If you take part in the wellness activities offered by the popular chain resort COMO Shambhala, you would cycle through the tranquil villages of Payangan as the locals work hard at crafting something or the other. All this produce, as well as the ones from Pengosekan, Peliatan, and Tegallalang, make their way to the Ubud Art Market, locally knows as “Pasar Seni Ubud”.

The Ubud Art Market is found right opposite the Royal Ubud Palace, so it is difficult to miss. This is a strategic location, as visiting the Royal Palace is a must-do on every tourist’s itinerary, thus, a casual stroll towards the Art Market is inevitable. Yard upon yard of slippery silks, cotton shirts, woven bags that have been crafted by the local villagers, thatched hats, colourful kites, and numerous other local products would be there to welcome the curious visitor. While some of the items found here, such as the t-shirts and beach attire with “Bali” written across them in bold writing is not unique to the Market itself, there are quite a few items here that are truly unique. Taking a prominent place among them are oil lamps made in the Moroccan style, camisoles with batik prints, serene Buddha statues, and satin skirts of bohemian style.

As is to be expected of an Art Market, there are no bar codes or price tags on any of the items. Everything is open to negotiation, and bargaining is expected. A good rule of thumb is to start with half the quoted price and work your way upwards to a price mutually agreeable. Make sure that you are aware of how much you would be willing to spend at the most for each item. Remember that this is a way of life for most of the vendors there. So accompany your bargaining with a smile.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

Google+