The Great Jonk of China

Part Deux

2010-04-22T16:29:00.000+08:00

I am now at the airport with my family, about to begin my next visit to Beijing..

THIS TIME TO PRETEND TO BE A DOCTOR OKAAY!

We Could Be Lovers

2007-12-31T19:29:00.001+08:00

We Could Be Lovers, originally uploaded by jonkk.

B-log = backlog

2007-12-25T01:47:00.000+08:00

hello.

i've got a backlog of photos and travel journals, owing to the fact that i've been very tired in the hotel and sleeping alot. plus now that i'm back, i've got unpacking to do, room to clear up, housework to do (it's really bad!) and not to mention photos to process (from two weddings earlier this month) and two shoots to plan and coordinate.

and CAs in January!

will finish writing as soon as i can!

Day 4 - The Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs & Dinner with Dr Zhang

2007-12-19T21:56:00.000+08:00

中国真好！我想应该用中文写，这样才比较authentic的！

我今天去长城。长城很冷，风吹得很大。

长城很壮宽，总共大约2000公里。

我想成为个revolutionary。

这是我家人。

I saw this queer dude. This is a real cowboy!

Note: 其实我有很多错别字，幸亏我的朋友,欣芸,改了我！ (: 也谢谢Kelvin the Wushu man. I should know better than to show my noob Chinese blog to these Hwachu people!

Day 3 - The Summer Palace, Dim Sum & Silk Street Pt 2

2007-12-19T00:46:00.000+08:00

Okay. Day 2's not out yet but here's some stuff from Day 3.

I'm kinda tired and not realy in the frame of mind to write even though I have much to write about from today. I saw a lot of stuff, and had a few new experiences (like walking on a frozen lake) and interesting encounters (like witnessing illegal clam harvesting).

Anyway, a picture paints a thousand words.. So here are a few..

Taxi Paranoia: Many taxis have similar defences against.. the drivers or passengers? Yes, you can never be too safe.

Butt cheeks?: These are phone booths.

Poetry in motion: Upon hearing that we were from Singapore, a street calligraphy artist wrote "xin jia po", which is "Singapore" in Chinese. The amazing thing is, he wrote it laterally inverted (ie. mirror image). He went on to write "lee xian long" (Lee Hsien Loong), our Prime Minister's name.

Prosperity and Health for the family: My family with the calligrapher.

Slack Season: 1 November - 31 March isn't slack season for us second-year Medical Students though.

Pavilion: Two ladies taking a break at one of the pavilions along the passageway which stretches hundreds of metres along the Kunming lake.

There were many cute little Chinese children running around:

Walk on (frozen) water: My dad, walking on ice. Mom didn't object this time. Surprisingly, it wasn't as slippery as I'd expected. A layer of frost forms on the surface, giving it a sort of grip. I didn't get a picture taken of myself, though my dad did offer to go down again for a photo. But I didn't want to risk anything happening!

Fishing: This man walks on the ice surface, pounding it with his hammer. He is probably looking for fish and/or clams. He gets lucky and finds a single fish, frozen in the ice. See the fish in his left hand.

Illegal Clam Harvesting: I really should be a photojournalist. Here, some of the locals illegally harvest clams from the frozen Kunming Lake. A dodgy operation they carry out under the cover of the bridge. The man forces open the clams and empties the contents into the plastic bag the lady is holding. The first thing he told me when I went over to him was "Don't take photos of us," in Mandarin. I went on to ask them (in Mandarin!) how many clams he collected a day, before subtly releasing the shutter. "About 60," the lady replied.

Bridge in the Summer Palace: The majestic bridge is one of many that crosses over the frozen Kunming Lake.

Day 2 - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Quanjude (Duck Restaurant), Silk Alley, and Bad Traffic

2007-12-17T17:25:00.000+08:00

Just got back half an hour ago from a long day out.

It starts getting dark at about 5pm.

We're about to leave for dinner with our relatives in Beijing. Quite looking forward to meeting them. Looks like I'll have to upload photos tomorrow. Stay tuned!

The Mao Zedong Memorial: We were there!

Some government building: It has some red coat-of-arms on it, so it has to be right? Pardon my ignorance, and please correct me!

The Forbidden City: With the famous Mao portrait.

Lost in time: Some costumed people inside the Forbidden City.

A World of its Own: The Inner Courts of the Forbidden City.

Speculations of Bacteria in our breakfast!

2007-12-17T09:07:00.000+08:00

Gosh, I really should watch what I eat...

Bacteria-cocktail: was fried fungi and mushrooms. Quite nice actually.

Cooking heart: I didn't try it.

Speculation-shoot: were quite obviously veggies.

Pork tablets: would've been a wonderdrug, but it's actually bacon strips.

Intestinal breakfast: wasn't as bad as it sounds. they were fried sausages!

The breakfast here isn't bad. But food here (in general) is quite oily and salty.

These photos were taken discreetly, and with my compact camera. Pardon the poor focus and noise!

Murphy's Law

2007-12-17T01:47:00.000+08:00

..states that if it can go wrong, it will go wrong.

That's why pro photographers bring backups of every essential item.

On the way here, the bottle of alcohol solvent leaked inside its ziploc bag inside my backpack, and it got onto the card reader and battery reader.

The battery reader's plastic is scuffed. And the card reader doesn't work anymore.

Guess I won't be uploading photos for now. Unless I go pick one up at the stores tomorrow.

Dusk

2007-12-17T01:18:00.000+08:00

As viewed from my wing-side window on the plane..

I wish I could take a walk out there with my special someone...

One day.

"You'll remember me when the west wind moves

Upon the fields of barley

Youll forget the sun in his jealous sky

As we walk in the fields of gold.."

- Fields of Gold, Sting

Canon

2007-12-17T01:11:00.000+08:00

Upon leaving the airport, I was greeted by an entire line of mini-billboard advertisements..

Canon (:

Silhouettes at Hong Kong Airport

2007-12-17T00:19:00.004+08:00

With no flash, and so much backlighting - why not use it?

Strangers - starting out on a journey.

Man under his own tree, looking out at the airstrip.

The upload of other pictures is delayed due to equipment fault (see 'Murphy's Law').

Am also in no mood to talk at length about the rest of the journey since Hong Kong.

We basically landed in Beijing in very good time. The skies at dusk were beautiful, pictures still stuck in my camera. Then we went on the long road out of the airport - customs, immigration, declarations, forms.. and queuing up for a taxi.

Gift Idea..

2007-12-17T00:19:00.001+08:00

For your enemies perhaps?

Seen at Singapore Airport Duty Free

I was admonished and warned sternly by a member of staff against taking photographs in the shop. This was the only photograph I took.

The Hotel!

2007-12-16T22:31:00.001+08:00

.. is really quite neat.

And my mom managed to get free internet access.

Otherwise it works out to over 100RMB a day.

And I cannot view my blog, but I can access the entry area.

Blogger.com dashboard works, but the actualy xxxx.blogspot.com doesn't!

Going to bathe and send some emails, and clean my lenses.

It's 1 deg C tonight.

Will write more about the flight later.

Transit in Hong Kong

2007-12-16T16:15:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong International Airport

We arrived in Hong Kong at 1345, and we're on a 2 hour transit. Clearing customs took about 30 minutes. Had a bite, and now we're waiting at the waiting area. I'm on Skype with Cheryl, and we're talking about modelling and posing and taking photos. Mom and Janice are watching on, and should go talk to them soon.

We're flying off in another 30 minutes, and due to reach Beijing at 8pm. I plan to study for about an hour, and reply to some working emails after settling down at the hotel.

Later!

At the Airport

2007-12-16T09:14:00.000+08:00

I'm at the airport now, using the internet for its novelty. I hvae 15 minutes to use it, but I'd rather much get this posted, and go for breakfast with my family.

I woke up at 6.40am, 40 minutes later than planned. Incidentally, I'd slept at 3.30am printing some photographs.

My aunt sent us here (Thanks 4koh!) at 8am, and we had no problem checking in and clearing customs. We've about an hour to spare before boarding.

I was a duty free just now, since Mom wanted to get some stuff for our relatives and friends in Beijing, and I was admonished by a stern salesperson for taking a photograph. I just had to take it, cos it was quite an interesting sight to behold.. Shan't spoil the surprise, but I'll upload it later!

Alright, off to breakfast. Dad's calling me.

All my bags are packed. I think.

2007-12-16T03:23:00.000+08:00

Just finished packing my clothes, preparing my camera, backing up my laptop, and writing a letter.

Oh ya.

Toiletries. Almost forgot.

Okay i'm going to sleep after this (:

Packing

2007-12-14T21:12:00.001+08:00

Packing is such a chore.

Let's hope I haven't forgotten anything..

Clothes

Thermal underwear x 2

Underwear x 6

Socks x 4

Tees x 3

Jeans x 2

Shorts x 2

Smart casual x 1 set

Jacket & Sweater x 1

Overcoat x1

Personal Effects

Passport

Insurance documentation

Macbook + iPod

Notebook + writing materials

Bible

Study Stuff

Microbiology - USMLE handbook

Pathology - Robbins Pocket Companion

Notes

Photography Equipment

Canon Powershot A700

Canon EOS 350D + batteries + charger

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 (pending, for telephoto compression landscape photos)

CPL (77mm)

Hopefully, I'll keep all the above to within 10kg (??!!).

And have some room for shopping..

Shopping to be done

1) Tailor business clothes (pants & shirt)

2) Belt

3) Socks

4) Shoes, if any good

5) A Tee or two.

6) Hairband

7) New walet

8) Artwork

9) Camera gear - batteries, accessories

10) Gifts for family & friends

What this blog is about (:

2007-12-12T23:33:00.001+08:00

Sigh. The start of all existentialist questions..

This blog will document my first ever visit to China - beginning with Beijing.. and only Beijing. I will be going to Hong Kong in my last 3 days of the trip (which is now part of China anyway).

As a Chinese (non-native), this will be my FIRST time going to China. Finally, I will be in touch with my roots and meet my relatives (really!), to see the wonders of ZHONG GUO ("Middle Kingdom"), to hear the Chinese I'll ever hear in my lifetime, and to breathe every (polluted) bit of it.

I'm very proud to be Chinese. After all, it is we that invented paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing.

And the appreciation of opium.

Amazingly, we have the world's longest continuously written language system. That I find most intriguing, considering that I have long given up on it..