Argentina 2014 – Fireland

This time, our neigbhour in Nevis and good friend Eric Lamb, a man who has been around the world with his heavy bike now stationed somewhere near Andermatt in Switzerland where he has a wonderfully equipped pied-a-terre, has visited that area at the end of the world. He traveled it towards the Chilean side whereas we stayed more to the sea shore facing the Falklands or the Malvinas as these disputed Islands are known locally.

The following link will Show his Report and some Photos he took earlier this year and which were reproduced in The Observer of St. Kitts and Nevis.

http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/travel
You have to scrooll down to the story entitled “Swiss Alpine Community Names Road After James Bond” Webmaster – November 8, 2013

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2014 Year of the Horse

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Beautifully carved mare whinnying with young, the filly licking the mother’s neck, in mammoth ivory, eyes inlaid in amber or horn, signed Kangyoku, late 20th century (it is one of a dozen contemporary netsuke in my collection)

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. The horse symbolizes graciousness, dignity, momentum and firmness. In Chinese culture, people born in the Year of the Horse are regarded as witty, elegant, eloquent speakers and charming. Most of them possess a gift for getting their way through to the heart of other people. People bearing the horse sign strive towards seeking freedom and happiness. Horse people are lively, bright and are known for their physical strength and they can express themselves well when communicating with other people.

During the last century till now, years of the Horse Years were in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002. In 60 year cycles, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing the 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten representing the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, in 2014 the year of the Horse starts on January 31, 2014 and lasts till February 18, 2015.

As the 6th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Horse indicates the hours between 11 am and 1 pm. In our Western Horoscope, the Horse corresponds to the Cancer.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Horse, 2014!

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Happy New Year 2014 – Year-in-Review 2013: Letter to family & friends

Nevis W.I., December 21th, 2013

Dear Friends,

We started the New Year in our house with the whole family, son Nicolas and his wife Alexandra and the 3 grandkids Leonie, Keana & Matteo. We enjoyed their company for over 2 weeks when they flew over to St. Martin for 3 days on their own in a fine Beach Resort before flying home for business and school. It was a great holiday for all of us.

As usual, we old folk stayed in Nevis till mid March when we took a speed boat over to Reggae Beach and a taxi to Bradshaw International in St. Kitts from where AA flew us to Miami where we spent a few days visiting friends and made a few purchases for the house back in Nevis and for home in La Tour, then flying with Lufthansa home to Geneva.

May saw Willi flying to Japan to meet his old colleagues and business associates and, of course, he attended the last 4 days of the Tokyo Sumo basho, one even partly with Sale Konishiki. One morning we had breakfast with Sale and Martin Fluck at the Royal Plaza. Big Sale is still big, but has lost a lot of weight due to a stomach bypass and looks very genki (healthy). Uschi went to see friends and family in Germany.

In October, we went with Hans and Sylvia Friedli to the white truffle region of Alba in the Piedmont in Italy where we spent a few lovely days. Too short actually. We made our headquarters in a very comfortable agriturismo hotel without a restaurant license (only breakfast there) and had other meals in various restaurants, from bourgeois to very upscale. All gave good value for the money, the upscale one was with great views too and a place where Mussolini took his lady friends to play after a good meal…

Then it was time to start our 2013 trip which led us via our usual route of Thailand to Perth, where we took more or less the same tour that we had done before with Turi Junker of Sandgroper Tours in 2005, though on that occasion I could only do the tour lying on my back all the time owing to a pinched nerve in you know where… The tour went from Perth via Bunbury,  Margaret River, Albany, Esperance up to Hyden (Wave Rock) back to Perth. We had good though rather cool weather; the flowers were out in full bloom. This time Turi’s wife Silvia joined us which made the trip and the lunches all the more enjoyable.

On for a few days in Sydney, more friends to see: Rudi & Mikari Zingg, Robert & Josie Rutishauser, John & Nora Flint, Steve &  Christine Gorman, Mary Harada, and other contacts only on the phone.

Early one morning we took our Qantas flight to Auckland, with a short wait for the connection by Air Tahiti Nui to Papeete and the Radisson for a couple of nights until boarding the Aranui 3 for our 13 day voyage  on the combined freighter/cruise ship to the Tuamoto and the Marquesas Archipelago, all about 10° S latitude and between 138° and 140° W longitude.

The Aranui 3 was finished in 2002, Gross 7418 tons, 117 m long, 17,6 m wide with a draft of 5,5 m. 198 Passengers in 11 suites, 12 deluxe cabins, many standard cabins and berths and a dormitory. On this trip the ship was about 75 % full, and of course all the top accommodations were fully booked. The food was nothing to write home about, the wine ditto, except one fantastic Polynesian buffet but the local personnel on the service were very friendly and efficient.

This was the order of the trip: Papeete – Takapoto (Tuamoto Archipelago) – then 42 h at sea to the Marquesas Archipelago. First island on day 4 was Nuku Hiva, next day Ua Pou, then the largest, Hiva Oa, followed by the smallest Fatu Hiva. On Day 7 back to the south of Hiva Oa. On Dec. 1 Tahuata, Day 9 Ua Huka, day 10/11 back to Nuka Hiva and Ua Pou to load the ship fully with copra before leaving the Marquesas sailing 45 h back back to Rangiroa in the Tuamoto Archipelago for a last visit on shore and some more copra before reaching Papeete on day 14 early in the morning.

The crew normally unloads the freight destined for the port either in iron crates or by whole 20 ft containers in barges; they later drive back with varying quantities of jute bags full of copra. This is the main livelihood on which the islanders  live and they do live quite well, I must say, thanks to the high subsidy paid by the French Government, ca. 8-9 times the going world market price! Therefore, the Marquesans have about the same level of income as the average Frenchman. The few roads are all concrete or asphalt, and most pickups or SUVs are recent models or brand new (the Aranui carried  6 of them). They do a lot of fishing and agriculture for their living. But due to the heat & high humidity, the pace is slow.

Telephone service is cheap and available in all the villages, inter-village is 15 US cents a minute and to Tahiti 30 for cell phones, half for land lines. Even to France, only 60 cents. Even internet is relatively affordable, only we on the Aranui 3 paid quite high prices and did not get access because the tightfisted owners had not paid the Chinese suppliers access rights in the smaller islands, only the bigger ones…. And only at the slowest band width available. I thought I would be smarter and bought another supplier which was better but he was not present on some of the smaller islands…

The land visits are mostly well organized, some from the quay-side but often by the ship’s barges, and then on foot to the small villages, with 4x4s when the distances are significant. Mostly, we see churches, and their cemeteries, old archeological sites and lots of handicraft centers. Most islands make different specialties, some in wood carvings, others produce paper bark things, still others have blacks pearls, fine bone carvings, many also have colorful pareos,  etc. etc.

The area is volcanic and very few are inhabited. Before the Europeans arrived in larger numbers around 1840, it is estimated that perhaps 300,000 people lived in these islands. However, illnesses unknown before, like the common flu and many social problems like syphilis, etc. as well as alcohol and tobacco decimated that population to some 60,000 in 30 years or less. Only very young and very old people survived, and therefore much of the culture was lost.

On day 5, we were in Atuona, the main town on Hiva Oa, where Paul Gaugin and Jacques Brel are interred. A very nice museum with many replicas of the artist, and of course Brel’s restored twin engine Dassault Bonanza. He must have had great help in procuring the necessary aviation fuel back in the seventies, since we had problems in Nevis in the late nineties for our AeroCommander. The distances here are much greater than SXM to NEV, it’s rather like Miami to Nevis!

In 1897, Karl von den Steinen of Berlin University came to the large  island of Hiva Oa. He managed to have discussions  with the last surviving priest, having previously  worked at the Te l’Ipona site in Puamau , north side of Hiva Oa, about all their traditions and vdSt kept detailed records for his University. Also nearby is the tomb of the last chief of  Puamau.

One day we went on land and watched the making of Tapa (bark cloth made from 3 local trees, namely the Mulberry, Breadfruit and Banyan) and flower bouquets. The sturdy ones among us later went on a 10 mile hike steeply up through a terrain totally without shade to some 650 m altitude, where the crew had brought a nice picnic – the 2 hour descent was fabulous they said with fantastic views. There were 36 sturdy gals/guys who went on that hike; most participants were exhausted from the exertions but they were nevertheless very happy to have participated.

Back in Papeete, we will be staying at the Manava Tahiti Beach Resort introduced by none other than long time visitor Andy Muller who comes here several times a year.  Air Tahiti Nui will then take us to LAX from where we will fly to Miami and reach Nevis on Dec. 17, just in time for X’mas and New Year, this time without the family, to our great regret.

We have however visited friends in Palm Desert  where we stayed with James and Julia Smith at their home overlooking one of the Golf courses thee. And in Miami we met Colette Liffmann, and had a great time with Peter and Nora Hueppi with son Peter-Andreas as well as with Joe and Elena Kurstin the night before we left for Nevis. We  also had to do all our shopping needs there for our forthcoming 3 months stay on the island, the Hilton shuttle had to run an extra van just for us and our 6 bags….

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Horse 2014!

                                                                                                                                                                Willi & Uschi                     

 

*The Zurich number +41 44 586 5060 above is in Switzerland and reaches us in Nevis over the Internet, if no answer, just leave a message and your number and we will call you back within 24 hours. The numbers here in Nevis are Land line  +1 869 469 8818 cell Uschi +1 869 665 8322 and Cell Willi +1 869 660 2000.

 

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2013 Year of the Snake

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Beautifully coiled Snake in ivory, split tongue, scales show excellent patina, eyes inlaid in black coral or horn, signed Hidemasa, early 18th century (Dr. J. Kurtin Collection)

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born during the Year of the Snake are said to be endowed with wisdom and with deep philosophical understanding. They are born thinkers who excel in finding solutions to complex problems. In matters of business they can be shrewd, biding their time in making a deal only to strike like lightning and make a killing when they judge the moment is right. Thus in life, the majority of Snakes are financially successful and generally lucky with money; their fortunes very much depend on their careful and considered judgment in financial affairs and on their intuitive feelings in business negotiations. These are clever, intelligent people who take time to formulate their ideas and opinions. Even when they are at their laziest, their minds are working overtime, laying their schemes and hatching their plots for the future.

During the last centurytill now, years of the Snake were in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001. In 60 year cycles, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing the 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten representing the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the Snake starts, on February 10, 2013 and lasts till January 30, 2014.
As the 5th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Snake indicates the hours between 9  am and 11 am. In our Horoscope, the Snake corresponds to the Taurus.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Snake, 2013!

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Happy New Year 2013 – Year-in-Review 2012: Letter to family & friends

Nevis W.I., December 17th, 2012

Dear Friends,

In early January, Willi flew from St. Kitts via Miami and Washington D.C. to Tokyo to help the CEO of a Swiss high tech company, where he has an investment, to negotiate a licensing agreement. It was a quite successful trip. Returning via Switzerland and Miami, in late January, unfortunately I could not take along some of the famous wagyu beef.

As usual, we stayed in Nevis till mid March when we took a speed boat over to Reggae Beach and a taxi to Bradshaw International in St. Kitts from where AA flew us to Miami where we spent a few days visiting friends and made a few purchases for the house and for home in La Tour flying home to Geneva.

Soon after our return, the health of Uschi’s younger sister Friederike started to deteriorate rapidly. She was transferred to the Lausanne University Hospital’s palliative section where after some 10 days she left this world peacefully surrounded by her family including her 2 year old grandson.

Summer was a marvelous time at Lake Geneva, good for swimming, taking walks or naps on the terrace after a fine lunch with visitors.

In late September we left for Northern Spain for a one week trip on a fine luxury train called El Transcantabrico from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela.  This ride could have been completed in several hours, but it was done in short stretches where a luxurious bus waited to take us to visit the historic sites and also to have lunch and dinner in the top restaurants of the place. The train itself served as hotel and breakfast place. We enjoyed great seafood of the Basque region, wonderful weather and the ample green of the countryside thanks to large rainfalls in the mountainous area. We were also positively impressed with the lack of graffiti in the towns and cities.
After that, we took a taxi to Braga in Portugal from where we took another rapid train, this time to Lisbon, to visit our old friend Julio Faria de Sousa from Expo 70 times in Osaka, Japan. Staying at the fine Tiara Hotel in the Center, we enjoyed great Portuguese hospitality and food, such as bacalao (cod) and carne de porco al Alentejana, etc.

Our big trip of the year started soon after our return from Portugal, first to Japan, a few days each in Tokyo, Kyoto (Hiiragiya is always worth a 3 day stay, more is bad for the check book), Koya-san, Kobe and Osaka.
But then we headed south to New Zealand, for a whole month. Starting in Auckland, we drove in a Toyota Landcruiser to the top Cape Reinga, back on the Ninety Mile Beach actually on the sand (!) to the Bay of Islands, down to Hamilton, Cambridge to Rotorua. From there we took Highway 38 to Wairoa on the Coast, and passed the wonderfully dark blue Lake Waikaremoana. More than 100 km of that winding up and down road was gravel,  and we encountered only 3 cars and one speeding school bus which I did not manage to follow, as it was traveling so fast, honking before each corner. The road goes through rain forest with large trees and many fern trees which Uschi loves so much, the weather was fine and we wanted to go to Napier anyway, so it was a great journey.
We stayed two nights at the Farm on Cape Kidnappers, a wonderfully appointed Lodge belonging to a rich American conservationist. To raise 100 kiwi per year, he has installed 10 km of an 8 foot Plexiglas fence (2 feet  in the ground and 6 feet above the ground) to protect them against hedgehogs, rats, weasels, martens, etc. and also 4,000 traps which are visited daily by 2 full-time staff …  Uschi got close with an aerial and the tracker got him out from under some twigs of a fallen fir tree. His name is Miharu, No. 73, 32 days old on the photo, and he will be released into some forest in NZ when he has reached 1 kg, which is the weight at which a kiwi can defend himself against any predator. http://www.capekidnappers.com/
Then we visited the other side of the North Island, around Mt. Taranaki, which looks very much like Mt Fuji.
We left for the South Island from Wellington to Picton by ferry where we took possession of another Landcruiser. We drove down the East Coast roads as far as Queenstown where we lodged at the Matakauri, a sister lodge of the Cape Kidnappers where we rested after the thousands of kilometers of driving, so far without rain… We also had booked a two day stay at the Minaret Station and the son of the owner family wrote that all was prepared for our visit, even the weather was going to be fine. I was most doubtful, the forecast on the Internet being very BAD…
We drove to the heliport on a mountain used for heli skiing, were picked up and in a great flight back to Lake Wanaka landed on 850 m in a little valley with 5 tented lodges, a Club house & staff quarters. We were the only guests, but the chef was already there with the manager’s wife. The manager had come with the pilot to receive us. The weather was quite fresh, but only slightly  overcast. http://www.minaretstation.com/welcome, then click on the red square with arrow above About….
The next day we had the trip of our life, the day was like a picture book. Words fail to describe it, so please have a look at their little trailer they put together recently. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9v4kHFrFHs Tim brought up 10 Cray fish and 5 abalone, from a 45 minute dive in 12 ° C water. We four enjoyed two of the large ones weighing each over 400 g (tail meat only) for dinner. Chef Leungo from Lesotho after all had been trained in a fine Crans-Montana hotel in Switzerland…
After the diving, a flight back to the Lodge, via the back of Mt. Aspiring, which I forgot to say looks very much like the Matterhorn, and hovering over a nearly vertically falling glacier – what wonderful pilot skill.

With the attached photo sheet –all taken by Uschi except those of the grandkids, you will find a legend that explains some of the pictures and sights.

On the way home, we went to see our old friend from Kobe times, Ed Marteka, alias Uncle Ed. He now lives in Palm Springs and is in Real Estate. He is now redoing a smaller corner house very close to his large villa with all the latest gadgets – very impressive. The only thing which would make it even more TOPS would be one of those high class TOTO toilets, and of course, a real Nespresso machine …  We had introduced Ed to some finer points of European cuisine in the 70s at RG mansion, and he quite took to it, even asking me about getting some more of that fabulous Chambolle Musigny 1967 or for Raclette or Viande des Grisons. Obviously he presently prefers an 8 oz cup of Starbucks which he says is great for socializing over a truly super tasty Nespresso (which he had seemingly never even heard of up until then).
Before leaving for home, we overnighted in Los Angeles  where we had a great sushi dinner with Pat Wanner.

We have arrived on Nevis on Dec. 12th, after a snowy drive via the Grand St. Bernard tunnel to Aosta where we had lunch with Carla Ansermin, then drove on to Milano Linate airport from where we took Airfrance to Paris and on to St. Martin, and hence to Nevis. The grandchildren and their parents will join us again this holiday season – they will arrive here on Dec. 21st.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Snake 2013!

Willi & Uschi

PS

The webpage will be updated before Christmas to include the Snake for 2013.

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2012 Year of the Dragon

Fierce looking Dragon in boxwood, his tail coiled, teeth inlaid in ivory, double inlaid eyes, early 18th century

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Dragon (tatsu or ryu) are healthy, energetic, excitable, but also short-tempered and stubborn. However, they are honest, sensitive, brave and can inspire trust in most anyone. They are the most peculiar of the 12 signs of the Zodiac cycle.

During the last century, years of the Dragon were in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the Dragon starts on January 23, 2012 and lasts till February 9, 2013.

As the 5th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Dragon indicates the hours between 7 am and 9 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Dragon, 2012! 

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Happy New Year 2012 – Year-in-Review Letter to family & friends

Nevis W.I., December 14th, 2011

Dear Friends,

In 2011 we stayed in Nevis till late March  when we flew over to St Martin and spent 3 wonderful days at the Radisson Beach Resort at Anse Marcel in the North of the Island  before flying home to Geneva. That was a very relaxed way of taking the evening AF flight, without the hassle of changing planes at the busy Princess Juliana Airport.

While in Nevis, Uschi’s mother Hilde passed away quite suddenly on Feb.20th. She was 96 ½ and still living by herself until 2 weeks before. There was no way that we could get a flight home via St Marten  or via Miami or New York in time to see her before her cremation which according to German law has to take place within 72 hours of death! Therefore, we decided to have her real funeral, and then have a proper church service with the burial of her urn on April 6th when everybody could attend.

In early May, Willi went to Japan despite the 3/11 9.0 earthquake followed  by a devastating tsunami which led to the terrible Fukushima catastrophe. Many people had pleaded with him not to go, but after spending 28 happy years in that wonderful country, Willi felt he owed it to his many Japanese friends and colleagues to show them respect in their most difficult time. And I felt their gratitude and happiness for my visit this time, especially as most foreign personnel had left Japan for home, or at least had transferred their work place to the Osaka area right after the earthquake. The Japanese felt very upset.

Meanwhile Uschi went to clean out her mother’s apartment  in Kempten and was lucky to sell it as well.

Summer was a marvelous time at Lake Geneva, good for swimming, taking walks or naps on the terrace after a fine lunch with visitors.

In early September we left for Thailand and Chiang Mai, to get accustomed to the Western Australian time. Fortunately, we were there before the disastrous Thai flooding that happened in that country in October.

We had planned another trip to the Australian Outback in Western Australia for 2 years. The timing was done so as to coincide with the end of the rains in the desert areas, and for the flowers to be out and in full bloom. This time from Perth up  to Dongara – Kalbarri – Monkey Mia – Coral Bay –Exmouth – Tom Price (starting place for the Karijini National Park but also one of the important Iron Mining townships from where trains run to Port Headland) and returning to Perth via Newman – Cue.

This itinerary reads like a little outing but with all the side trips to see all the sights and Aboriginal cave paintings, lakes, gorges, pink lakes where natural beta carotene is being harvested, cliffs, sand dunes, dozens of flowering spring flowers, fighting red male kangaroos, etc., the trip came to a staggering 4’800 kms! We had the same comfortable Range Rover with air suspenion that we had previously used in 2007 for the trip from Perth to the South as far as Albany, expertly driven by our trusted owner-guide Arthur (‘Turi’ for his friends) Junker of Sandgroper Tours who effortlessly found even the most remote and nowhere marked   places and sights.

With the attached photos taken by Uschi, you will find a legend that explains some of the pictures and sights.

Later we took a Qantas (queer and nervous take another service!) flight to Sydney where we stayed with our friends the “Flinchens”.

We then took a SQ A-380 day flight to Singapore, a wonderful experience in both service, quietness and space. The continuation to Tokyo was another highlight because. upon landing from Australia, all in transit, they led us to their Lounge and in there to a Private dining room where we were served an exquisite à la carte pre-flight dinner. Then it was 11 pm and  time to board. No sooner were we in the air, than our beds were made up and we were asleep (we took a pill with the meal) – this till Tokyo, nearly 7 hours later.

In Japan, we stayed only in Tokyo where we met with a number of friends for lunch and dinner thus catching up with friends  as we regularly do. No sumo in October… Also, we did not go to Fukushima as I did in May.

On the way home, we overnighted in Los Angeles  where we had dinner with Pat Wanner. On to Seattle, we had a great surprise: TSA in their ‘friendliness’ had broken the locks on our Samsonite suitcase and we had to go buy new ones – of course we had nothing inadmissible in them, they are just nosy and when they want to look and a bag is locked, they break the lock. So sorry…. That’s why we avoid the US as much as we can.

We had a wonderful dinner at the Canlis Restaurant in Seattle. The owner spent some time with us chatting because his elder brother who actually had invited us and for whom we had made the trip to Seattle, could not make it that evening. Thank you Tony, sorry to have missed you and Pam.

In San Francisco, we bought some clothes for me. Also revisited some old places like the Golden Gate bridge, Sausalito, the Wharf.  Had some Italian food with Otti and Sayoko Meier. On the way home by Swiss, we were the only 2 passengers and got great service from the crew but were not really hungry, but it being a night flight, we had a great sleep on soft beds.

The latter part of October and all of November were so lovely and sunny that we were able to eat outside on the terrace every day! I had not rained in Switzerland since early October and it started to rain a little just 3 days before we left for Miami…

We arrived in Nevis on Dec.9th; after 3 days in Miami for shopping for meats and cheese, so we will not die of hunger during the Festivities and in the New Year… Of course, we also needed some hardware goods and other materials for the house which for the silly new rule introduced by quasi bankrupt American Airlines of “NO BOXES” as accompanied baggage during December, we had to leave back in Miami.

The 3 grandchildren with their parents will unfortunately not be able to join us again this holiday season but we hope to have them with us in 2013.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Dragon 2012! The webpage will be updated before Christmas to include the Dragon for 2012.

 

                                                                                                                                    Willi & Uschi

 

We have safely returned to the Islands last Friday afternoon from Miami via St. Kitts, then by
power boat from Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach where our Suzuki Vitara was waiting for us.

 

 

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2011 Year of the Rabbit

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Rabbit (usagi) are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, ambitious, virtuous and reserved. They have exceedingly fine taste and are regarded with admiration and trust.
During the last century, years of the Rat were in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 and 1999. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the Rabbit starts on February 3, 2011 and lasts till January 23, 2012.

As the 4th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Rabbit indicates the hours between 5 am and 7 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Rabbit, 2011!

The netsuke chosen to represent 2011 are two magnificently carved lunar rabbits one in boxwood the other in ivory, seated with all four legs gathered together under it, both with enormous long ears, the wood rabbit's eyes inlaid in reddish horn, the ivory ones in 2 tones of coral, early 19th century, signed Toyomasa (Tamba-school).

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The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2010/11 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

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By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – try it!

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Happy New Year – 2010 Letter to family & friends – 31.12.2010

Dear Friends,

In 2010 we stayed in Nevis until March 23 when we flew over to St. Martin and spent 3 wonderful days at the Radisson Beach Resort at Anse Marcel in the North of the island before flying home to Switzerland. That was a very relaxed way of taking the AF flight to Paris and hence to Geneva, without the hassle of changing planes at the busy Princess Juliana Airport.

Most of May, Willi spent his usual time in Japan visiting his old chums and friends (staff) from Nestle at the annual Old Boys meeting in Tokyo. Of course, Sumo was high on the agenda, too. Of course, there was ample time to look into the Kobe beef case… Uschi meanwhile went to visit the grand kids near Winterthur on the way to her now nearly 96 year old mother in Kempten/Allgaeu.

During summer, we stayed close to Switzerland with short trips by car only to Germany, Austria, Italy and France. We did go to celebrate Hilde’s 96th birthday with her younger sister Baerbel. She is not doing too well but has all the help and support at home as she refuses to go to a nearby home.

Then we visited with our longtime friends at Lago Maggiore and later proceeded into the mountains behind Cannes to visit other friends, but staying at a really charming, well-appointed and run B&B in their neighborhood. There, we also met up with the architect friend who built our annex in Nevis. We returned via several virtually traffic-free Alpine passes back to Switzerland, meeting another lady friend in Aosta for dinner at a cozy retreat with an excellent kitchen and wine cellar.

September was a marvelous time at lake Geneva, good for swimming, taking walks or naps on the terrace after a fine lunch with visitors or in one of the excellent restaurants nearby.

In October, we left for Japan, where we started one of our already customary trips with another couple we got to know 45 years ago in Japan, Adi and Suzy Schulthess. We arrived 2 days earlier in Tokyo to arrange certain open matters and met them 2 days later down at the Osaka Hilton, from where we made a side trip to Naruto on the island of Shikoku but then stayed mainly in a great Kyoto ryokan from where we went to see some previously visited, but mostly never before admired, temples and shrines with a driver-guide whose knowledge was outstanding.

After Kyoto, we left for Tokyo for an one night stopover to leave the baggage we did not need for the 2 week trip of the North East of Japan where we wished to see the countryside but especially the changing colours of the maple leaves.

We left by Tohoku Shinkansen to Hachinohe where we had to change into a normal Limited Express train (the Bullet line to Aomori, our destination at the top of Honshu, will only open in mid December this year). There, a new driver, Mohri-san, who had already driven us in 1993, 2001 and 2007, was waiting for us in a Nissan El Grand and took us to the Aomori Hotel (the first of only two western places where we would spend overnight during the next 2 weeks). After the 4+ hour train ride, we decided to eat in and chose a sashimi followed by a sukiyaki – it was excellent with hot sake!

Then we started our 2250 km drive down to Tokyo, criss-crossing the north eastern part of Japan for the sights in terms of natural beauty, castles, mountains, seashores, the largest continuous  beech forest on Earth, hot springs, samurai residences, lakes, etc. etc. Naturally, there are many fine Japanese guest houses called ryokan, some of very high standard, some less. We made it a rule to eat a generous western breakfast at 8, departure was at 9 and we tried to be at the next ryokan by 4 pm, certainly no later than 5 at in those latitudes, as it’s dark by then. For lunch we often had just an apple, or a bowl of noodle soup.

A very traditional multi-course Japanese dinner was served at 6:30 or 7 pm, and it took 2 hours to eat comfortably. Mostly, it was served in one of our rooms (see some of the photos), It always started with raw fish (sashimi) and we got most elaborate menu descriptions in Japanese, but the English translation was missing except for once or twice. But it was always very good and exquisitely presented. The quantity was always such that we could never eat the rice, which for the Japanese is like bread for us.

The Schulthess left for home from Tokyo after 3 days with us in the capital of Japan. We stayed another 3 days, then proceeded to Chiang Mai for a little rest at the Chedi.. After that, we flew to Hong Kong to renew our friendship with several former Swiss friends made in Japan over 40 years ago, and to meet our good friend and foremost Iwami collector Bob Huthart with Jo Ann who takes such wonderful care of him. We returned back via Munich to Geneva on November 15th.
We arrived in Nevis on Dec.5th; 3 days later than planned owing to the closure of Geneva Airport for nearly 2 days due to heavy snow. The grandchildren with their parents will unfortunately not be able to join us this time.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Rabbit 2011!

Willi and Uschi

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2010 Year of the Tiger

A darkish wood netsuke of a male tiger sitting on one haunch with its head turned looking back. The body covered with stripes and the tail snakes back up behind. The eyes are inlaid in translucent pale horn with inlaid black pupils, the canines are of inlaid ivory. Signed Toyomasa, very early 19th Century.

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. As it is based on the Lunar movements, the year of the Tiger starts on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Tiger (tora) are said to be sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, selfish and slightly mean. Yet Tigers are deep thinkers and are capable of great sympathy for those they are close to and love. Some Tigers were/are: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, Karl Marx, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Marylin Monroe, just to name a few.

During the last century, years of the Tiger were in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages.

As the third animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Tiger indicates the hours between 3 am and 5 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Tiger, 2010!

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The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2009/10 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

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By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – try it!

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