For those who have traveled Asia, it isn't a secret that markets are a great part of your trip. Be it an excursion into the deep, cavernous markets of Cambodia or to the tourist night markets in Laos, the fact is, this is where you will spend a lot of your time. While choosing the right market for the right occasion is necessary, one thing is for sure: The night market in Gili Trawangan is amazing.
Though it is obvious the market is created for foreigners (due to the somewhat inflated prices), Gili T’s night market is the absolute best place to get a decent meal. While Gili Trawangan has great restaurants (both western or local), the night market is seemingly a conglomeration of all the good stuff from each one. Food stalls are set up each night in front of the main harbor, and while you may only have a few dollars in your pocket, you are going to get a good meal.
To start of your night, a man named Joe sells grilled corn at the gate. For around a dollar, Joe will grill your corn and lather it up in salt, butter and Indonesian spices. You can eat your corn on a stick while walking around the many stalls offering a plethora of barbecued fish, squid, lobster, prawn, beef or chicken.
On top of these options, there are also the local Indonesia favorites, as well fruit juice vendors and refrigerators full of Bintang Beer. The tough part of the night is actually deciding which stall will tempt you over the rest. This decision can lead to spending a few extra nights on Gili Trawangan.
For those with a sweet tooth, there is also an entire stand dedicated to tasty sweets from around the world. For $.50 a pop, you can’t go wrong giving into your sweet tooth’s desire. While the night market may be a huge trap for the tourists, it isn't a bad trap to be in. Whether you are looking to spend $1 or $10, either way you will go home satisfied.
Photo courtesy of Red Bubble
2 comments