Day 62: Masks

We spent our last day in Ubud before heading to the coast at a museum which many told us we couldn’t miss. That recommendation was invariably followed promptly by an expression of puzzlement and slight outrage that more people don’t now about it.

The Setia Darma Museum of Masks and Puppets (Lonely Planet TripAdvisor) is one man’s passion, Mr. Hadi Sunyoto. He’s a wealthy man, to be sure, and one who deeply loves his chosen hobby. And that hobby is masks, mainly Balinese and Indonesian, but with a generous sampling from the rest of the world’s traditions too.

Melissa and I teamed up with Derryn from the cooking school to split the travel costs and enjoy each other’s company as we toured the museum. We got Ketut of the ceremony class fame to join us and he provided a lot of commentary muscling in on the docent’s turf to some degree. She didn’t protest, but it was a tad uncomfortable.

The Museum is part of an estate. A vast one covering a large swathe of the Ubud suburb of Mas. In addition to the five buildings dedicated to the museum proper, there was a restaurant, a pond with a fountain and the obligatory souvenir shop. They do not offer air conditioning and the midday heat was a bit oppressive as we toured the marvelous creations. Better to go in the early morning, or perhaps as the rain knocks the heat back a bit.

The building are made from rough-hewn salvaged Javanese wood and have a faintly old-West feel about them. Inside there are some amazing treasures. Take a look.