The Lost Arts Weeks

Last week, I spent two days making a traditional Khmer Shadow Puppet at Sovanna Phum Arts Association Theater (SPAA). The one I decided to make depicts a giant riding an elephant, and is pretty intricate. I spent about nine hours on it in total, and my hands, back and behind are all sore: my hands from holding the hammer and tools, my back from hunching over the short table I was working on, and my behind because the stool I was sitting on was really just a wooden plank.

The actual hide that my puppet started out as.

I am very happy with the result:

I am also taking music lessons at SPAA. When I told Mann, the guy who owns and runs the theater (he is really excitable, super friendly, and just exudes happiness) that I played the cello at home, he got really excited (weird, right?) and ran into he office. He came out a few seconds later with a stringed instrument called the tro sau. So, every day until the 12^th I’ll be taking an hour lesson from one of his friends at the theater.

I am so excited to be playing an instrument again! I miss my cello.