Leaf

I was delusional to believe this leaf would grow roots and live just a little bit longer. It never did.

Get Lost

One of the millions of things I enjoy a lot in Yangshuo is biking. I normally start my day early at 7:00 AM (only when I have no hang over) brewing myself a few cups of tea before pulling my bike out of the gate with a half eaten steamed bun on my mouth. I’d bike around town for a few minutes before taking the dirt roads to small towns somewhere. Quite often I end up in a village that’s quaint and rustic. If you get your bearings right, you wouldn’t need a map because getting lost is the fun part.

A few months back I decided to bike around just a few hours before sunset. I guess the most amazing thing I’ve seen while trying to scram my way back home despite the advancing darkness, is this massive reservoir in the middle of nowhere. It’s one of the few beautiful sunsets if ever seen.

I had to bike in total darkness afterward, but the full moon helped a lot, and the fireflies too. Yes it’s that magical.

It's Getting Cold

I’m not exactly a fan of cold weather, probably the reason why I grew up in a tropical country. But what I do love about fall and winter aside from the turning leaves is that I could get to wear shoes again. Living in a small town, sometimes a good pair of jeans, shoes and layers is overdressing, especially if you’re just on a mission for dumplings or toilet rolls. It doesn’t stop me though; the thought of dressing up to buy some green vegetables in the flea market makes me giggle.

So it's a myth. You can take solo pictures in China. They're not that many.



I’m a huge fan of knits and everything my grandmother could make.



I love thin soled boots, but i don't like stepping on the cracks which I just did.

Mandala

On the course of my travels, I was fortunate enough to witness monks create exquisite sand mandalas. Whilst artistic, it is more of a spiritual experience that takes tremendous amount of time and effort to create. Soon after it's created, they let go of the mandala through a ritual. The sand used in the mandala is released into the water symbolizing the transitory nature of everything. That we cannot hold on long enough to anything, that even the most beautiful things in the world has to end.

In my attempt to replicate the experience, I was inspired to print paper mandalas, take tremendous amount of time coloring them and release them in the river. The whole process was cathartic and surprisingly, I greatly appreciated it.

This reminds me so much of my arts class when I was ten.



The colored pencils are sooo cute. I love sharpening them.

Lijiang

After a gruelling eight hour bus ride from Dali is a little piece of orgasm called Lijiang. To be found on the northern part of Yunnan, this place is absolutely amazing. The place is massive (compared to Yangshuo), taking me a while to get my bearings straight. My sense of direction is horrible, and anyone asking me where is where is at great risk of getting lost further. They say that getting lost is one of travels greatest draw, where amazing and unexpected things unfold right in your very eyes. But working on the premise of duality, getting lost means you can also get ripped, mugged, murdered or worse, get forced to watch an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. I guess I was lucky enough to travel with a person who knew where she was going, and I gravitated towards the directions she took.

Lijiang has a massive old town, and I honestly cannot tell which one is authentic and which is reconstructed. It was pretty touristy but well who am I to complain, because surprise surprise, I’m also a tourist. But more to the old town is the amazing country side. Take empty roads, sunshine, Paula Cole, light breeze, trees and fresh blossoms, put them in a bottle, shake vigorously and spill them all over. That’s how the countryside would make you feel.

The water wheel in Lijiang old town which was said to be about 800 years old. In all fairness it's older than Cher.


This reminds me so much of old China. Not that I have been in old China.


Amazing how China can turn a pool into a tourist attraction. This is the Black Dragon Pool.


The ladies were gracious enough to let me take their pictures. This is an outtake as her teeth fell off her mouth.


I was listening to Eva Cassidy's Fields of Gold when I saw this.


I am not at all afraid of cars in traffic. But if they turn into cows, the mad and fertile kind, that I'd think twice. Growing up I lived in a farm, and my memories of being chased by these bovines are still vivid. Do not get me wrong, I love cows, especially if they're a little rare next to a pile of mashed potato.


Until Kiera Knightly stops doing period movies, I wouldn't stop taking pictures of myself.


I don't think China will ever cease to amaze me. I can definitely see myself living here.