Bamboo Workshop
How an Impossible Request Became a New Product
🎬 Sometimes the story keeps writing itself even after it ends – A behind-the-scenes moment is waiting at the end of this post, for The Secret Journey members only.
📍Hoi An, Vietnam
I'd heard about this bamboo workshop for a while now - in Israeli groups, on Facebook, and even from locals here. That’s the main bamboo crafting workshop in this area, and it's simply excellent.
I sent a WhatsApp message the day before asking if I could come the next morning. I received the standard message explaining the entire workshop and was told I could come for the morning session, 9-12, or the afternoon, 2-5. I chose to come in the morning, and we arranged to meet tomorrow. The price is 700k dong, ~$26.
After breakfast and coffee at the restaurant in my building (how convenient, right?) I took a motorcycle taxi that cost me $1.50 for a fifteen-minute ride.
I arrived ten minutes early, assuming I was simply the first one. The instructor greeted me with a smile while his colleague worked energetically on the sanding machine. Just as I was admiring the stunning creations on the display shelf, the instructor said to me: "You can choose what you want and we'll make it together."
I understood from the Facebook photos that they make whatever you want, so I thought about this in advance. What could I, a minimalist nomad who believes in practicality, possibly make?
Well, the obvious answer is a mug—a coffee cup. I use it at least once a day, and my heart sinks when I arrive at a new apartment and find cups that are too small and don't fill the space in my heart. Again, I've gone too deep; let's get back to coffee.
Even though the airplane sculpture got cut short - or rather melted on me, and the stunning lamps amazed me, and if I had a permanent home, I probably would have chosen a lamp, but it seems more cumbersome to drag around the world. In short, a giant mug is the exact right choice for me.
We started by choosing the base, and the instructor presented me with several different sizes of something that didn't yet look like a cup. I pointed to the widest one and asked if there was one that was shorter. The instructor said we'd cut it to whatever size I wanted. Excellent!
This was the first thing we did. He immediately drew a precise line with a pencil according to the height I requested, placed the cup in a fixture that holds it so it won't move, and took the saw.
He explained how to hold the saw with both hands, keep it centered on my body, and move while applying moderate pressure. Okay, I can do this. I felt confident after he started.
I took the saw and cut the cup energetically. It was so much fun! Maybe I found something else I'm good at or love to do?
It took me about a minute or two, enough time to understand that I came here to work.
Well, what did you expect? The activity is called Workshop - it's literally in the name! You came to work and buy. Welcome to your shift, make sure you do good work!
A few more minutes passed before I asked him: "Is it just me in the workshop today?"
"Yes," he replied with a smile.
And I was so happy to get private instruction. I remembered that the owner of the coffee shop I love told me it's not the season now, and noted it's "relatively empty."
We continued with sanding. Actually, for the next two hours, we simply sanded the cup in all kinds of grades, in all kinds of shapes. First with a machine, then with coarse sandpaper, then with fine sandpaper.
He sanded the inside of the cup with a special machine, and while I was sanding, thoughts came up. Yes, you already know me.
I thought about how much I missed making things with my hands. As a bartender and barista for so many years, I always loved to move, to activate my hands, and especially to create. I realized that, as much as I create texts now, and indeed type on a computer, it's not the same as creating something with your hands. Craftsmanship - I always loved that.
I put together a list of more amazing workshops in Hoi An:
Leather crafting workshop, coffee making workshop, wood carving workshop, Jewelry workshop, embroidery workshop, knife making workshop, pottery workshop, painting workshop, traditional hat making workshop, perfume blending workshop, cocktail mixing workshop, traditional lantern making workshop (the most popular one!), and even a buffalo riding workshop.
During the sanding, I thought I was finished several times, because from my perspective it looked good, but I received comments and emphasis to continue sanding. Feeling like the first day at a new job.
After the sanding (finally!), the instructor asked what I wanted to draw on the cup. I'd thought about this in advance, too. What could I draw besides my logo? I saw that others drew beautiful palm trees, butterflies, flowers, but generic is boring. And here I have the opportunity to create my first merchandise!
Hopefully, I won't ruin the wonderful cup I worked so hard on, but hey, that's how we learn.
I told the instructor about the idea. "But it's a complicated drawing," I added, remembering the conversation with my older brother.
"It's fine, copy it here," he said and gave me parchment paper that I placed on my phone, so I could copy the outline I wanted. It was excellent.
While I was drawing - oh, I remembered how fun this is - the instructor asked me about the cup's handle.
At first, I said I wanted a round handle, but while drawing, I realized something. I usually drink cold coffee anyway, so maybe instead of a handle, I should ask for a straw? But maybe I'll want to drink hot beverages in my amazing cup, too?
Ugh. Why does even such a simple choice become a dilemma?
Wait, maybe I could ask him for a detachable handle? I went too far; this is a bamboo workshop, and it's probably not possible. Well, I'll ask, let's see what he says.
I searched Google for detachable cup handles and showed him what I meant - a handle that maybe attaches to a ring around the cup that can be removed? I asked with complete pessimism.
He looked at the Google images and the cup. I saw the wheels in his brain turning.
"If it's possible, then I'd be happy; if not, that's also fine," I felt like maybe he was stressed.
"I'm thinking how we can make this work," he said in such a curious tone.
"Here I gave you a challenge," I said, understanding that he was taking on the task.
This was the moment I understood not to compromise on what I really need. I could have chosen a regular handle or no handle at all. I could have said, "No worries, I'll settle for what there is." But something inside me said - no, this isn't what I need. I need flexibility. I need this to work for me in every situation.
He explained how to use the special soldering iron that burns my drawing onto the cup.
"Practice on this board first," he explained kindly, and went to tackle his new challenge.
I felt like this was the moment of truth. I wasn't sure my drawing looked good, because yes, the logo has many details that don't transfer well in outline form, but I decided to go with it anyway. Carefully, no mistakes allowed here.
Drawing with the soldering iron was challenging, and I had to go over it twice, but in the end, I was satisfied with the result. Excited like a little girl! Even though at one point I went outside the lines, I realized I don't love it because it's perfect. I love it because it's mine!
This is a cup I created with my own hands! What could compare to that?
After I finished the drawing with the soldering iron, which took me about an hour, he returned with the handle, and I saw light in his eyes.
It wasn't a handle with a clamp or ring like I'd shown him, but rather, he found a completely different solution, according to his knowledge, according to his experience with bamboo.
He attached the handle to the cup, then removed it, and smiled such a big smile that I knew exactly how he felt - success!
He explained how to attach and remove the handle, and I felt this was exactly what I wanted! And how lucky that I didn't compromise and didn't give in to skepticism!
I asked him if this was the first time he'd created such a handle, and he answered that he'd been working here for two years, and this place has existed for ten years, and no one had ever asked for a detachable handle, except for me.
He was so happy and said that now he'll make another one to display so others can create them too, and told me enthusiastically that they're always looking for new things to create, and how fun it was that I asked for something new.
This was a very tangible expression of collaboration between idea and execution. I hadn't thought about it before, but I realized I have a need. I have a need to be flexible, and not to force my mug to have a handle, but to have the option.
And when I brought this idea to someone who understands bamboo solutions, he took my idea and turned it into reality.
So what did I learn today? That when we don't compromise on what we need, when we dare to express our true need, even if it seems complicated or impossible, we can create something that didn't exist before.
This cup is much more than a drinking vessel. It's a symbol of the flexibility I seek in life, of the ability to be at home anywhere. Just as I travel with my home in a suitcase, now I have a cup that adapts to every situation—cold or hot, with or without a handle.
So even though I left there full of "bamboo dust" as he calls it, and maybe a bit tired because it had been months since my last shift, I left so happy.
With a new creation, and maybe the world's first detachable bamboo handle.
This video was captured with my Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses – my favorite way to share the world through my eyes and take you along for the ride.
If you're curious about them, here's the exact model I use.
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