Postcards from China I - Shanghai

To see my photos pls click here.

To summarise my trip, I will post three postcard series from my China trip, with some observations :

1. China is vibrant - I always find great photo opportunities in cities, people and life in general.

2. China is still developing - this third trip has taught me one more thing, sometimes the sheer lack of exposure of the interactions with the local can be overwhelming. One has to learn how to differentiate between expectations, insistence and how to get what you want. But in the Chinese people, there is always hope and you know they can improve and we know the Beijing Olympics will be perfect. Just how, we won't know. Change is imminent.

3. China culturalism can be stifling - I know a few people who has been stifled by the system, country and environment. The sheer daily barrage of Chinese culturalism and way of things can be overpowering and impact you, if you let it to.

Two years ago, I wanted to spend some time to working in China and eventually gave that up to pursue my ambitions locally here in Malaysia. Before I went to Shanghai, I was still not sure whether I would ever reconsider that ever again with my current comfortable position in Malaysia. After this trip, I learnt more realities of the work and life in China, and surprisingly I am more motivated to learn more and experience more. The interest has been rekindled.

One day I will be back, and I will spend more time to explore this enchanting beast called China.

Pic - Imagine the Shanghai Bund - colonial buildings with a flavor of old London, 6 lane highways characterising Asia's ambitious buildings, the beautiful seafront of the HuangPu river with a lighted chinese yacht - the contrast is as mysterious as it is exciting. This is really one shot which I feel the new band of China has some hope.