Banjarmasin is one of the major cities in Indonesia which is located in one of the largest island in Indonesia, Borneo. Banjarmasin that comes into the area of South Kalimantan province, as quoted from the website of Banjarmasin local governments, has an area of about 72 km per side, or approximately 0.22 percent of the total area of South Kalimantan.
Split by the river Martapura provide a separate characteristic of community life, especially the use of the river as a means of water transportation, trade and tourism. As the provincial capital of Banjarmasin is the trade and tourism center. The city is nicknamed City Water because the location of the land is a few inches below the sea surface. The most famous is the floating market of Banjarmasin.
The presence of a floating market itself can not be separated from the historical city of Banjarmasin. As quoted from the blog gitacinta.multiply.com, in the year 1526 Barelang establish the kingdom on the banks of the river Barito and Health and became the forerunners of the city of Banjarmasin. On the banks of this river is also a traditional trading center began to grow. In addition to a floating market in Banjarmasin and Health Estuary, the other floating market we can meet in the Lok Baintan above Martapura River. But the buoyant market here is not as popular as Banjarmasin and Health estuary possibly because of its location is quite far from downtown.
To be able to enjoy the exotic floating market, we can rent a motor boat called Kelotok water. Rents ranged from a Kelotok between Rp50.000 to Rp70.000 depending on the number of passengers. Travel from downtown to the floating market of Banjarmasin and Health takes about 1 hour by boat this kelotok, whereas the land transport only takes about 15 minutes.
As quoted from the May 2006 edition Mediahalo, kelotok by boat we can see the culture of the Banjar people selling vegetables, cakes, food and drink typical Banjarmasin, like Soto Banjar can be enjoyed from the boat (if not using kelotok) or can be transact directly from boat to boat. This buoyant market held each day beginning at 5 am to 8 am. (Wta/310308)
Source: from various sources
