Are you wondering what kind of things to buy after traveling in Indonesia? As you visit the country, you may realize that there are so many unique things about Indonesian souvenirs, such as crafts, clothes, jewels, and many more.
Having a souvenir for a friend or colleague can be one of the things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. You can choose whatever you like in some souvenir shops that meet your preference. As in Indonesian culture, not buying something after traveling is one of the things that are considered rude in Indonesia which you should concern about.
Commonly, most Indonesian souvenirs can be the most special things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. If you are wondering what kind of souvenirs or other things to buy after traveling in Indonesia, here we have some of them on the list below.
Let’s check them out!
1. Batik
Batik is a kind of textile painted and sometimes printed with a unique pattern that represents Indonesian culture. Batik can be one of the things to buy after traveling in Indonesia that is perfect for souvenirs.
The good material of Batik is commonly specially made using silk, which is painted with Canting by hand. The pattern will show differently in the textile, and it has specific patterns that are rarely the same as one another.
Commonly batik has a different pattern and textile material depending on where region the batik is made. The pattern represents so many different cultures of Indonesia which can be worn for different occasions. It depends on the purpose of making the batik itself.
2. Gamelan Instruments
Gamelan instruments are one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. Gamelan is a kind of traditional musical instrument that is so popular in Indonesia. It contains a bamboo flute, drums, Gong, Rebab, Kendang, and many more.
Gamelan instruments are commonly made of bamboo, wood, copper, and even gold. These materials bring so many different sounds which amazingly makes Indonesian play them harmoniously. Buying one of those as a souvenir it wouldn’t be categorized as things not to ring in Indonesia.
Gamelan instruments commonly play for special occasions, such as weddings, welcoming guests, specific religious prayers, and other celebrations. Every Gamelan instrument can produce different musical sounds depending on what culture they played.
3. Pottery
Pottery is one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. There are so many kinds of potteries in Indonesia that come from a different cultures. If you are visiting Yogyakarta, you can find it around the Kasihan areas in the Bantul regency.
If you are visiting another city outside Yogyakarta, you can find some pottery makers around Bali, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Singkawang in West Kalimantan, Klampok in Central Java, and Melikian. Most of them are spread on different islands that come with different patterns on their potteries.
4. Stone Carving
Stone carving is one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. These typical souvenirs need a special stone carving maker that is similar to a pottery maker. You can find these kinds of things to buy after traveling in Indonesia in Yogyakarta and the popular temple in Ubud, Bali.
Stone carvings in Indonesia commonly represent the Indonesian culture that influences by Hinduism and ancient Buddhist kingdoms in Indonesia. The kind of stone carving commonly represents an epic story behind that picturing the Hinduism or Buddhism deities.
5. Wood Carving
Wood carving is one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia. Just like stone carvings, most wood carvings in Indonesia represent the culture as well, which you can find in the part of traditional houses in Bali.
You can find some of the most popular wood carving in Indonesia when visiting Central Java, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. Most of them have a different pattern that represents their tribes such as the Javanese tribe in Central Java, the Minang tribe in West Sumatra, and the Batak tribe in North Sumatra.
6. Caping Gunung
Caping Gunung is a kind of traditional hat in Indonesia that commonly functions as a hat to go to the farm. Caping Gunung is one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia, which is made of bamboo.
Bamboo craft is so popular in Indonesia that they can craft so many things such as Caping Gunung, traditional basket, Tampah or traditional pan, and many more. Most of them are made in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Bali, and some part of Lombok Island.
7. Jewels and Gemstone
Indonesian Jewels and gemstones are one of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia that you can buy as a souvenir. Most of them are made by Indonesian jewel makers that still use a traditional method.
Indonesian jewels and gemstones commonly have a unique pattern that represents Indonesian culture. That makes the jewels special, which hardly find in another country. You can find them in some jewel shops such as in Yogyakarta, Bali, Kalimantan, and some Lombok.
8. Incense
If you love having incense in your house, then it is one of the most perfect things to buy after traveling in Indonesia, you can buy it as a souvenir. Indonesian incense is so popular among so many Chinese-Indonesian that commonly relates to medicine or prayer.
Indonesian incense has a unique aromatic fragrance that makes hardly found in another country. The fragrance commonly comes with an exotic sense that makes it special. Moreover, commonly they are made using traditional and natural woods from Indonesia only.
So, there are some of the most popular things to buy after traveling in Indonesia that you can buy as souvenirs. Most of them represent the Indonesian culture that is hardly found in another country but Indonesia.
Have you ever found one of those things to buy after traveling in Indonesia so far? Which one becomes your favorite?