Field Notes: Morning at Pasar Puri Indah

I got there by 7 AM, just like the last two times. For me, that’s the sweet spot when the light is soft, the crowd is waking up, and everything that happens is more than a transaction in the usual wet market, but a dance. Pasar Puri Indah isn’t exactly a secret, but it still feels untouched in the best way. Fresh. Human. 

The parking is wide open, which already makes the morning feel easier. The market itself sits inside a big hangar-like structure. Part of it is a wet market, while the other part is just.. everything-else. Groceries, food stalls, traditional desserts, apotek, kitchen stuff, anything you can think of, all thrown together like they’ve always belonged that way. No pretense, no design, just function and familiarity.

What really pulls me in are the people. The acek-acek who quietly waits for his regulars to stop by his stall. The koko-koko carrying little kids on their backs (doing their job as a good father or uncle) make a morning stroll in the market feel like a weekend adventure worth waiting for. In a quieter nook, the slow walk of a popo, her white hair catching the morning light just right. And two elderly couples, carefully choosing fruits they’re about to bring back home.

Other than faces and gestures, what also stood out to me were the food signs hanging above the stalls. Some typed, as if carelessly, then printed just like that, while some didn’t even try—they were scribbled out with a marker. To me, they look like a happy accident, with no branding in sight, no hurdles over the right proportion. There’s a rawness to them that feels delicate and unfiltered. Come to think of it, that’s also how I like my people.

I’m also here for the food! Most of what I’ve tried has been a solid ten per ten. A few stalls are still on the list, but so far, nothing’s missed. If you go, don’t leave without trying Bakmi Karet Planet. It doesn’t look like much, but the noodles got that perfect chew. It’s the kind of bowl you finish without thinking too much, because it’s already doing the talking. Honest food, no gimmicks. Just like the market itself.

Taken with: RICOH GR III HDF