Shopping Bali

Bali is a shopper’s paradise, but not in the same way that Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore are havens for shoppers. Anyone after high fashion or electronics will come up short in Bali but on the other hand, the quality of arts and crafts as well as some casual, quirky clothing is very high and prices are low.

The best buys by far in Bali are to be found at the artisans and craftspeople who sell out of shops in Ubud or in official tourist centres in Kuta and Denpasar. Silverware is particularly well made in Bali, and hand crafted gold jewelry is relatively inexpensive and exquisitely detailed.

Still in Ubud, shoppers can invest in art from the latest up and coming Balinese artists, some of whom exhibit and sell their work at art galleries all over the world. No one knows who is going to be the next best thing, so buying art in Bali is a bit of a gamble as far as making as investment goes. Better, perhaps, to just buy what takes the eye.

Down at Kuta, the day and night markets sell the usual Southeast Asian array of pirated CDs and DVDs as well as knock of t-shirts and designer jeans. Quality varies and refunds and exchanges are not the norm. Also, laws on importing pirated merchandise are being tightened the world over so your goods may be confiscated when you return home – buyer beware.

Kuta Square is a nice retail mall where Matahari Department Store has a branch. The shops around here are a great place to stock up on essentials like t shirts, sunscreen, toiletries and other beach basics.

In Tuban, the enormous Kartika Discovery Mall has an underground car park and boutiques including Gucci and Bulgari. There are also plenty of surf wear shops – all the big names.