Although known for various reasons except shopping, all those who visit Bali never really go back without being on a shopping spree at least one day amongst the rest of their holiday. Bali is a dream land situated in Indonesia blessed with nature’s prowess in the form of exotic beaches, breath taking lush and green landscapes, magnificent waterfalls, hot springs, mountains, volcanoes, wildlife to name a few. Also the Balinese culture is a major attraction in the island for the tourists. Balinese culture includes traditional folklore, dance, music, cuisine, sculpture and woodcarving like exquisite show of art and architecture.
There are many places in Bali that are especially famous as shopping centers and tourists tend to come across many such handicrafts that are a prize catch. Besides you need something that belongs to Bali to be taken along with you when you travel back home to keep it as a token of Bali. Following is the list of some of these places in Bali which is to be visited without fail before setting off back home:
– Kuta Beach:
Kuta is the ultimate shopping destination for foreigners visiting Bali. There are plenty of art shops selling Balinese crafts in Kuta. Bikini swimwear, surf wear, flip flops, surfboards and mountain wear shopping is also prominently practiced here. There is a Discovery Shopping Mall with a beachfront view. It houses international brands like Sogo, Guess, Espirit, Giardino and many more.
– Legian Beach:
It houses a lot of local boutiques and art shops. It is also a famous hub for traditional Balinese clothing, embroidered Indonesian outfits and even 60’s and 70’s style colorful hippie clothing. Apart from clothes it is also known for shoe shops and jewelry shops. It also has an art and handicraft market.
– Nusa Dua Beach:
Jeweled with a beautiful sandy white beach the dual island of Nusa Dua offers international shopping complex- The Bali Collection. It’s an outdoor mall that is a one-stop-shop for all. There are a range of Balinese art shops as well.
– Sanur Beach:
It houses stores, boutiques, antiquities, art shops and much more.
– Ubud:
It serves as the best destination for art lovers owing to its location that is centralized within art and craft communities of the neighboring villages. It has the Sukawati Art Market, one of the largest art markets in Bali, known for handicrafts and traditional handmade products. The market sells paintings, statues, traditional woven textiles, traditional kites, handmade bags, women’s accessories, shirts, sarongs and Balinese ceremonial items.
– Semniyak Beach:
Semniyak boasts about its new designer boutiques, unique furniture, handicrafts and contemporary artwork. It also is home for ultimate glamorous tropical collections featuring ethnic chic designs, divine beading, sequined silk, sheer chiffons, natural fabrics and strong deep colored attires perfect for the Bali’s tropical climate.
– Lombok:
Pottery, basket weaving and textiles are the three main crafts found in Lombok. These products are locally made by hand, of high quality and unique design. The Sukara traditional weaving village is the centre of Lombok’s textile industry. The style of weaving is known as Ikat and it incorporates symbolic designs that depict wealth, power and prestige. It is also a hub for pearl jewelry and corals.
Thus Bali offers innumerous shopping destinations where you shop and bargain for the most unique handiworks of the Balinese art culture take back home a memento of your Bali experience.