Greetings from AW Frangipani warehouse, Bali
Yes, I'm back from Java, where last week I was telling you about the most friendly people and the village where everyone collaborates together to make beautiful guitars... If you missed it you can catch up here.
There seems to be a bit of a crisis inside Indonesia with airlines. Prices of tickets have rocketed and every flight seems to be full. I used to even turn up at the airport and get whatever flight was next to leave, now you have to plan well ahead. I needed to get back to Bali from Solo and discovered that no seats were available for the next four days.. so I ended up flying to Batik Airways to Jakarta, business class (crazy for a one-hour flight - but I enjoyed it), strolled through the rustic but friendly domestic airport to departures, sat in an ancient but comfy business lounge at the one gate terminal just for Batik. Nobody checked my ticket... As I came out of the lounge I was directed to take the business class minibus to the plane.. on the plane I took my seat.. I realised nobody had looked at my ticket on my phone, or even scanned the QR code. Well, such trusting folks at Batik Air...
These are carefully managed teak forests, this area actually just planted two years ago. I was surprised at the height they had grown in two years. Our supplier lady explained that they don't cut the tree's until the trunks reach a certain diameter and some parts of the forest have trees that won't be harvested until they are fifty years old! That's a hell of a supply line. More trees are planted than cut and conservation is a serious business. The big trees are cut and harvested and shipped to the mega factories near the port that produce the world's garden furniture. The roots, branches and offcuts find their way to the local artisan community.. where tremendous creativity produces beautiful things. Check out these...
The boss of this place employs dozens of local artisans, he showed us his beautiful house and several large workshops with people beavering away. The guy was very happy to see us, actually, all the family came to say hello. It seems his best customer (I think American) has never met or has even talked to them. They just get regular emailed orders, and send truckloads to the cargo house every week. Hense so happy to meet potential customers in person.
We didn't order anything yet.. because the current shipping rates would triple the landed price of such things, but do you think we should?
Meanwhile, I'm back in Bali and Ringo has been showing me the garden that surrounds the loading area of our warehouse. He has green fingers.. and is really proud of his multi-coloured frangipani.
Finally news from Bali Baby Home. With our donation (made possible by you.. our amazing customers) they were able to fund the rescue of three more babies in the Yogyakarta branch..
