Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION: EAST BALI
The magazine
Agung
(
www.agungbali.com
) is a good source of information about the east
and is widely distributed throughout the region. Another useful resource is the website for
Karangasem Tourism (
tourism.karangasemkab.go.id
), which has a very handy calendar of
upcoming festivals.
Gianyar and around
An immensely powerful kingdom from the late seventeenth century, Gianyar became a
Dutch protectorate
in 1900 and, being spared the depredations wreaked on other Balinese
kingdoms, flourished as a centre for the arts. The district capital, also called
GIANYAR
, is
still known for its handsome
endek
weaving, and for its delicious roasted suckling pig (
babi
guling
) served at the night market, both of which merit a detour. But the town sees few tour-
ists, being far outshone by its much more famous subdistrict, Ubud, just 10km to the west.
There are several
craft villages
and worthwhile
temples
around Gianyar, but the region's
biggest attractions are the
Bali Safari and Marine Park
by the coast to the south of town
and the new
Taman Nusa Cultural Park
to the north.
Gianyar's textile workshops
In Gianyar itself, the outstanding choice and quality of the hand-woven cotton and silk
endek
(tie-dyed weft
ikat
) produced in the
textile workshops
on the western outskirts of town is
well worth the trip. Prices range from Rp150,000 to Rp300,000 per metre, and you'll need
about 2.25m for a sarong. You can also buy
endek
shirts, handbags, cushion covers and
more. The best-known
showroom
is Cap Cili (Jl Ciung Wanara 7; daily 9am-5pm; 0361
943409,
yunpande@yahoo.com
)
, which has a dyeing and weaving workshop on site; 15 to
25 weavers are employed here.
