About Bali ::
About Kuta :: About Legian :: About Tuban ::
About Seminyak ::
About Ubud :: About Sanur :: About Jimbaran :: About Indonesia :: Visit
East Bali - Click here Sterling silver jewelry is a good buy - go to the silver shops and you will be offered stylish, genuine sterling silver at very cheap prices - don't go to the so called Silversmiths if you happen to take a tour. The guide collects a
commission and the styling is not always of good quality.
Shoes, both men's and women's, handbags, men's business shirts, travel goods, CDs and surf wear should also be on your list.
Made to order clothing in both fabric and leather is another great buy. Bring your favourite jacket or suit and have it copied by a tailor or leather shop. Good quality at a very reasonable price.
Because labour is so cheap labour-intensive clothing is great value. Anything embroidered, beaded or sequined is fantastically priced. There are some really stylish boutiques in Seminyak that are definitely worth a look - it's cooler in the late afternoon and this is the best time to do your shopping.
Recently some great homeware shops have opened and arts and crafts abound. Fakes - watches, sunglasses, perfumes and clothing - are everywhere. Whatever you feel about fakes, the watches go, the sunnies look cool, the clothing wears and the
perfume smells like its namesake for around two minutes.
The newish shopping centre in the Galleria complex by the Kuta roundabout on the Sanur bypass is a stylish addition. While not fully occupied by any means it's breezy, peaceful and boasts a Matahuri store and supermarket, hairstyling, books,
CD's, fabric, home ware, restaurants etc, plus a Planet Hollywood.
Having sung the praise of Kuta, good shopping is also to be had at Nusa Dua's Bali Collection and Sanur but without the depth or variety.
Beaches
The beaches in the South consist of white sand, beaches in other parts of the island are covered with grey or black volcanic sand. Flora
The wide variety of tropical plants is surprising. You'll see huge banyan trees in villages and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees in the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves in the South. Bali has a
dozen species of coconut palms, and even more varieties of bamboo.
There are flowers everywhere. Hundreds of hibiscus, bougainvilleas, jasmine, water lilies & lotus grow in a riot of colour and fragrances. Magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids are found in many front yards and gardens, along roads and in
temple grounds. Flowers are also used as decorations in temples, on statues, as offerings for the gods, and during prayers. Dancers wear blossoms in their headwear, and even the flower behind the ear of your waitress seems natural in Bali.
Fauna
Elephants and tigers died out in Bali early last century. Wildlife, however, includes various species of monkeys, civets, barking deer and mouse deer as well as 300 species of birds including wild fowl, dollar birds, blue kingfishers, sea eagles,
sandpipers, white herons, egrets, cuckoos, wood swallows, sparrows, and starlings. Schools of dolphins are common near Lovina, Candi Dasa, and Padangbai. Divers will see many colourful coral fish and small reef fish, moray eels, and
plankton eating whale sharks as well as crustaceans, sponges, and colourful corals along the east coast and around Menjangan island near Gilimanuk.
Economy
This southern part of Bali is where most jobs are to be found, either in the hotel and tourist industry, textile and garment industries and in many small scale and home industries producing handicrafts and souvenirs. Textiles, garments, and
handicrafts have become the backbone of Bali's economy, providing in excess of 300,000 jobs. Textiles and garments, wood products including statues,
furniture and other handicrafts are the leaders in Bali's total income from exports. Silver work provides employment for another 5,000 workers. Main buyers are from the USA and Europe with Japan now growing as an importer.
Rice, of course, is about the most important agricultural product but there has been a large growth in tea, coffee, tobacco, cacao, copra, vanilla, soy beans, chillis, fruit, and vegetables and in recent years there has been the development of vineyards
in the northwest coastal area. Bali's fishing industry and seaweed farming provide
other important exports.
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