One man’s journey into the world of Agarwood
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Mar 27th, 2010
Rashimi enters the room with a tray of boiled rice and smoked fish. He serves the hearty breakfast on a low table before taking leave from Uncle Dan. A wonderfully fragrant aroma permeates the air. It plays with my senses and reminds me of family get-togethers in the holidays. I thank Uncle Dan wholeheartedly [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Mar 21st, 2010
We reach the distillery well after midnight. Deep breaths of cool night air fill our lungs as we clamber out the truck. I follow Rashimi along the path that leads to the wrought iron gates. A delightful breeze of cinnamon and cloves wafts over us. The air smells good enough to eat. Wind chimes tinkle [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Mar 8th, 2010
Rashimi pulls over at the side of the road. He reaches for a rag on the dashboard and wipes the sweat from his face. ‘Time for rest,’ he says as he clambers out of the truck. From the back of his truck he produces a straw mat. He spreads it out on the dusty floor [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Mar 5th, 2010
The insistent ringing of the telephone brings me to an abrupt state of consciousness. I was just enjoying a peaceful afternoon with Sheikh Ibrahim on the Ain Sefra River. A small crystal bottle bobs up and down at the water’s surface. There is some writing on the bottle but I cannot read it. I turn [...]