Greetings from big bad Bangkok. The city has such a reputation, which on I'm beginning to think is not totally deserved. The traffic is relatively organised and relaxed compared to any Chinese or Indian city, the air is definitely cleaner and the sky is actually blue. The people are unremittingly polite, and invariably smiling. Smiling and bowing, bowing and smiling, like a city wide travel ad sponsored by a teeth whitening clinic. In many ways Bangkok ain't so bad.

But I have had just one day here, just time to go and see a new wholesale Silver market - which was interesting with very professional companies, great designs and (surprising for Thailand) realistic prices. Tomorrow it's off to Chiang Mai - a whole new city for me. After that it's Indonesia.

Meanwhile.. Our first container from Indonesia washed up in Ancient Wisdom home base in Sheffield. Lots of goodies, but I'm particularly excited about a game called Dakon. Which I have to tell you about.

When I first saw this board games, I thought how beautiful.. and you can have fun playing with them. The more I learned about them the more I thought they would make an interesting and unusual gift line.

It was outside the city of Yogjakarta in a steamy rainforest on the banks of a volcano where we found a small sleepy village, the cultural home of Dakon. Where the inhabitants are invariably skilled artisans spending their days creating beautiful batik decorated Dakon boards.

The history of the game dates back to forth century Egypt and it is thought that the game was brought here by traders and then adapted by Malacca merchants and developed into this very popular Javanese game. Here on the mountain where the wood, heritage and skills come together a mini industry has developed producing these beautiful intricately decorated sets.

The sets are made in the shape of various animals, rabbits, fish etc. The most prized and carefully decorated are the signature standing dragons. I think they are not just a game but a work of art, that anyone with an ounce of cultural appreciation would simply love to own.

Dakon is a simple and addictive game, to win you need to think further ahead than your opponent, be quick at calculations and a good judge of numbers of shells in a hole.
More info and the rules read more here..

More thoughts and news next week.. from Chiang Mai in North Thailand.

Regards

David

www.AncientWisdom.biz