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%Last_Name%

Open Temples & Closed Minds

Dear %First_Name%!

Since last weeks newsletterr from Pondicherry about "The Mother" we have moved on. Quite a bit actually.
If you look at the map of India, you will find Pondicherry on thr right-hand side, halfway down. Now if you cut inland to the very centre of the country you come to Bangalore, our next stop.
Now most people travel by air in India, because it's cheap and quick (and the airlines are all better than easyjet) but we decided, for the hell of it..  to drive.. halfway across India. Actually we are not totally mad, I heard that the road was pretty good, and even though bandits used to work this area it was safe these days.

The road from Pondicherry soon leaves behind the urban sprawl and soon we were passing lush paddy fields and mountains in the far distance. This is unspoilt India and nothing like we had seen before. Villages with palm frond roofed huts, dark Tamil skins. No dire poverty, it was poor but neat and people seemed busy and industious.  Men in wrap round type skirts, which when it gets too hot they tuck up nappy fashion. We passed one or two manic market towns, one with some kind of political protest, banners and chanting in full flow. Our driver had to reverse out of the confusion and find away round the edge of town.

As we approached the mountains the landscape took on a distinctly Narnain character, improbable shaped mountains topped by temples and forts, huge weathered boulders scattered across a green valleys. Finally we reached the fabled temple/mountain town of Tiruvannamalia. Here Shiva is worshipped in his fire incarnation, and flames always burn outside the entrances and in the heart of the Arunachaleswar temple complex - one of the biggest in India.
 Fire Temple

We stopped to make a quick visit, we'd been warned that zealous Hindus sometimes object to non-believers entering the temple, and sure enough a grumpy priest tried to tell us the temple was closed and blocked our way. But other more friendly folk pulled us in and pointed the way with happy smiles.
We took off our shoes and bare foot ventured inside. The black stone courtyards between the soring Toblerone temples were hot as coals, and I swear I could smell the soles of my feet being barbecued.
I think not many white faces make it here, we saw no other westerner in town, yet we were welcomed with warm smiles and no hassle (or begging). The Tamil culture is gentle and warm, even the rickshaw and taxi drivers are surprisingly honest.
   Temple carving and little girl.

So with optimism we approached Bangalore - our task to spend the Freedom Fund money that has been accumulating steadily since you have been stocking and selling the Freedom range of incense (10p from every pack goes in the fund to help improve the lives of craft workers).

We checked into our hotel in Bangalore, a little tired after the long drive. The next day we went visit one of our incenses suppliers. We had offered to put up to ten children through good English speaking schools, children of the workers. We also had an open offer to arrange english lessons for any workers who wanted them.
 Incense packers.

I wanted to tell you the good news, to show you pictures of smiling children and happy mothers. Of benevolent employers (who are welcome to take the credit) looking after their hard working staff. But instead we were met by a wall of negativity and slightly tricky repositioning.
"We have some ground rules" our previously open minded supplier announced sheepishly as soon as we sat before him.
1. No photographs (we took them anyway).
2. No talking to workers.
3. We want absolutely no responsibility, you will have to go to schools and pay, we have no time.
4. No one must know a customer is behind this.
5. Only workers who meet stringent criteria (good attendance etc) could qualify.
etc etc. and it got worse.

We spent a full day asking why? and trying to get some grace and sense. We even gave them an order for another container of incense, though in retrospect I'm not sure why.
In the end - after a nights sleep, I decided to tell them (at a breakfast meeting) that maybe we were pushing against a closed door and maybe we should'nt spend the fund with them at all. I was hoping that I might have got a "No don't do that, we'll work it out" response but instead I got a look of unmitigated relief.

The bottom line is that the workers are always leaving or complaining, and that if one gets something they all want it. On about £2 a day I'm not surprised, I would too. There is a management attitude of "don't spoil them, they don't appreciate it". We were actually told, if they simply paid them more they would just go out and get drunk and then go home and obviously beat their wife's.

I can't tell you how sad and angry I felt. Frustrated and annoyed. You'd think giving money away is easy believe me it's not. So do we carry on working with this company in the hope of improving things? Or withdraw to teach them a lesson. Actually the workers are not badly treated, conditions are fair and taking away our business would probably hurt the workers as well. It's a tough call, do let me know what you think. David@AncientWisdom.biz

My wife tells me wisely that as one door closes another opens. So I'm hoping next weeks newsletter will be bursting with good news.

I hope you had a great Mother's Day Weekend.

Take care.

David 

www.AncientWisdom.biz 

PS  If you have never ordered before... 

Check out our first order bonus: £120 worth of stock (@RRP's) and some fine wine free!
Just a quick note for buyers outside the UK - you can now phone us cheaply on SKYPE click here for more details

A delivery of Glass Pebbles just in..

        

Glass pebbles have always sold really well and at cracking profit margins. Packed in 5kg or in bulk 25kg carton.
All the range is now BACK IN STOCK !

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NEW Cotton Art Prints from only £3.45 each

  Fairy  Dragon Castle and

Craft produced in Jaipur using traditional methods and skills. They look fantastatic decorated with sequins (dimentions are 70x100 cm).

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NEW  Monkey Wood Jewellery & beautiful  New Wave Shell Necklaces
    
This hand made jewellery makes perfect accessory for this spring & summer!

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NEW  Himalayan Salt Crystal Deodorants

       approximate weight 140gm

Wet them with water and apply just like ordinary deodorants. They leave a layer of natural mineral salts on your skin and help to reduce body odour. Velvet pouches included.

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Are you looking for a wholesale supplier of confetti?

NEW  Table Confetti  from just 35p per packet
      

Colourful table confetti in a wide range of colours and shapes. Ideal for decorating tables at any kind of festivity. Perfect for arts & crafts.

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NEW Gold & Silver  Decorative Glitter for Crafts 
  500gm bulk bags

This supper glitter is perfect fall craft use. Made from PET plastic it is cosmetic grade. Size 1/96mm.
Bulk 500gm is FANTASTIC value, works out only £7.50 / bag

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Romantic  Dreaming Candles
     
These candles actually light up FROM THE INSIDE! - And then change colours, you have to see it to believe it! There is LED light at the base of each candle, which turns on once you light up the candle.

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Napkins
    
We have napkins for ALL occassions - romantic roses and hearts, happy birthday ones, Easter designs and even for kids!

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NEW  'Romantic'  Film Wrap  100m x 80cm
     

100 meters of Cello Film Wrap 80cm wide, from £9.20 per reel (works out about 9p per meter). Makes anything look great! Fantastic for wrapping flowers, gift baskets etc.

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Loofah Soaps
 
Our production team is proud to present  Loofah Soaps!
These luxury soap loaves are made by melt & pour method with loofah which is known for exfoliating properties.
Using loofah soap helps stimulate circulation and may improve skins texture.

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Mother Earth Soaps  back in stock

 Made with pure palm oil and natural unrefined herbs they will get you cleaner and closer to nature, SLS free.

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Health Spa Soap Loaves ALL range back in stock

    Recreate that Spa feeling at home with our Health Spa Soaps. They are made with the finest ingredients and are designed to make you feel clean and fresh. Each has special properties for that extra special Spa feeling.

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Wooden Soap Dishes

     
Sheesham Wood soap dishes. Nice modern designs, very well made.

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Antitabac Pumice Stones
   3 fragrances available

We are delighted to introduce new Antitabac Pumice Stones.
Choose from: Lemongrass&Cinnamon, Orange&Clove and Vanilla& Rosemary, highly fragrant, coloured for impact.
Just add to ashtray to combat tobacco smells!

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Get FREE Ancient Wisdom FREEDOM Incense Sticks with every order

Try them and let us know what you think!

 

What is so special about our FREEDOM Brand??
10 p from the sale of this incense goes to the AW Freedom Fund. The objective is to teach English language to low income Indian workers to enhance their career prospects.

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HAVE A LOVELY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND !

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Ancient Wisdom Catalogues 2010
  


Just pop us an e-mail if you'd like a copy.

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