The Artisans of Ubud

You only have to walk a block or two along Ubud's main street to realize that this is an artisans paradise.  The wood carvings, the fabrics - especially the batiks - are absolutely world class.  A trip through the local market just reaffirms that; in fact, it is overwhelming and other than a sweet, hanging, handmade sailing craft, we don't buy a thing.  We are told that a driver-escorted trip out of town is well worth the cost so we hire this talkative fellow whose English is punctuated by numerous English slang expressions and his manic enthusiasm is contagious.  Off we go . . . to visit a woodworkers outlet, a batik factory and whatever else we have the time and energy for!

First stop, the woodworkers outlet.  Outside are a number of men, sitting on mats, carving away, holding their pieces with their feet!

I think these men have probably been doing this all their lives as have their fathers before them . . .

Their skill and artistry is obvious.  The creations we see in the showroom are truly amazing.

Next stop, the batik factory - another amazing and beautiful product, the result of generations' of skill.

This lady painstakingly dyes these strands which are then incorporated into beautiful batik patterns.  Another approach is to weave them by machine, using a very old method - jacquard punch cards!

There are shelves and shelves of these cards, each one reflecting the complex weaving pattern necessary to create a batik.

 A jacquard pattern in operation . . .

One of the enormous looms creating batik . . .

A loom operator making a 'handmade' batik.

Painstakingly rethreading one of the looms . . . 

Of course there is a lovely gift shop on the premises which we wander through . . . for a weaver, this is absolute heaven!

Next stop, the cave temple complex.  Outside is the usual gamut of shops, the owners of which insist I need a large scarf or sari-type garment in order to enter the temple.  Not so - that's only for women (or men) who are somewhat scantily clad (which we are not).  The simple sash was free!

 The large fish pond is in the middle of the complex (that's the cave temple in the background).

The pool is filled with fish but the water level was so low that the fish were swimming on their sides!

There's another temple (Buddhist I think) farther up the mountain but it is a blazingly hot and humid day so we decide to forego the hike.  Tim announcing he's not going another meter up this hill!

These enchanting faces adorn the walk up the hill.

It's way past time for lunch so we're off for a much-needed break - lunch and a cool drink!