Gemscentric

Written by Julian Robov


Thirty six


At one thirty, Rudy and James finished lunch.
“We should have invited Meechai,” Rudy said, as they walked out of the Window-on-Silom restaurant.
“Not a good idea,” James replied.
“Oh, listen, I’ve got to see Potch tonight at her Pathumthani residence. By the way, how is Meechai doing?” Rudy asked.
“He’s talking a lot. I’ve tape recorded everything he has said,” James added.
Rudy was back in his new house in Phayathai Road. Two hours later, after a good sleep, Rudy walked out the house and headed across the street towards the Amari Watergate hotel, where he would get a taxi.
Chalerm had been watching Rudy, encircling the street in his motorcycle from across the street avoiding any suspicion. He was Seri’s agent and loved the job, because of the money. He was in constant contact with Seri on his cell-phone. Minutes later, Rudy just went off in a taxi.

He was greeted by Robin Silomos, a jewelry designer in a strange-looking costume. She was a close friend of Potch. As he accompanied her to the main living room, he saw Potch and Busaban talking to their friends. The crowd looked quite colorful. But what really shocked him was to see the gathering dressed in costumes as Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, Persians, and some unknown Nomad tribes; the rest he didn’t know. Piles of oriental rugs, hidden musicians, and a small gathering of extras sprinkled water, while others scattered thousand of lotus petals in their path only to be joined by more women. He couldn’t understand the whole concept, and Potch hadn’t even told him in advance about the strange evening. The pageantry looked colorful, sexy, and at times confusing.
“What’s going on?” Rudy asked Potch, who was donning a Cleopatra costume and drinking wine.
“A small private gathering, you know, our way. Once in a while we do crazy things commemorating the past and present. We call it re-creation. I want you to don as an Egyptian Pharaoh. You will look great. Come with me. Let’s do it,” Potch said grabbing his arm.
He could say nothing but laugh looking at his own costume. The heavy turban studded with colored stones and diamonds with pins, draperies, some strange-looking jewelry, and ropes of imitation pearls strung around his neck all looked awful. He wasn’t even sure if he was wearing a true Egyptian Pharaoh costume. It didn’t matter. He just wanted to please Potch and the small gathering. It wasn’t over. He saw three women imitating the Machiguenga group of Campa(Peru) wearing the striped Cushma tunic usually a traditional dress of Campa men, but worn by women as well. Robin briefly explained the small gathering, as new imitations appeared from nowhere.
Now five women cat-walked to simulate the Xikrin tribe of Cayapo Indians(Brazil) with their intricate designs portraying their magical significance, which looked colorful as the paint consisted of a magic combination of crushed charcoal, and dye of wild fruits and seeds.

The gathering welcomed the next attraction applauding wildly. Three women appeared wearing the characteristic jewelry and facial tattoos of the Southern Chin(India/Burma). The legend behind the tattoos was rather interesting. It was said to have been performed to make their women unattractive to foreign invaders. Rudy then thought for a sec. The gem dealers he knew too were well qualified for those tattoos making it unworthy for the approaching creditors and debtors, if it worked. Then came six imitations of Masai (Kenya) women displaying their trade mark make-up and brilliant bead jewelry. The women looked gorgeous behind their surface-diffused skin. Robin had to remind the gathering to take their seats, as the music went on. A small group of men emerged re-creating the ‘Mine Dancing’ of South Africa. They looked as lively and energetic—like the Zulu dances. The small audience insisted on more, and Potch winked at Robin to proceed in order to please them. Quite a few were already drunk. A lone beauty emerged imitating a Giriama (Kenya)girl. She was bare-breasted. Rudy couldn’t sit straight. He got a quick arousal, as she stood in front of him for a full view. Potch noticed his emotional reaction. She moved closer to him and whispered. The pseudo-woman was a Ka-toey (transvestite). He couldn’t stop laughing watching his own erection fold safely.
Then came a group singing strange music he had never heard before. They were an imitation of Gurung (Nepal) girls in a trance displaying how it would have looked if possessed by goddesses or ancestor spirits. After watching them for a while even Rudy went into some sort of trance. The next woman arrived imitating a Tigre (Ethiopia) girl with a Coptic cross tattooed on her forehead. She looked simple, but beautiful. After a meaningful but quick applause, Robin politely requested the attention of the gathering. A group of men imitating the Chishti Dervishes emerged, while other members of the group began playing their songs and musical instruments. It was a spectacular scene watching the whirling dervishes. A group of five came wearing the clothes of Raja and Rani of Ladakh in the Himalayas blending the Indian, Chinese and Tibetan cultures.

Rudy paused. Seven men simulating the Nuba of the Sudan, wearing no clothes with body paints enhancing some sort of ancient beauty was more than enough. He could hardly believe if someone told him they were real men. It was a moving experience for the audience, especially for Rudy. Never in his life had he seen a such a re-creation of the past in a spectacular fashion.