Back from Ubud 10 days now & it is finally sunny and my purchases are waving on the line, so what better time to do my Ubud shopping report. Having been so many times before I don't do HEAPS of shopping and in fact this time I didn't have to 'trial pack' as it was obvious to me that my suitcase would close. That'd be a first. Before I start I'd better confess that the guts has gone out of my bargaining. My heart isn't in it any more.
Anyway - a favourite shop of mine for some years - and my 'biggest' purchases. Balinese batik bed sheets from Ani's Gallery. Her shop is at Campuan, just about 2 shops before Murni's Restaurant if you're coming from Ubud. Phone is (0361)975-431. I now have 4 of these bed sheets. I don't NEED 4 but I love them so much. They're absolutely perfect when it gets too hot for the doona. They are very good quality pure cotton and they are just lovely to sleep under. The designs Ani has are just gorgeous. You will see her shop when you get near it. This time I got a heliconia one (reds & oranges on green) and a bamboo one in shades of blue. I also love the ones that are jungle scenes with birds, but I already have two like that. They are 'queen' size and certainly are ample size on a double bed. They cost 250,000 which was about $37.00 at the going rate, but they're worth it.
Two new bead shops. There are quite a few bead shops in Ubud now, and some have quite tacky stuff. However there is a new shop in the Monkey Forest Rd, way round past the Monkey forest where the MF Rd joins up with Hanoman St. Come back about two shops from the corner and you're there. It is the Devi Ari Shop (phone 081-756-8833). She has made-up necklaces and they are very nice indeed. I spent 100,000 on my first visit, and went back and spent the same again. Necklaces roughly 30,000, but one big 'important' one was 70,000.The necklaces do unusual things with shells and red coral and so forth. She also has very nice thongs. They are not like the beaded thongs that are everywhere, but they have large beads with leather thongs going through the beads.
Another new and interesting bead shop if you make your own necklaces is Ubud Beads. (Though they will make for you also). It is right opposite the bottom of the football field in the MF Rd. Look for a lime green shop. They have gemstones and shells and pearls that you buy by the string, or with the large red coral beads only, by the gram. I got a string of large (around an inch) flat rectangular red coral beads for 70,000 and some sodalite, which is the lapis lazuli colour with a lot of white and grey in it for 110,000 - same shape. I'm now regretting not buying the yellow jasper and the one that was olive green and dusky pink, whatever that was. They also have a few silver beads. This shop is CLOSED on a Sunday.
Sparkly thongs. Well, the market seems to be full of them, but I bought mine in a shop at the top of the MF Rd. She had such a huge range and I have big feet. They were 55,000 and the shop is called AMI and it is above the football field on the same side of the road.
I also bought cotton dressing-gowns. I love these for the summer, but the best ones are the really big ones. Just ask for kimono besar!
They were around 70,000 - cheaper if you bought more than one. In Ubud market.
Also in the market some bags - shiny bottom half, fine stripe of the top half and a nice braid around them - around 30,000 depending on whether you buy one or more.
That's about it except for a few odds and ends like essential oil and incense. Oh and a degung CD. The one I bought is called "Degung Bali 2", (55,000). I really love it. It doesn't sound too much like Sabilulungan. Some of the others sounded too similar.