Wood Peace Signs

2009-03-19, Ubud, Indonesia

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I drove out to Tampaksiring today to pick up some peace signs I had carved special for me from Sono wood. I was surprised to see so many of the shops still closed and a lot of ceremonies still going on. Women with fruit piled high on their heads walking down the country lanes to the temple. I guess the 19th was almost as busy as the 18th. I wished I had brought or worn my sarong fro the ride. When I got to the work carvers I found out that one of the carvers got in an accident on Galungan day and was killed. I took a slower more sobering ride home.

I stopped at the post office again to double check the costs on shipping the wood and shell jewelry and found out that it is $50–100 not $5 (this sounds more correct). Sometimes communication is very challenging. I even had the man at the post office write it down each time. John will get prices from his local post office as he says it will be cheaper because it is not for tourists. You would think it would be a simple calculation that was regulated. Who knows.

Still trying to confirm the logistics of exporting and importing things with shells. How do I verify where and how the shells were collected? I learned from another importer exporter that most are farmed off the coast of Java. This makes me feel better as I worry about trying to be mindful of conservation and to make ecologically sound purchases.