Travel Indonesia Part 7

Shopping in Bali is a prerequisite for all travellers. So what if it's no longer affordable. Gone are the days of cheap bargains, however the variety of things you can find, which are so totally unique is astounding and you are sure to make a statement when you return with your wonders.

If you are looking for high fashion, Seminyak is the place to visit and do your fashion shopping.

Furniture and home ware is also in abundance here. Beautifully carved Javanese teak furniture is truly breath taking. In the past we have brought back two containers and it was real easy to do.

Our agent took us around showrooms and furniture galleries, we pointed at what we liked and were told the price and then stood around haggling for a better deal. Six weeks later our goodies arrived in a container on our roadside and we hired a team of workers to unload the heavy consignment.

Sadly our agent no longer operates in Bali, his offices no longer exist and our agent Alit has also vanished. The cheap Balinese furniture no longer exists too. Most pieces are quoted in Dollars and it's really not for the average South African pocket.

This time around Tomas and I rode our scooter through Ubud, very slowly, we ooooh'd and aaah'd at the wonderful treasures and were so inspired by the talent and creativity and expert craftsmanship of the pieces on display in the windows.

I can recommend a browse through one of the Bali art markets, they are found in most towns and villages and the various items you will find are typically Balinese, completely unique and mostly not available anywhere else in the world. Ubud Art Market is one among the laid-back strolls, reachable from the Wanara Wana Monkey Forest Sanctuary just down south, an approximate kilometre from the market.

For me shopping in Bali is not always about making a purchase. I just love browsing past the variety of items on display; from one stall to another it is a highlight all on its own. I get so inspired and want to buy almost every item, I marvel at the craftsmanship and the artistry of the Balinese. There are so many shops, the streets are lined with stalls filled with breath-taking artefacts, tree roots fashioned into couches and the most creative goods you can imagine.

There are art markets all over Bali's main tourism destinations like Kuta, however the Ubud Art Market prides itself on having higher quality items and a larger selection than most.

Beach sarongs and tee-shirts with "Bali" written on them, ikat woven kilts, Balinese style paintings, woodcarvings and woven baskets can be found almost everywhere on the island, items ranging from quadruple-coloured bohemian skirts of satin, Moroccan-style oil lamps, quilt-stitched batik camisoles and brass Buddha statuettes, are some of the fundamental, typical Ubud Art Market curios.

The Ubud Art Market, locally referred to as 'Pasar Seni Ubud' is located opposite the Puri Saren Royal Ubud Palace and is open daily. Here we found beautiful silk scarves, outrageous tee shirts, hand crafted woven bags, baskets and hats; wood statues, stone statues and colourful kites among the huge selection of goods.

Most of the goods found at the Ubud Market are made in the neighbouring villages. The village of Celuk, located approximately 4km southwest of the Sukawati District, is also Bali's major centre for goldsmiths and silversmiths. The main road of Jalan Raya Celuk is lined up with galleries and workshops.

The village is usually an included stopover on tour itineraries to the central and northern regions such as Ubud and Kintamani. The silver and gold shops line the roads approximately 10km northeast from Denpasar. The village of Celuk is also a link between Bali's Batubulan-Mas-Sukawati-Ubud "golden pentacle" of artisans and craftsmen.

You might want to pack an extra shopping bag or small suitcase so you'll be able to bring back all your extra goodies.