consumer trends and take their financial
risks; farmers base their crop on prospective
consumer demand and weather then pray
for the best. And those of us in between,
foreign
and
local,
observe
with
characteristic and learned assumptions or
just ‘cannot be bothered.’
We might assess this phenomenon from the
ground-view of Bali’s traditional markets and supermarkets, where we can actually see
what, how and how much, from where, and to whom products are being sold. After
and beyond this reading, this kind of assessment is something that everyone can do via
their own devices.
In a small survey taken in the Denpasar area, 65% of shoppers say they shop at both the
traditional market and supermarket; about 30% say they only shop at the supermarket;
and a bit less than 5% say they alone shop at the traditional marketplace. They shared
typical thoughts about each market. The traditional market, they say, is crowded, dirty,
cheaper, with no Western food. The supermarket is expensive, clean, big, modern, and
cold. The former one has bargaining-potential and enjoys community-orientated
interaction, whereas the latter is easily navigable and often includes high taxation. One
shopper even said that the supermarket includes a security advantage, that it has
“safety from terrorists,” an obvious fear triggered from media portrayals from afar. The
shoppers swinging both ways said that they plan on shopping at both markets with age.
Besides the usual local views expressed above, what’s the condition of the
marketplace? One traveling around the globe may easily see that Bali’s traditional
markets are decaying compared to other markets in South East Asia and South
America, for example, wherein the traditional marketplace does not appear to be as
threatened and is still effectively the kernel of community and civilization. It can also be
observed that product diversity is lesser in Bali’s markets, and deficient cleanliness in the
food zones hollers—time for a scrubbin’.