Thread: Looking for a helper, buyer, guide! Man Friday!

Von, what is your time frame?

Originally Posted by pollyanna

Von, what is your time frame?

Hi Pollyanna,

Thanks for your reply. I'm leaving for Bali in the morning. I'll be there starting Sunday, May 1 and I plan on being in Bali for 10 days, then off to Java on my continued quest for batik sarongs for the beach. I export to Mexico, so I've been doing this for awhile. How might you be interested? Are you familiar with Bali's batik industry and the locally run factories?

Von

Von, I can't personally help you at all. I thought I might know of someone who would be great but he won't be available for another three or four weeks. Sorry.

Originally Posted by padangan

hi von i'm from java...maybe i can help you.call me 081914230459

You're just a little bit late... Von was here from 1 May and only for 10 days.

Hi Padangan and Matsaleh,

Thanks for the number Padangan - are you in Java?

Yes, I am traveling again, now in China, next week in Manila (surroundings) and I will be back in Bali in a few more weeks. I am continuing my search for unique batik fabric and sarong factories. Hand painted, tie dye or copper stamped - all forms. I'm interested in hand embroidery too - usually done in the individual's home.

I've made a lot of contacts and already made several initial purchases. These are all intended for the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Another of my stomping grounds. But, I've found the cost of Rayon is extremely high in Bali because it's being trucked from Java and sold at a much higher price to the factories in Bali. Unfortunately, the Rayon is more then 60% of the cost, so this effects the price of the sarongs actually made in Bali quite substantially.

Solo is where I'm turning my attention in my next trip. I'll be hunting down factories there and checking out hand embroidery too. If you have any advice or know the batik industry well in Solo, I'll sure appreciate you're advice. I'll also give you a call at the number you mentioned when I get back - just to touch base.

Padangan, I don't know if I meet you when I was in Bali, being you know I was there and have left already. However, if I did, I hope to meet you again, I enjoyed thoroughly my trip and the next time look forward to staying somewhere a little more out of the way.

Perhaps West Bali, out towards Selemadeg somewhere, I really have no motivation of spending my off hours near crowds of people or motorbikes - I'm sure you get my point. Of course, I don't want to get to far away from Denpasar, hoping an hour out of town or a little more, might get me some breathing space, the sound of uninterrupted chirping birds, and an unobstructed view of utopian rice fields.

Anyway, I had a wonderful time, even if I had to dodge motorbikes, and talk myself out of a couple dragnets. I made my rounds while I was there seeing in reality what the real Bali was like and made a point of moving around trying to meet the locals. I'm glad I did as I am always in search of the truth as not shown on Photoshop-ed internet pictures.

Hope to meet everyone some day soon...

The happy voyager...

Von