後知後覺

昨天在學校的路上碰到B
他不是正在Chicago讀PhD嗎?
原來他只是回來香港幾天參加會議
我們在講那個art project 不斷延遲的事情
B突然很自然的說..
“A這幾個月也不可以啦.她的小孩兩個禮拜要出來了..”
我怔住了…Ａ a a a a…？生小孩？
(吓!　我不知道啊？….)
的確是好五個月沒見過A,但是我也和她MSN,SMS和通過電話..
甚至有幾次相約，但是後來總是其中一方爽約趕不上
然後我開始大笑．．
我問Ｂ，是真的嗎？你不是在講笑
他還說，你怎麼會不知道的？
哈哈哈．．我真是後知後覺．．我是怎麼做朋友的．．
幸好孩子還沒出來
要不然更後知後覺更好笑…
真的是替Ａ很開心
趕快打電話給大肚婆
她也不為意我不知道…哈哈哈…我們都笑了
都是保持平常心好…
今天終於約她吃午飯了…

Taken by Anja and Jules

There is Sherap, father, mother, sister-in-law, brother, nephew.....

Beautiful people...

school update

Here are some fresh photos taken by Jules and Anja last weekend. I met them last night in HK, had dinner with them.

They went to Labrang and visited Sherap's grassland hometown in Choni (Zhuoni county), about 5 hours drive from Labrang.

They had a look at the school building and they said it looks good! There is no chair and table at the moment, they will take the old furniture from the old school room up on the mountain. School shall starts after golden week holiday.

最近同一时间在读藏族作家唯色的三本书:殺劫;西藏记忆;名为西藏的诗.

认识了二十多年的朋友生日,借了她的生日蛋糕,靠变站作状许愿了...

Grassland School progress report no.2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following a phone conversation with Sherap (Xizhu) yesterday, please be noted that "Phase 1" of the grassland school construction at Kajiacun village has been completed.

Now the main school building is up and running. This single building includes 2 class rooms, 2 bedrooms for teachers and 1 bedroom for visitor. The next phase (in which fund raising is still in progress) will include the ground work for the playground, playground facilities, as well as fencing wall for the school premises.

There is now 1 teacher sent by the county government and 33 students all together starting from grade 1 level. Sherap is in the process of applying for one more teacher to be sent by the county government.

Some Dutch friends are now visiting Sherap at Labrang. They are planning to visit the school this Thursday (5 Oct). I am looking forward to chat with them when they stop by Hong Kong late next week.

隨筆

早上醒來醒去,總是醒不過來,
做了一個很忙碌的夢,在小街走來走去,
上落樓梯,穿過一扇木門,在公園坐下來了
在咖啡室碰到不太熟識的朋友,跟朋友的女朋友自我介紹了一番,也沒有管他們要不要聽, 好奇怪啊..
在身旁有一個人,但是看不見,陪著我在小巷子裏走來走去,那把聲音叫我去這一邊,去那一邊,叫那個人,不如做這件事.但是連在做夢中的我也感覺眼皮乏力,睜不開眼睛, 睜開了眼睛也對不到焦點…是很努力,我很想回答,很想被理解. 但是畢竟是太累了,那是一種身不由自己的感覺…你有沒有試過這樣的感覺

….

安靜的星期六下午是個下雨天
直到早上.已經享受了好一陣子放晴的日子.
幾個小時之前姐姐還在電話那邊問我那個沙灘有沒有更衣洗澡的設備

…..

建築-城市-歷史-經歷-記憶
從前有一個外來人把他多年的經歷,事情和當地歷史寫下來,
讀過後, 感到若要真正認識一個城市,去瞭解他/她建築,那是從養份開始的,
是一層一層的,像在剝洋蔥,用自己的手一片一片拿著,放下,看下去
原來沒有一個中心,沒有總結,沒有最終目的真理…
所有的故事,點滴,和片片的真實, 已經建立在那不斷變化的社會層面上
是在人物,角色,街道,房間上,互相不斷的交錯,成為一片一片的實體,載著記憶,故事
四年前到過那裏旅遊
現在才開始感到有可能真正的去認識她

她叫拉薩...

Barnett, Robert, Lhasa: Streets with memories, New York, Columbia University Press, 2006.

mkw

最近周末的下午有空的时候总会跑到 k在工厂区 的 art studio坐坐
(其实那个art studio还有a 和 t的份儿,但每次也碰不到他们)
特别是不想到学校工作,但又不想待在家里看电视和半睡半醒的看书
其中k 和 w 必定会在弄她们自己的 art work exercise
而我就会坐在那个很舒服的黑色沙发上看书
难免也会小睡一会儿
这张所谓 art post polaroid, 算是一个新突破..哈哈

new toy - lamellaphone

Here is my new toy - lamellaphone (a kind of music instrument from Africa)




















Below is a photo taken from The Pitt Rivers Musuem at Oxford
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/














Description from Wikipedia:

Lamellaphone (also called "Lamellophone") describes any of a family of musical instruments. The name comes from the Latin root "lamella" for "plate", and the Greek root "phone" for "sound". The name derives from the way the sound is produced: the instrument has a series of thin plates, or "tongues", each of which is fixed at one end and has the other end free. When the musician depresses the free end of a plate with a finger, and then allows the finger to slip off, the released plate vibrates. A tongue may be plucked either from the top or from the bottom.

A large number of lamellaphones originate in Africa, where they are known under different names including "sanza", "kisanji", "likembe", "mbira", "mbila", and "kalimba". They play an important role in African Music. They were reported as early as the 16th century, but there is no doubt they have a much longer history. The Caribbean marimbula is also of this family.

London / Konigswinter

刚刚这两个星期到过欧洲两个地方
一个是开研究会议,另外一个去是看朋友
脑袋/身心都refresh了...

Artist Gonkar Gyatso

This is one of the Tibetan Artists I met from this Tibetan Study conference I recently attended.
His name is Gonkar Gyatso.
I particular like his new series.
Below show two of them that he has shown in his presentation.
His new series will be shown later this year in this gallery. Watch out for people who will be in London.

Galllery web site:
www.sweetteahouse.co.uk


Panda Politics





















partial view















Tibetan Idols

Grassland school progress

星期一晚上收到西珠的电话,说已经收到我们在香港筹到的经费了.
他说很感谢我在香港的朋友,
我说只要他能好好运用这毕(少少的)经费,
让学校建设工程顺利进行,那就是最好了.
[其实要完成整个工程还欠一些经费呢]
西珠说他第二天便会赶回老家,几天后要赶回寺里开学.

十一月的时候正打算去夏河看小活佛坐床仪式,到时候看看能否顺道去一躺草原.
看看这个学校的情况...

On Monday night, I received a phone call from Sherap, and said he's already received the money transfer I gathered from here. He said he was feeling so thankful and I reminded him that as long as he spends the (small amount) funding wisely , and enables the construction to go smoothly, that will be all he needs to do.
[actually funding is still running short to complete the whole constrcution of the school!]
Sherap said he will travel home the next day for the construction inspection as he would need to rush back to the monastery for the new classes which starts very soon.

In the coming November, there is a plan of visiting Labrang to see the enthroning ceremony of this new Rinpoche. If there is enough time, let's see whether a trip to the grassland school is possible...

letters continue

My letter to Sherap:

我会叫我的朋友把钱转给你那天之前和之后给你打电话的.
十一月的事情现在还不能决定.到时候再看看吧..
我的时间也可能会有点赶..

你也用功学习啊
不要被寺罚啊!

:)
美琪

[translation]

I will ask my friend to call you before he transfer the money to you.
Still not sure about the November visit plan, will update you when the time comes.
as my time is a bit tight.

well, you should also work hard!
Don't get punished by the monastery!

Maggie
------------------------------------------
Sherap's reply:

好的,谢谢您美其姐,我会努力学习的您放心吧,我收后我要回家看看学校,爸说窗和门都做好了
我要过去看看.下个7月分在寺里开始学些东西.

保重;
西珠

[translation]

Sure, thanks Maggie, don't you worry, I will work hard. After I receive the money, I will need to go home to see the school. Dad said the window and the doors are all made. I need to go back and have a look. Next month (7th month under lunar calendar) there are some new learning in the monastery.

Take care
Sherap

Letters

"原来是牛羊..."
" Oh Is the Yak and mutton"



-----------------------------------------------------
My letter to Sherap:

西珠

记得把你工商银行的卡号在电邮发给我..
我那位在深圳工作的朋友要到下个星期才有时间帮我到深圳的工商银行把钱发给你.
希望这么的一些钱能帮到你们盖学校吧...

还有,围墙有必要吗? 是不是保安的因素?

美琪

Sherap

remmember to let me know your bank account no.
My friend who works in shenzhen can help me to transfer the money to you next week.
I hope the money can help your school construction...

Also, is the fencing wall necessary? is it for security purpose?

Maggie
------------------------------------------
Sherap's reply:

您好!

美其姐!我的卡号是(中国工商银行夏河县支行,9XXXXXXXXXX 这样就可以了谢谢您
牛羊也会进来的,因为有了院墙一方面卫生二方面安全,暫时没办法这能等段时间才可以做起来.
今年十一月分的时候您能去就太好了,不过那时候气候太冷您也知道的,每年最好的气候是四月二十直
八月这时间是最好的.

保重;

西珠

How are you!

Maggie, here is my bank account no. (China gongshang bank... just like this.. thanks)
Yak and mutton would come in. So with the fencing wall, one reason is for hygiene, another is for safety, now cannot do much, so just need to wait for it to be built later then.
It will be great if you can come this November, but it's gonna be cold by then as you have already known. The best weather is usually from April to August.
August is the best.

Take care;

Sherap

Monk friend "Sherap"

Old post about Sherap, a monk friend from Labrang:
http://meikei.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_meikei_archive.html

在草原上兴建小学

我在拉卜楞寺认识的喇嘛朋友西珠正在他的草原老家兴建一所小学,好让村里的小孩不会失去上学的机会.

这是七月夏天草原的境况,村民正在把工地弄平,石头和砖都搬过来了. 草原的景色跟我上一次二月份去的时候真的是很大的分别. 那时候天地都是雪白一片.现在草地上布满小黄花.

他们还是很缺建筑材料的经费.如果您有兴趣给他们一点的帮助,请别忘了告诉我!多少也感谢万分啊!

The above photos show the latest progress of the school building project organized by my Labrang monk friend "Sherap" at his grassland hometown in July. The villagers have been working on leveling the site, as well as collecting stones from the near by area. Materials such as bricks have been transported to the site; however they are running out of financial help in buying all the necessary building material. If you may want to support his project, please contact Sherap or let me know. :-)

[Village views during winter/ 冬天的境况: http://meikei.blogspot.com/2006/04/blog-post_29.html ]

Below shows e-mail from Sherap 西珠 on 13.08.06:

您好! 美其姐!

真不好意思昨晚没回邮件,因为昨晚没电. 我刚刚看到了文件写的很好谢谢您.

在家乡那边弄地平的这些都是我自己找亲戚和朋友帮我的,第一次回家的时候他们都说弄地和木料还有石是头这些说帮我,到时就变了都没了.

现在这能靠亲戚和朋友们,而且砖也涨价了到那儿每个砖4角2分没想到这么贵现在有点难处,可是我不会放弃的一定要该起来让这些小孩得到点文化这就是我这辈子最大愿望.

保重; 西珠

Translation of the e-mail:

Hi, Maggie sis

Please excuse me for not replying your mail last night as the electricity was out. I have just seen the document you wrote about the school, thank you so much.

At the hometown works such as leveling of the site were all done by my relatives and friends. When I went home the first time, some villagers promised to help on the foundation works as well as gathering the timber, but everything have changed when I went back this time.

Now, I can only rely on relatives and friends, also the price of bricks has increased to 42cents each. I never thought it would be that expensive. Now there are some difficulties, but I won’t give up. I must get this school built so that the children here can be cultivated as this is my biggest life long wish.

Take care; Sherap

Location of Gunkanjima

Hashima Island (端島; meaning "Border Island"), commonly called Gunkanjima (軍艦島; meaning "Battleship Island") is one among 505 uninhabited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture 長崎県, about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki 長崎市, itself.

"Gukanjima - View of an Abandoned Island"

軍艦島 Gukanjima __in Japan


远看像軍艦!!!!

其实"她"本身是一个大珊瑚瞧. 1810年因发现石油而成为一个开发的人工小岛. 直到1974年开发完毕,所有居民撤离...

就这样一直荒废.被遗忘了...

整个小岛的建设还在,甚至很多日常生活的物件, 像是时钟停顿了三十年..最近才有人去拍照..

看看照片很精彩..

















































2000















1970s



Off the westernmost coast of Japan, is an island called "Gunkanjima" that is hardly known even to the Japanese. Long ago, the island was nothing more than a small reef. Then in 1810, the chance discovery of coal drastically changed the fate of this reef. As reclamation began, people came to live here, and through coal mining the reef started to expand continuously. Befor long, the reef had grown into an artificial island of one kilometer (three quarters of a mile) in perimeter, with a population of 5300. Looming above the ocean, it appeared a concrete labyrinth of many-storied apartment houses and mining structures built closely together. Seen from the ocean, the silhouette of the island closely resembled a battleship - so, the island came to be called Gunkanjima, or Battleship island.

I was twenty-two when I first visited the island I had dreamed about ever since childhood. Much like a fortress built upon the sea, surrounded by high walls,the island possessed an air of a small kingdom, where its denizens boasted "There is nothing we don't have here." They were right. They did have everything within their miniature kingdom - except a cemetery. But, the irony of it was proven by the passag e of time. Already, the island had been doomed to turn into an enormous graveyard.

Eventually, the mines faced an end, and in 1974 the world's once most densely populated island become totally deserted. The island, after all its inhabitants departed leaving behind their belongings, became an empty shell of a city where all its peopl disappeared overnight, as if by some mysterious act of God...

excerpt from web site: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/saiga/yuji/gallary/gunsu/g-text-e.html

more photos from web site: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/saiga/yuji/gallary/menu-e.html

after typhoon

2 times X grassland village

same shots- 2 times

2006_Feb

2006_July

This is a grassland village that I visited in february in southern Gansu near my research site. It's the home town of my monk friend from Labrang monastery. The villagers are building a new (first) primary school at the grassland now. He just sent me some photos taken last month (July). And here comes an almost identical shots. What a big difference. I wished I could go ther now and pitch a tent for summer picnic.

clear water

"Clear water bay-bay 01" 's water is really much clearer than Shek O's water..
a nice beach if you are looking for a real swim in clear water
:-)