(image: homeaway.com)
Ask any of my friends and they will confirm that I am totally a bargain shopper. In Manila it is my family’s past time (the women anyway) to look for great quality at the best possible price. And we are willing to go far and wide (and a whole lot of effort) to do this. Nothing beats the thrill of haggling (which I incidentally discovered during my first trip to Boracay).
Unfortunately being in a new place, wherein I don’t even speak the language, presents a huge obstacle for me. I am not in the know as to where to the best value, and saying “Do you speak Inggris?” is a dead giveaway. My local friends say that there is a local price and foreigner price. (Sigh!) But that’s okay, it doesn’t stop me from trying, especially wow that we have a car! I can now roam the tiny streets of Kemang, go to the Jakarta Convention Center (JICC), etc. to bargain hunt
Today was the last day of the Indocraft fair, and hubby and I wormed our way through the crowds to check out the wares! SO glad we came. We have a few, but nice, additions to our home!
Thank you hubby for being my conscience when I was distracted by the accessories, fashion items, etc – surely an impulse buy since the plan was ONLY stuff for the home.
SOLID WOOD GARDENING STOOL
I’ve needed a gardening stool for a while now, since the one I brought from Manila (made of very light wood) broke a long time ago. I’ve been tempted to buy plastic ones from Carrefour and Index. Thank God I held off from buying the one from Index (Rp 30,000)! The one’s from Carrefour are the same price, but tinier and made with flimsier plastic. This stool is solid wood, will last longer, and also serves a decorative purpose!
Solid wood gardening stool or bangku kecil (small chair). Original price Rp 150,000, bargained down to Rp 130,000 from SURIYANING JATI FURNITURE
More decor finds and merchant contact details after the jump!
FRUIT BASKET
Our maid has been storing our fruits in a big aluminum basin or in the gift basket we once received from Grand Lucky Supermarket (bless her for her resourcefulness!) and I always look for nice one whenever I am in Ace, Pasaraya or Alun-Alun. The ones in Ace always come in chrome and I know that it will soon oxidize and will not last as long as a stainless one. I found the exact same one below in Pasaraya but they were selling them for Rp 195,000! Way to expensive! Check out how much I got them at the Indocrafts fair below!
Wooden fruit basket (OPEN). Original Price Rp 110,000.
Wooden fruit basket (CLOSED). Bargained down to Rp80,000 (Woot woot!) from ROMERO CRAFTS
Not only can you adjust the opening of the tray, but you can fully close it for easy storage. Awesome. It’s quite popular, since I’ve been seeing it around but it’s the first time I’ve seen it at such a reasonable price.
CAPIZ FLOOR LAMP
After the post-tennis dinner we had at home last Friday, hubby and I realized we needed more lamps. The candles just don’t cut it, and bright white lights definitely doesn’t set a cozy atmosphere for guests. As you know I am going for a modern Filipiniana look – wood and warm neutral colors with capiz highlights. Jakarta has similar products to the Philippines, so it should be easy enough to source it here. The only problem is the price. The items that I’ve seen are priced extremely high compared to Kultura/Landmark/Crossings in Manila. And they are the exact same material so I am not willing to pay 5x the price. However during today’s fair, I finally found a modern capiz lamp, that we were able to haggle down to what I reckon is just about my standard prices. (Take note, my standard prices are lower than norm, because I really look for sources – the factories even!)
Capiz Floor Lamp from ANTIKA LIGHTINGS
What do you think? Isn’t it an awesome addition to our living room/sala? It’s made of gold capiz, done in a modern style with clean lines – I am giddy with excitement over this buy! =D
If anyone knows where else I can get affordably priced capiz decor (like the abovementioned) and other home items, please PLEASE drop me a line! I would love to know! Perhaps I am just looking in the wrong places – like malls (DUH?!?). =P I don’t mind going to traditional markets, bazaars or showrooms/factories that are away from the more popular expat hunts! Thanks in advance!
The Indocraft 2010 “International Craft & Gift Fair” was held at the Cendrawasih Hall, Plenary Hall & Main Lobby, Jakarta Convention Center. Merchant details below.
SURIYANING JATI FURNITURE
- Contact: Titis Suryaning Wulan, SH
- 0813 1900 9522
- Email: titissw@yahoo.com
- Showroom: Jl. Villa Mutiara 132 Cikarang
- Tel: 021 – 95094 157
ANTIKA LIGHTINGS Craft and Furniture Lightings
- Contact: Mulyadi
- Mobile: 0816 6405 06
- Email: yadithebest74@yahoo.com / info@antikalightings.com
- Showroom: Jl. Palimanan – Jakarta Km 23 Tegalkarang Cirebon 45161 West Java, Indonesia / Jl. Gedangan 03-02, Welahan Jepara 59464, Jawa Tengah
- Telefax: +62 231 8356342
- www.antikalightings.com
- Note: They even sell capiz furniture (whoa!)
ROMERO CRAFTS
- TBA as I am still locating their misplaced calling card (Sorry!)
KERANG KURNIA Industry Kerajinan Kulit Kerang
- I didn’t buy anything from this shop, but they specialize in capiz products (vases, plates, bowls, etc) so I definitely have to check them out in the future!
- Contact: Wachid. M
- Showroom: Jl. Perjuangan RT. 01/02 No. 59 Gg. Masjid Teluk Pucung – Bekasi Utara 17121
- Tel: 021 – 8888 0974 / 0813 – 1076 8949
- Email: kerang_kurnia@yahoo.com
Wow, you really have a good thing going here Diplowife, you’ve even put contact details for the stores you got the stuff from, kudos to you, keep up the good work, your on a good path, cheers Diplowife 🙂
Hey thanks Vijay! Yup I try to keep it detailed for everyone’s benefit. Mine too! Hehehe! I always lose the calling cards or forget why I kept them anyway. Now I know what I bought and how to get in touch again. One of the reasons I put up a blog is because of my gold fish memory (10 secs and it’s gone!) – so I won’t forget all these useful details! 😛
I love the finds! 🙂 Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks sweety! 🙂
Congratulations, Sweetie!
Would love to see the lamp when it’s not lit – it’s my favorite of your finds!!!
BTW, I got you that Good Housekeeping book (Clean, Decorate, Organize) – 650 steps to a picture perfect home *~ just saying that makes me warm and tingly all over 🙂 I’m already half way through my copy.
Found a copy of the maid manual, too! Want that one as well? How do I send?
I think your critique of those two books would be an interesting blog entry. Might even get you into Good Housekeeping! (Better yet, Real Simple Magazine. My HEAVEN. look it up!)
YEY thank you so so much for finding me those super useful books!!! Send them to the in-laws and I’ll have TD find a way to get it over here! Thank you! Great idea to write about them on my blog!
Funny I just took a pic of the lamp, unlit, this morning. Will post soon!
I think I would appreciate your successes more if I could relate to the pricing. would it be too much of a hassle to translate into USD or PHP?
Might even broaden your audience further…
Hi Sweety, the pricing is super simple, just scratch out the zeroes! Rp 1,000,000 = USD 100! So we got the standing lamp for 90 USD!
That’s so incredibly convenient!
Hello we recently moved to Jakarta (6months ago) and am always on the bargain hunt. Did you ever find the contact details for Ronero Craft? Please let me know.
Hello ExpatOnTheGo! Unfortunately I was not able to find it… it’s as if my bag swallowed it up! =( Nowadays when I get an interesting calling card I immediately type it into my blog! To prevent losing em. Sigh… It’s a popular design here so just keep on checkin out those trade fairs!
Wow it’s great to meet another expat online! Would love to check out your blog! Do let me know if you have any suggestions =)
Go right ahead and check out the blog at http://www.ExpatOnTheGo.wordpress.com
I will keep looking. Just spent hours in Pasar Raya. I am a jewelry and handicraft addict living here in Kemang.
Pasaraya is massive isn’t it? It’s just a bit pricey! It’s funny because I was told it was cheap there but many things are actually cheaper in Alun-alun grand indonesia! I think it’s because in Pasaraya they only have concessionaires, so from one vendor to another the exact same thing can cost so much more. My favorite place to go to now is Chic Mart – I am sure you are familiar since it seems to be really popular with the expats! It’s small but has a nice and affordably priced selection!
I live walking distance from Chic Mart so that is dangerous. Pasa Raya is a hit or miss but I treat it as a treasure hunt.
Wow so lucky to live so close to Chic Mart! But yeah that’s definitely dangerous on the budget. Have you been to Yogyakarta? We go often so that is where I get all my local goodies! It is so cheap and so nice there that I get most of my native stuff there! I especially love Mirota Batik in Jalan Marlioboro. I should check out Pasaray and go treasure hunting myself. I go once in a while to see what’s new.
Hai
I’m not the employee either the sales of ROMERO
but I do love their collections
Puri Indah Blok K7/15 – 11610
Tlp : 021 – 5821183
Fax : 021 – 5828708
Email : romerocollection@gmail.com
http://www.romerocollection.com/contact.php
Wow thank you sooooo much for the information sofie!
The capiz floor lamp is fabulous and so does the stool! I can see the stool in the garden, kitchen, library, or bathroom!
Awesome finds!
Thank you! I bought the stool initially for the garden but it is currently in the study used as a footstool. Apparently having a stool to rest your feet on is good for you posture and to prevent varicose veins! =)