|
AlbertaTime in
China #3 - Beijing w/ Joel Chan & the Yonghe Gong Lama Temple
(Friday, Oct 7/2011)
I'm sure at least some of
you are aware of the terrific
Micmicmor Vintage Watch, and its owner, Mr
Joel Chan. While I often say I just "love the pretty watches", Joel is a
recognized expert being one of early collectors of VCMs and probably the very
first to bring the subject to the attention of western watch collectors through
both his posts at WatchUSeek and his groundbreaking website, a VCM landmark
before I even started collecting and a major inspiration to me. Careful
attention to Joel's detailed and comprehensive articles have, among other
things, saved me from purchasing any number of "less-correct" pieces.
As well, Joel was even written up in Time Magazine.
:-*
Well, in another banner
day for me, Joel was kind enough to spare time to meet me at my hotel, treat me
to an astonishing vegetarian meal at a fine restaurant, show me a number of
drool-inducing vintage Chinese grail watches, gift me with three fine pieces
for the AMCHPR, and take me to the
Yonghe Gong Lama Temple.
It was a very full day and I'm learning lots., and about much more
than just watches.
So, in order:
The meal and company were both
utterly top-rate. Joel is a true gentleman, very knowledgeable and perceptive
and it's almost impossible to exaggerate the quality and deliciousness (is that
a word??) of Beijing food. If I stayed in Beijing, I'd be a very hefty guy
within months instead of the bonerack I am, I'm sure of it.
In photo #2 Joel is showing me
(among others) a very rare (and very valuable) 1970s 29 jewel Shanghai military
diver, even rarer than the difficult to find 24 jewel version. I have a 22
jewel re-issue which is quite nice, but nowhere near the obvious quality of the
original, an exceptionally rare Shanghai SS1 prototype that is 19 jewels
instead of the production run 17 jewel model, two...two...early
1950s prototype DongFangHong (the East is Red) pieces that were never publicly
sold and that pre-date the A-581 and that are numbered in the couple
of hundreds...tops, probably less.
As I mentioned, Joel also
presented the AMCHPR with three very notable exhibits. Please excuse the bad
photos..I don't have my usual watch-shooting camera and the lighting I have
available is badbadbad, so I'll shoot better and provide more details on these
pieces (including movement shots) after I arrive home...but here's teasers:
Mid-1960s Shanghai 1120 - 301
(early) SS1 pie-pan
Shanghai 7621 - 802
quick-set day/date (quite
rare):
1984 Sea-Gull Chinese Antarctic
Expedition ST5D model (almost pure unobtanium):
Following the fine meal
and watchaholic session, Joel took me
to the Temple (fixed the
link):
The entrance:
...just inside the first
entrance...
...and an exhibition of ancient
Tibetan Buddhist statues that's in a smaller building inside the temple
grounds:
...a closer look at just one of
the intricate gilded brass statues...
...inside the temple grounds
I had a wonderful time with Joel
and I'm planning to meet with up again before I leave China as I'll be back in
Beijing for a few days just before I return home.
After Joel and I parted ways, I
took a long evening stroll around my new neighbourhood, including the Donsi
West main street and throughout the Lishi Hutong...
...a section of Donsi West with
a huge TV screen:
The Lishi Hutong...I mentioned
yesterday feeling totally safe even in the darker alleys. The Lishi Hutong at
night is a perfect example. The first photo is about 30-50 yards inside the
main hutong alley:
but go a bit further and things
lighten a bit and get busier with small grocers (everything you'd expect
including very fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts) and local eateries
(and the food's inexpensive, tasty and filling) and what are obviously small
neighbourhood pubs..
So, to end this post...many many
thanks, Joel, for your generosity and hospitality, and also to the many other
Beijing citizens who took a few moments this evening while I was wandering
around to make a visitor feel welcome (I guess i don't look like I'm from
around here ;) ) |