Starting the Day with a "Mystery Noodle" Soup
I arrived in Ambon yesterday, but today (August 20th) is when my real island adventure begins.
First up: breakfast. I hit up a nearby street stall and ordered Bakso (Indonesian meatball soup). But wait, there was this pale, bluish, shirataki-like noodle mixed in. It was my first time trying it, and the texture was super unique and fresh!
Right next to it, I also spotted a bowl of Bubur Manado, a savory porridge loaded with vegetables and crispy fried shallots on top—another local specialty I couldn't resist trying.
Since my hotel check-in wasn't until 2:00 PM, I decided to kill some time at a local cafe.
And guess what? I ran into a local guy who used to live in Fukuoka, Japan! We ended up chatting away in fluent Japanese. Seriously, what are the odds of having a full-on Fukuoka conversation on a remote Indonesian island?
After that, I grabbed some fresh dragon fruit from a nearby stand for a quick energy boost.
The City of Music and Timor Culture
With plenty of time on my hands, I started wandering around the city.
Turns out, Ambon is famously known as the "City of Music." As you walk around, you'll literally see musical notes painted on the concrete and a massive violin monument standing right in the middle of a major park. Apparently, the city has produced a ton of famous singers.
While strolling, I also spotted some beautiful traditional bags made of woven wood (totally forgot the name, but they looked awesome).
You also can't miss the distinct Timor cultural patterns carved into the buildings and monuments—lots of sun motifs in red and white, plus striking black-and-red or yellow-and-black designs. I absolutely love noticing these little cultural shifts from island to island.
Wandering deeper into the older parts of town, the streets got narrower and busier, packed with shops, motorbikes, and everyday city life.
Pure Chaos and a Seafood Jackpot
Later, I made my way down to the port side to check out the fish market (Pasar Ikan).
Let me tell you, it was absolute chaos!
It was way more packed than the main streets. Motorbikes weaving everywhere, mountains of food, kids running wild, and yeah, a shocking amount of trash floating in the ocean. It was a sensory overload in every way possible.
But honestly? I kind of love that raw, anything-goes energy.
I navigated my way through the madness and found a small street stall just north of the market to grab a late lunch. I ordered some local fish, and man, it was incredible! The best part? It only cost me about $2 to $3 USD.
Today was a great reminder that you can't just rely on the internet. You have to get out there, walk the streets, and follow your gut when you stumble upon a spot that just feels right. I can't wait to see what else my intuition leads me to in Ambon tomorrow!
