Hello from China

[Chris]

Cool stuff Chris!

Thanks once again, Eric

What time is it now in Minnesota?

We got 9:47 AM in China now

[Aladd1n]

Hi Chris,

You should be promoted to tourism and cultural minister. You're doing a great job showing off your country.

My father and sister visited Xiamen as well as Tianjin and Shanghai a few years back. They were amazed at how modern (and large) the cities and corresponding infrastructure are.

Keep up the good work.

[Chris]

Thanks Aladdin, it is my pleasure to do something interesting here.

Since the economy booms, the cities in China become larger and more modernized year by year.

Xiamen and Tianjin are the biggest 2 ports in China for the stone exportation. Thousands of suppliers are available here and there

Shanghai is sorta metropolis like New York. There are nearly 20 Million people. The EXPO is on show now. One of my customers came from Orlando to see the show there, after his visit to Xiamen.

While, Xiamen is a smmmaaaallll island. It takes less than 1 hour to drive around the whole urban area. Population is around 2 million. But it is a great city for living. Many foreigners work and live here. Some of them are teachers, translators, students but most of them are the businessmen in the stone industry.

I usually go to an open-air bar next to the sea wall. The boss is a crazy fellow from Germany. It is fantastic to buy a beer, listen to the live music, and enjoy the lovely summer night.

IMO, it is a good idea to set up a buying office in Xiamen, where you can source almost all the kinds of stones at good price

[Eric R]

Hi Chris, you're 13 hours ahead of my time in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's 8:52am here, so 9:52pm there.

I've been thinking about making a trip to China next year. If I do, I'd like to come and visit you.

Are you saying there's a stone show going on over there now? What's the show called and what are the featured products? I'm assuming finished stone goods, but is it architectural, landscaping, memorials, countertops, decorations, etc...?

[Chris]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to China at any time. It is definitely my pleasure to show you around and buy you a beer and enjoy the night here

The stone show here is in early March every year. We call it as Xiamen Stone Fair. The products have a wide range, tile, slab, fireplace, mosaic, countertop, memorial, carving, decoratation, etc. Almost all kinds of stone products and that is why people come here from various countries. There are also abudant machines and tools in display at that time.

[Chris]

There are some pictures I took last weekend.

Still a lot of things to discover about Xiamen and China

Will keep it up as long as I am free

[Chris]

Actually, it is getting more and more western in China, especially for the Young Generation.

The biggest supermarket here is Wal-Mart(2 in Xiamen). KFC, McDonald, Pizza Hut are always crowded(the Burg King's biz is not so good..)

English is printed on T-shirt, billboard and almost everywhere. Levis, Nike are the fashion icons here

We use Nokia and Iphone, we watch the Avatar & Lie to Me, we listen to the Gun & Rose, Nirvana, the Queen, the Oasis. We read the Longfellow and Jack Kerouac

I had a teacher called Rick Taylor from Toronto at the university. He is an interesting old man, travelling and teaching around China. Last year, I heard that, at the age of 70, he had a new baby with his wife (Chinese, also one of my teachers). That is incredible.

[Joe Durfee]

I had a teacher called Rick Taylor from Toronto at the university. He is an interesting old man, travelling and teaching around China. Last year, I heard that, at the age of 70, he had a new baby with his wife (Chinese, also one of my teachers). That is incredible.

SEE!!!! I told you guys the Canadians were taking over!!!

[Chris]

A rumor has been widely spreaded that an earthquake will occur in the neighboring city at August 13th.

Hope I can be alive to see you guys after tomorrow.

[Steven Hauser]

I hope everything will be OK there!

[Chris]

Thanks Steven,

So far we are good..

But people are scared about what the movie 2012 shown.....

[Steven Hauser]

Ha ha Tell them that was South America, your contemporary countrymen knew how to count past 2012.

:D

[Chris]

Hi Guys, the Aug 13 earthquare was a rumor.

We are good.

[Chris]

My brother is at hospital now. He had an eye surgery this morning. It was good and he could get out on Friday.

Pretty busy recently and couldn't keep up the photo work.

Good news is that I just gotta a Sony DC, which will help me to show a clearer view about Xiamen

Also, I am going to apply the visa to USA for the Covering 2011 in Vegas. It shall be verrry great to meet you guys there.

[Joe Durfee]

I'm glad your brother is doing well.

Now, back to the pictures. Less pictures of scenery (although it is cool to see), and more pictures of "scenery" of the two legged variety.

[Chris]

Joe, did you mean the KingKong?

If so, I am sorry. We got no zoo here nor the Empire State Building here...

[clhilde]

[Nick]

Chris has been by far the best China rep ever to come on here. He is interesting, funny and even replied to help David very quickly for a material inquiry. Next time I need something from China I will be contacting him first

[Chris]

Thanks Nick,

Your words encourage me to do better and better.

[Chris]

I am back...

[Chris]

It is a very popular fashion that girls have their hair dyed.

Wine Red, Blond, Brown, Giallo...

[Chris]

some pictures about our office and the showroom.

We are re-decorating it now and it does feel better than before..

[Chris]

some more pics

BTW, we just lauched the new website WWW.SUVSTONE.NET. Welcome to visit and comment.
It is the general design and it requires amendment on the details

[dustinbraudway]

Looking good Chris!

Your the only guy in an office full of chics? That could be good and bad!

[Chris]

My boss and I are the only 2 guys

And we moved all the trees into the office in a few days ago. (as the pics shown) Holy cow

Very baddd

all the other guys are at the factory//