HUNDREDS of boutiques and roadside stalls have been set up all over the island, and thousands of artisans, craftsmen, woodcarvers or painters, are kept busy supplying the tourist demand.
The innovative Balinese are continually coming up with wonderful new concoctions to tempt the serious shopper. Shopping could easily become an all-consuming pastime in Bali: The range and quality of artefacts is phenomenal, and although the export trade has dulled the initial impact a little, the sheer volume and price of the woodcarvings, paintings and fabric designs sold on Bali still make it a delight. In addition, Bali acts as a bit of a clearing house for the arts and crafts of other Indonesian islands.
There is probably no place in the world with such high density of craftsmen and artisans as in Bali. You name it and you can find it here: stonecarving, woodcarving, silver and gold smiths, basket-weavers, textile, paintings, etc. Shopping for art, artifact and crafts is supposed to be fun. And Bali is one of the best places in the world to find something beautiful for your self or somebody that you love.
Bargaining can be fun and is for most Balinese the only way to make a purchase. However, before entering into a transaction, it is usually a good idea to have in mind the type of carving required, a purchase price, and the type of wood required. However, in the end, the value of a work of art must be how much the buyer is prepared to pay.
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