Batik Day 1!

This day was so crammed full – I sit here with a camera full of photos, trying to come up with some coherent way to share what we got up to today ---and there is SO MUCH!

First off, let me introduce you to Mawa, our tour guide. He is so easy going, our tour so well planned and so fun to listen to as he explains to us the ins and outs of Balinese customs and the way of life here in Bali.

Our many questions on Hinduism don’t phase him at all, and we are learning so much about the history, customs, the folklore and daily lives of these wonderful loving people.

As we loaded our bus, we were told that we were on our way to a warehouse where we could buy batik fabric. Cheers arose from all of us….we were eager to help the local economy!

We wound through the city of Denpasar out past businesses and endless traffic until we reached our destination. I don’t know what you think of when the word “WAREHOUSE” or “FACTORY” is mentioned, but we tend to think of it in an industrial area, and most likely would consist of a self contained huge building.

We walked up an alley – past houses adorned with statues, sacred altars holding the evidence of the morning’s ritual placement of flowers, palms, and a bite of something to eat for the gods ---it feels holy wherever you step, and WATCH where you step because many such offerings can be found on the ground right outside the threshold of a business.

Where to start?!

I’ve visited the home of Moda fabrics in Dallas, TX. I guess that is what I had in my mind this would be like…..but this is an individually owned batik manufacturer, and things were much different!

There were women at industrial sewing machines making up articles of clothing.

Bolts and flat folds of gorgeous batik fabrics on every flat surface throughout the place. We were given the price per meter in the local currency, rupiahs. It was something like 26,000 rupiah per meter ---and I nearly laughed when I found out that with the current exchange rate, that batik fabric was going to cost us just under $3.00 a meter. HOLY! MOLY! Where to start?

Here is Jan contemplating a quilt back!

Blurry pic in action!

The workers will ask you how much you want…..there are markings on the cross piece and they measure and tear. I bought several 1 and 2 meter cuts.

And then…..

I spotted the scrap bags! Heaven Help me!!

Mawa asked the owner if I was allowed to buy the scraps instead of the yardage. They looked at me like I had 3 heads, but a deal was struck!

The scraps were sold by the kilo ----I got about 20 POUNDS of scrap fabrics for a whopping total of $8.00! One bag was $3 and the other was $5.

My shopping spree cost me a total of $30.00.

I wasn’t the only one that discovered the scrap bags either! Don’t we look like we are having the time of our lives? WE ARE!

From here we went to the actual factory where the batiking is done. That I am going to have to save for another post because I took videos….I don’t have the wifi connection to upload those. And it is too much to put in this post….

It’s just about bed time…..tomorrow morning we go to make our OWN batik!

Time is flying and we are trying to pack as much into our memories and our suitcases as possible. This trip really IS a dream!

Until next time!