John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Feb 7, 2012, 8:03 pm
Weekend shootout with friends: Mrs. Wong (in Red) and Mr. Wong (in Blue) Its just a TOY Box:Shin checks out his shotgunAnatoly brings back his KGB skills .. “I could write an APP for this.”Killing Bowling pinsSean and Shin team up  Heather picks up a 5 – 10 split Shin, Rifle Ok  The...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 31, 2012, 9:31 pm
Well January is, was and is no more. Robbie spent most of January in the Philippines, diving. .. A few recent Macro photos .. nice stuff Heather & Jake made it back to Hawaii .. The car we shipped over also made it .. I’m off to China in a few days.
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 29, 2012, 11:51 am
Changing contours By Lin Jing, Hu Meidong and Tan Zongyang (China Daily) The Wuyishan government plans to build the city into a major tea production base, with an annual tea processing output of 200 million yuan by 2015. Wuyishan has 592 companies and 958 family workshops that are engage...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 31, 2011, 7:45 pm
For those that know, no captions required.
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 17, 2011, 1:06 pm
The old adage: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”  As we each expound the various subjective virtues of one tea over another .. It is exactly that; an individual subjective preference (or rejection) of said tea. My two favorites are now in the land of Unobtainium (less stock on han...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 17, 2011, 12:38 pm
Time fly's when your having fun. Sunday and Monday in HK were, despite the cold temps (8-10), very pleasant, clear skies and clean air!!!!. Lots of news on the home front .. but more on that later ….
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 9, 2011, 2:27 am
Changes in the tea business .. Retail sales slump .. shop closures etc .. and the rise in prices with high end products being offed … a strange mix to ponder.  Lee Hong a friend of 7+ years with her “boyfriend”  He studied Tea in university and now works in the retail / teaching store in Don...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 22, 2011, 1:34 pm
Two new additions to my tea room. Very reminiscent of Hohusai’s Tsunami  (1760–1849) Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, provides inspiration to many.
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 4, 2011, 12:16 pm
Re-Embanking on a previously abandoned dig of my youth … The Large Samoan construction mafia occupy my side-yard .. Archeology, the precursor to an anticipated construction project.Having dug for the day, they live to dig another day .. hopefully they will manage to lay as well as dig.  Tangib...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 1, 2011, 11:08 am
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member - No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds - November! ~ Thomas Hood
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Oct 24, 2011, 10:11 am
Parting Shot
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Oct 17, 2011, 11:03 am
Pygmy Seahorse, Robbie continues her SCUBA safari.   From my friend Rick in Thailand: “Here in Chiang Mai there was some flooding around the town but I didn't have any trouble right at my house... (good thing) But it made travel to work adventurous a couple of days and one day I left early from ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Oct 12, 2011, 10:31 am
Robbie is now in Anilao .. couple more weeks and she will head home. I’ve managed to add another notch on my hammer .. The “Oak and Birch” is officially open or closed for business. A full restoration is well underway on the 106 year old Sewing machine case work.  As a centenarian, time ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Oct 6, 2011, 10:07 am
Scientists are nibbling at our foundations, can we achieve speed in excess of: 299,792,458 m/s. I would say that its relatively easy, what is not, is to travel faster than an ever evolving list of “Things To Do” Andrew stopped by for a few hours on Saturday. In town for a wedding (not his) the...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 21, 2011, 10:22 am
Three FedEx packages, 46.6kg. What could it be? Clue #1: Least said soonest mended. Clue #2: It’s the Singer not the song. Clue #3: A Greek Tragedy, Euripides Eumendates
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 18, 2011, 4:55 pm
Red Birch, “heartwood” of the Yellow Birch tree. A visually pleasing hard wood, a little tricky to work, but with sharp tools and patience you can win the day. (patience is not my long suit) Surface finishing is the tedious part, but that’s a few days away. A new load of lumber, filled with ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 5, 2011, 11:14 pm
First Monday in Sept. here in the colonies is when we celebrate and remember to party with friends and relatives … So while we head off to enjoy .. back at the ranch, I leave some Oak in a tight place. Nice 3-Day weekend. A week later sees this one Plumb Hung .. updated 9/11/11
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 5, 2011, 12:02 pm
Doors in a house seem to reproduce like rabbits. These three can only bring the finish line closer. 
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 4, 2011, 4:37 pm
Comebuy teashops enter Europe Taipei Times Story:  Staff Writer, with CNA (pictures from web) People in Germany are now able to have a sip of authentic Taiwanese tea and enjoy its famed bubble milk tea, a local teashop chain said yesterday. With a stated goal of becoming “the Eastern Starbu...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Sep 4, 2011, 4:37 pm
Taiwan highland tea breaks into Chinese market 2011/08/31 20:44:26 Taichung, Aug. 31 (CNA) An order for 2,326.8 kilograms of Taiwan highland tea was shipped to retailers in Jiangsu Province in China on Wednesday, marking the largest sale to China for Li Shan tea farmers. The order was placed in mid...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 28, 2011, 6:21 pm
With the thermometer about to burst .. Pool Party Time: Big kids .. little Kids
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 26, 2011, 2:37 pm
Home projects update: Apothecary Dispensary, in the Craftsman style A portal to Harry Potter’s former residence: Two down, two to-do.   “Incomplete” by “Weekend Warrior”Fast forward a few days:…
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 12, 2011, 6:51 pm
Michele serves up Sean’s, Ice-Cream, B-Day cake. (surprise party at work)Dr. Guo and Khoa have fun with Sean.”Let them eat cake” 'Qu'ils mangent de la brioche', 讓他們吃蛋糕
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 7, 2011, 8:19 pm
Heather and Robbie, having a great time SCUBA diving off Kaua’i.. Typical paradise weather. Andrew has relocated to; Texas, Fort Worth, only 107F in old money, 41.6C probably only 95% humidity. Cameron is back from a couple yeas in Washington State, so along with Sean & Trevor  we are puddlin...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 6, 2011, 11:19 am
Bring out the toys and enjoy:Toys on Parade: Brian and Mike head the line-upThe ever conservative Mr. Takanabe with one of his many toys:
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Aug 6, 2011, 11:13 am
Robert returns (3 weeks in Vietnam, 1 week Korea) bearing gifts, Persimmon Tea from Korea. If the nature of the packaging is a testament to the treasures within ! As you can see it took some persuading to have this vault give up its booty.. The Korean name is:  ghamnip cha (감잎차). As an Infu...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 30, 2011, 4:19 pm
Matt’s on annual leave. How else would a bloke from the land down under celebrate a birthday .. Strap a hairy bloke to his back and Jump out of a plane: … Nice one Matt. “Whitsundays in the Great Barrier Reef and I jumped from 14,000 ft – it began with a one minute, or 9,000 ft, free fall....
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 24, 2011, 2:03 pm
Robbie safe and sound in Kauai with Heather. A few pictures form her first dive: between Kauai and Niihau
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 24, 2011, 1:48 pm
Busy week .. this post was Last Sunday (17th) .. Oh well "C'est la vie", Swells intensify, breaking  for thrill seekers  that wait .. cold and wet.Capitola’s old pier beckons all.The cat sits on its ocean mat.Those who fish for fish. A game of; Paper-Scissors-Rock, Weather beats Tree..  ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 16, 2011, 6:12 pm
Driving PCH north from Santa Cruz offers the constant of a changing Pacific and a mixed bag of adjacent land usages. Market Gardeners and Farmers ply their trades. Flatter than Kansas, this “Big Wave” mecca sits undisturbed.  Enjoy the trip up the coast Oh and San Francisco;  RUINED by a ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 16, 2011, 5:52 pm
"It's déjà vu all over again". Yogi Berra explained that this quote originated when he witnessed Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris repeatedly hit back-to-back home runs in the Yankees' seasons in the early 1960s I find this quote quite poignant, another sojourn to the bay area and Robbie off for a m...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jul 9, 2011, 2:17 pm
Continuing life on the road, I dig through my acquired booty, looking to augment my domestic travel supplies and top off my office cache. That accomplished,  I’m ready for the off, on Thursday next and I metaphorically trip over this Sheng-Pu Not being a big fan of young Raw / Sheng Pu-erh, Mrs...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jun 26, 2011, 4:46 pm
Having printed my boarding pass and about to board 883 to Hong Kong, when I had to abort, revamp / re-schedule basically rearrange the ripple effect. Matt and Jenny Lee (Singapore based) are now in the US. I made a return trip to Santa Clara via a long weekend in Monterey.  Robbie made this tri...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - May 29, 2011, 1:02 pm
Time on the road is a constant fact of life .. past couple of weeks have seen me setting up temporary digs (sequestering spare offices). This week I am with a sister division, next week it will be at a minimum of 3 locations in the far-east. Typical of life on the; “ Modern Tea Road” Also...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Apr 4, 2011, 7:40 pm
Much has transpired over the past few months at home and abroad (Singapore / mainland China)  I was set to be in Northern China at this time .. but, “The best-laid schemes o’mice an’ men gang aft agley”  So, this fine Monday, I re-commission my office into a “temporary WAR room”, mov...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Mar 28, 2011, 1:11 pm
Cambridge, unchallenged pick off 2nd place with ease, at the 157th Boat Race.Wellingtons await Oxford and Cambridge. Oxford, seem delighted to cross the finish line ahead of Cambridge. (web agency pictures)
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Feb 2, 2011, 5:00 pm
I’ve made a couple changes to my prototype tea table.   Here is the updated table, fully commissioned. All in all I’m pleased with: size  design and function.Hardware: Main Drain Outlet .. I changed from the “External Barb” fitting to a “Plastic Push Clamp” design. Various reasons pro...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 18, 2011, 9:21 am
The S’pore Grand Hyatt Executive club has an interesting set of architectural free standing wood sculptures.  … A little out of scale for a home but they do stir the creative juices. All created from a single tree and cut from solid sections
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 17, 2011, 9:51 am
The rest of the week is filled with meetings and interviews. Singapore;  its never ending construction and re-construction projects, making, despite the changes, a never changing landscape of construction cranes (national bird-local joke) and road-works. Over the past 25 years that I’ve been doin...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 14, 2011, 9:27 pm
“Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York”  Shakespeare,  Richard III Discontent being “COLD in China” and Substitute “Singapore” for York  and you have a start to January.   On the 4th. Robbie setoff to the Philippines for a 3 week SCUBA safar...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Jan 1, 2011, 4:52 pm
Saturday 6:00 am and a moon sliver lights the trail, a perfect morning for a run. After a 50-50 mix of Pu-Erh and “Old TGY” time to “finish” a tea-tray. I had to set up a small heat tent, the ambient temp was just too low for applying finish.Working a treat, the heat tent helped finish this ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 31, 2010, 4:32 pm
Finishing up projects and a Sunday run.  Friday, our first nice dry day, in the midst of a spate of winter tropical storms.  In final clamp up, the last project of 2010.   Saturday, Xmas Day,  two of the boys helped me fit the mirror and the final install. I’ll have to wait ‘till Monday to ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 26, 2010, 6:01 pm
Finishing up projects and a Sunday walk.  Friday, our first nice dry day, in the midst of a spate of winter tropical storms.  In final clamp up, the last project of 2010.   Saturday, Xmas Day,  two of the boys helped me fit the mirror and the final install. I’ll have to wait ‘till Monday to...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 26, 2010, 4:55 pm
This story from the China Daily:  http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/2010-12/21/content_11732309.htm This video story is well worth a view .. below is the text and some related pictures: Time-honored teahouse a master of jasmine heritage By Wang Wen (China Daily) Updated: 2010-12-09 08:01 ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 26, 2010, 4:50 pm
When you have collogues from China in town .. what do you do on weekends .. It is Southern California after all. How about a nature walk ? Ok lets summit Mount Baldy: Eagle (in RED), is from WuXi so this does not even register on his Cold-O-Meter Summit of Mt. BaldyFrank “Taiwan never gets this ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 19, 2010, 4:43 pm
Heather brought home the “Ideal Dad Gift”  Disguised in its “Camouflage” bag what could this wondrous gift be? I am partial to a spot of High Tea, albeit I’m a Scott I prefer the “Sassenach” rendition of said repast. And Heather is a Baker held in high esteem, Cookies: .. White Choc...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Dec 2, 2010, 9:21 pm
An apercu of this years fun projects: A) build and install 29 now 31 cabinet doors B) build and install 21 cabinet drawers C) build and install 6 full size doors D) 4 stools E) 1 new tea table F)  1 new drafting table G) 1 mirror frame H) 1 new cabinet I)  2 new shelves    ...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 12, 2010, 7:59 pm
This sojourn winds down ..  Not Hong Kong’s best view of sunset .. but its mine for Friday night. Kowloon looking on to HK Island.  A very hectic schedule is winding down. Multiple cities in Mainland, Hong Kong, a couple of times, Singapore,  now from HK the last leg.  Saturday its CX 884 to L...
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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 9, 2010, 3:19 am

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John M. posted an article on Cha-Bei - Nov 9, 2010, 3:12 am
Song Shan Lake continues to expand the developed infrastructure .. I’ll be interested to see what events are staged at this venue in the making. I’m sure this is an attempt to conserve energy. An eight story electronic billboard.
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