IN THE WEST OF BALI, CLOSE TO THE SEA CHANNEL TO JAVA, WE MET WAYAN, A WOODCARVER WHO CREATES THE MAJORITY OF THE WOODEN TRIBAL STATUES HERE AT ANSERAI.  WE MAINLY TALKED ARTISANAL SKILLS, FAMILY AND LUNCH {CONTENT EDITED FOR MINOR LANGUAGE ERRORS}.

HI WAYAN, SENANG BERTEMU ANDA, AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO US.  I’VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED WAYAN ON MY LAST FEW TRIPS OVER HERE, WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF YOU?!  IT IS BECAUSE WAYAN IS THE NAME OF THE FIRST-BORN CHILD IN BALI – I WAYAN FOR A BOY AND NI WAYAN FOR A GIRL.

COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF PLEASE?  YES, I LIVE IN  JEMBRANA WITH MY WIFE, MADE, MY FIRST SON GEDE WHO IS FOUR YEARS OLD, AND MY SECOND SON, NGURAH, WHO IS FIVE MONTHS OLD.   SO LITTLE! WHEN IS HIS BIRTHDAY?  HE IS SOON HAVING HIS OTON CELEBRATION [ED.: THIS IS 210 DAYS AFTER BIRTH, AND INVOLVES OFFERINGS AND PRAYERS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE BABY.  UP UNTIL THIS DAY THE BABY IS NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE GROUND, IT MUST BE CARRIED ALWAYS.]

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HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LEARN YOUR TRADE OF WOODCARVING, AND WHO DID YOU LEARN IT FROM? IT WAS TWO YEARS, AND MY UNCLE TAUGHT ME THE TRADE OF THE FAMILY.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF MAKING THESE WOODEN STATUES?  IT IS THE SMALL PARTS LIKE THE EARS AND EYES OF THE STATUE.  AND SOME OF THE WASHES TAKE MORE TIME, LIKE THE WHITEWASH.

WHERE DOES THE WOOD COME FROM?  IT IS FROM OLD WOOD DOORS AND WOOD HOUSE POSTS.  AND SOME IS NEW WOOD FROM JAVA.

WE PLAN TO DONATE SOME MONEY TO A CHARITY IN BALI, COULD YOU RECOMMEND ONE TO US? I DO NOT KNOW A CHARITY THAT WOULD BE GOOD.  MANY PEOPLE HERE NEED HELP LIKE PEOPLE WITH BAD HOUSES AND NO SCHOOLS.  SO MAYBE A CHARITY THAT WORKS WITH CHILDREN WOULD BE GOOD?  YES I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

IT’S NEARLY LUNCHTIME, I’LL LEAVE YOU TO YOUR MEAL – WHAT’S ON THE MENU TODAY?  I AM NOT SURE, I THINK I WILL HAVE SUP BUNTUT OR GADO GADO TODAY.

OK THANK YOU WAYAN, AND SELAMAT MAKAN!