COLD in China

No question, it is VERY, VERY cold in Southern China .. must be global warming!!!!
That's a tuff sell if you are living through this as CNY approaches, Millions of people on the move, NOT.
500,000+ stuck in the Guangzhou train station.
"Passengers wait for delayed trains at the Guangzhou Railway Station in Guangzhou, in south China's Guangdong province Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. Over 500,000 passengers have been stranded in Guangzhou after heavy snow in provinces to the north created havoc with transport networks"
How cold is it ... Ture story ...
I met with a sales engineer today (in Dongguan), he is from Wisconsin, quote " It's really cold here" I rest my case.

Keeping tabs on what's his name

'Nil carborundum illegitimi' - Illegitimi non carborundum, variants of a mock-Latin aphorism jokingly taken to mean:
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
It’s a good life if you don’t weaken.
So here we are back in downtown Taipei ..(seems like I was just here .. like a week ago..)
Thursday morning I hightailed it out of Dongguan into HK reroute to Taiwan.
Taipei Jan 17th .. thu Jan 23rd.
Back to to Donnguan on the 23rd with plans to make it back to So. California, Feb.3rd, just before Chinese New Year gets under way.
But first, stop by the factory ..Rebbecca, on the left, finds time to make a pot of tea "Xie Xie"The day takes shape .. we need a wireless hub!!!!So; check out of Dongguan:.....Check-in to Taipei ..

Sherpas light oil lamps in Kathmandu

January 14, 2008:

Sherpas light oil lamps in front of a portrait of Sir Edmund Hillary at a monastery in Kathmandu.Sir Edmund Hillary (L) and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa display their climbing gear at the British Embassy in Kathmandu following their conquest of Mount Everest in 1953. Nepali Sherpa friends of Sir Hillary, who died on January 11, 2008, lit butter lamps and offered special Buddhist prayers in monasteries for the mountaineer, calling him a great philanthropist and friend of Nepal. Hillary, who scaled Mount Everest in 1953 along with Nepal's Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, spent much of his life afterwards helping Sherpa communities in Nepal, including projects to build hospitals and schools.

Quick Lunch - Unique Restaurant

Tuesday, near our factory; in Shu-Lin City, Taipei County ....... (about 1 hr from Taipei 101) there is a really unique restaurant.
Inside the whole place is made to look like a street scene circa 1930 ish. Plus lots of other "old stuff"
The owner must have had fun creating the place, everywhere you turn is an old something or other ..
L to R: Eric, Felix, Tim and Sherry:...

China Postings -- Playing Catch Up

Belated postings ..
As I have uncensored Internet access in Taipei .. I can play Catch-Up.
Couple of new cake/brick of Pu-erh ..I forget the details .. both in the 180-240 RMB range.
Samples tasted promising.
This one will be my daily tea..
Christmas present from Betty ... Xie Xie Ni Betty ...
Five Gold medals .. The Five Olympic Mascots ...
Stopping in Tang Xia for lunch I spot this very impressive store specializing in: Yi Xing / Zi Sha "Purple Sand" products.
Understanding that the average tea shop is a 1/3 to 1/4 this size .. I am full of anticipation.
Inside .. very clean .. well organized .. attentive staff .. stock; nothing out of the ordinary. BUT !!! VERY HIGH Prices !!! I've seen stuff in Taiwan less expensive . This way out of scale for Mainland China. Note: a lot of Hong Kongers and Taiwanese stay/run factories in this area.

Happy New Year .. China Mobile

English Tea, Scottish Whisky, Italian Cars, in Taipei

You just can’t plan this stuff .. serendipity plays its hand…  Early Sunday morning, I have an hour to kill.) Inside 101

Taipei - Tim and Tea with Charmaine

Taking advantage of a having a couple of hours this morning (Saturday) my friend Tim (Taipei native) we headed of to: Wang's Tea shop in the older section of Taipei City.
26 Lane 64, Sec 2, Chung King N. Road Taipei.
Tel. (02) 2555-9164
http://www.wangtea.com.tw/

Fortunately there is underground parking near-by, a two minute walk and we reach a small park surrounded by buildings on three sides. The park has various markers and plaques depicting the story of: tea processing.
On Saturday the park is a makeshift thrift market.
Wang's family tea business.

Wang's has a relationship with the government to help maintain and promote Taiwan tea making and selling.
Charmaine Wang, the eldest of 3 grandchildren, ......
She runs this store, 1 of 3, but only this one has the tea processing factory.
Fortunately Charmaine speaks very good English and we sat drank tea swapped stories for a little over 2 hours .. time fly's when your having fun (poor Tim he is coffee drinker).
Inside the factory area .. sorting out the stems

The old roasting bays and some old hand tools:...

Some retail sales:...

If it’s Friday, it’s Taipei !

Just as in Monopoly; I drew the “GO TO JAIL” do NOT pass GO, do NOT collect 200RMB, card.
The consolation is that my Jail will be Taipei.
With luck I should be back in China Jan 8th.
This is a “Problem solving/resolution implementation” trip.
Some days I feel like the man in circus parade, walking behind the Elephants with a broom and shovel.
(a lot of Elephants)

Sitting in Cathay first class lounge at Hong Kong International. .. it's not all bad.
I arrive Taipei 15:15 .. get to the plant around 17:30.

One of these days I'll get around to catching up on Tea Blogging.
Wholesale Pu-Erh:
Quick FYI .. about 20min from my place in Dongguan ... they are building a New Wholesale-distribution Center dedicated to ... Pu-Erh about 75-80 stores .. Its insane this place is only 30 min form Wan Jiang with 400+ such dealers (more details and pictures when I get back)