JBR - a family affair - Part 3 Shopping
WHO WE ARE:
Family of 4 - Mum (my 6th trip), Dad (2nd trip - 1st was a 10 week stint 20 years ago for work), 13yo stepdaughter & 3yo daughter (1st visit for both kids)
WHERE WE SHOPPED / WHAT WE BOUGHT:
GENERAL:
First stop on the way to our apartment from the airport was the Hypermart at Bali Galleria (BIG thanks to Heatherbelle for this tip (...)) where we stocked up on toiletries, fruit, bread, snacks, water, drinks, milk, nappies and pool toys. We spent around AU$100.00 and got so much 'bang for our buck' - I bought Olay Total Effects cleanser & moisturiser for a third of the cost in Aus, Mamy Poko (sp?) nappy pants a big bag of 24 for RP 80,000 (I wish now I'd gone back & bought more of both, such good value). While I got started on the grocery shopping my husband was downstairs at J Co buying a box of assorted donuts & OMG they really are to die for - so light & fluffy and so many yummy flavours (thanks again Heatherbelle, Darbs & Hilton (...))
My husband & I purchased Mentari Sim cards from the warung/convenience store on Jl Padma Utara, opposite side of the road from the beach & down towards the junction with Rum Jungle Rd. RP 15,000 each & included RP 5,000 credit. Hubby didn't even use all his credit during the 10 days, I had to top mine up a couple of times (RP 10,000 each time) due to calls to driver in Bali, housesitter & airline in Aus. Very cheap compared to getting global roaming!
We bought sea salt from the ladies selling along the road in Amed RP 10,000 for 1kg (supposed to be 1kg but feels more like 500g to me). Who cares, it's still dirt cheap!
Also stocked up on about 3 months worth of Kopiko Milks - the latte version of the coffee lollies - I am officially addicted! Good thing this is a cheap vice - only RP 7,000 for a pack of at least 50 lollies.
MUM (38yo, self-confessed shopaholic)
My shopping in Bali was more about quality rather than quantity & having my 3yo with me this trip impeded my ability to really search out some unique buys. You really need hours & hours each day to shop properly in Bali! This was a family holiday though so I really didn't have the time to dedicate to serious shopping :0)
SUNDAY MARKETS @ SEMINYAK SQUARE
Sheer grey & white silk ¾ sleeved tunic top (cotton lined) from the Sunday markets at Seminyak Square RP 175,000
The markets at Seminyak Square had some nice items, there was more I wanted to buy but I wasn't quite ready to start bartering yet. (I had sworn I wasn't going to barter on my first day back in Bali for 5 years but couldn't resist the gorgeous top!). They are only on Sundays though so didn't get the chance to get back there to buy more once I'd warmed up my bartering skills a bit.
LILLA LANE, Seminyak Square, Jl Laksmana (Oberoi St), Seminyak
Buttery soft suede leather sandals with bronze stud embellishment RP 600,000 - not dirt cheap by any means but one of the few places I found shoes my size (an AUS sz 9 to 9.5) & beautiful designs & quality. They also had gorgeous handbags & I will definitely be returning here on my next visit for one of those & some more sandals!
TOMMY'S LEATHER, Jl Padma, Legian
Leather jacket - made from photos I provided RP 1,300,000 (I am a size 18 so jacket cost more than a ladies jacket usually would)
Leather handbag - large size with heavy silver chain handles with leather plaited through (copy of a $600 Oroton bag, I provided photos & specs from catalogue) RP 800,000
THE RESULT: Very happy with the handbag, excellent quality & exactly as per the photo provided.
Less happy with the jacket but not due to quality, more because it is not exactly what I wanted but ran out of time for more alterations
PERMATA DEWATA GEMS & JEWELLERY, Jl Kalmintan No. 6, Denpasar
Pandora charms made from 9ct gold I provided & Zircons provided by jeweller RP 250,000 (2 charms)
Pandora gold ring made from 9ct gold I provided RP 175,000
White gold, diamond & natural pearl ring made to my design (materials provided by jeweller) RP 1,700,000
THE RESULT: I am extremely happy with the quality, the price, the service. Well worth the trip to Denpasar to see Burnan (the jeweller here). I went to Perlu & Silverberry looking for Pandora charms but only bought 2 small diamonte spacers from Silverberry . I really didn't find the quality to be very good at any of the places selling silver, ceramic & glass beads, particularly if you're putting them onto a bracelet next to authentic Pandora. They look obviously cheap in my opinion, even the ones from Silverberry which are recommended as the best.
BINTANG SILVER, Jl Padma Utara No. 34, Legian
Silver bead bracelets with charms (copies of Joy Jewellery bracelets but far better quality than the originals!) Large silver beads bracelet with charms RP 525,000
Silver earrings RP 80,000
YANVAN JEWELLERY, Jl Laksmana (Oberoi St), Seminyak
Silver, multi-coloured zirconia & clear rubber ring RP 200,000 each (1 bought for me & 1 for gift)
Short string of pearls with silver 'bean' detail at centre (hubby bought for my birthday)
RP 1,250,000
Black rubber bracelet with silver detail (I bought for my husband's birthday) RP 880,000
Lots of unusual & unique jewellery here, not the standard Bali fare. Designer is a retired Dutch guy in Ubud who has trained Balinese craftsmen to make the jewellery). They had lots of Unisex designs, mens, womens & childrens jewellery here.
DIVINE DIVA, Jl Laksmana (Oberoi St), Seminyak
White lightweight cotton swimsuit coverup RP 200,000
Miniature version in hot pink for my daughter RP 95,000
KIDS A GOGO, Jl Laksmana (Oberoi St), Seminyak
Pink & orange cotton sundress with shirred yoke & embroidered flower trim RP 200,000
Matching white, pink & orange handbag RP 70,000
Matching pink & orange bead bracelets with bells RP 10,000 ea
Pink & white cotton sundress, spaghetti straps & full skirt RP 200,000
THE FAIRY SHOP, Jl Padma Utara, Legian (same corner at the Corner Bar)
2 piece Ladybird costume RP 100,000
Ladybird antenna headband (can't remember price)
Fairy/ballerina outfit for Baby Born (can't remember - think around RP 40,000)
Ballerina shoes for Baby Born RP 20,000
Fairy Wand
OSH KOSH B'GOSH, Discovery Shopping Mall, Tuban
Thongs with elastic back, glitter flowers on straps RP 95,000
STEPDAUGHTER (13yo with her own spending money but not much interest in spending it)
SD had AU$200 to spend but I think she came home with around AU$120 still in her wallet (unheard of in my book LOL). She bought some jeans at Discovery for RP 200,000, a dress, singlet & some lounging pants from Ketut's fixed price stall RP 150,000, a LV wallet for RP 100,000 & some sandals for RP 65,000.
She also bought a Billabong handbag from the surf shop at Seminyak Square but no idea what she paid as she was with her Dad at the time.
DAD (48yo with even less interest in shopping than his daughter LOL)
Quiksilver T shirt RP 160,000 & towel RP 150,000 from the surf shop at Seminyak Square, DVDs, linen pants from Bad Face Surf RP 300,000 & rubber & silver bracelet from Bintang Silver RP 200,000