Last year I embarked on a trip I had been dreaming of for a long time. In February of 2006,  I bought a ticket to Africa landing in Cape Town, South Africa and returning from Nairobi, Kenya. I didn’t know what to expect and didn’t bring much but my backpack, sense of adventure and curiosity. I saw so much I feel am still at a loss to properly articulate what it was like.

The five months I spent there were incredible and unforgettable. The seven countries I visited were all remarkably diverse, with distinct cultures from different colonial, political and economical influences. But the people were usually the same; warm, spirited and curious.

I had the wonderful opportunity to explore the continent a both a traveler and a businessman (living from a backpack). It was a fantastic way to experience South and Eastern Africa. We started in Cape Town, bused up to Namibia, and bused back to South Africa, then I traveled by more buses, trucks, jeeps and a few trains through Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and ending in Kenya. I was able to buy product in Namibia, South Africa and Kenya. It was an intense and thrilling 5 months.

In Namibia, a vast desert country with relatively few people and breathtaking geographical beauty, I started my buying by rifling through handicrafts in an artisan market in the desert town of Okahandja.  I discovered a Fair-Trade company that was working with farm women and purchased beautiful baskets and Ostrich jewelry.

In South Africa, I had very different experiences. The markets and Cuio shops are packed with handicrafts and art from across the African continent. The foreign merchants and artisans come to the strong South African economy with their cultural styles; but not their families, who stay home and are supported from afar. That was a story I saw a lot in South Africa. Where there is one segment of the population with massive wealth and development, and then a much bigger proportion that is poor, struggling to survive and hungry for opportunity. There are huge numbers of migrant workers who’ve traveled to S.A. with hopes of rising out of poverty. I found this dramatic economic disproportion between classes, the clash of “first” and “third” worlds, shocking. It made city life seem tense and desperate. However all the people I befriended and came to know, were very kind and hospitable. One Kenyan woman living in Johannesburg who made jewelry, often invited myself to her small apartment in the notorious downtown area of Hillbrow. I was quite scared coming and going from her building, but there was never a problem. In some of the worst places you do find the best people.
I spent the last few weeks of my journey in Kenya, where I bought and shipped the bulk of this year’s African product. Kenya was another remarkable and unique place with many cultures encapsulated in one country. Between the strong Arab influenced Swahili culture along the coast, and the Masaii cloaked in traditional warrior costumes, Kenya is home to 42 different tribes, and some very tough bargainers’. Many of the products at this year’s sale are from distinct areas and crafted by those regional tribes in Kenya like the many soapstone bowls, plates and sculptures made by the Kisi people.

When I think back on that trip it seems distant, or like a really good dream. Africa was a beautiful place, one that I felt I’m just getting to know. There is much hardship, but Africa has so much to offer and even greater potential. With marvelous scenery, beautiful crafts, soulful music it is a great place to visit, work or live. I will always love it and hope to return one day. For now I am very thankful and fortunate that I’ve had the chance to visit such a place, and experience it peoples and cultures.

As we hovered over Dhaka, Bangladesh, and peered out our window to see thick grey smog, we realized that this country was not that different from many large Canadian cities. However, once we landed we knew immediately we were in a completely different country, one that left you star struck.

The three weeks spent in Bangladesh were some of the most educational experiences of my life. Throughout that time we witnessed some of the poorest slums in the world and were exposed to incredible poverty, but at the same time we saw some amazing wildlife and got a small taste of an incredibly resilient culture; as well as doing a little buying for the business.

When people hear of Bangladesh they often think of poor infrastructure, floods, corrupt government and intense poverty. Most people overlook the positive aspects of the country. The People are very resilient and are able to do an incredible amount with very little. For example, Dhaka, the capital, is one of the fastest growing cities in the world; in order to handle this growth they somehow turn waste areas into twenty story building in just a few months, all by hand!!! As well the government is successfully protecting the Bengal Tiger, one of the world most majestic animals; now their number is increasing every year.

My trip to Bangladesh was one of the most emotional and influential trips of my life. This country has, and is still dealing with some very difficult challenges, but I saw proof that there is much hope that once again Bangladesh can become a strong and prosperous country.

This past spring, I was fortunate enough to travel to Central America, and get to know the countries of Guatemala and Honduras, and experience the Latin and Garifuna cultures. My travels were unforgettable for many reasons, and I will always remember the times I had and incredible people I met.

I traveled the roads of Guatemala in their characteristic chicken busses, which often made me fear for my life and appreciate the luxurious safety of first world public transportation. It was on these busses that I first came to meet the people of a culture I grew to admire and love, the Mayans.

The Mayan people are an incredibly proud and resilient people with unmistakable generosity, warm spirit and genuine sincerity. My respect for these people only grew once I began to view them in context of recent history. Once I learnt of the recent genocide in Guatemala against those people, and the centuries of racial oppression, I began to understand just why they were so proud to wear their traditional garments and why the protection of their art and the survival of their culture is so important to them.

After traveling parts of Guatemala I began purchasing from Mayan artisans in the markets of Panajachel and Chichicastenango. I developed friendships with several of the artisans I bought from, and met their families and saw the places where they worked. I grew in awe of the art of Mayan culture in all its forms. Although I was not able to bring back everything that interested me, I think I found a few items that will go well at the Bazaar. I plan on returning to Guatemala this year and cannot wait to see some of my friends again, and see what new things the country has in store.

Dick and I started our inaugural/solo buying trip (without brother Paul and sister-in-law Eve) mid January in Bali, Indonesia. It always feels good to be back in the beautiful tropics of Indonesia. Your senses are warmly reawakened by the sights, sounds, and smells of South-East Asia.

After our first mango shake and a short sleep, we were on our way with our good friend Dharma to meet up with our producers and place our orders for the Third World Bazaar 2005. We are always blown away by the huge range of product that is produced on this island; incredible craftsmanship and very good quality. Every year they come up with new designs in the fashion, home décor, furniture and accessories areas. We are constantly amazed at how they achieve this.

Most of our producers (which numbered 65 this year) operate their business from a small workshop which is often attached to the front or back, of their home. These are definitely family run businesses, often with the extended family involved in the production from start to finish. We are very fortunate to having positive business relationships with our suppliers which has been established over the 24 years of operation of The East Asia Company.

What’s new for 2005??? The teak root furniture is amazing. We could not resist the tables, chairs and more of the beautiful bowls that were so popular last year. People asked for coffee style tables and we were able to source some great tables. We expanded our furniture line after hearing your feedback. We have a tent totally devoted to furniture this year to accommodate our stock.

Table lamps were also widely available and we found some great funky lamps with interesting fabrics and vibrant colours. The ceramics are always changing and impressive; and once again we could not resist what they are making out of coconut wood, mango wood and native woods; both in the sculptures and home décor line.

So yes, we found lots and lots of great things to purchase for the Bazaar this year. In fact so much that we had to go to a second container just days into our buying trip. We have variety and we have items that often have cultural significance to them making these items even more meaningful, educational and fun for gift buying.

Unfortunately, our scheduled return-trip to the island of Lombok was cancelled last minute due to an incident I had with a motorcycle (which was traveling the wrong way on a one way street and managed to knock me into another world for a short period of time). So instead of venturing off to Lombok to discover more of the artisans there I ended up taking it easy, nursing a head injury. All was well in the end and I was well taken care of by the medial people in the town of Ubud.

Bali has certainly changed a great deal over the years and on the surface you would think not for the better (with all the uncontrolled building and busyness of the urban areas) but we still feel the magic that it holds in its history, culture and everyday life. Their crafts are a reflection of their local culture, but we are also impressed by their openness to the global market, and ability to blend local traditions with other styles of home furnishings and accessories. It truly is a blending of talents. The Balinese are honest people to deal with and that’s why we like basing our business on their products. They provide so much variety in so many areas, excellent craftsmanship and affordable prices. We hope to support our producers through our orders over the years to come, enabling us to pass on their work to you.

We hope you can visit us at Third World Bazaar this year and see for yourself the many wonderful items we have brought over for you from the island country of Indonesia.