Hi Maurice, <<Economies are not driven by a bunch of happy-go-lucky, south Pacific paradise troppo layabouts hooking snapper from the sea and mangoes off a tree, then dancing by a fire in the evening and sleeping contentedly in a little house on the shore, ready to view the ocean sunrise>>
This post is more a diary entry then a response to your post, for continuity and setup for a future post that may not be.
Continuing from point (e) in the previous post, I do see the possibility that I decamp from Hong Kong within 24 months, and I am almost subconsciously paving the way, gradually acclimatizing my partners, wife, other family members, and friends to the idea. At the most basic level, I am a restless person. I also am shy about mixing it up in a progressively more challenging and difficult environment, an activity meant for the other guy, especially when I think there might be a more fun and easier way. I am wondering when I will start with this vision …
Message 16898978
… Or follow this advice …
Message 16824489
I recently received some e-mails from long lost cousins in Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela that activated my imagination on what I can do in the tropical backwaters of civilization, leading eventually to a book titled “Trinidad Called Me” …
One written by a purebred French Trinidadian cousin (he is good in descriptions) got my imagination going …
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Actually, last Sunday a very good friend and one of my directors and one of Trini's real captains of industry (that’s all the same person naturally, a half or three parts Chinese of 3 generations, married to a cousin of Judy) invited a bunch of us to lunch and then to a fete in the grounds of the University of the West Indies … A fete is a mix of bacchanalian drinking and sort of dancing that is called wining. Wining is actually winDing like of a clock with a silent D and represents mid body gyration of a degree of lasciviousness that defies social norms in most parts of the world that solid citizens like you and me would visit. This goes on to the accompaniment of deafening and ultimately abandon inducing calypso rhythms. At this time before the actual Carnival days there are these fetes at various venues all over the country as we prepare for the climactic event. That is a good analogy, they are the foreplay. Well off we toddle at about 3.00PM and things are swinging. The rum has been flowing for a few hours and the girls are HOT, they are sweating, they outnumber men about 3 to 1. They are getting on baaaad. There is no chance of escape and you have to try to keep interested conversation with your wife and her friends. It is a stressful scene. I quit playing carnival on the road in a costumed band about three years ago. It is getting too Brazilian in the undress and the behaviour. You cannot stay safe. Stay away young satyr. The reflective period of Lent awaits.
I think you will enjoy Trinidad if you maintain a sense of balance. And of course you are imbued with that so no problem there … Exactly as Naipaul saw it, sees it and hates himself for being a product of it, even after 25 years in his Hampshire cottage. Crass, vulgar, superficial, extraordinarily beautiful, wonderfully talented artists amid horribly base and petty minded businessmen and politicians. A fabulous place from which we have to escape regularly and to which we return with aching heart and rekindled hope that we can allow or create the fulfillment of all the potential as such richness endowed on so few. I am a Trinidadian to the core. I love and deplore almost everything about this silly 2 thousand square miles. I look forward to guiding you with a light hand …
… I had a fascinating discussion on Tuesday night … investment ... Jay, it is frightening ... We have a monster coming at us ... I smell opportunity … we can extract something out of this ... will swamp this little island in greenbacks. Nuff said for now.
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… another from a French (1/8) Creole British Venezuelan cousin kept my mind’s eye wandering …
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… Yes things are kind of messy down here right now, we are involved with the oil industry and actually we should start a coal mine sometime in the next few month … As for things that happen by chance I have been involved the last year, with a group out of Las Vegas who are trying to set up shop in Venezuela, didn't pay too much attention to them at the beginning until I found out who they really were, actually one of the biggest companies in the world in the gambling business, I have been offer a seat in their board when they finally open here in Venezuela ...
… safe to retreat and fight another battle, maybe, it's time to take a risk while we are still young. If you ever want to come to Venezuela and do business just give a ring, and I'll see in what I can give you a hand. Our president calls himself a revolutionary and is fond of the Chinese, if you can exploit that, there are lots of business opportunities for you in Venezuela.
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I am thinking as David is acting. There is so much eastern know-how I can impart to my western cousins, along with Chinese manufactured equipment, HK capital, to be stirred in with black gold, gambling, dancing, fete, baaaad girls for every young satyr, and whatever reflective period of Lent awaits (who or what is a Lent?).
Chugs, Jay |
