Double 6 Rd is now officially called Jalan Arjuna, but most people know it as Double 6 Road.It is the long winding one way road, which starts at Jalan Legian (Jl Nakula starts at the other side of this intersection), and finishes on Legian beach by Zanzibar. The Basement Surf Shop is on the corner.
Since I first visited this area in 1995, the type of shops have changed considerably. Once, it used to be all sarong wholesalers with a few clothing shops here and there. Now it it home to a variety of shops, from top-of-the-line handbags and accessory outlets, upmarket silver jewellery shops and even a couple of cafes down to the same sarong manufacturers, although many have now moved out to Kerobokan, where the rents continue to be cheaper.
I like to spend a day in this area, always with the intention of walking ( & buying) in this street, cutting throuhg Jalan Werkedana behind the Kumala Pantai Hotel, and then walking back up to Jalan Legian along Rum Jungle (Jalan Pura Bagus Taruna). However, I very rarely ever make it the entire distance, as I am distracted by so many wonderful and colourful shops in Double 6, that offer such a treasure trove of goods, and all at fantastically cheap prices, being that many of them are actually wholesalers.
Here are some of those that I love to peek into:
On the Right Hand side as you enter the street from Jl Legian, there are 2 glass fronted shops which specialise in silk caftan tops. Unfortunately, I have lost the busines card from the one that I prefer, but they offer their goods at a fixed price less 10% if you buy several.
The next stop is always BAYUNG ART(see Wayan or Putu), a silver shop which manufactures rather unique designs, and is fixed price, although a small 10% discount may be in order if you ask. My latest purchases from here are an elongated (one side longer than the other)paua triangle with the centre cut-out edged in silver, on a plaited thin blue leather lariat (150,000Rp)and earrings to match (90,000Rp). Last year, I bought unusual shaped rings(160,000Rp), which have been commented on by friends on numerous occasions.
Just a little further on, you will come to MK's, which is a boutique clothing shop which has well priced garments, usually with a 20% discount. I inevitably buy something for my 21 year old daughter here.
Next to this is B DESIGN, shop number 24, which I have posted about earlier. This shop, which is owned by as Australian expat Joanna, stocks seriously gorgeous BLING - necklaces, bangles, earrings, as well as buddha lamps, wall hangings,mens stainless steel bracelets & keyrings.Her prices are very VERY reasonable, and if you buy in quantity, you will most likely be given a discount. It's very easy to spend an hour or more here, especially if Joanna is in the shop to chat to!
Also, on the same RH side is another clothing shop called ILHAM Retail & Wholesale,where I bought my daughter lovely sequinned tie-dyted tops for 50,000Rp.
Across the road now to LOLITA'S COLLECTION, where they stock chunkey style metal jewellery and some fabulous scarves. The exact ones that I bought for 45,000Rp there, are selling for $30 back here in Perth! I also purchase a very trendy multi-coloured plaited tote bag for daughter for 175,000Rp.
Also, on this Left Hand side is a shop called COCO & WIDA'S SHOP(see Made),Shop No 55, which specialises in coconut and crochet products. Here I buy gorgeous kid's crocheted hats in the shape of Kermit Frog, Hello Kitty,a Strawberry Cupcake, a Grape, A woolly bear,a Strawberry,a pink pig with raised snout, and many more styles available. The asking price is 35,000Rp, but for 5 or more, I paid 30,000Rp each.
Back across the road - and you will find that you will be doing that all the time - I continue on, looking in at some dress shops, shoe & sandal shops and various sarong shops, the latter being particularly good places to find scarves as well. You will notice that many of the sarongs have patterns on them that you won't have seen in Kuta or on the beach. This is because most of them are produced for the export market. Expect to pay around 20,000 - 25,000Rp & the same for most of the scarves. One of the shops with a good variety of sarongs, and many in abstract print, is called BUSANA AYU TEXTILE (shop number 82).
Another MUST VISIT is SILVERSHELLS, a silver jewellery shop, that has wonderful designs and a myriad of different stones and pauas to choose from. Talk to Nengah or Made about having something made to match an earlier purchase from another shop, and you will find they can usually assist.
Just along from Silvershells, is FARFELLA, a shoe shop, which is owned by the same person. This is a fixed price shop also, but may give you a little discount, especially if you mention B Design.
You should also make a point of checking out the knitted cardigans and jackets at DEWA DEWI, which is in the same area on the RH side of the street. They sell for 40-45,000Rp, which is much less than SANDY shop in the same street was asking.
Also, on this same side is ACHMAD & AZIZAH'S (shop no 55X), which has various pieces of jewellery. Azizah is Mat Roni from French Leather's sister, and now that she has married, has taken to wearing the habib again. Azizah has opened a second shop in the road behind the Kumala Pantai Hotel, and also exports to Australia to a major shopping retailer.
Across the road, you will find Mat's new sister shop to Downtown (in Garlic Lane) - this one is also called DOWNTOWN. Here you will find unique designer leather handbags, priced from 800,000rp to 1.2M Rp, as well as lovely bag tags and sone jewellery. This shop is managed by another of Mat's sisters, Aiyliah.
If by now, you haven't got the picture, the fact that Mat Roni from FRENCH Leather has opened several shops in this street,will tell you that it is an up & coming place to open a shop, especially as leases are still low compared to say Jalan Pantai Kuta or Jalan Padma.
Back across the road, and you will find LABA LABA, owned by Nyoman. This shop has a range of lovely embroidered skirts & dresses as well as traditional sarongs. Last year, I purchased one of these sarongs for 30,000Rp, and the embroidered & shirred, handkerchief hem dresses were 60,000Rp from memory.
There is also a BETTY BU shop here with the usual dresses, scarves and other bits & pieces. It is on the LH side also.
Thus far, there doesn't appear to be any spa or massage treatment outlets, but I doubt whether it will stay that way for too much longer.
I did stop for a meal at a small restaurant which has opened in the past 12 months, with an upstairs area that catches a cooling sea breeze, and enjoyed the salad, freshly cooked bihun noodles and a very cold Bintang. Uunfortunately, they did not have any business cards, and the name escapes me at the moment. Perhaps someone knows of it?
By now, I've reached the small road which takes me through to the start of Jl Pura Bagus Taruna, and as usual it's nearly 4pm or so, which means that I have to leave Rum Jungle Road for another day - The Usual Story!!
So for all you shoppers out there, do check out this narrow, winding fabulous street, and I think that you will be amazed at the wonderful variety of shopping that is on offer here.
Happy Retail Therapy Ladies - have fun!