Just an Update

Jonathan was here for a month, longer even, making things happen in the new distillery. He accomplished in 5 weeks what would have taken me 5 years! But it still not finished! I can make oil, yes, but there’s a ton left to do before we can accept visitors so we shall shoot for the new tourist season--Khareef will hopefully be all about ice cream in any case.

I am planning on at least one nice reception. Probably two, or maybe more. One for women; one for tour guides. They will feature ice cream, hydrosols, and other tasty aromatic treats. I’ve got some ideas popping! It’s aroma tidbit time, baby!

Jon has skedaddled off back to California and I nipped off to Dubai for one last attempt at a trade show. I have not had much luck with them lately--either they are pathetically small like Middle East Organic (walked the whole show in 20 minutes) or just a disaster, like Biofach in Nuremberg. I went in February 2011, and of the 2 companies I actually ordered from (and fully paid), one of them (Rochocolat of Belgium), just stole the money, and the other never finished sending the order.

Beautyworld Middle East seems to be a happy exception. It was not big, and I walked it in a few hours, but there was lots there. So, very happy with it. Dubai is a nice change this time--usually I can’t wait to leave here but this time it’s different. Must have made some changes in my attitude I guess.

I was going to write a post detailing what happens when you build something in Salalah, but I have passed through this now. Suffice to say..........nothing can prepare you. I don’t care how hellish your construction was in whatever western country you live in and that includes New York City. You cannot imagine what you’ll find building anything in Salalah.  You might find the carpenter taking over a week to build a door! That’s because he’s building it the cheapest possible way, which means without power tools, without any construction methods in use today. He will arrive on his bicycle, and probably not speak Arabic. So good luck communicating. Working with a hand saw and chisel, hand routing the edges, tearing up the floor tiles to sink the frame......Jon was stunned into shock, time after time. And there is no way to anticipate the pitfalls, since they will most certainly fall outside your imagination. Let me say one more thing: I now understand why shanties look the way they do. I was not searching out the cheapest guy either. I needed a skilled carpenter because the doorway is curved slightly. It was difficult to find anyone to do it! And it was not cheap. I suspect it will be entirely finished shortly after the tourist season begins. In 2014.

But sitting in a café on the charmingly lit Dubai Marina, enjoying my shisha, and listing to latin guitar rhythms, I don’t want to think about construction work in Salalah. It will be waiting for me when I get home.

So even though the distillery is not operating fully yet, I am still making frankincense oil, and distilling myrrh. The myrrh is again crazy--I have only the hydrosol as I don’t see the need to try to separate out the oil. It’s happier together. Like parrots, it’s mated for life. All the myrrh is on its way to Enfleurage even as we speak. It’s like super power-charged skin healing medical mist.

Saudi Woman has had Enough Harassment

Saudi Arabia is well known for its Religious Police who patrol malls and other public areas looking for ways to "prevent vice and promote virtue." Usually this means harassing women for wearing makeup, or nail polish, or showing a bit of hair, or having "sexy eyes." This video is making its way around the internet at the moment and if you haven't seen it, it's well worth watching. 

If you think Saudi women are timid, have a look at this.

Krishna Das Retreat--extra place

I try to attend the Krishna Das summer retreat at Yogaville every year, but this year I can’t manage it. So if you are waiting for a spot to come up for this Memorial Day retreat at the Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville in Virginia, you’re in luck. It’s May 25-28
The retreat is very fun, it’s all hanging out with the Sweet Creature. This is from his website:

Accommodations include 3 vegetarian meals a day, Meditation and Hatha Yoga class every morning offered by Yogaville, 3 nights kirtans and 3 workshops with KD, group chanting of Hanuman Chalisas, opportunity to attend pujas at the ashram temples, daily meditations, daily Hatha Yoga and delicious vegetarian buffet-style meals, all in the glorious natural setting of Yogaville in Virginia

It’s a private room. The food is great and almost all of it comes from the organic farm on-site.

If you are interested please email me asap. absolutetrygve(at)gmail(dot)com. It’s coming up soon, and I’ll pass it on to the first person who wants it.





KD Website info