Wholesale It's an Adventure! - Ancient Wisdom - Giftware and Aromatherapy Supplier

Greetings from Jakarta

We didn't plan to be here more than a few days, Coco was on her way back to China. In last week's newsletter was telling you how it all went horribly wrong.. if you missed you can catch up here.

Last week was also a major milestone in our EU distribution centre in Slovakia, you can also catch up with that news.

So Coco tested positive and her flight ticket was cancelled. At first we had no idea what to do.. but when the clinic told me it was a borderline case - we went immediately for a retest.. that came back negative, confirming my feeling that it was probably a false positive test. I googled the type of test the Chinese authorities insist on and sure enough they expect a 2% rate of false positives. But it was too late anyway.

Since there are only flights to China on a Monday.. we have to wait a week.. maybe more.. according to social media advice once you have a positive test you need to wait a month. Problem is Coco's visa will expire on the 3rd of September and if you overstay you can be blacklisted..

You can get stressed in these kinds of circumstances or you can just accept it as a grand adventure and do whatever you can. Coco is happy.. me too, at least we can spend more time together.. even if it is in a self imposed semi-quarantine in an apartment-hotel. Coco is calling the Chinese travel agent.. but they have no solution. I called the visa agent back in Denpasar, Bali.. they were super helpful and have found a way to get an emergency visa extension. It will take a few days and cost money. That arrived yesterday.. in the form of a letter we can print off and Coco can give to passport control. So at least she is legal.

Then two days ago we got good news: the system has been changed and now she must get 4 different PCR tests from different clinics over two days.. all a bit vague, no proper addresses.

Coco asks for street addresses, because in Jakarta there are a lot of Medistra Hospitals.. the agent doesn't know.

Here's what they sent us.. to get from one place to another could take hours..

Now as you know Jakarta is one of the biggest cities in the world, it is well known for having the worst traffic in the world. Even with an odd and even registration plate system the traffic is horrendous at all hours. You can walk faster.

Check on Google maps and on foot comes up often quicker. But as we found out it's not a good idea.. we tried.. the other day we decided to walk to our previous hotel just for exercise and to see what we might see.

But it was not a good idea.. nobody walks here, first it's too damn hot and humid, second the pavements are often blocked, third Google maps wasn't working good on foot. We ended up lost, dripping with sweat and feeling rather foolish. I gave in and called a Grab (like Uber) and we learned our lesson.

So yesterday we went to the Medistra Hospital nearest to us to check if this was the right place. We found the PCR testing station and asked.. the people in hospitals (or anywhere) are unfailingly nice and helpful. They didn't know, but they checked the computer, no the couldn't find a test listed in Coco's name. But we should go and find Mr Little.. he would know, because he was the China guy. A security guard help us find the right place and we knocked on a door, it was immediately opened.. come come.. Mr Little sat behind a tiny desk in a camped office with a nurse at his elbow.. "how can we help" in good English. We showed him the paper, and asked if this was the right place.. after a bit of checking he told us yes, Medistra Hospital had been contracted to do the tests, but they were to be done in a hotel across town. He gave us the address and recommended we get to the first test at 7.30am - should start at 8am you will need to be early to make the second appointment.. he gave us the mobile phone number of his China contact and wished us luck.

So it's 6am - The Chinese powers that be, have set us a test with just few random clues to help.. we have to from one end of the worlds biggest city and back, two days running. If we miss the test we are dead, no second chances.. it's like a challenge game.. and those tests have a 2.5% chance of a false positive.. so that's a 10% chance (4 x 2.5%) plus whatever the chance of actual an covid infection (I calculate about 0.03%) .. do you think Coco will make it back to China?

Coco's social media fan club on Chinese TikTok have lots of suggestions and advise.. everything for taking anti-viral drugs a few minutes before the test - to paying bribes to shadow agents to smooth the way.. not a good idea.. we will take our chances and play the game..

Will she make it?. Certainly her family, her mother and the grandchildren want her back.. everyday they call, I think they are beginning to worry that she might never come home. I'll let you know next week what happens.

Meanwhile back in UK..

It's September - welcome to the official start of the Christmas season. And already it is getting busy. A few weeks and it will be Halloween and Bonfire night.. then the clocks go back and the nights draw in. This year we are going to need a cosy comporting Christmas.. My feeling is candles, fragrances and pamper gifts to ease the troubled times we live in..

We have plenty of deals and offers coming your way.. including specials on 33 Indonesian products.

Take care, more news next week.

David