080112

080112  (a rainy Sunday)  We're back on the road again passing through Pukewaka, N.Z.  

For my friends in China:

So funny one day in Lijiang, I went out to visit Dara at 'artist Chin's' (?) house an unfinished concrete mansion with a stunning view of Yulong Mountain (5,500M ASL).  Dara had invited me shortly after moving out there (east, across the valley from  BaiSha).  

I rode out on Mr. Fetes, the last 100M daunting, however, as finally up a steep dirt road.  I had wanted to meet 'artist Chin' and see what was going on out there.  He only had young Chinese women as students which made me suspicious (being a 'father').  After 'Frogman, I began being more careful about Dara (only 23-years of age at the time).  In addition, I thought she had artistic talent, and could be a painter of some merit (at least as a vocation).  I 'invested' in her, many thinking I had only one thing in mind.  I didn't.   Sorry, this isn't an 'R' rated tale, maybe 'GP!'

Unfortunately, the day I had chosen to visit Dara, 'teacher Chin' had gone off to visit his friend (English name 'Michael'?) in SheHe.  On the other hand, it was all very interesting, this 'painting school!' in this secluded and remote concrete Villa with a view of Jade Dragon mountain.  

The Big Main room was filled with all kinds of interesting things, from a DVD library and flat-screen TV to life-size paintings of nude women (hanging up high).  This is where 'artist Chin'  had his easel, along side Dara's, and the other 'freshman' artist's.  He probably wanted to see what they were painting, keep tabs on their progress.

After checking out the 'Big Main' room, I followed Dara around to several of the older artist's studios, seniority worthy of  a private room (with view of Yulong).    Guess where my depraved mind went...?  I smelled a fish, but pardon the pun!

One, had painted Dara, but it didn't look much like her (in my opinion).  There was something going on there, some kind of subterfuge, but maybe one-sided...?  I never 'new'  what this was about, because Dara never explained completely, except maybe that the older artist was jealous of Dara's talent, status, whatever.  'Ka, ka,' basically!

I got to see where the girls slept, bunk beds crammed into a small room, and belongings strew about.  Dara had piled all hers in one corner.   

Down the same wing, was 'artists Chin's?' room  behind a locked door.  More naked women, everywhere you turned.  'Teacher Chin' likes to paint naked women,' Dara tried to explain.  I didn't need any, but also maybe premature in my judgement.   I wanted to ask Dara if he ever asked her to pose in the nude, but didn't.  So, chaste Chinese women appeared to me (Dara, etc.) -- seemingly undaunted by all the female pubic hair in plain view.  At the same time so earnest to please me with their politeness and deference to age (part of the reason I was 'seduced' into living in China for five years).

The girls (Dara and another young female artist/name?) fixed tea and cakes, and we sat at a table in the Big Main room.  It had a good, albeit 'naked' feeling to it.  It's how some men decorate, I remember thinking!

The girls showed me their 'works in progress,' both paintings of a serious nature.  No naked bodies.  I think one had a Christian theme to it.  Note, interesting to me so many Chinese interested in Christianity.

What a perfect setting I thought... the 'Big Main' room, the house, mansion, location, the girls (students), the view... with the right energy, all of it could be developed into something with a worldwide reputation!  I would have loved to have been the one (instead of Chin) the Hong Kong (or Singaporean?) owners had chosen,  the deal not much 'rent' only to finish, develop, and enjoy!  Such great hiking right out your back door!  And not that far from Lijiang City, with a 'famous' ('Flying Tigers') landing strip right in front!  It was perfect, save for the right people with enough money.  We could have turned such into an Esalen / 'Comedia del Arte' kind of miieu, where students, etc. came to partake of the energy (to create, to beget, to whatever).   Note, I'd had the same idea in Xining up on Bai Shan mountain, an unfiinished Old English castle-like  concrete-block structure, supposed to have been a hotel, but the developer ran out of money.  But, I could never get the local Chinese Government to understand. 

After leaving some gifts for 'artist Chin,' I departed regretting having not met him.  On the other hand, he had a reputation for not liking foreigners (laowei').  

The ride back to my rented house in Old Town, Lijiang City easy as slightly downhill (but generally with the S.W. wind in my face).  I'd been on this road up to the Yulong National Park, hundreds of times before.

Ultimately, I didn't worry about Dara's possible compromising situation.  She never complained to me about Chin, as she had 'Frogman.'   Secondly, the situation there started dissolving almost as soon as it had started (at least for Dara).  She moved back in Lijiang City.  There was some mystery about a fire, and the house being watched by the police.  Chin smoked of course, like most Chinese men.   Maybe they thought he was smoking 'dama?' 

 Young Dara was nobodies' fool, appearing weak, she could hold her own.  I once witnessed (still can't believe it) a physical fight between her and Frogman!   Note, the reason I got Dara out of Rhizome (Lijiang Art Jerkoff, cum French restaurant), was the bad energy there!  Note, they didn't like Chinese 'daugther' Irilin either (they thought she was stealing from them).

Thus, I am both (Dara and Irillin's) proud American 'father!'  They are two of my Chinese 'daughters' (just informal 'adoption').  Of course, the unevolved think I did/do whatever to take advantage of them, to get them in bed, etc.  They wouldn't believe I'm actually a celibate Taoist monk, having taken vows in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2005.  (Note, this is verifiable if you don't believe me.  Contact a Buddhist monk there, name Karma Sherpa, he's the one that initiated me..).

I think Chinese women better than Chinese men.  Of course, I'm generalizing, as I know several outstanding Chinese men (my own 'son,' Richard for example).  But, if it came down to choosing between the two genders, I'd select 'female!'

They are superior in every way save for bulging muscles.  They're certainly stronger both mentally, emotionally, and even physically in some cases.  And for any job (except one, of course)!  (Note, I've had Naxi (the Lijiang local ethic group) women tell me that their males are only good for that 'seed,'  maybe hard physical labor.)  In fact, the smartest person I know in all of China, is a female, English name, 'Helen.'  

Chinese men are spoiled ('princelings' they're called). I think Chinese couples who hope for a male child, stupid.  I'd certainly hope for a female child.    Males don't seem to work as hard (maybe, as I want to be fair)!  And all the Chinese men I observed want to do is gamble playing cards.  Why Macao now raking in billions!

Chinese wives should withhold sex, until they get what they need (money) as fidelity is too much to ask!   On the other hand, Chinese, women in general, clever enough and probably do, although this an ancient 'game' all over the world, and as old as 'Homo Erectus!'  Regular marriage between man and woman, all the other possibilities, is transactional, conditional.  Why it fails so often!   'She doesn't love me!'   'I'm just his sex object!'  Etc.

Chinese wives are into security, not romantic love!  That's way down the list, way below security, family, and home!  But, if you want a devoted, woman to take care of you, they're great at such.  They're practical, as they have to be.  I don't know how they are in bed, as I never partook, but I'm sure it's all about conceiving, not necessarily enjoying.  I'll have to ask some...?  They know they have to produce an offspring (preferably male) to be taken care of when they grow old, ad infinitum.  

Family, group, that's how Chinese people identify.  Wealth, the security.  Again, sex only a means to an end.   Of course (circa. 2010), Chinese culture getting 'fractured' with the invasion of western media nee different ideas about love, sex, children, family, etc.  Old folks homes the next 'growth industry' in China.

I'm just glad I never had any children of my own (won't need care in my old age)!  The many Chinese 'sons' and 'daughters' I have are enough!  I love them all, unconditionally!

F.A. Hutchison

cycled 50,000KM all over China in five years!

P.S.  Note, besides 'Dara' and 'Irilin,' some other of my Chinese 'daughters,'  'Stephanie,' 'Amily,' and 'Indy, to name a few  more...  I have Chinese 'sisters' as well.