On The Trail Of Discoveries

Long travels are now behind us and we are all settling into our Indian days and ways ….. Namaskar.

The monsoon has not long passed and the morning air is stifling and breathless with high humidity.

Following on from yesterday and Kristy’s blog, our morning awakes to the everyday sights and sounds of our location and we are immediately immersed in our beautiful, tranquil hotel setting, a green oasis of calm and gentle rhythms. Here we are met by the familiar smiling faces and a genuine shared warmth – with a year in the passing, it is good to be back (home).

The day will take us far and wide out into the yonder of Jodhpur, along sandy desert tracks and it’s surrounds where we will be reunited with many of our long time family suppliers with an air of excitement (and hope) of further discovering a whole range of original, unique and individual items.

Setting off and leaving our tranquil green oasis we are immediately greeted by the constant movement that is the Indian highways and byways. A constant of bikes, cars, ‘horns’, lorries, transport, people on the go, people on the still, a myriad of life on the edges of these highways, living, breathing and often just surviving… under a very hot and breathless sky.

We first visit one of our long time friends and exporter where we are greeted with garlands of flowers, openness and warmth…. It is good to be ‘home’.

We then make our first stop (always) to this particular supplier who never fails to have a fabulous breadth and range of original items, including extraordinary antique carved stone panels – exquisite and beautiful.

Kristy and I did the initial reconnaissance around the building getting a feel of what was in stock, (very happy with our initial look), while Russ took beath and could survey from the ease of a chair with an industrial fan not far away.
The first item sourced was a lovely simple small glass cabinet ….. while the last (some 260 items later) would be an extraordinary and quite stunning colourful, vintage tiled and the ‘stand-out item’ cabinet; simply gorgeous.

All the while Kristy and I moved through the ‘aisles’ of items making choices and agreeing on prices, Russ was never far away always keeping that wonderful, experienced eye and overview – pointing out pieces that we may had missed.
The range of items would include glass cabinets, sideboards, low desks/drawers, colourful small old door cabinets, bedside cabinets, vintage wall cabinets, bajots, paat tables, mirrors, boxes, trunks, alter cabinets, antique carved panels, Jali windows, old hand carved corbels of all sizes, old carved mirror frames, benches, shelving and exceptional antique carved stone panels …. with more beside.

On occasion you could see Kristy slowly moving down an aisle surveying various items, not aware that behind her were 9 people following her every footstep … from photographers (on both parties), owner, agent, helpers and a look of surprise when stopping and turning around.

Rounding up, following plenty of sweet black tea drunk, stories told, memories shared all with a mutual bond of two small businesses trying to survive these economic times … A last photo taken together and fond farewells .. until next time – remain in good health and let the business continue to survive……

Our next stop took us to a ‘family’ business of mother, son and cousin where again, we would be greeted with a common shared appreciation and respect. Here we would buy a whole range of items including some fabulous old teak low tables, big and small, beautiful old and original teak bajots exuding a stunning patina, further colourful glass cabinets (large and small), teak shelving units, an array of ‘small’s including more vintage hand carved wall corbels, cow bells, metal pots and trunks, a stunning antique hand carved panel, beautiful old hand crafted metal ‘water pots’, trays, signs, kadai’s, pillar bases … more sweet black tea shared with a collective warmth, again, finishing with a group photo and a shared fondness and support.

Leaving behind our first buying we took the long road home (busy with that constant movement of traffic, animal and people, satisfied to have discovered so many extraordinary items, filled with ‘life’, stories, use, a journey had and new journey to be taken …
The tranquility beckoned and a restorative whisky (or two) to be had with Russ, who these past two days has shown extraordinary energy in managing what is and can be challenging environments.

With the sun setting and dinner calling, I’ll say goodbye and thank-you for taking time to read our blog; namaskar.