Ubud is still very much the artistic centre of Bali, although it has gone through considerable change from the small artist's village it was a decade ago. It is now a centre of activity with a many different Balinese paintings on sale. Well-known and highly regarded galleries like the Neka, Agung Rai and Rudana are worth a visit.
The works of western artists can also be viewed. For example, Antonio Blanco has his collection displayed at his gallery and home, and Hans Snel's paintings are exhibited at his restaurant and hotel just a little off the main road.
Follow the main road and you'll pass many smaller galleries with different styles of paintings, and a collection of stores selling clothing, antiques, jewellery, handicrafts and also a few good bookshops. The central market too sells a variety of goods. Ubud's neighbouring villages of Peliatan, Penestanan and Pengosekan are also home to many artists and galleries.
Rabu, 08 April 2009
Ubud Shopping Spot
Silver Shopping in Celuk
Continue on the road to Ubud, and you'll pass through Celuk, the famous home of silver and gold artisans. Items upon items of all types of intricately designed pieces can be found.
The silver filigree work is simply astounding, with days of painstaking work in each piece.
Do remember to bargain when buying works of art from Celuk. Off the main road, in the villages where the craftsmen work and live, better prices and more variety awaits.
Batubulan Shopping
Batubulan was famous for its stone carvings. Stone sculptures were traditionally carved from Bali's rich source of soft volcanic rock, or paras, and used to decorate palaces and places of worship.
Bali's skilled craftsmen can make virtually anything from a well-known character in a Balinese story, to a little garden gnome. Items from all over Indonesia can really be found here. Serious buyers will have no problem finding great bargains.
Nusa Dua Shopping
Nusa Dua has a small charming market, with some neat bargains at its entranceway. If you venture out of the gates there's also the Tragia Supermarket and Department store and some leather shops and tailors close by.
Within the Nusa Dua complex is The Galena, a huge open-air shopping mall with stores selling fixed priced, high quality items. The Kris Gallery is also worth a try for things uniquely Bali. It is also good to know that all hotels have their own shopping areas with fairly exclusive products.
Shopping in Denpasar
The island capital is generally not a tourist area but there are still a few places worth checking out. The Kumbasari market near the river is a typical Indonesian market with household goods and clothing, spices and dried goods as well as fresh produce. The nearby Jalan Hasanudin, is a whole street of gold shops, selling 18-22 carat gold jewellery. A stone's throw away from Jalan Hasanudin is Jalan Sulawesi where all types of fabrics are sold. The whole street is lined with fabric stores with a few household ware stores peppered in between.
If you're looking for handicrafts check out the shops in Jalan Gajah Mada. The items are similar to those in Kuta, but without the persistent street hawkers to bother you. Denpasar also boasts of a wide range of department stores. Check out the Matahari, Libi, MA Department Store, New Dewata Ayu, Tiara Dewata, Ramayana or the Tragia.
Shopping in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak
Kuta's main road is lined with shops selling everything from swimwear, sarongs, handicrafts and CDs to jewelry, clothing, furniture and leather goods. There are even more street hawkers peddling watches and bracelets. Remember to firmly say no, if you're not interested.
The north of Legian Street, from Seminyak to Kerobokan, is now an enclave of boutiques specializing in local designer clothes, antiques, furniture and lifestyle goods. Stop for a bite to eat at interesting delis and warungs. Hawkers are scarce at this end of this street, so you'll have no need to worry about being harassed.
If you just don't enjoy haggling for the right price, Kuta has a number of department stores and shopping centres with fixed prices. Try Kuta Square and Kuta Centre located very close to each other in Jalan Kartika Plaza. Kuta Square is also popular with local shops and a branch of the Matahari Department Stores & Supermarket. Galena Nusa Dua with over 80 specialty shops is also a hit with the avid shopper, as it has everything a tourist and shopper could be interested in.
Body & Soul in Seminyak
Information :
exciting new "Seminyak Square" in Jl. Oberoi/Laksmana. The concept of the V.I.P store was to create a convenient
and unique shopping experience for the V.I.P Woman who is demanding, selective, style driven and savvy! At the Body and Soul V.I.P store, you can park and indulge in style, you will find the store interior sleek and with an International feel, the racks showcasing only our limited edition collections, bestsellers and new arrivals. Various item will not be available in any other Body and Soul stores.
