On our way back from the walk along Jalan Subak Sok Wayah two days ago, we stopped by a store where there was a man selling wooden sculptures. I noticed the sign “Learn to carve here”. Kenric has always been interested in woodcarving so I suggested that he come back the next day for a lesson. The lessons are either three hours, or six hours with an hour lunch break. The longer class costs 170,000 Rupiah (USD $12.35) including a block of hibiscus wood.

We asked to go back yesterday for the lesson, but the store owner/guru, Kadek, wasn’t available because he had to go to the temple for an upacara. So, Kenric went today. He came back around 4:15 pm because he didn’t take the one-hour lunch. The mask he carved was amazing. He said Kadek helped him a lot with it.

He also said Kadek was “more quiet than I am”. I’m so glad I didn’t go because having one man ignore me is enough. In any case, I’m proud of Kenric for learning the following details about his guru: he has two sons, 5 and 3; his wife does freelance massage because if she works for a spa, the spa owner takes a big cut; Kadek used to work in a restaurant but he didn’t enjoy it (Kenric thinks it has to do with his not liking to talk much); he’s been carving since he was a teenager; and after he quit the restaurant job, his aunt helped him locate this spot and set up shop here.

We leave Bali tomorrow. We will miss this place dearly.

Map of Places Visited