Enjoying ChicagoLast Monday, after much waiting, I finally jumped aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight and made my way over to the windy city of Chicago. It’s been a pretty turbulent week so far but, fortunately, one which has afforded me the opportunity to enjoy some of the fantastic sights the city has to offer and I’m certainly looking forward to the chance to celebrate a victory by a certain Illinois senator.
I’ll try to put together a complete photo album as-and-when I have time. Filling In The GapsThe past half a year has been an extremely busy time for me and, now that I am back in Britain for a short while, I have been trying to sort out a little. One thing I have been trying to address is the horrible mess in which my photos have found themselves. While there are a couple of albums still remaining to be sorted, perhaps these few will help shed some light on what I have been up to during the last 8 months: Chinese Spring FestivalThe Chinese Spring Festival, or New Year, falls towards the beginning of the Western year. Fortunately, for us, that was a week after the beginning of our assignment, giving us ample opportunity to take a look around:
The Great WallVisiting the Great Wall obviously forms part of the mandatory explorations in and around Beijing. If, however, you are foolish enough to go on a guided tour, you will be taken to Jade Factories, Cloisonne Factories and Chinese Medical Centres before finally reaching your intended destination:
Hong KongNot long after, visa woes mandated the first of many weekend trips to Hong Kong and other destinations:
Beijing Botanical GardensThe Beijing Botanical Gardens are a fairly common destination for both foreigners and local tourists alike. If you manage to get through the crowds and traffic queues, they’re beautiful, especially in the blossoms of Spring:
Caves, BeijingWhile I don’t remember the name of these caves, they provided for an amusing day out with members of our Chinese language school (BCLS) and some of their charges:
Hong KongYet again. For yet more visa renewals. Yet still, an absolutely fantastic place, providing a wonderful combination of a true metropolis with small Chinese fishing islands:
All in all. A wonderful experience. Japanese CuriositiesDuring my recent visit to Japan, Junko and I came across a number of oddities of the nature which may only ever be found in Asia. Not quite the sort of photos one would be encouraged to put into an album, but certainly worthy of mention: F*ing Ladies’ Fashion
The Last Supper
Cannibalism
Murderous Pooh
Turtle SoupHSBC have been running an advertising campaign for some time now — in the UK at least — which highlights the various misconceptions and differences and between the cultures of the World. While the more one travels, the more superficial and frivolous their portrayal seems, there is no denying these differences. In keeping with this, the following photo was snapped while passing the Natural History Museum during a recent trip to London. Only a week before, I been enjoying turtle soup for my Friday lunch a few blocks from the office. One man’s wildlife is another man’s dinner…
As I slowly prepare myself for the next experience — perhaps a more Western one (in-so-much-as any Westerner can ever have a truly Eastern experience when exporting one’s own culture with such abandon) — I find myself amused by seeing the differences from the ‘other’ side. Chinese FoodOne of the most important parts of exploring a new country and culture is — for me at least — trying all the new and exciting foods. China is no different. In fact, China offers more opportunities than many of the places I have experienced to-date. This seems to be the result of a strange historical and cultural combination whereby food is initially eaten through necessity and then continues to be eaten through that dogged Chinese determination that is ‘saving face‘. It’s quite amazing what you can get ‘on a stick’ here:
I am reliably informed that all of the most expensive foods taste bad. Taste is — apparently — not the point. |
|
