when was the last time you drew a map? the map project: an exercise in cartography

February 22, 2013

So, if you know me by now, I like to do these fun little art projects from time to time, through Brooklyn Art Library’s Arthouse Co-op. I had recently signed up for The Map Project – Secret Adventures, where we ”go out and plot the course to a new adventure or chart the path to an adventure you’ve had that can be shared with others.”

Fun! If you really, really know me well, you probably know how much I LOVE maps. I have been fascinated with maps since I was a little girl. My parents used to have this light-colored, aqua-blue Atlas, and I would lug it into my bedroom and flip through the pages — time would stand still.

To this day, I have a thing for putting maps on my walls…of places I’d like to go and places I’ve been, with the corners of the maps worn thin by thumb tacks. (I know that’s totally ghetto, but whatevs). Perhaps, one day I will make it into art, along with the gazillion photographs that are taking up valuable space on my computer…

PERFECT TIMING

It has almost been a whole spankin’ year since we left the comforts of our home to explore magical Bali (we departed on the leap year, February 29th, to be exact!) And my husband and I have been reminiscing quite a lot lately, of our adventures.

This little project from Arthouse Co-op couldn’t have come at a better time.

When we arrived in Bali, I sadly found the nose of my surfboard crunched to pieces. Yes, my eyes welled up a bit, but who cares? We were in Bali…!!

So, as the first few weeks went on, we were trying to find out where the heck we could find a ding repair shop. It’s not like you can just go online, look up the phone number of a local surf shop, and bring it in right away. We kind of had to ask around…that took about a good five to seven days. And then we (kind of) asked for (mediocre) directions. After all was said and done, we found out there was a local surfer, named Yoga, who did excellent ding repairs, and he was just a few blocks away…yaaay!

“Just go that way, turn at the end of the road, and look for the broken surfboard…”

So, if you ever find yourself in need of ding repair, here are some little tips and a little map on how to get to Yoga’s ding repair shop if you are anywhere near Nusa Dua, Bali.

HOW TO FIND A DING REPAIR SHOP IN NUSA DUA, BALI:

perfect lil’ phrase book

1. Ask around: “Di mana saya bisa menemukan toko reparasi ding?” Use that handy little Indonesian dictionary, or even better, try Google Translate. Or just ask any English-speaking surfer, or anyone that works at any of the surf shops. Although not always advertised, there are a lot of locals and little shops that do ding repair. You just have to ask around. And ask again.

no GPS = back to the basics

2. Carry a pen/pencil and paper with you - always: Be prepared to draw a map or write down directions. Street signs are usually not posted, so become familiar with landmarks.

there it is!

a little thank you gift for yoga

3. If and when possible, support the locals: They can probably use the money more than any of the corporate shops or the occasional surfing ex-pat trying to make an extra buck. If they do an excellent job, tip them well, or give a small gift as nice gesture…perhaps, a bar of wax (surf wax is somewhat expensive in Bali, averaging about $4 USD per bar) – or something special from your country, that might be hard to find in Bali.

Before…

After…perfect!

terima kasih, Yoga

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MAPS? HAVE YOU EVER CAUGHT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO DRAW ONE FOR YOURSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON? IF YOU HAVEN’T TRIED IT BEFORE, DRAW A SIMPLE LITTLE MAP OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES, JUST FOR FUN!

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