Indonesia is such an amazing country. An archipelago between the Indian and Pacific oceans, its vast landscape - dotted with tropical forests, mountains, and beaches - largely tropical climate, and warm, friendly people make it a go-to destination for many tourists who are traveling to Asia. Indonesia’s culture is heavily influenced by its many belief systems including Hinudism and Buddhism. If you are planning a trip to Indonesia, then expect that most souvenirs are rooted in the nation’s history, culture, and art. Most items that come into production here stem from traditions that have been passed down to the younger generations. With that in mind, continue reading for suggestions on what to buy in Indonesia.
1. Batik textiles
Batik textiles are one of the most unique products you can buy in Indonesia. This is made via wax-resist dyeing, which is a process applied to the entire cloth. Indonesians are very skilled when it comes to making these batik textiles. These are two main ways to achieve this style, one of which includes drawing lines and dots of the resist with a tool known as tjanting. The other way is to print the resist with a cap, which is simply a copper stamp.
2. Gamelan instruments
Another interesting souvenir to buy when you travel to Indonesia is a gamelan instrument. The gamelan ensemble is typically built in the workshop of one of the country’s most beloved composers, I Wayan Beratha. Thus, you can expect this to be a little bit pricier. If you opt to buy one of the gamelan instruments, each of the instruments will be covered in intricate carvings that depict scenes from the Ramayana, which is a Hindu epic.
3. Celuk jewelry
It is interesting to note that this place called Celuk Village in Bali is pretty known for the locals’ creation of their own unique kind of jewelry pieces. This is located in Gianyar and its name has been associated with jewelry made from both gold and silver. This skill dates back to the ancestors of the village as they managed to pass down their silversmith and goldsmith lineage to the generation of today.
4. Incense
While incense can easily be bought pretty much anywhere in the world, buying incense in Indonesia is a little bit more special. Indonesian incense is very fragrant and the smell is quite unique, which makes this one of the top souvenirs tourists buy before leaving the country. Oftentimes, incense is used to welcome a new year. Other times, Chinese-Indonesian people would buy incense and utilize it for prayer. In their belief, they see the act of lighting incense as a way to respect the dead. There are also those who would use incense for various kinds of rituals at the temple.
5. Congklak
It’s possible that you may not have heard of congklak before but this is actually a term used by Indonesians to refer to the Southeast Asian mancala. This is a subtype of the famous Asian mancala games. This is played by means of placing seeds on one of the cup-shaped holes of a long wooden board, which somewhat mimics that of a boat. It is played by two people at a time and it is quite common in most Southeast Asian countries. What makes Indonesian congklak special is that they come in various shapes and sizes, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
6. Batik paintings
If you are looking forward to buying batik textiles, then you may want to consider purchasing batik paintings as well. Batik paintings in Indonesia have allowed local artists, interior designers, quilters, and fabric painters a way to combine one of the country’s most ancient art forms with some of the more modern ways of using them. You see, this painting is handmade individually and it only uses a cloth that is 100-percent cotton fabric. With artists from all over Indonesia, you can expect that there are tons of batik paintings to choose from. Do note that most patterns are not coincidental when it comes to batik textile-making or batik paintings. Thus, you should at least familiarize yourself with some of the more common ones: batik Pesisir, batik Kalimantan, batik Pedalaman, batik Jepara, and batik Malang among others.
7. Pottery
If you’re looking to buy some souvenirs to take back home to your family and friends, Indonesian pottery is a great choice. Indonesia is well-known for its fantastic porcelain pottery, different types of stoneware, as well as earthenware, that can pretty much be used as household items. You can choose from vases, pots, bowls, and other decorative pieces. Prices vary depending on the design and range from USD 5 to USD 100. The plain ones without any ornamentation are cheaper compared to items with attractive ethnic designs.
8. Stone and wood carvings
Stone and wood carvings are among the favorite souvenirs of tourists visiting Indonesia. The different islands in the country have their own traditional designs when it comes to wood carvings so there’s one for everyone. Meanwhile, stone carvings are usually statuettes depicting mythological and epic characters. The carvings are made using volcanic rock with techniques that date back to more than 900 years ago. Ebony, ironwood, sandalwood, and mahogany are some of the most common types of wood used in carving masks, statuettes, and other decorative objects. Whether you prefer wood or stone carvings, there are many sizes, shapes, and designs for you to choose from. Prices of wood masks vary from USD 2 to USD 5, and they are available in various department stores and street markets around Indonesia.
9. Caping gunung (traditional headwear)
If you look around any city or province in Indonesia, you can still see the traditional headwear that people use to shield their faces from the heat of the sun. That native-looking headpiece is called caping gunung. This classic hat is made from bamboo and is popular among farmers and those who live in villages. Some tourists love trying this hat for when they go on strolls. It is also a fun souvenir to take home with you. Best of all, they sell very inexpensively in markets and souvenir shops.
10. Wayang puppets
To understand the importance of wayang puppets, you must first learn the importance of wayang or wajang to the Indonesian people. Wayang is one of the oldest forms of puppet theatre in the country. It plays a critical role in the formation of the culture in Java, Indonesia. Unlike the typical puppet show, an Indonesia puppet show centers around the idea of telling a story through the shadows of the puppet. Moreover, you may also want to consider buying one of the gamelan instruments as these also accompany a wayang puppet show. Do remember that there are various styles to choose from when buying a wayang puppet. There’s the wayang kulit, wayang wong, wayang golek, wayang klitik, and wayang beber among others. There are also certain characters that you should be familiar with, such as the wayang purwa, wayang panji, and wayang wenak. We advise that you brush up on Indonesian history and culture before choosing a wayang puppet.
Take home a piece of Indonesia
Keep in mind that we have only listed some of the top souvenirs in Indonesia. Since the majority of the Southeast Asian countries are very much rooted in their historic art, you’ll often see other forms of their artistic talent when trying to buy souvenirs. Indeed, looking for souvenirs is another way to get to know the country you’re visiting.
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