Inspirations
SIKH - MEET PEOPLE FROM INDIA
Sikhs – we encounter them more and more often on Polish streets. Turbaned men look exotic and foreign, but there's nothing to fear. They're wonderful people. As you know, before I created the Orientana brand, I spent a lot of time in India, mainly learning the principles of Ayurveda, which I applied in my natural cosmetics. In this post, I'd like to tell you about the Sikhs. I found them a very interesting religious and social group, which I had the opportunity to meet in India. In Poland, we know little about them, and I've noticed that they are often confused with Muslims. So, if you ever see someone wearing a turban, be sure they're a Sikh. In India, they constitute a relatively small group, making up only about 2% of the population, but they are most recognizable for their turbans and thick mustaches and beards. I've met several Sikhs; they are educated people with open minds and hearts. It's a Sikh who is responsible for maintaining GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and ISO standards for the production of natural cosmetics at the factory in India, where we produce only some of our cosmetics. I asked him to explain his religion and who the Sikhs are. WHO ARE THE SIKHS? WHO IS THE MAN IN THE TURBAN? Sikhs originate from Punjab, and in their language, Sikh means "disciple." Although the largest number of Sikhs live in India, they are not Hindus. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion, with 25 million followers worldwide. Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and social service. They cover their hair, which they haven't cut since childhood, with a colorful turban. The turban represents a commitment to equality and justice. Sikhism emphasizes the equality of all men and women, which I really appreciate. Sikhs believe in three fundamental principles: meditating on the existence of God (prayer), earning a living honestly (industriousness), and sharing the fruits of their labor with others (charity). SIGH WILL HELP EVERYONE It was this charitable spirit that I so admired about the Sikhs. I saw it firsthand in India. While visiting their gurdwara in Delhi, I noticed a large group of people sitting at the side of the temple, as if waiting for something. It turned out they were pilgrims and the needy, waiting for a meal. The temple serves meals to the poor every day, and everyone is involved in this work. At each gurdwara, huge kitchens and areas are being built where people eat what volunteers have prepared for them. Anyone can enter the kitchen and observe the preparation of the free meals, but they can also get involved and selflessly help others. I observed people even bringing their children along, joining in the preparation of dough or rolling out huge quantities of roti. A meal will be provided to anyone who needs it, regardless of religion or background. Anyone can come to the gurdwara, and everyone will receive support. At the appropriate time, those waiting are admitted into the vast dining hall, wash their hands, sit cross-legged on the floor, and patiently wait for their food. A Sikh walks among the people with a giant pot and ladle, pouring lentil soup for everyone, while another distributes hot roti flatbreads. The community kitchen is a symbol of equality and brotherhood. Believe me, it's impressive. It sent shivers down my spine. FOR A SIKH ALL ARE EQUAL Equality is of paramount importance to Sikhs. Their religion rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin. All are equal and should be treated equally. For Sikhs, God is not found in isolation or through renunciation of the world, but is achieved as an active member of one's family and community. SIKHISM RECOGNIZES THE EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN The Sikhs' treatment of women is interesting. The Sikh faith recognizes women as equal to men and defines God as gender-neutral. It is one of the few religions in the world to do so. In a gurdwara or within the Sikh community, there is no activity that is permissible for a man but not for a woman. There is no religious function that prevents women from engaging in it at any time. SIKHs work hard Sikhism is a practical religion, and Sikhs are pragmatic people. Their community emphasizes leading a hard-working, successful life, and the achievements and successes of others are highly valued. Thanks to their education and hard work, these people truly achieve a very successful life and high social status. However, they are constantly mindful of others, those in need, and support them in any way they can. Cooperation for peace and harmony in the world is also important. If you encounter a Sikh on the street (there are already 5,000 of them in Poland), remember this post and smile. Sikhs are a peaceful people who are very tolerant, honest, and kind. And if you want to learn more about the Orientana brand, which I created inspired by Asian nature, read About us .
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Holidays in Asia - little-known places
Holidays in Asia. Who doesn't dream of them? I recommend destinations for total peace and quiet that are worth visiting. EIGHT DESTINATIONS IN ASIA WORTH RECOMMENDING I receive requests from you to indicate interesting destinations in Asia. Many of you ask about places that will allow you to relax in peace, away from civilization, with few tourists, on deserted beaches, but at the same time you want them to be interesting places for tourists. There are many such places in Asia. Below is my subjective list. Asia for me is peace and quiet. Being close to nature, healthy food, walks and yoga. I quickly escape from big cities where the plane from Poland arrives. I like Bali but in Asia there are less popular places where you can spend beautiful moments. FLORES ISLANDS, INDONESIA These are a dozen or so smaller islands located close to each other and it is worth finding a place on one of them. It is close to interesting tourist places such as the Komodo or Rinca islands, where Komodo dragons live. I flew to Labuan Bajo from where I took a boat to the Seraja island where there was only one ecological hotel, no signal and basically no internet. I lived in a bungalow right by the sea and after swimming literally 20 meters a beautiful underwater reef full of turtles and colorful fish began. In moments free from diving you can go trekking around nearby mountainous islands from where beautiful views spread out, you can sail to the so-called pink beach and sail to bays full of rays. This really is a hidden paradise. GILI DEGE, INDONESIA A small and peaceful island with a few hotels. There are 26 Gili Islands in total, but this one is an oasis of peace and quiet, unlike Trawangan Gili where there are endless parties. You get here from Bali by boat. The island is called "secret" by the locals and is only 4 km long. Despite the fact that it is a small island and I had the impression that our hotel was the only one on the island, there were villages inhabited by very nice locals around. The island is surrounded by beautiful beaches with moraine bays where you can swim with young sharks. Indonesian villages are very interesting because everything happens outside. People sleep on terraces on stilts in front of their houses, farm animals walk peacefully next to them, and children play and look at tourists with interest. I had the impression that my family and I are a huge attraction for them. KERALA, INDIA It is worth visiting Kerala and sailing through the beautiful Karelian backwater channels. A plane from Poland will take us to Kochi, from where we can travel further to the very source of Ayurveda. It is worth finding an Ayurvedic center and staying there for two weeks. You can find more in my post "Ayurvedic treatments in Kerala" - where I describe in detail what a stay in such a center looks like. GAYA ISLAND, MALAYSIA It is a large Malaysian island near Kota Kinabalu, where I flew by plane and then sailed by water. It can be a boat provided by a hotel or a small public ferry. This time we chose a hotel consisting of houses on the water, so we could jump straight from the bedroom into the clear blue abyss. Gaya Island is located in a national park, so the hotel we stayed in was fully ecological. It had another big advantage - there was a marine educational center next to the hotel. The Marine Ecology Research Center is a scientific center where you can learn a lot about ocean life. You can also take a piece of coral reef under your care there and "plant" your own coral, and then receive photos and reports on how it grows until it is transplanted from the nursery to a real reef. Our family supported the reconstruction of the coral reef in Malaysia, and my children were very proud of it. GOA, INDIA A state of India known for its tourist attractions with beautiful, golden beaches and coconut palms. There are many small hotels offering tasty, healthy food, yoga courses and spa treatments. The Goa coast is green, full of lush vegetation. Banana and mango trees grow here, rice and spices are grown. Everywhere you can see white chapels from the times when the Portuguese ruled here and colorful Hindu temples. I recommend going to Calangute, where there are beautiful beaches and small charming hotels. We spent a few days in such a hotel after an exhausting visit to Delhi. SABAAH, BORNEO, MALAYSIA You can have a wonderful holiday in the middle of the jungle, but without beaches or swimming pools. This is a good place for guided hiking. It is quiet, wonderful and very close to nature. I recommend Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley Conservation Area, a place carefully guarded by the Malaysian authorities. It is a national park, where you can only enter if you have a spot in the Rainforest Lodge. There are no such random people, the place is protected from poachers and noisy tourists. I watched with surprise as our documents were checked in front of a huge barrier blocking the entrance to the jungle. I spent two weeks in the middle of the rainforest, observing animals in the wild, walking on hanging bridges, which make it very easy to observe nature. It is full of charming places - bays and waterfalls with fish. You have to watch out for the omnipresent leeches, but this is real wildlife at your fingertips. KOH SAMUI, THAILAND I don't know about today, but a few years ago Koh Samui was a quiet, peaceful island full of spas, massage parlors and fantastic open-air bars serving the best Thai cuisine for pennies. We can relax here on beautiful beaches, but we can also do some sightseeing - it's worth visiting the Wat Phra Yai temple and the Big Buddha, as well as the complex of temples with the statue of the Chinese goddess of mercy Guanyin. We traveled around the island in search of the best beaches and interesting tourist spots, which took our breath away. However, everything is less intense and calmer than in Phuket and there are fewer tourists. PHU QUOC, VIETNAM A large island in the Gulf of Thailand, on the border with Cambodia but full of quiet, wild and peaceful places with access to your own beach. Here we dived, practiced yoga, meditated and ate delicious Vietnamese dishes. Peace and quiet with the possibility of visiting interesting places and sailing to smaller islands. Here you can really relax.
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Cosmetics straight from the kitchen. Recipes for homemade masks and scrubs.
In our cosmetics, we are guided by the principles of Ayurveda. One of them is that we do not put anything on the body that you cannot eat. Orientana natural cosmetics are full of ingredients that you will find in your kitchen. These are pomegranate, cherry, turmeric, saffron, ginger, green tea, honey, cinnamon or papaya. Thanks to them, you can have a more beautiful complexion, strong nails or hair. Look into your fridge or kitchen cabinet and see how many cosmetic ingredients you have in it - superfoods for the skin! You are probably also familiar with moringa, which you drink in cocktails or teas. Due to its amazing antioxidant effect (it contains as many as 46 antioxidants!) it was chosen as the superfood of 2018! Now it's time to do something for your skin from the ingredients you use to make desserts or salads. And you can really do a lot. In this post today, we'll present you with a few ideas for homemade face masks, scrubs or masks! Maybe you have some of your own favorite methods? After all, our kitchen hides so many wonders rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids. Let's use them! THE WAY TO GET SMOOTH, SILKY SOFT HANDS Are your hands rough and dry? Make an avocado mask. How? Mash half an avocado with a fork, add an egg yolk, a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of bran and 10 drops of evening primrose oil. Mix everything together. Rub the mixture into your hands (you can also rub it into your feet!). PERFECT SKIN WITHOUT DISCOLORATIONS Do you know what is an effective way to deal with acne discolorations and scars? Use a very simple ingredient that you sometimes add to tea. Yes, it's lemon juice! Soak a cotton pad in the juice and apply it to your skin for a few minutes (no more than 15 minutes!). Then wash your face. Do this in the evening after removing your makeup. You will notice a brighter face, but it is also a great way to tighten pores! A FRESH, RESTED LOOK Everyone probably knows the method with cucumber slices. We put the cooled slices on our eyes and relax lying down for 10-15 minutes. Then we wash our face with cold water. This is a great proven idea for dark circles under the eyes and puffiness!! It also has an astringent, smoothing, cleansing and refreshing effect on the skin. THE WAY TO BEAUTIFUL HAIR Do you know what the secret product is? A cheap one that is well-known to us – vinegar! A great way to have smooth and shiny hair! Okay, so we have vinegar, so what should we do with it now? Add half a glass of vinegar to water and rinse your hair with it after washing! What does vinegar do to our hair? It has an acidic pH, so it closes hair cuticles, prevents them from tangling and allows for thorough washing off of all cosmetics. It will also take care of the scalp, fight dandruff and prevent oiliness. EFFECTIVE HOME MAKEUP REMOVAL Did you know that oils are the best way to remove makeup? This is because fats dissolve best in oils, and makeup is nothing more than fats. You can use slightly warmed olive oil to cleanse your skin. Wet your skin, massage the oil in, and rinse it off with warm water. If your skin is dry, you don't have to wash the oil off thoroughly, just wipe your face with a cotton pad. Did you know that olive oil will also strengthen your eyebrows and eyelashes? HAIR LIKE BEACH WAVES To get them, all you need to do is get a can of coca-cola. Mix it with a little water and pour it into the atomizer. You can now spray dry strands. You don't have to buy a texturizing hair spray anymore! SEXY SHINY LEGS Mix half a glass of olive oil with half a glass of coarse sea salt and rub into damp skin of legs and buttocks in circular motions! Your legs will shine sensually after such a scrub and your skin will be firmer. A REMEDY FOR SUNBURNED SKIN If you sit in the sun for too long, try applying a mixture of a few spoons of natural yogurt with half a grated cucumber to your skin. Leave it on your skin as long as possible! A method with just kefir or buttermilk will also be good, which you probably know from your grandmothers or mothers. CINNAMON PEELING - DRY SKIN In a bowl, mix five teaspoons of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add olive oil to create a uniform paste. Apply the scrub to your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently in circular motions and rinse with water. The scrub soothes dryness, and your skin becomes soft and moisturized! COFFEE SCRUB WITH SALT Mix a tablespoon of salt (fine or coarse) and two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Add unscented shower gel to create a fairly thick consistency of the mixture. Now it's time to gently massage the entire body, especially the thighs, hips, feet and stomach. Rinse the body with alternating warm and cold water and then pat in a moisturizing or firming balm. The scrub removes dead skin, smoothes and makes the skin soft. QUICK AND EASY HAIR MASK You need a glass of flaxseed, which you pour boiling water over. It will create a pudding consistency, which you need to pass through a sieve or gauze. You will only need a liquid, without seeds, which you apply to clean, damp hair. We keep it for a few minutes, then rinse it off. The hair will be moisturized and nourished. You can also make a mask with turmeric, the recipe for which can be found in our previous post Turmeric and its amazing properties . Now choose your recipe and organize some relaxation time for yourself with cosmetics from your kitchen! I wonder which one you will choose? Maybe you know some other interesting and effective recipes?
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10 THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME IN TOKYO
ANIMAL CAFE In the cafe you can cuddle and pet various animals not seen in Japanese homes, such as an owl, a fennec fox, a rabbit, a guinea pig. There are also cafes with only cats. The Japanese have very small apartments and are often not allowed to keep animals in them. More and more Japanese people do not form relationships, they do not have another person to live with, so they seek closeness with animals. They sit in such a cafe, drink quite expensive coffee and cuddle cats. PEOPLE IN MASKS I understand wearing masks when we have an infection. It is a kind of responsibility that is difficult for us to understand but very common in other Asian countries. I am used to it. However, in Japan, masks are also worn for two other reasons. And probably for these reasons, they are worn more often. When riding the subway in Tokyo, you will notice that there are often more people with masks than without. Why? It is a kind of isolation, the Japanese want to cut themselves off from others in this way, discourage contact and acquaintance. Another reason is to cover minor skin imperfections or lack of make-up. Did you get a pimple? Put on a mask and cover it. A mask is an essential product here and everyone has one at home. BALL MACHINES FOR ADULTS Do you remember those machines with plastic balls? After inserting a coin and turning the lever, a ball flies out, which has a surprise inside - a plastic figurine. In our country, there are usually one or two such machines in a place where children appear, because they are the ones who persuade their parents to insert a coin. In Tokyo, I saw entire walls of such machines and they are mainly used by adults. There is still a plastic toy in the ball. The Japanese call them Gashapon. Gashapon toys are figurines of characters from Japanese manga, games or anime, but also figurines from the American entertainment industry. Yes, adults here collect plastic Spiderman figurines. PEDOPHILE MANGA The Japanese have really great bookstores – several floors, including at least two floors occupied by manga – a type of Japanese comic book. There is a section of pornographic manga (homosexual and heterosexual) as well as comics about intimate relationships between adults and children. It was a shock for me. In Japan, having sex is legal with a person from the age of 13 (if they agree – I don't know how to comment on that ☹)! "Light" child pornography is also legally available. The "heavy" kind was legal until 2014. Manga in which adults have fun with children in bed is within arm's reach here. It didn't even surprise me, but it did make me nervous. RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU ORDER AND PAY AT THE MACHINE In the totally old-school-looking, tiny bars serving udon noodles (in 12 or more varieties) they don't have waiter service - you don't order or pay a human here. When you enter, you come across a cabinet with a selection of dishes - here you press the appropriate button, choose a dish and pay. You hand the receipt to the cook, who immediately gets to work. PROFESSIONAL KARAOKE STUDIOS Karaoke as we know it in Poland is no match for Japanese karaoke. These are small professional recording rooms that you usually rent with friends. You can order drinks and snacks for such a room, but most importantly you can rent a stage outfit. And so, dressed as Cher, I could perform her greatest hits - and see it all on the monitor as if I was giving a real concert. For many Japanese, karaoke has a therapeutic effect, they treat it as relaxation after work, and that is why in districts where there are many offices there are also many such karaokes. FOOD SHOPPING MALL How surprised I was that in Tokyo there are shopping malls with only restaurants and no shops. In a huge multi-story building you have a choice of dozens of restaurants and bars where you can eat and drink alcohol. These bars and restaurants are crowded in the evening because after work everyone goes to eat something - Japanese people rarely cook in their apartments because they either don't have a kitchen or they don't have permission from the owner of the property because the smell can bother the neighbors. Everyone there probably eats out! PACZINKO - GAME AROUNDS These are places so crowded and smoky with cigarette smoke, and so loud that it's hard to stand for a few minutes. In addition to the shooting and scoring machines, where adults sit with poker faces (so I don't know if they win or lose), there are machines for pulling out plushies. These are also besieged by adults - they pull out plushies from Moomins, Pokemon, Harry Potter. POPULAR SWEETS AND SNACKS IN STRANGE FLAVORS In specialized shops in Tokyo we can buy Kit Kat in flavors that I have not seen in Europe or the USA or anywhere else. Kit Kat in matcha tea flavor, apple, strawberry and others. Pringles in flavors of octopus dishes, with lime and chili, cinnamon and wasabi. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - ROBOTS IN BANKS In Japan, which is known for its technological innovations, I met for the first time robots the shape and size of a large child, which helped with customer service in a bank. You could communicate with them freely, ask a substantive question and receive an answer. It was great! My trip was purely business but I had some time to walk around the city. In Tokyo, Orientana presented natural cosmetics at the Cosme Tokyo cosmetics fair.
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HOW DO HONG KONG PEOPLE DEAL WITH STRESS?
I was last in Hong Kong six years ago and I can tell you that changes are happening quickly, because I hardly recognize the city now. And its inhabitants too? A few years ago there was more British influence here and the city seemed calmer. What is Hong Kong like today? Very interesting modern architecture, luxury shops and a lot of Teslas on the streets, but also... smog, noise, excessive activity of residents and overstimulation. Hong Kong residents suffer from overwork and huge competition in the workplace. They have no prospects for their own apartment (1 m2 in a good location in Hong Kong costs about PLN 100,000), they have no time for friendships and relaxation, they live in constant crowds and noise. The Chinese, and especially those who live in Hong Kong, are very loud, shouting at each other, talking on phones, honking and screaming. I have seen their aggressive behavior more than once. All this makes them one of the most stressed groups in the world, and the suicide rate and mental illness rate there is increasing rapidly. I spoke to Hong Kong residents because I wanted to find out how they cope in such a difficult environment. Here are some of the basic ways Hong Kong residents relieve stress: ACUPUNCTURE There are many salons in Hong Kong that offer body needling. Needling equalizes the flow of energy in the body, brings balance to the body, can treat all kinds of neuroses and obsessions. Acupuncture increases blood circulation and tissue oxygenation, reduces heart rate and lowers blood pressure, helps manage stress hormone, releases endorphins and relaxes muscles. USING ASIAN HERBS In Chinese medicine, there are hundreds of herbs specifically used to achieve body balance and thus reduce stress. The goal of Chinese medicine is to have the body function in harmony. Stress can be combated with a proper lifestyle, and in extreme cases, you should go to a herbal shop, of which there are many on the streets of Hong Kong. A good herbalist will be able to determine where imbalances occur and will prescribe the appropriate herbal mixture. It is popular to drink valerian or chrysanthemum tea every day and eat the fruit of the common jujube, which has a strengthening effect for people with delicate and sensitive health. FIRE THERAPY Fire therapy (huǒ liáo) involves heating larger areas of the body with fire. The procedure involves isolating the skin with a warm, wet towel. An isopropyl alcohol solution diluted with water is spread over the isolated skin, e.g. on the back, a fire is lit for a few seconds, and then extinguished with a warm, wet towel. This procedure draws toxins out of the body and reduces tension in the body. QIGONG GYMNASTICS It is a popular exercise that combines meditation with tai chi movements. It is usually done outdoors and slows down the heart rate, relaxes muscles, causes breathing to stop and lowers blood pressure. Regular daily exercise for 5 to 30 minutes can help relieve stress. MEDITATION Meditation is a great way to relieve stress. The Chinese have been meditating for thousands of years and it is one of the pillars of their tradition. It helps lower blood pressure and eliminate cardiac arrhythmia, improves sleep quality, relieves headaches and migraines, and reduces chronic pain. If your life is also full of stress, you can try the methods of coping with stress described above. In Poland, you probably won't try fire therapy, but acupuncture is available. I also encourage you to meditate. If you would like to try it, you can learn it, for example, in yoga schools.
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ECO CONFERENCE - SMOG AND OUR HEALTH
On 27.11 Orientana was the organizer of the eco press conference "SMOG AND OUR HEALTH", which took place in the modern interior of Cook Story By Samsung in Warsaw's Wilanów. The meeting was led by the wonderful journalist Beata Tadla! Anna Wasilewska – creator and owner of the Orientana brand presented a new product – BIO Active Protective Cream ANTI POLLUTION. She talked about its properties and the effects of the cream's ingredients – moringa and schisandra, as well as scientific studies that confirm the protective effects of both ingredients. She explained how the cream blocks the penetration of harmful particles from the air such as PM2.5 and PM10 or from cigarette smoke. Moringa and schisandra also prevent them from settling on the skin! Additionally, the cream has a protective filter SPF15, which provides stable protection against UVA and UVB radiation. Bio Active Protective Cream is a cream that not only protects the skin, but also deeply cares for it. It will long-term moisturize, nourish, regenerate the skin and protect against oxidative stress, delaying and preventing skin aging processes. And did you know that the Oxford Dictionary has named TOXIC the word of the year for 2018? This applies not only to interpersonal relationships, which are often unclean and toxic these days, but also to the environment – toxic and polluted. However, we can protect ourselves and make conscious actions and choices. The meeting was also attended by the creator of the social campaign "First Day Without Smog", in which famous Poles hold their breath - @wstrzymajoddech. He started the entire discussion panel and began by outlining the problem of smog and explaining how large a scale of the problem it is. It is present all year round, and in the heating season it intensifies even more. Year by year, there are more and more victims of polluted air. The smog campaign "First Day Without Smog" was created thanks to Global Compact Network Poland and Grupa Walk. Many famous faces from the world of media and television took part in the campaign and its aim is to build awareness of the problem of smog and the preventive actions that each of us can take. The dermatologist spoke about the harmful effects of polluted air on the skin. Remember that not only does the skin age faster, suffer from inflammation and become hypersensitive, but it also lets carcinogenic substances from smog into the bloodstream. We need to take care of our health, but also start making conscious choices and contribute to making our planet more friendly and clean. At the end of the conference, we heard about the advantages of the electric car Nissan Leaf, which does not imitate exhaust fumes. You can cover a really long distance with it, and charge it along the way at special stations, of which there are supposed to be more and more. You can also have such a charger at home! The meeting participants were journalists from well-known magazines and journals, influential influencers and famous people from the world of media and television. The problem of smog was taken up by actress Anita Sokołowska (an actress appearing in the series "Przyjaciółki"), Kasia Dziurska (multiple fitness champion, finalist of "Dancing with the Stars"), and Kasia Krupa (presenter and dancer, appearing in the program "Dancing with the Stars"). Everyone listened to all the presentations with interest and concentration. Everyone was surprised by the information about how bad the air quality in Poland is. Many Polish cities are on the list of the most smog-ridden cities in the world! However, there are methods to combat it! Each participant received a new Orientana cream to test, and the Orientana team answered countless questions about the cream's effects and its use.
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WE CONQUER ASIA - ORIENTANA AT THE FAIRS IN HONG KONG AND INDONESIA
Despite the autumn, October and November are hot months for our company! In October we presented the ORIENTANA brand at the Cosmobeaute Indonesia Trade Fair in Jakarta, and in November at the largest trade fair in Asian countries, Cosmoproof Hong Kong. In both countries we were warmly welcomed, and in Hong Kong our Actively Protective Bio Cream ANTI POLLUTION premiered. The fair was an interesting experience for us. Customers from Asian countries understand the ingredients, they know them from old natural recipes, but they do not have access to them in modern formulas. That is why Orientana has a field day here. We had a lot of work, and the interest from local distributors exceeded our expectations. Our hair products were a hit in Jakarta. They will soon be available in Indonesia in specialist salons. In Hong Kong, where smog is an everyday occurrence, customers were interested in a cream that protects against smog. Large cities in Asia are struggling with this problem, and recently awareness of this problem has increased here. We also had many talks with distributors in China, but we had to painfully reject their offers. We do not want to test our cosmetics on animals, and Chinese law requires it if cosmetics are offered in stationary stores. Hong Kong, on the other hand, as a free city, is subject to a different law and here you can sell in stationary stores without testing. Our Bio Breast Oil also enjoyed great interest and it is possible that it will soon be on the shelves in stores on this island. Attending the fair is also an opportunity to see the latest trends in cosmetics. We were of course interested in trends in natural cosmetics and we discovered that we have good intuition. We have prepared new catalogues in English and Chinese for the fair, as well as advertising spots, which we will show you soon. And soon we are flying to Tokyo.
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KOMODO TRIP
Today I want to take you to the beautiful island of Indonesia – Komodo. On this island lives an endemic species of lizard – the so-called Komodo dragon, and in the world known as the Komodo dragon. It is the largest lizard on Earth! Because it occurs in small numbers, it is protected by law. To protect dragons, Indonesia creates national parks where they live wild and where we tourists can observe them without interfering in their lives. Entry to the park is only possible with a ranger who will safely guide us through the area. A few words about these beautiful animals – a lizard about 3 m long, weighing about 100 kg. Komodo mainly feeds on water buffalo, deer and wild pigs. Its saliva contains 54 bacteria, which after biting the victim enter its blood and cause infection and then death. During the period of the victim's illness, Komodo follows it, waiting for it to fall and then devours it. Terrifying, isn't it? There are about 6,000 lizards living on the islands belonging to Indonesia. I really wanted to see them because soon man may completely destroy them. The Indonesian islands are very attractive to tourists, which means it is an extremely lucrative business. Not always ethical and very often not ecological. I learned that 80% of the real estate on the islands is in the hands of foreign investors. They buy land and build hotels. And often the desire for profit causes great destruction of the natural environment. Currently, there are great attempts to acquire places where Komodo dragons live for investment. To prevent this, the inhabitants of Indonesia have started a campaign on social media. You can follow it under the hashtag #savekomodo #savekomodonationalpark. When I was on the islands, I also noticed frequent fires. I was told that investors set fires because it is easier and cheaper to buy land for investment when it is burnt down. The same is done with tropical forests. This procedure even has its own name and is called "slash and burn". The idea is to make it easier to obtain land for planting, for example, oil palms. The big companies investing in Asia, the ones we all know and we all buy their products, are responsible for this. Of course, in addition to the facts described, being in Indonesia you can enjoy heavenly landscapes, wonderful regional delicacies and get to know an interesting culture. For me, however, corporate social responsibility is a key issue, so in addition to the idyllic views, I also wanted to share with you important information about the natural environment. See you soon!
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TAJ MAHAL - THE BEAUTY OF SYMMETRY
I resisted visiting the Taj Mahal for a long time. I don't like visiting monuments, I prefer to observe ordinary people and the things they do, walk through bazaars and sit in parks. Since my friends from India were very keen to visit the Taj Mahal, one day we got on a train to Agra and set off on our way to this spectacular monument. Considered the seventh wonder of the world, the beautiful white building is actually a tomb, and not a Hindu one, but a Muslim one at that. It was built as a tomb for the wife of the Mongol emperor Shah Jahan. His beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died after giving birth to her fourteenth child, and before her death she asked her husband to build a building in her honor. The emperor wanted to erect a monument in which undisturbed symmetry would reign. The building stands on the banks of the Yamuna River, in a square garden, which in Muslim architecture symbolizes divine perfection. The main building is a mausoleum with a large dome, on the sides there are two mosques made of red stone, and in the four corners there are minarets - towers from which muezzins call Muslims to prayer. In the very center of the mausoleum, his wife's tomb was to stand. However, the beauty of symmetry was disturbed, but more on that later. The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. It was built by about 25 thousand workers. Legend has it that after the work was done, the emperor ordered their thumbs to be cut off so that they could not replicate such a structure anywhere else. The building is very interesting - built of white marble, and the entrance gate is covered with symbols made of precious stones resembling inscriptions from the Koran. Each wall is beautifully carved both outside and inside. I do not recall seeing such elaborate carvings in marble anywhere else in the world. Inside, the walls are decorated with precious stones, which, when illuminated, shine beautifully. Hindus say that the Taj Mahal is as changeable as a woman. The color of the building changes depending on the intensity of light. Illuminated by the sun and the moon from different angles, it has multi-colored visualizations. Pearl pink at dawn, opalescent yellow in the evening, bright white during the day. The Taj Mahal shows how we pollute the environment. The white facade has to be renovated quite often, because it turns gray due to pollution. The Indian authorities, wanting to protect the monument, have banned the construction of factories in the area. The beauty of symmetry was completely destroyed. By whom? Well... The emperor wanted to build a black copy of the Taj Mahal for himself on the other bank of the Yamuna. Of course, to have even more fun with symmetry. Nothing came of these plans. After his wife's death, his health deteriorated, one of his sons took advantage of this, killed the other successors to the throne, and threw his father in prison. After his father's death, he ordered him to be buried in the Taj Mahal next to his mother's grave, thus disturbing the wonderful symmetry. It really doesn't look good - a small grave in the center and a large grave next to it. But fortunately, the disturbance in proportions is visible only when we enter the mausoleum, until then we can admire the beauty of symmetry.
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