Fodor's Expert Review Sekarbela Pearl Market

Pearls are a relatively good deal on Lombok since golden South Sea pearls are cultivated at farms in Lombok's west and southwest. Head 2 km (1.2 miles) south of Mataram, where you'll find rows of shops selling pearls on the main road heading west from where Jalan Gajah Mada meets Jalan Sultan Kaharudin. Most shops are open Monday to Saturday. (You can also buy cheaper freshwater pearls, usually from China, and often touted on the beaches.)