In any case, didn’t traders start to disappear with the demise of the Great Empires, and become an endangered species with the advent of the automobile and airplane? I think not. A trader’s life does exist in the world of today. Trading is still much more dangerous, uncomfortable, lonely, and unknown than staying home.

     It’s also full of adventure, exotic places, people, and things. It is exciting, challenging, and has an air of romance. And yes, one is still likely to meet kings, luminaries, and the rich and the famous.

     In the past, traders bought and sold spices, gold and silver, fine handwork, tea and coffee, ceramics, wood, silk and textiles, carpets, and art. They still do. They still exchange news and stories along with their goods.

Daeng with Hampatong Collection

     They still trade with other traders, sell to sellers, make people happy with their purchase treasures and are excited by what they found and bought, usually. Trunks have given way to wooden crates, horses and camels to motor bikes and cars, wagons to trucks, and ships to containers, but their essence is unchanged. We forget hard times and discomfort within minutes of their end. I have had typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, and more unpleasant bouts of illness than I care to remember, but bad memories fade quickly, and excitement again takes over. Extraordinary people, great things, and beautiful places are waiting to be discovered. Life is calling me, and my answer is, “I’m coming!”

     Hourly, I hope and expect things to happen, and never get what I hoped for or expected. Sometimes I get more, sometimes less, always different. In the trading world, one must remember: play full-out, and have a sense of humor.

     A good trader needs to be adventuresome, resilient, hungry to learn, and be open, truthful, compassionate, and like people, genuinely.

     This may not be the way one makes the most money, but it’s how to have a great trader’s life. With these attributes, a trader can be welcomed for himself, not measured by others for the possible profit he represents.

     Life is a great game, a dream, and, on a good day, a passionate dance. I do what I do, and I get what I get from life. It’s pretty simple. If I’m not engaged and fulfilled, happy and grateful, I have only to look at that grumpy face in the mirror. That look never fails to make me laugh.

David with the "Gang of Five" Traders

     I do take comfort where I can get it. I love a great mattress, and I want to return home from a trip enlivened, not exhausted. I just don’t want what informs my choices in travel to be my ultimate comfort.

     I want my choices to be about experiencing life, the lives of others, and the quest for all manner of beauty. Five-stars are great, but they separate me from the greater part of the life, culture, and people we visit.

     If I’m offered a night’s lodging with a local family, I hope I’ll choose that, over another night at the Hyatt. Do I want a night in that comfy hotel I’ll forget before I get home, or enjoyment of a great experience and life-long memory of sharing food and conversation with a family in Bali?

     What is probably the largest, nearly invisible, factor in our choice about travel? Comfort! Comfort is the unsung slayer of rich experience, chance encounters, and other life-giving adventures. I suggest that where, how, when, and with whom we travel, as well as where we stay, what we do each day, what we eat, and to whom we talk, are determined wholly or in part by our anticipation of their comfort. The level of physical, mental, or emotional comfort or discomfort each experience we choose might bring, compels us to, or repels us from, it.

     When I want to be comfortable, there’s no place like home. It’s designed for comfort. On the road, however, I try to curb my wish for comfort over experience. I do struggle with this. There are sweet rewards from adventures, large and small, into the unknown. If I am hot and sticky for longer than I would like, oh well. If I get home late and miss my nap, it’s OK. That wedding I attended, or tea at that farmer’s house, was more than worth it. It seems to be the fear of being uncomfortable and the fear of the unknown sometimes influences me.

     I think there is an inverse relationship between staying comfortable and experiencing meaningful travel and maybe life, just as there’s an inverse relationship between comfort and growth, comfort and adventure, learning more about myself, and aliveness. The more comfort-oriented the action, the less passion, joy, chance meetings, and great memories it tends to provide. The older I get, the more pulled I am to what’s known and comfortable. I must now, be more vigilant in my life-giving choices. Simply put, a default choice for comfort kills countless possibilities. There’s no doubt in my mind, the evening and night with the Balinese family will remain a cherished memory. A touch of discomfort fades quickly, while a loving human touch lingers a lifetime.

David Alan Collection

presents

     In tribal and traditional cultures, clothing is a primary indicator of one’s wealth and status. In our show, “Handwoven”, we present textiles from Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, India, and Indonesia, which were worn or used by people from all levels of society, from shaman to merchant, and nobleman to villager.

     On a recent trip to Sumba Island, Indonesia, I spent an afternoon with the King of East Sumba. We had coffee in a pavilion on village square, after which he invited me to his modest home to see artifacts he collected over the years. Even though he “employed” more than 3,000 people, to my eye, his home was surprisingly indistinguishable from his neighbor’s. Though I purchased nothing from him at the time, the King agreed to be photographed. He returned half-an-hour later, dressed in his royal garb, from headscarf to Kris knife, with layers of beautiful garments.

     When he wore his wealth, as only a king could, there was no doubt as to his status. Though I didn’t dare offer to buy his personal threads, there are examples of the artistry of his village in this show.

     We hope you will enjoy a visit to these amazing lands through the vehicle of this complex and painstakingly beautiful weaving, dying, and embroidery I brought back. Wonder and awe will be your reward for the few minutes it takes to tour the show. Many of these richly decorated textiles from their creator’s sleight-of-hand, bring magic to life.