Young Artists at Work

Made (cousin ) and 10year old Putu creating

 Diandra and I had a wonderful day starting at Villa Kitty.  We played with cats and kittens, all rescued by Elizabeth (Janet's PA) new organization; an obsession she was trying to bring to fruition last year.  The animals are given medical treatment, shots, neutering and hopefully will find a permanent home with a family.

Then we went to Sayan, to the home overlooking the Ayung River of "A House in Bali" 's (opera last year at BAM) Colin McPhee.  He was an ethnomusicologist who visited in the 1930's: his obsession was the gamelan.  It is primarily due to him that we in the west know about the gamelan: Lou Harrison, Steve Reich, and other musicians were greatly influenced by the music.  The house is no longer there but we paid tribute and walked the steep decline to the river. Really Steep/really long (in the heat of the day)

Dee and Jantuk in Sayan- Some View!

To make the day even more perfect we headed to Bunutan, Jantuk's village.  We went to his family compound and to Ayu's new establishment, "Warung Bunutan". (a warung is a "stall" or informal diner)

Putu creating Ogoh-Ogoh

I had brought some plasticene for is Jantuk's kids because They Are Some Impressive Artists!  (look at last year's blog) I know EVERYONE in Bali is an artist: I am still Impressed (and want to nurture this in his kids)  We watched in Amazement as they dug in and went to work. The detail is quite sophisticated and the structural engineering was very very natural for them to build (they used bamboo sticks to reinforce).

Made's creation

This is Putuh's "RANGDA" 

Kadek's Bull

Ayu made us Yummy fruit drinks of mixed tropical fruits and rice,tempe, corn fritters and my personal favorite, Stringbeans with chilis coconuts,shallots and YUMMINESS

Ayu is dressed in temple garb as she was at the pura desa when we arrived: Bunutan is getting ready for its Otalan: Temple Birthday on May 1  Ayu is one very hard working woman..... as her full time job is ceremonies, bartender at Casa Luna, Mother and of course Jantuk's wife.- Now she is proud owner of her own warung.

Now for some Random Weirdness-  these 2 women  were on the river rafting= Notice that they are fully in Muslim purdah (burkha)-{ (probably from Kuwait, Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia)}

travelin' woman