In Reply to: Denpassar must do's posted by donnahkade on Monday, 18. September 2006 at 20:43 Bali Time:
MA Department Store, Jl Diponegoro, Denpasar. Sensual lingerie.
Prescription Glasses, Optik - A$38 up, 1 day service. Legion, Denpasar, Galleria. Tiara Dewata mall, Denpasar - New. Single focus for funny eyes cost less than A$60! $$$$ High fashion and top quality Italian frames also available.
Gold - Hasanuddin St, Denpasar. & bottom of Sulawesi St. 18kt. Rp59-70,000/gm. US$10/gram 22ct. (1999) (Up to Rp 85,000 as gold prices rose after September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in USA.) Gold in Bali is a strong colour with an orange tint - is this ‘Chinese Gold' alloy? See the shopping section in the Sanur/Denpasar district notes. Prices are much cheaper than the recognised centres of Celuk, Ubud, Kuta etc. Almost everything priced by weight according to the day's gold price.
The Denpasar Markets are not to be missed! A ‘guide' will try to attach herself to you and demand money when you leave. They get commission from shopkeepers if you buy something - which means that you have paid extra.
Umble-umbles, or Penjor, the tall slim flags flown on bamboo poles are available on the top floor. Cost approx Rp30,000.
If you are interested in a night market try the Kereng Bemo station in Denpasar. At about 4.00 pm it slowly closes as a station and changes into a market for food, clothes jewellery, and a lot of other stuff. As it is mainly for locals the prices are amazing but tourists are welcomed.
Rimo Supermarket in Diponegoro Street in Denpasar (just across the street from Ramayana and turn left about 100 meters) has a dedicated computer section on the 3rd floor (including hardware and parts) and a mobile phone centre or the 2nd floor. Almost every computer outlet in Bali has a booth here and you can save a lot of walking by trying here first but be advised that the organisation of the software remaining in '05 was a shambles and no one seemed to know what was in stock or care about what you wanted. If you really need it you'll find it yourself seemed to be their attitude. Rimo Computer Centre - www.computerbali.com/cart.php?fr=index.
Curtains. King Turtle Shop, Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai by Perdana Hotel near Matahari Galeria.
Material shops - adjacent to market in Denpasar - Jl Kartini, Jl Sulawesi, Jl Thamrin (#19 - heavier fabrics) and Jl Gajahmada.
Tiara Grosir - HUGE - best prices. Denpasar. (Matahari charges tourist prices.)
New supermarket (in '02) is Remo. Was a bank and has beautiful marble on all 3 floors. Good range of different gear. Cafeteria on top.
Silk. Next to car park exit of Matahari Dept store. Chinese importer. Silk seams are painted (glued) with over-boiled rice before sewing. Washes out afterwards.
Duta Silk House, next to Matahari's. Fixed prices except for bulk purchases.
Kempiana Stores, Denpasar. Very cheap prices. Patronised by locals.
Watch Wholesalers. ‘Sylvia" Jl Dionegera, Denpasar. About Rp30,000/watch. Go early so that if any play up you can take them back.
Hand blended perfume (not the 5 minute street variety) in Denpasar Market. Small stall opposite material sellers in street. Small vials Rp10,000/ml.
Robinsons is a new department store opposite Matahari's in Denpasar. Similar to Ramayana but more specials (at least for the time being - '02).