It has been awhile since my last post. The last month or so has been great refueling travel break. Feeling recharged and ready for more discoveries and personal growth.
Vietnam has set the bar on travel. Going freely as one please, discover the unbeaten path, go where no tourist goes, without following bus or train schedules, it is truly the best way to travel. However hard I’ve been trying to replicate this in China, it is impossible.
The communist has gone to the extremes of banning motorcycle in all major cities. Motorcycle can be purchased, but cannot be licensed. Government is trying to curb the mass transport mode of the rural city life. Where the People go as they please, going again traffic, going along sidewalk without legal consequences, going against traffic light in a busy intersection. With the hope of epic motorcycle through China gone, I’ve set on a few new growth ideas instead.
A few things that I would like to see growth in:
-continue learning mandarin
-photography of course, using 2 lights setup, shoot ideas, read more learn more
-experience more of the culture, meet more locals. Will start couchsurfer again
After 2 failed attempts, I have finally got onto the train leaving Xian to Chongqing. The 1st train was supposed to depart at 2:41am, but fail to show up even after more than 8 hours. Spending that night at the train station had exhausted me. Decided to reserve that trip for another day, as arriving into a new destination pass midnight is never wise.
The 2nd attempt was me arriving at the station just few minutes early before departure time. Wanted to fill the stomach over craving for 味千拉麵 ramen for dinner, I ended up missing boarding time. Not sure if that was worth missing the train. As boarding gate closes 5mins miss before departure, lesson learn I suppose.
Although with so many failed attempts, it wasn’t as horrible as one would seem. Having good friends around has made Xian a pleasure visit. It’s been almost 3 weeks since I arrived here for my friend’s wedding. He is a friend that I didn’t get to know too well until our path crossed in Boston, and now Xian.
A very bright person to talk with. Always a pleasure debating array of topics. Very often will reach enlightenment speaking with E.T. He got me watching Matrix Series, and explained many concept and ideas I never thought of or understood. He and i have many common interest, it’s just a pleasure to be around. This is one of the 1st car shoot we did after meeting him for a weekend autoX event.
It thought me to appreciate the unexpected enhancements from not often photographed environment, Rain!
His wife and her family was extremely hospitable. We definitely shared a few good laughs, especially failing to catch the train becomes a good joke. We also did a few shoots with her and her family. It’s an idea I had as early back as in Berlin, didn’t have the opportunity until now. When I saw the graffiti wall, and bricks laying around, it’s was perfect…
I’ve already see ways to improve on for the next shoot. I will pursue this style further. I do like the contrast of the environment with the subject. The theme for the shoot will be along “Its good being bad! “. Where well dressed subjects behave badly in a iffy environment. Will have to see how this project to goes. As shooting Fin has reached its limits.
So finally today I officially resume my journey, will be many more night train before reaching Tibet. And I have no idea where to go after Tibet. Will have to look into possible paths without flying. Time for reading maps again…
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