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...
18 January 2009
This is getting tricky. It’s hard to not get emotional about some pieces, especially when your eyes tell you something is special. Sometimes, even an underdog will stick in your mind.You’ll dream about it at night and when you look in the mirror the next morning you’ll vow to your reflection, “We’ll get it. I’ll fight for it.” And you remember that prom...
17 January 2009
These trips are about stamina and perseverance. It takes time, desire, wherewithal and creativity to find or create good things. Right now, we’re in search of a winner in Batubulan. Claudia and Glen know where to look. They’ve covered this area many times before. Their energy astounds me. It’s hot, sticky and frankly uncomfortable under the beating sun, but we keep going. &ldq...
16 January 2009
Things are different here. Like any good beach town, the island is full of bare-chested and barefoot civilians and lots of scooters. Life moves at a slower pace. Natives take the time to smile and offer warm-hearted greetings. Taxi drivers close and open doors for you. Life moves at a slower pace. Natives take the time to smile and offer warm-hearted greetings. Taxi drivers close and open doors...
14 January 2009
The India leg of the trip is over. Glen, Claudia, and I said farewell to Sandeep at the airport.I can’t say I feel melancholic about leaving India behind. We’ve gained a few extra pounds and a ton of baggage. A portion of the weight is from the rich Indian food, but there's also the baggage from recent acquisitions, some warm clothing from Claudia’s jaunt to Tibet, literature,...
12 January 2009
We are hunting for lingam shrines. We are taking pictures of every one we spot, and there are dozens. Glen and Claudia are doing research for a book they want Primitive to publish on lingams.A large portion of it will be photos, so the three of us plus Sandeep, Sataram, and our ill-equipped driver are trying to spot every single one we can find along the road.In my journal, I have notes from fi...
10 January 2009
I am surrounded by lingams in a man's house in a centuries old village called Bakawa on the banks of the Narmada River. You can't get here by car. We have come to see how lingams evolve. The man’s name is Sataram and lingams have been his family business for over 400 years. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and a son who is away at school.His house is simple – an outside kitche...