Meet Wayan Suriani- Using her talents in the kitchen to support her family.
Wayan with her updated sign
One thing I love about traveling is meeting people and listening to their stories. Getting a glimpse into others’ lives is fascinating, though sometimes sad and other times uplifting. My emotions range from being envious at their carefree ways or guilty about my own privilege. Some of these people leave a lasting impression on me. Wayan Suriani is one of them
I first met Wayan on my first trip to Bali back in 2011. Wayan, meaning first child, is more of a title than a name so it is common to encounter many others with the same name. During this first visit to Indonesia we began in Jakarta and leisurely made our way to Ubud by train, stopping off to explore temples, climb volcanoes and admire spectacular scenery along the way. We opted to stay at a Bali T House overlooking gorgeous rice paddies and decided to rent scooters to better explore the town. We instantly fell in love with Ubud- its spirituality, its magic and its charming people. One day while exploring, we passed by some remote houses. One of them had a simple handwritten sign indicating food delivery and cooking classes.
This is how we met Wayan. She was bent over a pot outside her house cooking, and it smelled divine. She was lively, friendly, and confident. We began chatting and found out she had her own food business, which she started to help take care of her family. We also met her lovely husband, who, unlike his wife, remained almost silent, a shy smile on his face, and her adorable son. We eagerly signed up to a cooking classes.
She arrived at out T House with all the ingredients needed to cook a full 3 course Balinese meal with some extras on the side. To be honest, I cannot remember the names of the dishes, but what I do remember is the taste- the flavours and sensations I had never experienced that had my tastebuds exploding for more! She explained how to make sambal and other fragrant sauces, as well as curries and delicious vegetarian side dishes. I discovered gado-gado and other wonderful Indonesian dishes I had never heard of before.
This all took place before she had facebook. The details are hazy, but somehow, we kept in touch. I remember keeping her business card safely tucked away for when I returned. And I did return. Each time I went back to Ubud I looked Wayan up and though I didn’t join another cooking class, I always ordered food. One particularly memorable meal was when Wayan delivered lunch poolside at our hotel. Her husband and son were with her and I was delighted at how much her son had grown! Each time I saw it it felt like I was reconnecting with an old friend. I am proud of how she continues to grow her business. She even got an updated sign!
I recently checked in with Wayan about how things were going for her during these difficult times. She is grateful for her health but feels ‘sad’ that she hadn’t had any clients for the past year. She is hoping that very soon her or her husband will get a job, or even better- travel to Indonesia will ressume and she can restart her business, doing what she loves most, while supporting her family.
If you do travel to Bali, make sure you head to Ubud and visit Wayan. Hopefully, you will find her with that beautiful smile on her face and be one of the lucky ones to learn some of her cooking secrets or taste the best food in Bali!
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