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Monsoon Atelier

The journal

Adelia kept one book for the whole voyage. These are her pages from each port, and two notes on the weather between them, in the order she wrote them.

One book, 1931

Pages
7
From
Banda
To
Manila
  1. 12 April 1931BandaUnder the volcanoNutmeg on the drying racks, and clove still warm from a roof in Ternate.
  2. 3 June 1931MalaccaCargo at MalaccaTea chests, tarred rope, and a sliver of gaharu burned on a coin.
  3. 14 July 1931At seaThe wet monsoonRain sideways for three days, and everything below deck smelling green.
  4. 19 August 1931SiamMarigolds in SiamMarigolds in the old capital, and iced tea that turned violet.
  5. 27 October 1931Hội AnLanterns on the riverSilk lanterns at dusk, and tea that slept inside a lotus.
  6. 20 November 1931At seaThe dry seasonThe northeast wind arrives, bright and dry, and my paints crack in the tin.
  7. 14 December 1931ManilaThe last portSampaguita at the church doors, ylang-ylang in a copper still.