27 June 2009
I have ten oranges in my bag. They were given to us as presents by various vendors. Food in China is a very big deal. No one misses a meal and it occurs to me, feeding a billion and a half people is no small feat. At dinner I am overwhelmed by the amount of people. It seems like they are pouring out of and into every opening.We are dining in the hotel because it’s late, and frankly, there...
25 June 2009
We landed in Xiamen and made our way to Cherry’s hometown, some two hours further by car. Traveling more than an hour beyond, we arrived at a carving studio specializing in Han Bai Yu stone - white jade.Han Bai Yu could be considered the Chinese equivalent of Makrana marble from India, except the two are really different. Makrana is opaque, like milk. Han Bai Yu is translucent, like ice. ...
23 June 2009
We are in a car heading to Bayun Airport in Guangzhou, about a two hour drive from Zhongshan. The highway is new and landscaped the entire way with finely trimmed shrubs, trees and flowers. We are on our way to Fujian. The decision to go was quickly made so I ask Cherry once again the reason for our departure. She says, “To find small carving and go to tea market.” Okay, I nod. Righ...
22 June 2009
After a late dinner we explored the local scenery. In a field near the center of town multiple groups were shooting off fireworks. Whole families joined in the festivities. There were rockets, firecrackers, sparklers, bombs; you name it and it was there as long as it exploded, blazed, smoldered or glowed. Huge rockets exploded in every color of the rainbow, some high, some too close for comfort...
21 June 2009
The day started with breakfast in the coffee shop. The first thing I noticed was plates of candy everywhere. Even the hostess offered me some as she placed silverware on the table and announced “Happy New Year.” Around me, people ate noodles. I felt like I had made a mistake by ordering eggs.I am more self-conscious here than when I first arrived in New York City. The language barri...
20 June 2009
We headed for China on Chinese New Year. Everything in China closes for the Lunar New Year, so it was a good travel day. We took a plane from Denpasar to Singapore and then to Hong Kong. From there, we took a boat to Zhongshan where we were met by lovely Miss Cherry, with whom Primitive has been involved for years. She is smart, stylish, enthusiastic, and multi-lingual, speaking excellent Engli...
23 January 2009
We watched Made “J” mix color for stone. He was giving us a lesson in how to restore damaged pieces. He mixed peka, gambir, and tea in a bucket and added water – his own special mixture of exotic ingredients. The mixture turned plum purple.He took a stone sphere and coated it two times. After the second application it turned brown, charcoal, green, and honey all at the same ti...
22 January 2009
We are flooring it - running to see new people and walking away just as quickly. Two more days and there are still a ton of things to accomplish. We have people to pay, deals to finish, and we’re still opening up “new boxes” as we close old ones. And in the meantime, the mosquitoes are out of control.We have bites that have turned into welts and sores. Everyday our legs collec...
21 January 2009
Caffeine helps. It makes me alert while buying. My eyes dance across objects. My body tells my mind I’m awake. It feels good to be stimulated because the heat is sedating. Sweat forms on my upper lip, but it’s not from the caffeine. It’s the heat. I have a glittery water moustache. Glen’s shirt absorbs as much moisture as it can before its navy blue turns to black.Glen a...
20 January 2009
Today, Senator Obama becomes president. People in Indonesia know about him—he lived in Java for awhile. They are excited about him becoming President. They want to know about it, if we are excited to have him as president. Here, half way around the world, there are congratulatory signs in windows and bars are throwing inauguration parties. American politics has become part of popular Indo...