What to Buy ?

1. Antiques
   Indonesia’s craftsmen and merchants have long realized that overseas visitors will pay top prices for antiques. Many villages busily turn them out such as Modjokerto in East Java, which produces wonderful replicas of the 13th century Majapahit vases and jugs.
   
2. Arts, Batik & Craft
   Batik textiles are such an integral part of Javanese culture that it is difficult to imagine a time when the Javanese did not possess them. Scholars debate whether or not the wax-resist dyeing process was brought to Java from India, where it has been known for centuries. Although names for various batik motifs have been traced to Javanese literature works dating from 12th century, in fact the terms batik and tulis do not appear in Javanese court records until the Islamic period, where Indian traders were already active in the archipelago. No one disputes, however, that the Javanese batik is far the finest in the world. Art-lovers seeking to buy genuine Asmat carvings should exercise caution as large number of fakes pieces, mostly produced in Java or Bali are now appearing in the market.
   
3. Knick-knacks & Potteries
   Some unusual pottery is manufactured in the village of Pejaten, in the district of Tabanan about 20km west of Denpasar. Here, the villages create striking figurines with twisted limbs and grotesque bodies out of terracotta, as they have done for many generations. Beautiful glazed ceramics in local design are also produced at Batu Jimbar, Sanur.
   
4. Leather goods
   Leather goods that are locally made are cheap. Yogya’s buff-colored, hand-tooled suitcases, overnights bags, briefcases, pocketbooks, sandal, belts and money pouches produced from buffalo hide are slowly improving in quality. But the tanning process employed here is still very crude, so there is no fine, softer grades of leather.
   
5. Gold, Silver & Jewellery
   The prices of gold, silver and jewellery can be comparable to those found in Thailand. In Bali, the center for metal working are Celuk and Kamsan, where all such ornaments are on sales at reasonable prices. In southeast of Yogya, Kota Gedu is the center of the Silver Industry, There are 2 major workshops, M.D Silver and Tom’s Silver. In Jakarta, many jewellery shops design and produce their own gold and silver work but the price are higher than in Yogya and Bali, but the quality and design are vastly superior especially if you are interested in Indonesian gems, Borneo diamonds, purple amethyst, natural pearls and the West Javaness black opal.