Shopping in bali

As any hot Asian destination, Bali is a shopper’s paradise. Key tourist roads are packed with shops and stalls offering crafts of all kinds. Before you indulge in shopping, remember that the first price is not the last in Bali. Attempt bargaining and you will see magical results.

Though meals in restaurants, room rates at hotels and items in department stores are usually fixed, you can haggle on nearly everything else. The trick is appear “not too excited” to buy or “amazed” at low prices. Tourists will usually cough more than the locals, but then beautiful stuff at such low prices is what we call a real “steal”.

Balinese Jewelry
Balinese silver is 80% to 90% pure. Gold is 22k to 24k. If the designs are not to your liking, you can have one custom-made. Kamasan (located in the south of Klungkung), Celuk, and Bratan (Buleleng) are the time-honored centers for gold and silver jewelry. A traditional gold working community is Sukawati. If you want modern designs, go to Kuta. The gold shops in JI. Sulawesi and JI. Hasanuddin in Denpasar are also worth a look.

Balinese Souvenir
JI. Legian in Kuta/Legian, Ubud and the Sukawati Market, on the way from Denpasar to Ubud has an extensive selection of Balinese souvenirs.

Balinese Antiques
Kuta and Denpasar are the best places to rummage for antique fabrics, ornate beds, keris daggers, ceramics, palm-leaf books, ancient statues, and figurines. Keep in mind that antique reproduction is a lucrative business in Bali. The best assurance is to shop around until you get a keen sense of quality and pricing. Note that before you can take home any antique older than 25 years, you must first secure a letter from the Museum Section of the Department of Education and Culture.

Balinese Carving
The major spots for polished wood carvings are Kemenuh and Mas. The Tilem Gallery in Mas is worth checking out. For wood panels, go to Batuan. For giant statues and painted carvings, troop to Sebatu and Pujung. Masks can be acquired at Singapadu, Batuan and Mas. Traditional Balinese stone carvings are crafted from volcanic pumice or paras. These can be found in Batubulan.

Balinese Textiles
Ikat factories are concentrated in Gianyar, though Singaraja and Klungkung are also recognized producers. Sideman, Blayu (between Mengwi and Marga) create the fancy songket (with silver and gold threads woven in it). Lovely selendang or temple sashes can be found in Mengwi and Batuan, Ubud. The delicate geringsing cloth is exclusive to Tenganan while the batik of the Balinese are found everywhere in Indonesia.

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