. Even at that hour the market did not disappoint — though I wasn’t at all sure what to expect when the cab dropped me in front of a rather run-down old building as the accompanying photo shows. Inside, however (where I was the only non-local, save for one Japanese tourist), the market was abuzz — a virtual beehive of activity.

After wandering the stalls for a few minutes and inspecting the day's catch, not wanting to be too intrusive, I found myself outside again, in the bright sunshine. Leaving the market, I decided to take walk along Jimbaran Beach. En route, I saw lone fishermen with their rods at the ready, groups of men untying myriads of fish netting, a father and son, a group of boys wandering aimlessly along, seemingly without any cares in the world ...

After strolling the beach, I found myself at a busy intersection and witnessed more of Jimbaran’s colourful charm first hand.

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Photos

Mar20-01
The fish market in Jimbaran

Mar20-02
At the Jimbaran fish market

Mar20-03
More from the fish market

Mar20-04
And still more from the fish market ...

Mar20-05
Street stall, across from the fish market

Mar20-06
Catching the day's wares at Jimbaran Beach

Mar20-07
What could be better? Whiling away the day at Jimbaran Beach in idyllic Bali.

Mar20-08
Untangling netting at Jimbaran Beach

Mar20-09
The untangling continued ...

Mar20-10
And continued ...

Mar20-11
Father and son at Jimbaran Beach

Mar20-12
Jimbaran Beach: this shot says it all.

Mar20-13
A small strip, off-beach, in Jimbaran. The views of the beach make one of the places in Bali to watch the sun set.

Mar20-14
Bikes are everywhere here ...

Mar20-15
Drink delivery? The crate on the lower right carries Bintang, seemingly everywhere, and the beer to drink in Bali. Upon returning to Canada, we learned that Bintang is supposedly Heineken. This may require some more research.

Mar20-16
Gives new meaning to the term dinner lineup ...

Mar20-17
A young girl makes an offering at the end of her driveway, the day after the March 19th Galungan festival, on a quiet street in Jimbaran

Mar20-18
A common means of carrying things in Bali

Mar20-19
Friendly vendor on a busy street in Jimbaran selling a form of goreng (fried rice or noodle dish with chicken and egg and usually some seafood). As most people in Bali (90+ per cent) adhere to Balinese Hinduism, they do not eat beef, though it is available for travellers. In Indonesia, adherence to Hinduism is the exception rather than the rule, as the majority of the Indonesian population follows Islamic traditions.

Mar20-20
A drinks vendor on a busy Jimbaran street.

Mar20-21
A Wall's ice cream vendor at the forefront, with iconic shots of Bali's motorbike and temple traditions in the background

Mar20-22
The red in this photo caught my eye, at a small stall adjacent to a busy Jimbaran street