As Seen by TV

For 9 days in mid-November I had to document an Executive Eduction Tour by a Russian delegation visiting China (more pics on that to follow).  Touring around Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou we visited companies and tourist attractions.  This set of images was taken at a Chinese Opera performance on and in Hangzhou’s mystical West Lake, while it was raining.  It was quite beautiful to say the least.

…and with that I wish you all a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Well, I just returned from Thailand and I am currently busy to get those photos up… what a beautiful place south-east Asia is! But as Chinese New Year approaches (this weekend) I’ll have to first upload some things from my trips to the beautiful old Chinese watertowns of Hangzhou and Suzhou. Stay tuned (just wanted to keep you in-the-know)!

Also, as a side note, although I left Vietnam back in October, I only just finished polishing those images last week, so once again, good night Vietnam, it was epic. I have traveled my fair share… seeing more than half the modern world wonders, hitting up every continent (except Antarctica), but I can now add something else to my list: I’ve seen one of the worlds top 10 ugliest buildings… according to CNN at least. Check out some of the other hideously ugly buildings on their list here.

HAPPY [CHINESE] NEW YEAR!

Seems strange sitting here months after the fact reminiscing about my trip to ‘nam.  Especially considering my trips to Hangzhou, Suzhou and just getting back from 2 weeks in Thailand (more pics to look forward to!!).  But back to the subject… Vietnam was everything I could have hoped for and so much more.  Happy smiling people, amazing food, beautiful scenery… shit, words can’t really explain the sights, sounds and delicious aromas that can onl be experience first hand.  And make sure you do.

Took the last full day in Vietnam just cruising around the city… over the river, past markets, fields, palaces and temples.  Also had to give our farewell to Uncle Ho, well his empty tomb at least.  We even drove through these tiny back alleyways… which got a little tricky when you hit oncoming motorbike traffic… yup, just look at those small street pics and imagine head-on around-the-corner-lurking traffic!

Then, when the sun went down, we saw some proper traffic (check out that last pic!).   Ah, Vietnam… I miss you already.

GOOD NIGHT VIETNAM.  Trust me, I will be back.

Rented a motorbike and hit the town… in the rain.  Checked out Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, the one-pillar pagoda and the strangest museum I’ve ever seen.  I was very much dissapointed that Ho Chi Minh wasn’t lying in his mausoleum, but apparently he hits a Russian spa each year for 2 months to get his embalming treatment.  Since I have already seen Mao in Beijing, I was hoping to see another comrade in the flesh.  Oh well.

Seriously… the Ho Chi Minh Museum makes ZERO sense.  Wikipedia statses that, “it is a museum dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle against foreign powers.”  But… I don’t know, look at some of the pictures I took and you’ll see it was a whole mix of bizarre crap that doesn’t make sense… reproductions of Mondriaan’s “Broadway Boogie Woogie” painting? …a large exhibit of oversized fruit on table?? ….a Ford Edsel smashing through the wall!?!  I don’t get it.

Then a final picture from the balcony at our hotel……….. g’night Hanoi.

First day & night in Hanoi… walked around a bit, started taking some night shots but unfortunately it started to rain.

We spent our final day in Hoi An on the beach, followed by the compulsory final night of photographic vespertine action. Hoi An, you will be truly missed. Defo worth the visit if you get the chance…

TimVan recommends Hoi An, Vietnam.

Outside Hoi An, on the outskirts of Da Nang there is a set of 5 curiously tall rock formations… known as the Marble Mountains, each named after an element (metal, water, wood, fire, earth). Tucked away in/on them is an array of caves, Buddhist temples, pagodas and religious sanctuaries, which allow for spectacular views of nearby Da Nang city, as well as down the entire coastline. Which, much to my dismay, will soon be littered by hotel resorts crammed right next to each other. We drove the 30min via motorbike down the coast to Hoi An, and passed several brand-spanking-new resorts, with mapped out lots in between… all in the process of being built on. One can soon expect a Vietnamese version of horrible horrible Cancun (*barf*).

The streets that surround the mountains are filled with countless workshops and showrooms that house piles and piles of statues carved out of limestone… which is apparently shipped in from China.

Shhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone.

After temple patrol and the Cam Nam Island adventure, we came back to the Hoi An old town for dinner, drinks and some more vespertine action…