emergence (travel changes landis) -

i will say this for extended travel.

it expands your head, forces you out of your comfort zone, makes you re-assess.


doing alot of that this week.

some reasons i will pine for china:

insane rooftop pool-time:


the four seasons, hong kong:


those crazy barbarella style floral displays:


the random discoveries, the new experiences, the mandarin meets english, the FUSION:


spending time with richard:


making new friends, ones you really adore:


the trains:


the free champagne everywhere you turn:


the old meeting the new:


kimmi and her poses:


the 798:



no newspapers, just manga:


the old and the new:


the lush tropical scenery:


that AMAZING sixties building in central:


gold hammers:


golden moments:


hong kong. period.



i may just have to go back:

now THIS is more like it, the opening of Lane Crawford, beijing style -

the opening of Lane Crawford, beijing.

lane crawford is like the barney's of asia, but far far more progressive in their buys, and pretty insane in their store design. i adore their hong kong store, and to get to go to the opening in beijing? major.

the store had crowds. but you know, the fun kind. with fashion and flash bulbs and stuff:


and peacocks. apparently peacocks are the new retail trend.


and polished fumed wooden stool things. now THIS is my kinda art.


and some of the clothing was on a conveyor belt. conveyor fashion!!


and sara. wait. she came with us.


that big ball in the background? inspired by the disco ball in madonna's last concert. not kidding.


tim and the lovelier and lovelier silvia:




sofia, our new cult object of adoration:



the after party



richard is gonna kill me for that pic . . .

BEEEG red wall. leeetle tim and landis.

FINE. I'LL DO SOMETHING CULTURAL.

but i'm not going to be happy about it.


forbidden city/tianamen square. whee.




(not big on crowds. and smells. and the two put together.)


SHOOT ME.



ok, wasn't that bad. you know, all vast and big spaces and historical and stuff.

just very very very crowded/strangers touching you/stepping on your feet/haven't bathed in days. and that was just the german tourists.

come see the market in old beijing -

if only i could put the barbara streisand track on this post:
"come see the supermarket in old beijing. . . "


sara and see joined us in beijing,
and the four of us set off for the puonjiang flea market,
a weekend only collection of . . . well . . . everything.


you name it, it's here.





we shopped. we haggled. we bartered. we walked away and were chased down aisles.
and oh yeah. they've never seen an iphone.