From Simple To Simply Crazy
Fri Jun 26 2020 15:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Greetings from Bali
90 days.. I can't believe it.
Last week I was telling you about the sacred oils of Bali.. you can read about it here.
It's 90 days in one place, 90 days I didn't wear socks or shoes, or trousers. 90 days in shorts and flip-flops. And maybe you are in shorts now in Blighty as June 2020 hits new highs. But for me it's 90 days of developing new products with Ringo.. the first batch of which has just arrived in the UK. See details below.
Well it's 90 days not just in flip-flops but also a mask. Unlike the UK, they quickly made it mandatory to wear a mask out-doors... anywhere out-side of your own residence. And plenty of police, army and local security people to check this is happening.
And I believe this and the travel lock-down has made a difference, the infection rate in Bali is very low for the population. In the beginning you could only buy masks in the pharmacy, and mostly they were sold out. Then gradually the local producers stepped up and made masks, pretty soon everyone is selling masks and mask fashion is evolving at a rapid pace.
I was here in February if you remember, then went to India for three weeks with Tomas, just as the pandemic really started to cause waves. We came back to Bali, because it was impossible to go to China as planned. The fruits of the first visit are just landing in the UK. So from February to now I have witnessed the changing fashion of masks.. and pretty much bought them all.. gone from simple, to cotton plain, patterned, to batik traditional designs to simply crazy. Even the police and security guys are sporting the crazy ones..
Ringo and I sporting the latest fashion in masks.
Last week I was telling you about the herbal oils of Bali, which turn out to be big business. My back went.. not badly, I could still walk but quite stiff and painful. Ringo gave me local herbal medicine, and one of our suppliers, pulled out his bottle of Kutus Kutus and insisted on treating me. He massaged my feet, insisting that the oil would work via my feet best, but the pain is in my back I told him.. yes I know, then he rubbed it in my forehead, behind my ears, and the back of my neck very gently. Finally, he applied to my back.. amazingly the pain and the stiffness - at least for the next hour or so gone. He opened his mouth and squirted some in the back of his throat and swallowed it.. erm .. no thanks I said, I'm feeling much better already.
Traditional back treatment.
News from India, where the lock-down is relaxing and cases are rocketing. Many people out of work. Our man in India, Mr Chatterjee celebrated his son's birthday with his friends distributing food to the needy.
This is Chatterjee and son in action. If you have the heart and capacity please help. You can donate here.. GoFundMe All the cash penny goes on food, Mr Chatterjee friends and family time is freely given. Thank you for your help.
So I'm really excited about the new products arriving now.. from Bali. This container has quite a few products from new suppliers.. all family businesses. and lots of items for the home, I can see all these items working well on-line sales, don't worry.. we will be listing on our drop-shipping system shortly.
This is Bu Kadek, a very happy lady.. she organises a whole village of woodcarvers to make traditional Buddha's - something that at AW we have been missing. Everyone should have a one no?
This is Bu Komang, who with her husband and his brothers produce a range of handcrafted resin figures, each beautiful hand-decorated.
This is Sukirno Se who with his brother and family specialise in painting just Buddha pictures. Each signed by the painter.
And there is more but I will tell you another time.
So the new normal is upon us, shops opening, pubs tentatively finding ways to pour a pint, new freedoms from 4th of July, new risk. One thing I miss about the UK right now is a quiet pub and a nice pint of pale ale. So I envy you :)
Maybe you are apprehensive about the new normal, be brave, take it easy, wear a mask.
Take care.
More news and updates from Bali next week.
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