One of our highlights this year was our trip to Cambodia. The country is sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, with its own vibrant culture. The food, mannerisms and, of course architecture is very distinct, and left us with a lasting impression of the personal courage and fortitude of the people.

The architecture of the Angkor Wat area is incredible. This is one of the most incredible sights we have ever seen. We will let the photos below speak for themselves.

We must add that Cambodian silk makes for excellent scarves and handbags. Of course Peggy picked out a good selection for our customers.

We were able to combine a buying trip for the bazaar with a short visit to good friends in Cairo this April. Before you knew it we came across some wonderful product, secured a shipper and had a wonderful selection of goods in transit.

Cairo is a huge city of 24 million people. It is hot, dirty, dusty and very busy, with drivers who seem to have no sense of caution. But within two days the city had grown on us. We quickly figured out how to handle the aggressive style of sales people and before we knew it we were laughing and having a good time trying to do business with them. You definitely have to stand up to them, but once you do, you get to play along with their antics. We really enjoyed our time there and look forward to displaying the product at this year’s bazaar.

We purchased beautiful Egyptian hand blown balls which will be great for the Christmas tree. We also found a wide assortment of recycled glass in clear, royal blue, turquoise and amber which has been made into drinking glasses of various styles, pitchers, candle holders and vases. And lastly we found a modern style of traditional brassware, some copper plated and others silver matted in overhead lights, candleholders in the shapes of mosques and temples. You will have to make sure you see the Egyptian display of these brass lights.

This past June I travelled to Ecuador, an exciting and exotic place I had never been before. Most of my time there was spent in the area of Otavalo where I relaxed, got to know many people, their culture and explored the countryside.

Otavalo is an indigenous town cradled between two volcanoes in the Andean mountains. The town itself and the surrounding communities make up an area known as the Awakening Valley, which since pre-Inca times has been an Andean crossroads of culture and commerce. Since ancient times, traders from the jungle would journey there to trade goods with others from the mountains. Nowadays the same thing is exaggerated with international and local visitors bargaining for textiles, live animals and fresh foods, all the while engaging in the charming, graceful culture of the indigenous Otavaleños. It is easy to see why it is one of the biggest markets in South America.

The indigenous people of Otavalo are a warm, friendly people. I was able to make friends quickly and was lucky to experience Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) Incan religious celebration. This ancient festival coincides with the summer solstice and endures weeks of colourful ceremonies, communal offerings, animal sacrifices, feasts and traditional dancing. I was fortunate to experience this celebration with indigenous people from the community who explained the symbols and traditions of the ceremony.

For some time the indigenous Otavalos have been recognized for their craftsmanship and weaving. Weaving families carry on traditional weaving techniques dating back 4,000 years, while also developing new, modern and trendy styles. In most of these households the precise work begins at sunrise, when they carry on their tradition of tapestry, a rich cultural art handed down from generations and beautifully embodied in their dazzling and intricate designs.

In the Otavalo region I found a wide array of sweaters, carvings and ornaments. I purchased most of this from one large indigenous family that has been producing textiles for generations. I found this area of Ecuador exciting and inviting and would encourage anyone to visit, learn and explore it.

The Otavalo region of Ecuador is making an interesting addition to the Bazaar, we welcome you to experience what these industrious people have created.

For most prospective high school graduates, spring break is generally regarded as a week of uninhibited partying in Cancun, most of which will not be remembered; followed by regretfully fuzzy headed morning afters! As appealing as this may sound to some, the choice between that and spending two weeks traveling around an Indonesian island with two of my best friends was a pretty easy one.

The two weeks we spent in Bali were so full and exciting that it would be impossible to sum up all the beauty of the country in a few words. For me, the most memorable period was the time we spent in Ubud, a city in the center of the island, known for its strong arts culture. From the breathtaking water palace, to the bustling marketplace, there is no end to the list of things to do and see. Along the streets are also many art galleries. These feature many styles and subjects ranging from traditional Balinese art to more abstract and expressionistic pieces. These art shops, intermingled with cafés and other boutiques were rich with Balinese cultural influence.

During our trip, Anneka, Rebecca and I were lucky enough to spend some time with a Javanese artist who was now living in Ubud, named Joe Mintardja. Joe told us about his amazing development as a painter and how his deep love for art has driven his lifestyle. He taught us how to paint with oil, and shared much of his wisdom as a painter. Joe has found success internationally, exhibiting in the United States, Europe and Asia. It was a privilege to be able to learn from someone with such talent and passion.

The time I spent in Bali was a great inspiration to me artistically. The beautiful people, the sounds, and the sights are not easily forgotten and many stories have been relived while unpacking the Balinese products this summer at the Third World Bazaar Barn. I had never been to Asia before, but now that I have been there, I know it won’t be long before I return.

Ariana has worked at the Bazaar for the last 4 years in numerous different roles.

In 2008 we were able to return to our key suppliers in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cuba, and through associates buy directly in Bolivia, Guatemala and Nepal. We are very pleased with the selection and quality of our purchases.

In Thailand we found an incredibly gifted carving village. This year our Chaing Mai shipper brought us to the woodcarving village of Yu-Wah, in the Lana area of Northern Thailand. It was just a few miles south of Chaing Mai and we were thrilled with the craftsmanship of the producers. They had particularly good elephant carvings created from old teakwood.
After wandering from shop to shop, admiring and buying wooden elephants and furniture; we turned a corner and were startled to find a life sized teak elephant looking at us with sad, thoughtful eyes. He was spectacular and Peggy’s heart jumped. We knew he had a come at the Third World Bazaar. We named him Eddy on the spot; the new ‘brother’ to Freddy our large Kenyan Giraffe.

As we admired him we were introduced to Mr. Puc Jentalik, the Master Carver of the region, and Eddy’s creator. He has been carving for over 20 years and mentors the up and coming craftsmen in the village.

Mr. Jentalik described to us the process of creating such a magnificent piece of work. While Eddy is huge (almost 10 feet tall) Mr. Jentalik only spent one and a half months working on him (his students would take over a year). The first week is the hardest and most stressful period as the facial proportions are set. This time period is nerve wracking as he can not sleep until he is certain the proportions will fit the dimensions of the wood. The most important aspect of carving is to get the forehead proportions set correctly. When you see Eddy, you will be impressed with the skill of Mr. Jentalik.

We are honoured and thrilled to have brought Eddy to the Bazaar. He is one of four siblings. One is at the residence of the King of Thailand, another is at the new International Airport in Bangkok and one is at the Erewan Museum south of Bangkok. Eddy will greet you as you enter the Barn; look into his eyes and imagine.

Another Master Artist we buy from is Mr. Laurent Monique. He produces teak root furniture in Bali, Indonesia and we have been buying from him for four years now. His products have always been of the highest quality, have a wonderful feel and are striking to the eye.

Laurent is originally from central Sumatra and his wife Yenny is from Java. He lived in Antwerp Belgium for 8 years as he went to art school and started his trade. At one time he earned extra money carving Angles for the Antwerp Cathedral.

While working in Belgium he told his employer that back home in Indonesia he could make the root furniture that was starting to become popular in Europe. His employer became his first customer when he started making beautiful art pieces out of what was previously waste wood.

We are sure you will be equally impressed with the skill and craftsmanship of Laurent. Look for the spectacular high back chair which Laurent carved out of a 400 year old Teak root ball. It is spectacular!

This year I was given the incredible opportunity to venture to the other side of the world, to Vietnam, with my good friends, the Bakkers. Anneka and I flew alone from Ottawa to Ho-Chi Minh City where we were met by Peggy and Dick. Although I had never traveled that far without a parent, I felt safe because I knew I was traveling with an expert.

The first day in Ho Chi Minh City, we treated ourselves to a body massage, Vietnamese style: hot rocks were applied, our backs were walked on, and we found ourselves being thrust into the air. We also visited the Chu-Chi Tunnels, a historic landmark of the Vietnamese war, which was a really fascinating experience. We learned about the significance of the tunnels as we explored them firsthand. What I also learned was that Peggy, a woman usually filled with confidence, is a very different person underground!

We then headed to the Sapa Mountains in the Northern region of Vietnam. To get there, we traveled on an overnight train which was surprisingly very comfortable. Sapa was a real highlight for me. The gorgeous mountains and terraced rice fields made the hikes something that you never wanted to end. The people in Sapa were also quite memorable. Let?s just say I learned to never promise or even say something that could be interpreted as a promise to a little girl with a cute smile on her face, a jewelry box in hand and anxious to make a sale. I will never forget the sounds of villagers singing and children playing in this stunning mountainous setting. I plan to make a return trip to this special place.

Hoi An, an ancient coastal city, was also an amazing stop along our travels. We explored Hoi An by bicycle which is how most people navigated its congested roads. It is a city known for its alleys of tailor shops. We all had fun, moving from shop to shop, getting measured for various outfits. In fact, I wore my Vietnamese dress for my high school prom in June. I was confident that my dress would not be seen on another girl that night and I was right!

It was very interesting meeting a lot of other travelers on our trip. They were eager to get to know Anneka and I; thinking that we were well beyond our Grade 11 years. Their interest in us seemed to fade, however, when they discovered we were not yet graduates from university, let alone high school! Meeting these travelers definitely made me excited about opportunities for travel in the future.

Overall, this first trip to Asia was incredible. Having been born in Hong Kong, it was exciting to have had my first taste of Asian culture. Vietnam was a great destination. The people in Vietnam were welcoming, eager to share and very friendly. They were anxious for us to learn about their country and wanted to express their gratitude to us for deciding to travel there. It seemed important to them that we wouldn?t forget them. They certainly have my word on that!

The experience with the Bakker family was exceptional. Dick was always there to explain the history of all we saw and experienced. Peggy was always there with her smile, her contagious laugh and the very critical ?Refreshing Times? (Vietnamese version of cleaning wipes). My traveling sister, Anneka, was, of course, the great friend she always is. Her smile and positive attitude always makes for a good time.

Thanks for inviting me along to be part of this great adventure!