travel souvenirs — part 10

 

Balinese batik mask (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I remember exactly when I bought this mask. It was our first day in Bali. Claire and I had just left the airport, enroute to our first resort, Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay. Our driver asked if we would like to stop at a very good gallery of Balinese batik that was right on our route. As it was still morning, too early to check in to our hotel, we said, "Yes." I'm glad we did.

Batik Popiler is the art gallery we visited in Denpasar. The driver's recommendation was well founded. The items on display were interesting and well crafted, and the prices were reasonable. Though we do not normally indulge in much retail therapy, it's hard to resist in Bali. So with some shame, I can report that we bought our first (of many) souvenirs from Bali before we even got to our hotel. This beautiful batik mask cost 658.000 IDR (about $45), and it's been on display in our bedroom ever since.

Bali is filled with beautiful crafts and beautiful resorts, some by the sea and some in the cultural center of Ubud. If you're traveling all the way to Indonesia, don't miss Java, an island relatively undiscovered by western tourists. Our stay at Amanjiwo was truly a highlight of our vacation.

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

5 tips for buying crafts in Bali

Visitors to Bali will be impressed by the arts and crafts produced by the Balinese people - stone carvings, wood carvings, batik, paintings, woven cloth. Here are 5 tips for buying crafts in Bali...

1. Ubud is not the best source for crafts. Overrun with tourists, Ubud has multiple craft shops on every street. The inexpensive shops have mediocre products, and the expensive shops are, well, quite pricey.

2. Expect the hard sell. Vendors will approach you and offer you whatever priceless trinket they happen to be holding. It's easy to say "no," but they won't take no for an answer. Keep saying "no," and the price will keep coming down. But don't buy here anyway... Why not?

3. Beware cheap imitations. You can get wood carvings, for example, made from real ebony ... but what you'll find in the shops by the side of the road are made from cheap wood that is stained to (somewhat) resemble ebony.

4. Consult a reputable guide. If you're staying at the best luxury resorts (I recommend Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Sayan, Amankila, Amanusa, and Amandari), engage one of their driver-guides to take you to the master craftspeople. These true artists are not found in downtown Ubud or by the side of major roads. However, they do truly exquisite work, and you'll notice the difference in quality of their art.

5. Visit Tenganan Village, if you're visiting Amankila in East Bali. Not the least expensive place to buy crafts, but a good place to see a variety of some of the best crafts on the island. (And bring cash).


shopping for crafts in Bali (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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