GIA Alumni Pearl Tour
- Thread starter jshepherd
- Start date
P
pattye
Guest
Is it a requirement to be a GIA alumni to go??
Pattye
Pattye
P
pattye
Guest
I was thinkin' if I wanted to go you could pass me off as your grandmother, or somethin'
Pattye
Pattye
G
GemGeek
Guest
GIA Pearl Tour
GIA Pearl Tour
I missed this thread when I was only lurking.
I can't wait to go. One more week!
We are going to fly to one of Robert Wan's private atolls, Marutea, 1,000 miles from Papeete, Tahiti and overnight there. You can see it here: http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/tuamotu/marutea-sud.htm
We also visit Eyris Blue Pearls in Southern New Zealand. I found this great 2004 article by visiting Pala's site: http://www.australiangemmologist.com.au/abalone_pearls.pdf
Last, we go to Paspaley in Darwin, Australia - home of the luscious white South Sea Pearl.
Packing has been tough because we have to carry our own bags, plus the temp in NZ is 45 degrees cooler than Tahiti and Australia.
Next year they are going to Japan and China on part two. I hear they are in negotiations to add the Philippines. Heck, why not add Indonesia and complete the set? I might as well spend my entire retirement account while I'm at it.
I guess it's worth it, because I am a pearl-obsessed gem geek
Blaire
GIA Pearl Tour
I missed this thread when I was only lurking.
I can't wait to go. One more week!
We are going to fly to one of Robert Wan's private atolls, Marutea, 1,000 miles from Papeete, Tahiti and overnight there. You can see it here: http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/tuamotu/marutea-sud.htm
We also visit Eyris Blue Pearls in Southern New Zealand. I found this great 2004 article by visiting Pala's site: http://www.australiangemmologist.com.au/abalone_pearls.pdf
Last, we go to Paspaley in Darwin, Australia - home of the luscious white South Sea Pearl.
Packing has been tough because we have to carry our own bags, plus the temp in NZ is 45 degrees cooler than Tahiti and Australia.
Next year they are going to Japan and China on part two. I hear they are in negotiations to add the Philippines. Heck, why not add Indonesia and complete the set?
I might as well spend my entire retirement account while I'm at it.I guess it's worth it, because I am a pearl-obsessed gem geek
Blaire
C
Casey.R
Guest
Sounds fun. Please take lots of photos!
GemGeek said:Next year they are going to Japan and China on part two. I hear they are in negotiations to add the Philippines. Heck, why not add Indonesia and complete the set?
I guess it's worth it, because I am a pearl-obsessed gem geek
Blaire
Well, if people come to Japan, let me know. MAybe we can hold a Pearl-Guide party while you are here.
knotty panda
Pearl Knotting & Wire Expert
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,766
Any chance of anyone visiting Mr. Humbert?
G
GemGeek
Guest
Don't worry, I LOVE taking pictures and I would be happy to share them. It's too bad we can't have a Pearl-Guide trip!
Back in the dark ages, I took Japanese in college. My brother did, too. We both worked at Disneyland, so we used it to talk to visitors. My dad had to out-do us, he became fluent, including reading. Not just Katakana and Hiragana, but full-on Kanji (sp? brush stroke characters). He then worked in Tokyo for two years. He said everyone wanted to practice their english on him, so he didn't get to speak a lot, but he was treated to many nights on the town by enthusiastic english-speakers.
Salem, what part of Japan do you live in?
Cheers,
Blaire
Back in the dark ages, I took Japanese in college. My brother did, too. We both worked at Disneyland, so we used it to talk to visitors. My dad had to out-do us, he became fluent, including reading. Not just Katakana and Hiragana, but full-on Kanji (sp? brush stroke characters). He then worked in Tokyo for two years. He said everyone wanted to practice their english on him, so he didn't get to speak a lot, but he was treated to many nights on the town by enthusiastic english-speakers.
Salem, what part of Japan do you live in?
Cheers,
Blaire
G
GemGeek
Guest
Pearl Trip
Pearl Trip
He's in the neighborhood of Marutea on Ahe atoll: http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/tuamotu/ahe.htm
Cheers,
Blaire
Pearl Trip
knotty panda said:
He's in the neighborhood of Marutea on Ahe atoll: http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/tuamotu/ahe.htm
Cheers,
Blaire
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Blaire,
I live in Nagano-ken, which is on Honshu island. The city I live in is called Matsumoto, maybe if you google it you can see some English websites now. It is a beautiful area, with wonderful mountains. But not a pearl region at all. But I could always go to meet people in Kobe, Tokyo, anywhere here on the main island.
He could read kanji, huh? Pretty impressive. Everytime I stop studying, I lose all my kanji ability first. Your father must have had a talent for languages.
Jen
I live in Nagano-ken, which is on Honshu island. The city I live in is called Matsumoto, maybe if you google it you can see some English websites now. It is a beautiful area, with wonderful mountains. But not a pearl region at all. But I could always go to meet people in Kobe, Tokyo, anywhere here on the main island.
He could read kanji, huh? Pretty impressive. Everytime I stop studying, I lose all my kanji ability first. Your father must have had a talent for languages.
Jen
G
GemGeek
Guest
Of course, I went off on a google-storm to find out everything about Nagano-Ken. It's beautiful
While I have ordinary intelligence, my father is a genius. I can thank him for strong conceptual ability, which helps with learning. He was telling us he was too old to learn anything new while he was busy becoming fluent in Japanese. It could be very annoying He said people in Tokyo were always surprised to see him (the American) reading the newspaper because it was in kanji when a lot of adults gave up on kanji and read katakana. Enough on Dad - back to pearls.
Maybe we can have a Pearl-Guide lunch or dinner in Tucson? Is anyone going to Tucson next February? When we find out where and when for Japan, maybe we can do a group dinner. We would have to wear our favorite pearls, of course
Cheers,
Blaire
While I have ordinary intelligence, my father is a genius. I can thank him for strong conceptual ability, which helps with learning. He was telling us he was too old to learn anything new while he was busy becoming fluent in Japanese. It could be very annoying
He said people in Tokyo were always surprised to see him (the American) reading the newspaper because it was in kanji when a lot of adults gave up on kanji and read katakana. Enough on Dad - back to pearls.Maybe we can have a Pearl-Guide lunch or dinner in Tucson? Is anyone going to Tucson next February? When we find out where and when for Japan, maybe we can do a group dinner. We would have to wear our favorite pearls, of course
Cheers,
Blaire
G
GemGeek
Guest
A Pearl-Guide Pearl Walk -- What a great idea!
I originally found this site by searching for Tucson and pearls. The post was Caitlin's "2 Weeks of Pearls in AZ". It's saved in my favorites and I still use the link to go to the site. Such a great article
I think people would be willing to come to Tucson just to do a P-G pearl walk. Getting into the shows without a wholesale business license can be a problem.
Students can get into most shows, so if you took, say, the AJP course with GIA, you could sign up - timing is important, because they usually want to see a recent course completion letter.
The prime show, AGTA, is the hardest to get into if you want to purchase. You have to show wholesale jewelry-related business receipts of at least five thousand dollars in the previous year, plus other business documentation. But, if you get into the AGTA show, you can use your badge to sign up for any other venue. I suppose that would go for students, as well.
The best way to do a pearl walk would be to do the AGTA and the GJX show across the street. That way you wouldn't have to drive to another show. As long as you're in town, the Holidome show has Evergreen Trading and Majestic Pearls. It takes an entire day to see the Holidome show and it's easy to get lost. REALLY. I always take the floor map, mark what I want to see, and still get turned around. Their numbering systems for the booths are confusing. Or maybe it's just me
To see the shows at Tucson is overwhelming, especially for someone like me who has claustrophobia. From vast convention centers to rows of motel rooms, they are all over town, in every nook and cranny, and sometimes along the side of the road!
Beaders have more options because most of the bead shows are open to the public. If you are interested, Colored Stone magazine posts information on all the shows with hotels, maps and shuttle info: http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/
Look at the links listed at the lower part of the page for last year's show descriptions to get the info to register for each show. Pre-registering, even for retail shows, will save time when you get there. If you are interested in going to Tucson, you need to book a room now -- you can always cancel later if you change your mind.
Too Much Information! Sorry
Blaire
I originally found this site by searching for Tucson and pearls. The post was Caitlin's "2 Weeks of Pearls in AZ". It's saved in my favorites and I still use the link to go to the site. Such a great article
I think people would be willing to come to Tucson just to do a P-G pearl walk. Getting into the shows without a wholesale business license can be a problem.
Students can get into most shows, so if you took, say, the AJP course with GIA, you could sign up - timing is important, because they usually want to see a recent course completion letter.
The prime show, AGTA, is the hardest to get into if you want to purchase. You have to show wholesale jewelry-related business receipts of at least five thousand dollars in the previous year, plus other business documentation. But, if you get into the AGTA show, you can use your badge to sign up for any other venue. I suppose that would go for students, as well.
The best way to do a pearl walk would be to do the AGTA and the GJX show across the street. That way you wouldn't have to drive to another show. As long as you're in town, the Holidome show has Evergreen Trading and Majestic Pearls. It takes an entire day to see the Holidome show and it's easy to get lost. REALLY. I always take the floor map, mark what I want to see, and still get turned around. Their numbering systems for the booths are confusing. Or maybe it's just me
To see the shows at Tucson is overwhelming, especially for someone like me who has claustrophobia. From vast convention centers to rows of motel rooms, they are all over town, in every nook and cranny, and sometimes along the side of the road!
Beaders have more options because most of the bead shows are open to the public. If you are interested, Colored Stone magazine posts information on all the shows with hotels, maps and shuttle info: http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/
Look at the links listed at the lower part of the page for last year's show descriptions to get the info to register for each show. Pre-registering, even for retail shows, will save time when you get there. If you are interested in going to Tucson, you need to book a room now -- you can always cancel later if you change your mind.
Too Much Information! Sorry
Blaire
Caitlin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 8,502
Hi Blaire.
Thanks for the compliment. I think there is a workaround on the agta tag thing unless they toughened up since this year. I take a business card and my resale license.
I said it would be hard to get a motel room in Tucson, but Jeremy got one in one of the hotels near the airport. Still it is better to think ahead. Dinner is another issue. The restuarants are so full you can't get into many of them, especially on short notice. I don't know the workaround for that. Jeremy had a number he called and a service found a restaurant for him in the Starr Pass Marrioit. That hotel is also the home of the GLDA show.
Thanks for the compliment. I think there is a workaround on the agta tag thing unless they toughened up since this year. I take a business card and my resale license.
I said it would be hard to get a motel room in Tucson, but Jeremy got one in one of the hotels near the airport. Still it is better to think ahead. Dinner is another issue. The restuarants are so full you can't get into many of them, especially on short notice. I don't know the workaround for that. Jeremy had a number he called and a service found a restaurant for him in the Starr Pass Marrioit. That hotel is also the home of the GLDA show.
knotty panda
Pearl Knotting & Wire Expert
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,766
Cliclasp: Tuscon is something I think would definitely be worth your time and attention.
G
GemGeek
Guest
Can you just picture a room full of people where all the women are wearing pearls? Yum! I do have other dinners to go to, so I hope I get lucky and it's on a free night.
I know what you mean about the restaurants being full. I fell in love with a little Japanese place called Bunbuku. I could eat there every night!
Cheers,
Blaire
P.S. This may require a new thread -- Pearl-Guide Dinner!
I know what you mean about the restaurants being full. I fell in love with a little Japanese place called Bunbuku. I could eat there every night!
Cheers,
Blaire
P.S. This may require a new thread -- Pearl-Guide Dinner!
Raisondetre
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 941
Love Japan ... there's always a surreal feeling about the place. Plus the food!
Anyways, which part of Australia is the GIA touring? Just Broome/Western Australia where the pearls are produced? I was hoping to visit one of the pearl farms there, but the travel costs are too prohibitive considering it's within Australia. I'd rather go overseas for the price.
Anyways, which part of Australia is the GIA touring? Just Broome/Western Australia where the pearls are produced? I was hoping to visit one of the pearl farms there, but the travel costs are too prohibitive considering it's within Australia. I'd rather go overseas for the price.
