Thread: Bala Bala

I was recently in Fiji with the family for a holiday. The resort we stayed at offered Bala Bala carving as an activity.
I had no idea what Balu Balu was but thought I'd have a go anyway

So Bala Bala (or balabala) is a tree fern that grows in Fiji and is traditionally used to carve totems(?) and suchlike.
This is one of the carvings that guarded our accommodation

Fiji - Balu Balu_4059.jpg

Papa Silio carved all the carvings around the accommodation, over 200. He took me under his wing, which meant he offered me a selection of chisels (one was a berg, I think) and a hammer. I used a 3/4"
He also gave me a piece of chalk to sketch something on the blank bala bala

Fiji - Balu Balu_3821.jpg

so after a bit of a sketch I set to
and the obviously posed piccy ...

Fiji - Balu Balu_3824.jpg

Silio essentially left me to do as I wanted and explained that there was no real traditional shape or form to follow.
This is what I finished up doing.


Fiji - Balu Balu_3822.jpg Fiji - Balu Balu_3825.jpg

Having a bit of free time on another day I went back to the carving.
One of the ever helpful staff members grabbed my camera and took these photos
Silio gave me a couple of carving chisels to use on the second day

Fiji - Balu Balu_4163.jpg Fiji - Balu Balu_4159.jpg

Final posed piccy

Fiji - Balu Balu_4171.jpg

Not a bad effort for beginner
Silio said they would set it up somewhere around the complex. I suggested well hidden behind some bushes