I spent a
large chunk of my time today helping out at a charity stall at my office. We
were selling yak blankets that I had got sent over from my friend in Nepal.
These yak blankets are beautiful. They are soft and colorful and incredibly
warm. I have always loved them and have for years been bringing them back for
my friends and family. All of the women in my family that I love adore
them.
They really
do.
I have quite a
few yak blankets draped around my apartment in Singapore too. They add colour
to the place and they brighten my often dull life. Our little stall was raising
money for the school program that we run in the Katunje district of Nepal. This
is high in the majestic Himalaya mountain range. We volunteers were standing up
all day. It was hard work.
I am footsore
now.
I am battered.
It was nice
however to be surrounded by people doing good. There were very kind and
pleasant people from ten other charities there too. They were all supported in
some way by my work colleagues. They are altruistic people. I like the word
'altruistic'. I like the concept too. These people give their own time to help
others less fortunate than themselves. We should all do more of it. Goodness
rubs off I think. I am a believer in karma and the general concept of doing
good upon others. What goes around comes around.
Hakuna Matata.
I am definitely
not a salesperson though. It is not my forte. I think perhaps I am a little too
frank and my brutal honesty needs to be curbed. A number of people who came to
our stall asked silly questions. Well they seemed silly to me. I gave them
honest answers. Possibly a little too bluntly. The majority of these people had
never been to Nepal so they knew little about what life was like over there. It
is tough. It is harsh. It is one of the world's most impoverished nations.
On a number of
occasions people asked me unusual things - with genuine concern.
"Were
these blankets made using child labour?"
I was asked
this more than once during the course of the day. Much more than once.
"Of
course they were" I replied.
"Why
do you think they are so bloody cheap?"
There was
mostly nervous laughter and the odd blank stare. Was he being serious was
ticking through their blank little minds? I was. I am. Families support each
other in Nepal. Assistance in putting food on the table is a Nepalese child's
responsibility to the family. A close team effort is required for the daily
struggle for survival. The gentle and mostly Hindu Mountain People of Nepal
love their children though.
Deeply.
Dearly.
As they
should.
Anyway our
charity tries to help a bit with education but we are small potatoes and we are
not miracle workers.
Even more
annoying was the more often repeated enquiry
"Were
any Yaks harmed in the making of these blankets?"
This is
true. I am serious!
"Absolutely" was my retort.
"Yaks
can be large, unruly and dangerous beasts. They are formidable. They won't just
roll over and let you cut their shaggy hair. The Farmers shear their wool by
hand. The Nepalese will beat these fuckers into submission for shearing".
I received more
stunned looks.
Disbelief.
Incredulation.
This is not
really true. I thought I would just throw it out there.
The yak is
formidable in size only. It is otherwise quite a docile and harmless creature.
The yak lives at very great heights where the oxygen is thin and all movement
is slow. It is very cold at such heights - which is why yak wool is so thick
and luxurious.
The Nepalese
Mountain people also make cheese and yoghurt from the Yak's milk. I have eaten
both products many times. With mo-mos. These are Nepalese dumplings. They are
delicious.
Really
delicious.
We were
selling these Yak blankets cheap. S$25 each. They go on line in the UK for more
than forty pounds and in the US for $80! They are not easy to get. As the day
went on and people asked me how much they were - I was quoting one for $25, two
for $60 and three for $100.
Ten for
$500!
Some people
saw the humor.
Other suckers
bought it. Hook line and sinker!
We have run out now. They sold like hotcakes.
I hope I do not offend you because it is not my intention, but if you will contact me, I can provide you the same product for a fraction of the price.....LESS THAN US$10.00 FOR SURE ...guaranteed price until June 2013 anyway
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