Not to put too fine a point on it, though this week, we challenge you to show us what “angular” means to you.
Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street—one of Guangzhou’s popular shopping precincts is full of angles and bright lights. Our hotel was on this stretch, which allowed us to enjoy it regularly.
It’s a swarm! Show us something that overruns your scene, but observe and compose carefully before you click the shutter.
In 2102, we visited Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Purple Mountain, Nanjing, China. It was an amazing experience. Swarms of people paying their respects to the father of modern China. I had never seen so many people. As I learnt more about this man and early China—I understood why they came. He changed their lives forever.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-swarm/
Capture a fleeting moment and experiment with blur and movement.
My daughters diving show in one of China’s theme parks. It was a fun interactive display loved by the audience that gave us plenty of opportunities to practice our action shots.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-moment/
Built for the Asian Games in 2010 Canton Tower, Guangzhou is one of the world’s tallest building—4th in 2013 although the order changes quickly. Situated on the banks of the Pearl River—Canton Tower is home to the world’s highest horizontal ferris wheel and is the world’s tallest TV tower. It was spectacular to see from the ground. Unfortunately, due to the heat and time constraints, we were unable to go to the top. We will plan our visit better next time.
We saw this young Buddhist monk in the Shaolin Temple, Henan Province, China. I was fascinated by what he may be doing—he was surrounded by an air of mystery.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-mystery/
Two years ago my husband and I travelled to Wuhu, China. It was our first experience in China and we loved it. Wuhu, part of Anhui province is in regional China and has a population of only 2 million people—small by Chinese standards.
Few white people travel to Wuhu as it is a little difficult to get to. So, as the Chinese believe white people bring them luck—we became instant celebrities. Everywhere we went, we had Chinese people coming up to us and communicating any way they could that they wanted to take a photograph with us. We loved it. Because many were students, they also wanted to practise English, so we learnt from them about the area whilst extending their English skills.
While I was waiting at this temple gate for the sun to set, a Chinese mother was attempting to have her three year old daughter take a photo with me. The child however had other plans, screamed and wouldn’t let her. After a while the girl realised I wouldn’t hurt her, so she would run up to me, point at my camera, laugh and run away again—as if she was reminding me I didn’t win. She was very cute.
Another interesting part of our holiday was no access to Facebook and limited Google access. Both are regulated by the government. I actually found it a relief to not have to focus on anything from our usual world and just be present—in the here and now absorbing another culture.
Wuhu was easy to get ourselves around by taxis and walking, which gave us confidence. The city itself was old, full of history, culture and beauty. Our visit opened our eyes to many aspects of life in China that as Australians we had never considered. Travel definitely broadens your world.
http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo
We arrived at the cafe in our hotel after an exhausting 22 hours in transit from Sydney, Australia to Zhenzhou, China. She was the first person we met and looked younger than her years. Her Chinese hospitality uniform stole any individuality she had. She was humble and worked hard trying to communicate with us despite her very broken English.
“Hello” she said. Handing us a menu.
“Hi” replied my husband, asking if she had any dark beer. She looked confused and began pointing at pictures understanding the word beer.
“This one?” she asked
“No” replied my husband.
“This one?”
“No.”
“I get help” she said and slowly walked to get her friend. She returned with her friend who appeared eager to help and looked at my husband.
“Do you have dark beer?” he asked.
“Yes, I think this one” she said as she pointed to a German dark beer written in Chinese.
“Yes” he said. Both girls looked at each other and smiled broadly, proud that together they had met the needs of this Australian traveller.
“I get for you” replied our first waitress and she returned with the beer and a free bowl of beer nuts. My husband loved it.
This interaction began the nightly ritual of our stay in Zhenzhou. During the day every time we walked passed the cafe our new friends would smile and wave if they were working and saw us.
“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.” — Allen Ginsberg
Do you follow Ginsberg’s advice — in your writing and/or in your everyday life?
I love a bright, full moon. It appears to call me, drawing my attention to it from wherever I am. It reminds me of the marvels of the universe and how anything is possible if we believe—man landing on the moon.
The moon controls the tides and my experience is that it also affects human behaviour. Working in acute psychiatry, traditionally the night of the full moon would be the busiest for the month, with more people presenting to emergency centres requiring help with their mental health for various reasons. There doesn’t seem to be any agreed reason for this situation, but many people can attest to it being true.
My favourite full moon I saw in China during the mid Autumn Moon Festival in 2013. It was bright full and red—although very difficult to photograph. The Chinese people celebrate the power of the moon in this family celebration that dates back more than 3,000 years.
Moving forward, I think the time of the full moon each month would be a great time for reflection and goal setting for the next month. Speaking our goals out loud makes them real and gives them power. What better way to do that than to howl them to the moon. If required you can plan for this event by checking the date of the next full moon on any calendar. Let’s join with others who for centuries have used the power of the moon to help them achieve their goals.
What’s the most surreal experience you’ve ever had?
Up until the early 1970’s, Gouliang village, high in the Taihang mountains, Henan Province in central China had a big problem. They were isolated from the outside world except by climbing down a ‘sky ladder’, which were steep narrow stairs carved into the side of the mountain joining the top of the volcanic cliffs with the valley floor below. There was no road. Anything coming in or going out of the village needed to be carried via the stairs.
Guoliang Village cut off from the world before the tunnel.
In 1972,the village elders became more and more frustrated with the government as they continued to reject their requests to build a road down the mountain. As a result, the village elders decided that the policy of if you want something done do it yourself was the only way to solve this problem. So the villagers sold everything they could to buy hand tools and selected 13 of their strongest men, who began the arduous task of hand cutting a tunnel through the rock. Below is the entrance to the tunnel and as you step into it, you become overwhelmed by the enormity of the task that the villagers had undertaken and are inspired by the gift the tunnel has given the world.
Interior view of hand cut tunnel entrance
Building the Guoliang Tunnel took 5 ½ years patience and determination. It is 1.2 kilometres in length, 5 metres high and 4 metres wide. It has been described as the 2nd most scariest road in the world and cost several villagers their lives. Forty years later the legacy of this tunnel—built as a life line to a small village—has become an international tourist attraction. Guoliang village is now recognised as China’s number 1 movie and television set, which make the villagers a lot of money. According to James Packer the next ten years will see the Chinese film industry become bigger than Hollywood. So as you can see the legacy of the tunnel is bigger than the villagers could have ever dreamed possible and has given them a lot of power. Now if their requests are not met by the government—they simply shut down access to the tunnel until they get their way as happened in 2011.
Comparison view. Note size of car compared to tunnel
Base view of tunnel from the Guoliang village.
This remote part of China is difficult to get to. While it can be done on public transport, we had a guide take us and the journey took all day. It was however an amazing experience and one I would recommend to anyone travelling to central China. The Guoliang Tunnel is an inspiring example of how something planned for one purpose can open doors that were never believed to be possible. What doors do you need to open that seem too difficult—by taking steps in the right direction you never know where it will lead?