It is one of the more popular Filipino traditions to buy pasalubong or souvenirs when on vacation. Bali is a tourist trap for a thousand and one pasalubong. For me, it is my heavenly downfall.
On our first day in Bali, the driver told Virg and I to wait for him to accompany us to a local store (Agung Bali) that sells dirt-cheap souvenirs from Bali. I am not one to adhere to “patience is a virtue” thing so I went ahead and bought some things within 24 hours of our arrival in the island. I was aghast to find out that they were more than five times as expensive as the ones in Agung Bali. So, I became patient in the Yogyakarta leg of our trip. I reverted to my old ways in Jakarta, but that will be for another entry.
Organic Coffee (100 grams), IDR 10,000 (US $0.77) at Agung Bali and Vanilla Coffee (200 grams), IDR 130,000 (US $9.99) at Lumbung Sari
Deka Crepes, IDR 18,000 (US $1.39) each at Agung Bali. Each box contains two packs, one is chocobanana while the other is choconut.
Disco Kacang (200 grams), IDR 15,000 (US $1.15) and Tingting Kacang, IDR 24,000 (US $1.85) both from Agung Bali
Pie Bali, 10 pieces, IDR 21,000 (US $1.62) and Pie Susu, 10 pieces, IDR 23,000 (US $1.77) both from Agung Bali
Selamat Wafer, Cappuccino, IDR 10,090 (US $0.78), Black Vanilla, IDR 11,490 (US $0.88) and Chocolate, IDR 10,090 (US $0.78), all from Agung Bali
Ganesa Daun, IDR 24,000 (US $1.85) from Agung Bali. It is quite heavy although it is only about 3 inches tall.
Surfboard Ref Magnets, pack of 5, IDR 45,000 (US $3.56) from a shop along Legian Street. I had a low EQ moment so I bought them against Virg’s protestations.
40-centimeter standing surfboard, IDR 22,000 (US $1.69) from Agung Bali. Small standing surfboard, IDR 50,000 (US $3.85) from a shop along Legian Street. The latter is another low EQ moment which became a running joke for the rest of the trip.
I did not buy the following, but I found them interesting.
Sold at a shop along Poppies Lane II, the figures range from IDR 100,000 to IDR 450,000 (US $7.71 to US $34.70)
The plain skulls cost IDR 100,000 (US $7.77) while the ones with design cost IDR 120,000 (US $9.25). Sold at a shop along Legian Street.
Tips when shopping in Bali:
1. Listen to a trusted local. Buy where he tells you to buy. Do not follow what I did.
2. Do not buy from the shops along Legian Street, unless it is a real surfboard that you cannot find somewhere else. The whole street is crammed with shops and if one survives without buying from them, I applaud you. For someone like me who has low EQ (emotional quotient, according to a commercial), haggle. Start with 20% of the asking price. I am not kidding, start that low. If the vendor feels insulted with the offer, just walk away. There is a huge possibility that the vendor will change the price, an amount that is closer to what you want.
3. Do not buy in popular tourist destinations. The goods there have skyrocketing prices.
4. Buy at Agung Bali. It is located at Sunset Road, Kuta, Bali. Telephone number (0361) 765599 or (0361) 756644. Their website address is www.agungbalioleholeh.com.
Have you seen a snow globe there? I was not able to see one in Jakarta.. What I usually see are undying magnet & key chain..
I saw some snow globes, but not a lot of them. Nadya, Virg’s friend, took us to two local malls in Jakarta. We bought sarong and local food but not knick-knacks because we had purchased a lot of stuff in Yogyakarta.
You are right about the ubiquitous magnets and keychains. 