Indonesia Shopping

Indonesia, a place with a diverse and rich history and culture along with an urbane touch, forms a shopper's paradise for people all over the world. Indonesia shopping is popular and most extensive in Bali and Yogyakarta (Java). From souvenirs and traditional Indonesian artifacts to western clothes and articles, from traditional street stalls to giant western style malls and department stores - Indonesia has them all. Thus Indonesia provides a diverse range of choices to the shoppers, both Indonesian as well as foreign.

A boom in the Indonesian retail sector has resulted in opening of shopping malls in all the towns and cities of Indonesia. Jakarta has the most number of sophisticated and urbanized shopping malls. The variety of consumer goods has risen and the upcoming middle class crowd the malls to buy branded things. Foreign brands like Metro (Singapore) Sogo (Japan), Marks & Spencer (UK), Escada, Versace, Aigner etc have reached the Indonesian shopping malls. The other big cities have at least one big shopping mall. Prices are fixed in these shopping malls.

Bali, the best place for Indonesia shopping hosts a variety of shopping articles like souvenirs, art and craft, clothes, batik and wood carving. Each village of Bali has a specialty. One should not miss-

• Ubud, the home of the woodcarvers and their workshops.
• Mas which has a huge collection of wood carvings.
• Celuk well known for fine Silver and gold.

Street vendors and hawkers throng the streets and offer a wide range of goods. Prices are very high in this area.

Another place which is a must visit by all the people who visit Indonesia is the village of Mataram in Lombok. This village specializes in beautiful pottery and to watch the artisans at work is very interesting.

All the shoppers of the world should try Indonesia shopping as moving from the giant malls to the street corners to the villages creates quite an experience.