Creative thinking
Trip Start
Apr 04, 2004
1
16
34
Trip End
Jun 07, 2004
Lhasa,
China
Monday, May 24, 2004
Sunday 23rd May
After restocking on green jasmine tea, lunch consists of fried momos. The common Momo is like a small Cornish pasty that is either a steamed or fried. With a selection of Asian dips. Back at room 203, Kirey Hotel we observe that outside it is raining and so we must invent our own entertainment. Thus we begin the construction of a hubbly bubbly.
First we cannibalise my (stained) clear Perspex tea cup, which has been with me since Beijing . A hole must be made in the front of it to hold the shaft ( bic biro ) and cooking cup ( marker pen lid ). We don't have any drilling equipment, so the hole is melted in place. Then I produce a length of green cross-fibered hose pipe which I'd used on the Trans-Siberian railway ( as a tap to shower attachment ). This item naturally raises a few eyebrows as it takes its place as the breathing pipe that feeds into the top of the smoke chamber. The project has captured the interest of the Japanese contingent in the room who by are now studying the article closely. We conduct some testing and analysis as one would any design prototype. There is a small leak. Japanese ingenuity finds the solution which is to use candle wax as a sealant.
The device works well and we mix our solid 'fuel' and tobacco in varying ratios. Entertaining ourselves excitedly with our new toy and a small collection of bizarre musical instruments. The Japanese guys have been collecting them on their travels. By 7pm, room 203 is the talk of the hostel. The sounds and smells have drawn quite a crowd. Inside there's not a square inch of space to move or sit.
Next ; The clapping monks
