|
|
|
Bali Shopping Fun
t is said that shopping is kiosks, soon the taxi drivers,
a serious hobby, might be. shopkeepers and the restaurant's
To some, shopping sometime staffs wave their hands and say
is considered a way to alleviate the common word "kemana" means
stress or just a fun. In fact where are you going?, have a
shopping is everyone's need, but look. Sometimes they want to
Bali is a place where one can shake hand and take you into his
examine or to practice one's shop. Smile and say hello to
personal bargaining skills. them, keep walking, but if you
Unless the product is see something that you are
price-tagged, bargaining is the looking for stop and enter, ask
"habit or the tradition". the price.
Bali is a shopper's paradise. Try not to accept the first price
Hundreds of boutiques and that you are given, as most
roadside stalls have been set up vendors add on anything between
all over the island, and 30%-50% extra. Bargain or go to
thousands of artisans, other shops. The most common word
craftspeople, seamstresses, said by the Balinese vendor is
woodcarvers, painters, etc are "bangkrut" means bankrupt, if the
kept busy supplying the tourist price you make is thought to low.
demand. Sometimes swarms of Usually if the vendor cease to
vendors crowd the beaches and smile, it's mean you got the
streets offering you T-Shirts, price. If you spent good enough
sarong, necklaces, friendship money in one shop, try to ask
bracelets, drinks and watches. him/her a souvenir, he/she will
be very glad to offer you one for
Go out from your hotel and then free.
stroll along the road which is
lined by myriads of shops and You'll get more for your money,
if you are prepared to spend time Textiles in Gianyar, Klungkung,
and smile whilst bargaining. Karangasem (Tenganan), Kuta and
Although tempting, try not to Denpasar. Kuta has the best
make any major purchases for the shopping, but you have to deal
first few days. Look around, take with the crassness (sometimes) of
your time, bargain hard and then the shopkeepers. If you do not
buy....and so to shopping. A fun stay in Kuta during your vacation
isn't it? Where and what to buy in Bali and wish to shop there,
is the next step. take a cab, stop and down in Kuta
Center, this is the appropriate
The variety is literally endless. place to reach the neighboring
Most of the handicrafts and sites like Legian and Seminak by
paintings can be found in the taxi, there are hundreds of good
district of Gianyar. The village shops. At Kuta Center you can
of Mas and Kemenuh is famed of find many quality shops, arts
its best and talented wood market, supermarket and
carvers, you can visit a workshop department store (Matahari and
where artisans in work, they Centro applied fixed prices).
produce either masterpieces or
mass productions. Ubud is famed Antiques: The "antique" business
of its talented painters either in Bali is booming. Carve a split
classical, traditional or piece of wood, paint it and bury
contemporary style. The best it in the ground for a month and
thing to do is to go to the major wow! an antique. You need very
galleries, see which artist you careful when buying antiques.
like and seek them out at their Mind you, you can find all sorts
home (if you have enough time). of interesting items in the shops
Remember bargaining is a "norm". in Batubulan, Kuta, and
Klungkung, but there's no
guarantee as to their age.
as well as in all the major
Ceramics: The village of Pejaten tourist areas. Pasar Sukawati and
in Tabanan has whimsical and Ubud is a good place to visit,
serious tiles as well as chockfull of these things at rock
stoneware plates, bowls and the bottom prices. Leather goods can
like. Good quality of stoneware now be found in all the shops in
can be found also in Kapal. Kuta, Sanur and Ubud.
Ceramics shops can be found also
in Sanur Jl. D. Tamblingan, Kuta Batiks: The spiraling designs and
and Ubud. geometric patterns of Javanese
batik are seen everywhere on the
Gold & Silver: Celuk, Kamasan and island as part of the daily dress
Bratan are the center for metal of the Balinese. Buffaloes,
working, where all such ornaments birds, masks, and puppet figures
are on sale at reasonable prices are some of the motives entwined
(bargaining is a must). The in characteristic compositions.
craftsmen will also produce Most of what is being sold on the
pieces and settings to order, street by vendors is not batiks,
just bring them a drawing or a but printed materials which the
sample to copy. If you don't like Balinese use for tablecloths.
it, they'll smelt it down and High quality of hand made batik
start over. paintings are produced now. The
center of batiks is the village
Handicrafts and souvenirs like of Tohpati. Best factory to visit
bamboo implements, puppets and is Batik Populer and Kartika
ornaments made of coconut shell Candra.
and teakwood, hats and baskets,
wooden earrings, keychains, So don't wait to long, plan your
clothes, pen and ink paintings vacation and chose Bali is a
are sold at most souvenir shops shoppers paradise for your travel
destination. Go online and visit beautiful island located in
hotel reservation website and Indonesia, one of the best
booked your preferred Bali tourist destinations in Asia.
Hotels. Bali is a small and very
About the Author:
Made Dertha was an English and Italian tour guide for many years in Bali, writes for Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now. Bali Turista is focusing on Bali hotels and villas reservation. Just visit www.baliturismo.com
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
