Russ&Suzie

Trip Log
2006-05-01 13:15:51 (UTC)

Dali tie-dye works, Monday market, Bai dance in evening

May Day today! Firecrackers in the morning on this
gorgeous sunlight day. Mountains to our southwest in a
long ridge with snow in the peaks, the Erhai lake to our
north east with wonderful reflections from the sun. Tai
Chi led by Liu Bao went better for me than before with the
hired masters. He works on accomplishing only simple
sequences in the beginning of the routine and clearly
knows his stuff. He seemed quite refreshed after a long
previous day.

OUr trip to the tie-dye works meant a little accident as
our driver passed (finally) a slow-moving truck in what
turned out to be into oncoming traffic. We recalled many
interweavings when we were in INdia, but no accidents,
perhaps because things happen more speedily here. Our
driver's brother, along for spelling on a longer trip, did
the negotiation. Liu Bao who settled us down told that
fisticuffs frequently ensue in such accidents. Didn't
happen here though the participants played their
contentious role. Our bus's right rearview mirror lost its
cover, but by tonight it had been duct-taped back.

The tie-dye ladies dressed in native dress were gorgeously
attired and very hard-working. Others in the compound
continued to wash floors, the ladies continued their
stitching or other fabric works while the boss lady
talked: the dyes all stem from vegetable materials of the
region. Indigo leaves produce blue dye that they claimed
in color fast. After they tie up the cotton cloth
(handwoven locally, according to what they said), and
immerse it three times daily for 15 minutes each time for
seven days to produce the brilliant dark blue hues.

Lots of buying by our group afterwards and then onto the
local Monday market mostly for the local people and
involving everything from pigs in a basket to bandaids to
cloths innumerable vegetable and wares. FOlks came in
their motorscooter trucks, their single cylinder Nangyou
trucks manufactured locally that sound like my childhood
John Deere tractors. The engines and pulleys open to view
(and I suppose easier to work on). Wished Dad could see
that, as it would interest him greatly. We saw a few
working soil in the field too. Jeanine and I happened to
stroll together and she wondered about the local industry:
what might an American wish to invest in. Answer:
limestone -- we saw several quarries -- and marble of a
local distinctly layered variety.

Lunch at a local restaurant meant that I drank some fluids
and went to the side to work on my Chinese characters. Was
interested in the fact that country involves a box/mouth
in which the character for jade existed! It stands in for
the emperor which character is nearly identical. I talked
to some of our troup noting how the Chinese depend on
their central government and control. Had a nice talk with
Craig D., who related how he was a four-time "turnaround
CEO" working with failing companies and bringing them into
the black. Otherwise I know that he has four
HarleyDavidsons that he travels between Idaho (summers)
and Florida (winters) taking a variety of routes with his
wife Kay sitting behind. Yesterday I got some great
pictures of him with little kids fascinated at his having
taken their pictures and then showing them the results
with his digital screen.

A later trip to pagodas was quite disappointing as we
couldn't get close. Two of our number took a taxi back and
got closer therefore but still couldn't enter it.

Shu Hong told us about local religions: The Bai mostly
practice Buddhism. Early emperors retired to an ascetic
life, for instance, and remain venerated. A huge several
story picture of Guan Yin dressed in which represents a
female Buddha. We saw it on a wall in the old city too. An
island in the lake has a statue of the same deity on it.

An afternoon stroll in the old town followed by a walk
home to the Asia Star HOtel meant seeing several
references to Jimmy's Tibetan Peace REstaurant. WE
contemplated having a drink there but didn't quite get to
it (or think of it in time) and so did when we found his
Jimmy's Tibetan Hotel ("the most colorful in the area").
It perhaps was. We (Susie, Susie D., and Lisa as well as
me) had a very relaxing time.

Tonight featured a BAi dance performance interspersed with
three tea ceremony. Splendid, dramatic, filled with energy
and talent. They got all of us on stage for a line dance.
They claim friendliness to all peoples and our moving
together in time certainly enhance it. Off early tomorrow
for a sojourn on the lake.




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