I just came back from India...actually it is two weeks now, but first I tore a ligament in SA...and spent lots of time immobilized, and as I arrived got a terrible flue from my cook.
I went there for a conference, where I did a presentation...We were around 10 delegates, from all over the world, invited to present different topics on fish.
I did two presentations: One was on Koi varieties and the second, gosanke selection.
I had the most fantastic time, stayed in the best hotels with the best food...had a driver and vehicle... and got lots of presents...
Probably the next venue will be not so long from now and will be in Kerala...I really want to see Kerala...I hear it is very beautiful.
Here are some pictures for you.

Visited some research institutes also and learned lots of new things about skampy.

I wondered what was going on with you.

Looks and sounds like a great time.

Now I know you're not 93!!!

He he he! I am not but very close to it...

Welcome Back to the forum again Neli. It looks like you enjoyed it a lot there. Well done, your moving up in the koi world now hey

I am still the same Tommy,
I am still trying to learn 14 hours a day everything there it is about Koi and enjoying them a lot...Soon We might go with Costa to Japan...to see some more Koi but even more visit some bonsai masters...
This new hobby Costa has infected me...is beyond expectations...
Just imagine...I spent the whole day with him....and we hardly mentioned Koi....but that is only because my pond is not yet cycled...
It has been slow...
I did all the things in the book...but it is very slow to cycle...still buying truck loads of salt.
Here is Mr. Costa...the bonsai Master!

Haha Neli, not a bonsai Master, more a bonsai beginner , still a hell of a lot to learn, but loving every minute of it.

Some nice pics of your India trip, I see you had a great time, well done for being invited and all the best for your next trip. I'm sure this must have Pis@&$ on some people's batteries. (You being invited ).

costa j wrote:

Haha Neli, not a bonsai Master, more a bonsai beginner , still a hell of a lot to learn, but loving every minute of it.

Some nice pics of your India trip, I see you had a great time, well done for being invited and all the best for your next trip. I'm sure this must have Pis@&$ on some people's batteries. (You being invited ).

Dont I know what you are talking about.....some people....I have no words for those people!
But I did not expect anything else from those crappy people....or person. He cant just help it but to be mean spiteful, nasty...just out of jealousy...Well we have to raise above it...and laugh a bit more about it...
Costa you look like a real dude on this picture...You will soon be a bonsai master...if you are not one already...just have lots of fun...and ignore all the crap, and crappy people. And please dont show too much how happy you are this days...or you might give someone a heart attack....

@Neli- Can not think a whole day went by without Costa mentioning a fish or something about koi @Costa- We already miss you in the koi world Oom Costa, seem like you forgot about us

Wish all the politics in this hobby will just dissapear, it use to be so nice. These days its all about the ego and not the fish...

Miya Oki Koi wrote:

Wish all the politics in this hobby will just dissapear, it use to be so nice. These days its all about the ego and not the fish...

To generalise all of us and to say it's 'ALL" about the ego is not very fair.... Every hobby has it's 'characters' and so it will be. But mostly people are willing to share - most of the time at aboslutly no cost so simply just promote the hobby and grow friendship as it was intended.

Go look at the politics in horses, dogs, cats, pigeons and the list goes on. The slight bit of politics (sometimes rather entertaining ) is nothing compared to what is going on in other 'hobbies'.

Earnst,
I fully agree with you...it is such a nice hobby...I dont see what some people can not share...that get involved in lots of useless, nasty..gossip and behavior...I dont think this can be even called politics...it is just individuals that have bad heart and bad manners...
We just have to learn to ignore them...but I wish they new how they are seen by others...
If I see a person talking bad things behind someone's back...and telling me not to tell anyone...I loose respect for that person...that is all.
Grown up...old men...should not behave like that.
It is pathetic.

Neli wrote:

Earnst,
I fully agree with you...it is such a nice hobby...I dont see what some people can not share...that get involved in lots of useless, nasty..gossip and behavior...I dont think this can be even called politics...it is just individuals that have bad heart and bad manners...
We just have to learn to ignore them...but I wish they new how they are seen by others...
If I see a person talking bad things behind someone's back...and telling me not to tell anyone...I loose respect for that person...that is all.
Grown up...old men...should not behave like that.
It is pathetic.

Even those people are found in every walk of life and not limited to the Koi fraternity. I simply prefer to ignore those persons or their behaviour (it might have been in a moment of weakness) and I get on with my life and enjoying my koi friends who are worth spending time on and with. We are forunate that we are still blessed with freedom of choice in what we do.

I agree again Earnst!
Well said!
I also try to forget about people like that...not worth my time...have better things to do...

Jip Ernst, not saying "All" the Koi keepers ,just for some of the koi keepers its all about ego. "Look at mine its the best and it cost me so much" " You are not realy on my standard - so I prefer not to assist or help you - just now people see". You know ... The feeling of - "You are a beginner - not my league - don't think I can help" I'm still a beginner and love this hobby to bits because I grew up with them. Trying every thing to make new chapter work with the little knowledge and funds I have, I realized how much people will "Help" you in this hobby. But yes there is a few people that really do more than their share for this hobby , People that come a long way, real pioneers. That's the Koi People I remember and want to remember. But like you say, every hobby has it's own suur gat. nothing we can do to help them but to laugh and watch over them to see that they don't create to much havoc. What's a home without children

Look at this topic now... SORRY Neli... We were in India, then went to Costa's place and now we hang around the play park of politics... Oh Man

Maybe we should start the SAKKS Youth League , but then Neli, Costa, Paul, Chris, Vossie, Jaco, and Collin will have to join the retired commerads league.

Welcome back Neli,

Glad you have enjoy ur trip.

Thanks Q,
I missed you!

Neli wrote:

Thanks Q,
I missed you!

Thank you Neli

We all missed you to

Neli - can you give us an overview of what your talk at the conference entailed? Just the headers - no need to publish your IP.
Thanks.

The only thing I managed to talk about in the first 30 min is General about quality of koi and what makes one koi expensive versus a cheap one...prices around the world...from a dollar to the most expensive Koi...and a brief narration of the Koi varieties...very brief...
You see I have been in touch with Koi breeders in India...and know well what most of them know and dont...First of all I had to stress that the way they sale their koi without any selection or culling is wrong, and convince them that they can get better price for better quality. Explained to them how the Japanese cull...count...evaluate...improve...all in general for now.
Some have started doing that and started posting their new prices and culling selection...and their thanks to me. They feared they will not get customers for higher priced Koi...they do! But they have just realized that it is possible.
There is needed to be started with the basics.
Explained also other advantages of culling...It is a slow process...I still have not managed to convince them to trow away the culls. But the time will come...ones they get enough maarket for better Koi...that will come.
So far what they are doing is grading: A AA AAA. (that is what I managed to convince them to call the selection offered.)
I can say I am very proud...I have worked with some of them for a time now...and I can see good results...at list improvement...also I had to stress the point of using better quality parents...and go around looking for some... To import in India is very very hard...
In the next 30 min...I barely managed to cover gosanke points of appreciation...and what to look for when selecting them (rather grading them in this case)
They dont know the varieties yet...or their names...Hope to cover that in the next one week workshop.
You need to see their Koi....if you manage to recognize some of the koi as a particular variety...You are a genius...But they are trying to improve...and they will...It just takes time. As long as they want to.