Hansomat: May 29, 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Winter 2019 - 28. Tegenungan Water Falls

28. Tegenungan Water Falls

Tegenungan Water Falls - People Playing Above the Falls and Below the Falls

Supposed to Sit Inside the Swing But We Opted Not To

After all the rain we had had, the falls were impressive. Again, these falls are advertised as a MUST see on any itinerary of Bali. With water being a ‘holy’ concept in Bali I can understand that a visit is obligatory. But for my taste too many tourists visit here. We did the tourist thing, too. Sat in a swing made out of twigs and had our picture taken by Agung with the Water Falls in the background. Typical tourists, we even smiled for the camera.

A Long Way Down and Most Steps Had No Railing

I drew the line when Agung wanted to climb down to the water level, though.

I would have been more impressed if I had been the only person at this place without any vendors, without any restaurants serving duck soup, etc.

Outside the gate were so many vendors it was difficult to walk through the gauntlet.

OK, I was there, saw it….. Next, please!

Winter 2019 - 27. Gold and Silver Smith

Outside Was More Interesting Than Inside

27. Gold and Silver Smith

Agung meant well, but some places are too commercial, too many tourists go there, the uniqueness is gone. Such was the case with our visit to Sari Dewi, a large ‘factory’ for jewelry.

Tools of the Trade But No Demonstration

Naturally the items offered had a very, very Indian, Hindu kind of look to them. Not something a Canadian would appreciate and use in their wardrobe.

Way Too Ornate For Me

Some pieces were very elaborate but the metal was mostly silver, the few gold items were the lesser end of gold, 12 or 14K and not appealing.

I sat on a bench and the shop served me a mint tea, Carol tried to find something she could like but it did not take long before she came and said to Agung to move on to our next stop.

The workmanship was good, it’s just the ‘looks’ are not up Carol’s alley.

Winter 2019 - 26. Woodcarvings

26. Woodcarvings

Roof Line of the Houses Is Often Decorated

When one walks about in Bali, like we did, looking at all the houses, statues, monuments etc. you will see a multitude of representations of gods, of symbols, of decorations and adornments. There seems to be an inherent feel for form, function and art within the population. Whether that is in their genes I don’t know, but there is a feel for proportion, a feel for looking at something and then bringing out the hidden ‘art’ within. It seems everything is decorated, painted, carved or adorned.

Wood Carver

I like statues, I like carvings, I like how an artist can ‘see’ something in a piece of wood and then bring it out, make it visual for the rest of the people to see. Some folks sculpt from stone; I am more partial to wood carvings. I could not take a stone statue with me anyhow; that would be too cumbersome and heavy, so I thought a wood carving would be best. I had the idea of getting a Shiva in India already, to buy a Shiva statue, but somehow it did not work out.

So on our next tour with Agung, I asked him to take us to a wood carving shop. The idea was to find ‘Shiva’ in Sandalwood. Wow, did he ever find a place! Dewa Malen in the town of Mas, was the name of the shop and while the

This is His Carving

prices are a bit higher at Dewa Malen, the art of carving exotic woods is practiced as a family tradition in this shop, the art of woodcarving is passed on from generation to generation with children of 10 years learning to carve. The shop carved in many woods: mahogany, eucalyptus, ebony and even crocodile wood (terminalia elliptica). They also told me they had true ebony wood, but with the shoe polish trick I have seen so many times, it is hard to believe they really carve in ebony. And of course, they carve in sandalwood.

Sanding the Carving

All the Workers Are From the Same Family

Sandalwood is mainly used to make scented oils; the oils are in the dark part of the wood. But I wanted to have as much of a clear, light wood as possible. I did not want 'stains' if at all possible on the carving. So it was a difficult job to find a clean, clear statue.

Inside the Shop Was - WOW!

Eucalyptus Carving - All Natural Colours

Ebony From Borneo Carving

Mahogany From Java Carving

The carving I bought was all done by hand and is unfinished. No oils or polishes are applied to the statue, it is carved, sanded and that is it. The detail and the form are exquisite and the proportions just right.

Hans' Sandalwood Shiva

Naturally one has to ‘fight’ to get a good price, but I am sure I got a good deal, when I look at it my way. The wood I picked is rare; rare due to the fact that they have to find a piece of clear wood, without dark markings. Then it takes a carver about 2 or 3 weeks to carve the stature. The shop has to make a profit, too, right? I am happy with what I bought, I paid 5 million rupiahs. ($350 US) for all the work they did. Yes, of course I had to sit, drink some tea and bargain but that is the way things are done in Bali. I would be looked at as a fool had I paid the asking price of 12 million rupiahs.

Carol's Sandalwood Ganesha

Now, Carol did much better when she bought a small Ganesha, she paid 800,000 rupiahs ($55) for her statue. But she did not buy at the Dewa Malen shop, I found the Ganesha for her in a shop next to Uma Sari and the man there needed money…. And yes, one of the tusks of Ganesha has lost a tiny bit of the tip (in transit?), but…who will notice it? I like both statues… and they sit here next to me, watching me type!

Huge, Intricate Carving From One Block of Wood

I loved these wood carving shops, it was huge place at Dewa Malen and I watched the carvers sit and chat with each other while working. Or in another corner the whole family processed each carving, making them shinier, and adding oils or creams or pastes to the wood, make them more appealing. I was surprised to learn that a shoe polish and gasoline mixture makes a good finish… who knew! They told me it’s not a trick; the shoe polish preserves the wood well and the gasoline kills any termites.