As Seen by TV

I was skyping with a friend when I glanced out the window and had to cut the conversation short…

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the PRC, it seems god is above the middle kingdom tonight, considering it was pouring all day, but just before sunset (aka the golden hour/magic hour) the skies cleared.  I’m just about to head out towards the fireworks, and I think it just might be a good night.

Well, after a bunch of drugs, about 2 hours sleep, and many many hours wasted, this guy is back to about 83% health, which is way better than the 38% I was at yesterday…!  I’m definitely feeling better, and damn, am I happy that is over.  So what should I post today…? Well, considering I’m back in the world of the eating, how about fried snack-food?
Potato chips/crisps to be more exact.

I’m a huge fan of the potato chip, and make sure to try them wherever I go… the weirder, the better.  From ketchup-flavored potato chips in Holland to Peruvian cassava chips, I find they are very region-specific in regards to flavorings, which reminds me of Gozilah’s Burger Patrol, and probably just about as healthy .

Food poisoning sucks!
And I got it pretty bad. 

…but I happened to be getting some more water when I glanced out the window:

It looked like a scene from Ghostbusters and I think it is testing for this Thursday, October 1st.   China National Day which will mark the 60th anniversary of Mao’s People’s Republic of China.
So had I not had these stabbing pains in my stomach and spent the better part of the day at my “other desk”, I wouldn’t have seen this… let’s try and remain positive here!

*EDIT/UPDATE*
So I went to the hospital today (09/29), as I couldn’t handle a third day of on/off stomach pains… the doctor told me it was most likely “severe food poisoning”, although the source is anyones’ guess.  I left with a handful of drugs and a grin on my face, considering that they also checked my blood pressure, which was normal for the first time since… -since ever!  Another day of once again mixing negative and positive, and affirming my firm belief that, in the end, everything is balanced.
I also added two new images: my drugs + a shot from earlier tonight (I just missed the fireworks testing, but I’m pretty damn sure I won’t be able to outrun tomorrows week-long festivities), please note that the window on the right is [always] wide open, and I’m on the 17th floor.  Wonder how many kids tumble out, or if that’s just a western dilemma…?

So I figured out how to work the slideshow… here are some preliminary shots taken down Jiashan Lu (my street)… in my neighborhood which I refer to as South-Central French Concession (modern day Xuhui District).

I also finished my residency procedure just today, my permit should be sent to me in 2-3 weeks… the process wasn’t at all that bad.  A lot of steps, and more paperwork than anything I’ve ever had to do before… but the longest wait at any government building/police station/hospital was only just over an hour (and that was today, at 4pm on a Friday).  All the facilities were clean, nice, and modern (except the PoPo building) and people were generally friendly.  Plus I had an “agent” with me (colleague from work) who helped me out tremendously.  Actually the whole damn thing would have been near impossible considering all the non-Englishness.  Thank you Pauline!

It’s slightly starting to get to me as to how disorganized this country is.   I love it here, but some of the smaller things are just aggravating.  Like how the Chinese are the most impatient people on the face of the earth, but only in certain situations.  They have it bad on the metro and in elevators for example, where people will put their nails in between the doors as if they’ve been burried alive and only have seconds of oxygen left (and then proceed to walk slower than death).  Then there’s the finger-jabbing of the close door button even when you haven’t gotten TO your floor yet.  It’s actually quite amusing to watch (from a distance).
Whereas on the streets, where for the most part its a dog-eat-dog world, people walk slower than anyone I’ve ever seen… and I’ve been to over 28 different countries across the world, and here they truly take the cake, both with impatience and with stride speed (or lack thereof).

Even things like a Google images search (which is a major source of inspiration, research and aid for designers), should yield 18 images a page, but here only half will show because of whatever reasons.  At this point I would show you a screenshot, but I can’t since I’m using a PC that was set up 8 years ago (yes, in 2001).   I’ll have to wait till I get home and use my personal computer, which I’m sure without a shred of doubt must be the fastest machine in the whole country… well, besides they’re maglev train, which I hear is pretty damn fast.

I have to go to work on Sunday, as then we get a week off the first week of October… apparently, as I was only just told.

Also, a big shout of a Happy Birthday to Arthur Guinness and his infamous Guinness, which turned 250 years young just yesterday!  They’ve been promoting the hell out of it here (everywhere else too I assume), so I’ll make sure to have one in his honor, although I might have to commit blasphemy and have a Stella instead. 

Guinness – “To Arthur” advert
Check out the glimpse of Shanghai!  …also bad that youtube is blocked in China.

Shanghai is split by the Yangtze river with Puxi on one side and Pudong on the other.  Pudong is the side which is home to the crazy architecture and spectacular skyline you’ve probably seen before.  So before anywhere, this was my first destination to go shooting… there is much more space in Pudong, as it was only marchland just 20 years ago.  And you should see what they’re planning…

Welcome!

This blog will begin shortly…  images, stories, and general nonsense about a lonely Belgian-American photographer-extraordinaire and his relocation from Brooklyn to Shanghai.

Till soon.

… online and comin’ to you live from …