10 for the price of 1: The Arts in Bali

You can find the most amazing and beautiful things in Bali: from 12 foot carved stone Buddhas to the tiniest, most delicate silver filigree work – and everything in between. It’s all of the highest quality and the lowest prices.

The Balinese are a profoundly artistic people. From their unique styles of dance and music, to crafts like batik, sculpture, painting and jewelry-making Bali is a paradise for both the shopper and the connoisseur.

The predominance of these crafts in Bali can be traced to the 16th century, when Islam was spreading throughout Sumatra and Java, and the great Hindu Majapahit Empire came to Bali, creating a large influx of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to the island. This brought Bali a great level of prosperity and ushered in Bali’s golden age of cultural achievement.

This royal artistic legacy has continued unbroken down through the centuries, and resulting in a living cultural heritage that’s not really found anywhere else on the planet. The arts are everywhere in Bali, with entire villages specializing in certain styles of painting, woodwork or Batik.

Not long ago my daughter and I were walking through a local mall when we ran across a large kiosk with tons of items from Bali – all very beautiful and hand-made. My daughter was entranced and started to look for gifts. She picked up a colorful carved cat and said “wow! That’s a good price.” I checked it and, sadly, had to to tell her “for that same price I can get you 10 exactly like that in Bali.” She said “Okay – but I only need TWO, so pick me up some other cool stuff while you’re at it.” The good news is that, compared to prices state-side, I’ll be able to do exactly that.

As a matter of fact, the biggest challenge when shopping in Bali is finding enough free space in your luggage to bring back all the treasures and unique gifts you’ve acquired while you’re there!