Shopping Spree at Sarawak

Sarawak is known as best shopping quadrant of Malaysia that is very famous for hand-woven rugs, traditional wooden carvings, Bidayuh basket weavings and Orang ulu beadwork. There are thousands of travelers who take cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur to explore various enchantments and bewitchments of the area but they are not well aware of the shopping opportunities. Let us discuss some of the most interesting markets and amazing products of Sarawak that you must purchase while you are on a shopping-spree. Ranging from the wide agglomeration of ceramics and potteries of Kilang Pasa to the Borneo tribal textiles like handicrafts and batik (Kapit and Sibu) the place features a lot many attractive and appealing items. Expect high prices and you must be confident enough to bargain- negotiation is essential.

ARTrageously Ramsay Ong is a popular and private gallery of Sarawak that sells contemporary paintings of many famous artists like Wong Neng Lee, Chew Fang Chin, Narong Daun, and Ramsay Ong. Another such area is the Sarawak Craft Council that is situated in Jalan Haji Openg and features a variety of local demonstrations and authentic handmade tribal bric-a-brac. It is located in close vicinity of the Sarawak Museum and is very much famous for some unique and distinguished variety of items. If you want more handicraft merchandise then hit the Sarawak plaza that is situated along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and also very adjacent to the site of Holiday Inn. The most striking feature is the vast variety of western products that are not available in any other market of the city.

The busiest and the most bustling market of the town is Weekend market which is also called as ‘pasar minggu’ and is located in Jalan Satok, towards the western part of city centre. It normally operates after Sunday afternoon and features plenty and wide assortments of merchandise that range from local delicacies to live stock. The Chinese section houses a variety of freshly carved boar and you will be enthralled to see that the vendors sleep inside the shops for next day sale. Majority of the thrilling and enthusiastic travelers also love to head towards Headhunters Tattoo & Piercing Studios, so that they can get a permanent reminder of the place. The parlour was established in 1998 and is promoting the art of tattooing and piercing as an integral and must part of Iban community.

The place is administered by the famous international tattoo artiste Ernesto Umpie, whose designs are unique and serve to be the emblem of Iban culture a true and genuine souvenir. Besides, for the purchase of products such as pottery, sleeping mats, baskets, hats, woven clothes, rattan products, bamboo , beadwork, woodcarvings and many other such items ,you can hit the site of Sunday Open Market. The antique and handicrafts are the specialty of Sarawak, so just don’t miss the chance to shop them. The attractive wall hangings, Malay kain songket and table covers (fabrics intricately woven with threads of gold and silver) are also the must-buy products.