Feb 22 - Lombok Pottery, Traditional Music, Dance and Food, Gili Island.

Senggigi Beach near our hotel.

Lombok Pottery folks met us at our hotel on Senggigi Beach at 9 am on Friday and we headed off in our bus to the town of Masbagik where a co-op of women potters works with Lombok Pottery. The co-op includes 69 women potters in Masbagik. 

Tourist boat at Senggigi beach, near our hotel.

We had a 1 hour bus ride from our hotel to Masbagik and encountered some traffic along the way. Look at the school boys hitching a ride home after school. They get out early on Friday to go to noon prayers at the local mosque. 

Pots at the Lombok Pottery showroom in Masbagik. Many of the reddish brown pots are colored with a spray of tamarind dye.

The mosque just across the street from the Lombok Pottery Centre in Masbagik - 90% of the people on Lombok are Muslim. Our big blue bus in parked on the right.

Some of the women at the Lombok Pottery Centre in Masbagik. T hey obviously enjoy working together and hosted us well.

Everyone was friendly, helpful and eager to learn more about us and to tell us about their work and their co-op of women potters. 

We walked about a block from the pottery centre to the home of Kutian to watch how she makes a large clay pot. Ahn, in the grey head covering, was our guide. 

 Alicia, Charlotte and Christina helped to mush up some clay in order to get it ready for the potter.

Kutian and Ahn discussing the fine points of the art of pottery making. Kutian obviously knew what she was doing.

Kutian adding finishing touches to her big clay pot.

Adding more detail to her pot.

Christina's feet were pretty muddy after stomping on the clay for a while. She's getting an official Masbagik foot-washing.

Kutian applying some etched patterns onto her pot with a plastic comb. She does not need a lot of sophisticated tools or equipment to make a beautiful pot.

Ahn took us over to the outdoor 'kiln' where Kutian and her firends fire their pots. Here is a piece just being lifted out of the fire.

Lush tropical greenery just a few steps away from the  Masbagik 'kiln' where the local Lombok Pottery members fire their pots.

A thick stand of bamboo provides a natural fence. The bamboo grow so closely together that it is impossible to make your way through.

Three of the Lombok Potters who were firing pots today. 

Masks off to reveal big happy smiles. 

Lombok pottery is not just made to be pretty for export. The pots are practical everyday vessels like this one at a well in Masbagik.

We drove back to Mataram for lunch and entertainment at the residence of Abdul Hamid. They had a traditional Lombok meal ready for us, several delicious courses, we all had to sit on the floor and eat with our hands. On top of that we were entertained by a small Gamelan orchestra and some dancers. 

A Gamelan orchestra member.

We were encouraged to join in the dancing. Charlotte is following along as Abdul Hamid leads. 

 Everyone was dressed up in fancy clothing for the music and dance.

Some of the dance moves were tough for us to follow.

Music and dance is one way to keep traditions and culture alive for the future.

 The people of Lombok are beautiful, talented people who are proud of their heritage. We were really honored and privileged to have a performance like this put on just for our tour group.