SHOPPING
Bikinis
My favourite little shop called Beach House on Jalan Werkudara, walking from the intersection of Double Six, sells everything in store for 50,000 Rp. My black bikini had seen better days so I raced there once they had reopened after Nyepi, but I found the stock depleted compared to last trip. Did manage to find a pair for the princely sum of 50,000 Rp, but I hope that they get more stock before I return!
Geneva
I wanted some cushion covers in black and gold, so found a few that I liked in Geneva and then had more made at a cushion shop in Legian - paid about 10,000 Rp more per piece from the shop, but matched perfectly, so happy to pay a small amount more for the same pattern. One shop wanted more than 5 times the Geneva price, so I didn't bother even starting to haggle with him, with such a ridiculous price to start with, I couldn't be bothered and walked out to a more reasonable vendor up the road!
Serba Antik
I had two sets of sheer curtains made, including tape and hooks at this shop. Cost about $A120 per curtain and they fitted into the luggage easily. Very happy they were ready within 3 days after Nyepi. Standard of work here is always good and the range of fabrics and interior designs is fantastic.
Tailor
My sister had been to Bali in January and decided she wanted a suit made for her son's graduation ball the day they were leaving....hence I got the request to order it and bring it home....well, it is a suit made of leopard print furry material - he is going to stand out in the crowd! Cost 600,000 Rp and was ready within 3 days too. He had been measured up in Jan, so I just took the information back to the tailor and they did it for the same price quoted to my sister. I have no idea if it fits, but they had the measurements, so fingers crossed.
Sunset Stone
We bought some palimanan stone tiles and wall tiles in a pattern for our house. Grand plans for a new entrance, so left that in my husband's hands, once I had picked the colours and he made the order for shipment back to Perth.
Haveli
The Haveli factory outlet is now located on Jalan Seminyak, opposite the main shop. I bought some beautiful runners (40,000 Rp) and napkins (10,000 Rp) as birthday gifts. I love this shop, as they have such an array of colours and patterns for table napery.
Booze
Unlike last Sept, this time trying to find a bottle of Bacardi turned out to be very easy - available in Bintang and the liquor store next door too. My favourite flavour of the Mix Max vodka drinks was a bit more elusive - so we kept raiding the local Circle K store for the cranberry/grapefruit variety, which weren't in either Carefour or Bintang.
Found the recipe for mojitos on the net and soon had all of the ingredients to make these for our daily sunset cocktails at the villa.
The exchange rate varied around 7,800 - 7,900 during our trip and no problems using the ATM connected to the bank opposite the Jayakarta hotel entrance. Can take out a max of 3M Rp in any transaction, which can last for days! Is in 100,000 Rp notes which is better than a large wad of 50,000 rp notes...always have small change in a plastic bag in purse, so not to get confused in dark taxis because the 10,000 Rp note and the 100,000 Rp note can look very similar after a night of bintangs......!
The streets weren't particularly busy and it only rained twice in 2 weeks, which was great for the end of the wet season.
Roll on another 5 months before we can repeat it all again!