Detour to Beijing

April 28, 2013May 10, 2016 | Verónica

I just returned from a business trip to Beijing, China. Most of the sights and sounds took place in conference rooms and hotel lobbies. It had been six years since I was last there, and then only for a couple of days. The city keeps growing, now at a population of approximately 20 million, although locals will tell you it is much higher.

My meetings were centered in the Chaoyang District, which houses most of the city’s foreign embassies and corporations. The facilities built for the 2008 Summer Olympics are located in the Chaoyang District. This view is through a window, hence the dirty spots.

Air quality was decent the week I was there. My colleagues mentioned that it was poor a few days earlier. Every now and then, you could spot pedestrians wearing masks. Despite that, I was able to capture a few blooms challenging the hazy air with their show of pinks and reds.

Most of my views of the city were through the windows of taxis. Getting from one location to another took time. Traffic congestion was intense. My hotel room became a respite from the noise and traffic of the day.

There has been little time for knitting. I thought I would make progress, perhaps even finish my current project on the plane, but only got in a few rows. This is what the formerly tangled string is looking like.

There is no access to Facebook in China, or to Twitter, Tumblr, or WordPress. But there was Peking duck, beef with spicy noodles, sesame seed bun, shrimp dumplings, and jasmine and oolong tea.

I had one wish fulfilled, which was to return to China. I hope to go back again.

Tie-Dyed Textiles in Cambodia

February 19, 2013 | Verónica

During his trip to Southeast Asia, my husband purposefully visited a couple of textile factories knowing that I would be interested in knowing about local crafts. The first place he toured was the Institute for Khmer Traditional Textiles (IKTT) in Siem Reap Angkor, Kingdom of Cambodia. There, he walked the shop floor and took the following photographs of local women artisans spinning, dyeing and weaving traditional Cambodian textiles.

The raw yellow silk is reeled from cocoons of the same golden color. I initially thought the golden silk thread had been dyed but it is actually in its natural form. You can read more about yellow raw silk here.

IKTT has also embarked on preserving and regenerating a natural forest in Siem Reap. The undertaking includes cultivating plants and trees that can be used as natural dyes.

IKTT aims to restore the art of creating traditional Cambodian textiles and has established a village project called PROJECT OF WISDOM FROM THE FOREST where 140 IKTT staff currently live growing trees to be used in silk-worm raising and the natural dying of fabric. We offer job opportunities to disadvantaged women and are working to preserve the national heritage for younger generation[s].

These scarves are hand knit out of 100% pure silk and sold at market.

His next tour was at the Angkor Silk Farm located approximately an hour outside of Siem Reap. Run by Artisans Angkor, they cultivate Mulberry trees at the farm and continue the traditions of Khmer arts and crafts such as weaving silk textiles, stone and wood carving, and silk painting.

Here, a young woman heats up the cocoons as she reels the silk threads from them. I will spare you the photograph of the platter of silk worms my husband shared with me.

The ikat technique, or tie-dyeing of the silk threads, requires meticulous attention to detail. The term “ikat” means “to bind, tie or wrap around.” This young woman is tying a pattern onto the silk threads. My husband tells me that they would work off a picture or another textile to create the pattern.

After tying the knots, they would submerge the textile into large dye pots to pick up the desired color. Once dry, they would untie the knots and dye the fabric again. This process would continue until they achieved the pattern and color palette they wanted.

Apparently, some of the textiles are so beautiful that they are displayed as art and even framed in glass to protect them.

I would love to spend a month or two in one of these factories and sit next to these women reeling, dyeing and weaving. Perhaps one day …

The Temple of Angkor Wat

February 17, 2013May 10, 2016 | Verónica

Here is a view of Angkor Wat through my husband’s eyes.

Ankor Wat is the largest Hindu temple and the largest religious monument in the world. It was built in the early 12th Century and covers over 400 square kilometers of land.

Some of the many temple ruins. Do you see the faces?

Monks care for the ancient temple. According to my husband, monks hold a place of honor. He saw people give up their seats for them at the front of busses and the people feed them every day.

A basket wholesaler carries his wares to vendors in the city.

My husband says it took about three days to see the complex.

There was a row of these giant statues along the bridge.

The forest continues to swallow up the temple.

To learn more, visit the Angkor Wat UNESCO World Heritage site.

Spinning Silk in Thailand

February 5, 2013May 10, 2016 | Verónica

My husband is traveling in Thailand and sent me these photographs. I think he knew I would like them. This first photograph shows a Thai man spinning silk. Look closely and you will see the delicate silk thread being pulled from several silkworm cocoons.

They were taken at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok. Jim Thompson, as I soon learned, was an American architect who moved to Bangkok after World War II and subsequently established the Thai Silk Company. Look at all those silkworm cocoons!

I love this photograph of a beautiful Thai girl winding the silk thread.

I have high hopes of receiving a hank or two of Thai silk yarn when he returns. (Hint, hint).

Our Honeymoon in China

October 2, 2012May 10, 2016 | Verónica

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Mark Twain

Walking ten thousand steps is better than reading ten thousand scrolls.
— Chinese Proverb

Our Honeymoon

One dream became reality followed quickly by another. Our first dream turned into the happiest day of our lives on our wedding day. We then embarked on a trip of a lifetime to China. This is a collection of images from that dream-like journey east.

Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai

The Yuyuan Garden dates back to the Ming Dynasty. It covers approximately five acres with winding paths, pavilions, rocks, and water elements.

The Streets of Old Shanghai

Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai

Pudong District

The futuristic skyline of the Pudong District with the Oriental Pearl Tower at its center. We took in the view from the observation deck at night.

Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station. The first picture is one of the ship locks. The water levels are controlled to raise and lower ships passing from one side of the dam to the other.

Yangtze River

Cruising along the Yangtze River through Xiling, the longest of the Three Gorges. We cruised past Goddess Peak along the Wu Gorge. Notice the lone figure standing at the top of the cliff in the second picture, hence the name. At several intervals, we could see coal being extracted from the mountains. The “mist” which gives the mountains an ethereal look is mostly pollution.

We saw farmers plowing along the mountainsides close to the water. We were told that entire villages had been transferred from one side of the river to the other ahead of the rising waters upon completion of the dam. Entire cities would be under water, like sunken ships in the depths. Brand new bustling cities were built to replace the old towns and villages.