Also in my introduction in JBR part 1, I had indicated that I would not have much to say about shopping, a promise which I am now about to go back on, but in general terms only.
For those of you that 'collect' pottery, porcelain or ceramics, such as ancient Ming Vases, Moorcroft and Dennis China Works pieces, you will find little or none of this in Bali, however the locals are endeavoring to enter the quality market through Jenggala Keramik, to be found in Jimbaran at Jl Uluwatu II.
From their website 'Jenggala Keramik began in 1976 as a small experimental cottage industry in Batu Jimbar, Sanur, Bali, with the collaboration of the late New Zealand designer-potter Brent Hesselyn, the late Indonesian hotelier Wija Waworuntu and his daughter Ade. Various international and local talents have contributed to our development over the last twenty years. Today, located in Jimbaran, we produce high quality, handcrafted ceramic and glassware of critical acclaim for the international market.'
Well worth a look, we purchased a couple of items, one of these, a Bowl done in a Keramik Lava Glaze style of the Scheurich Pottery in West Germany, now sits happily alongside, and is not out of place with our Moorcroft pieces.
On what turned out to be a wet Monday we had our driver and good friend take us over to Geneva in Seminyak, as I was looking for a couple of carved Sandstone T-light Candle Holders to match the one that I had purchased there last year, unfortunately, despite having a vast array none matched, as these new ones were much bigger and less intricate in their carving than the previous one.
We had also previously purchased the small carved sandstone male and female statues in traditional dress, which we have given away to all the relatives when we last visited them in Queensland, being appropriate as given that none of them had ever visited Bali, and are unlikely ever to.
However here once again this year's models are much bulkier and less well carved than last years, and while being about one third the cost of ones that were available at Hardy's back in Sanur, I honestly felt like Geneva has slipped into the old WA Salvage ways of being 'We're not fancy, but we're Cheap'!
Anyway Mrs C managed to get a few items she wanted, and I was lucky enough to sort through and to find the 3 sets of Statues we wanted, that were reasonably carved but not up to previous standard, as such I suspect that it is not worth the expense of driving all the way over from Sanur to shop there anymore, how sad!
We had also wanted to call in to Matahari and Robinsons Department Stores in Denpasar, as we wanted to find a 'nice' batik shirt for the Brother-in-law, and as he takes an XXXL size shirt I have found these to be the best places to get a decent range to chose from of the larger size shirts then are available from the ladies in the market stalls.
Both shops had 'Sales' on offering from 30% to 70% Off, which brought them down to better than what one would have to spend the best part half an hour haggling for on the street, and the quality is, as always, first class, such that at Robinsons I managed to get two for him and a couple for me to hang with the hundred (well not quite that many) I already have hanging in the walk in robes.
Again from memory they were about 90,000Rp each for an Adikusuma Brand shirt, which are of excellent quality and where the pattern on the pocket matched the pattern on the shirt, something that is rarely found in the ones from the stalls!
Another bonus we found was that, being a rainy day, we were able to park under cover on the roof of Matahari's, which cost just 2,000Rp.
Just to finish off the 'shopping', Hardy's supermarket in Sanur still has just about anything you could want or need for your stay in Bali, and at about half the price back home, why anyone would bring any 'toiletries', tissues, foodstuffs, drinks and nibbles or the like up with them is silly, and here I must confess to loading up the suitcase to the 20Kg limit with shampoo, toothbrushes, coffee beans, and other items to take home which will last the family for about 6 months.
To be continued.
Regards, BJC.