179. gondolas flying over a mountain pass
we are all in this together
no matter how separate
how individual we may think we are from one another
flying in our little bubbles
we are all part of each other
all one
what you see
is a reflection of your self
175. light between two hong kong skyscrapers
when a dream is born inside
and you feel the call to create your vision
fear may come into your mind
disguised as doubt
it can creep into your heart and kill your dreams
paralyzing your creative impulse
release the illusion of fear
there is a unique voice inside
seek it
go within
find your voice
bring your light into the world
168. elderly woman sitting by the red gate
past the little narrow alleys
winding into canals with ancient stone bridges
chinese gondolas gliding underneath
the humble woman sits
and watches the people go by
143. rain
just like sun, we need rain
without the wet, there is no dry
if it was never cold, gray, tempestuous and dark,
how could we ever understand and appreciate bright, sunny, hot, breezy days?
neither is better
both are essential
opposite elements in nature give us a clue as to what opposite forces live within us
rain invites us to go inside
dwell inside to contemplate our self
go to the opposite places in your mind, heart, body and soul
know them well
with this knowledge, you can live in the middle
live in love
rediscovering the love that always is, you are in complete balance
thank you rain
142. the great wall
snaking along the northern asian mountains
the great wall of china still stands
a testimony to the lack of unity in mankind
a reminder that we must all get past history
past our differences, shed all fear
that biggest of illusions, that impedes us
from remembering that the only reality is love
that we are all part of one loving one
the great monument is not the stones, the parapets, the steps
it is the majestic mountain range
undulating the surface of the earth as far as my eyes can see
that display of nature’s magnificence is greatness, beauty, awe
humbled by the great mother
gratitude for life fills my soul
131. go forth
get on the boat and navigate
sometimes you sail
sometimes you fail
but every single time you live and learn on the trail
every moment of life is a precious gift
a chance to grow that is only there at this present moment, so live in it
be it
make it
live it
do it!
117. old loneliness
sitting alone on a cold bench in the middle of a stairwell in hong kong, an old lady rests her tired, anguishing bones.
clutching at her belongings, she seems to be hanging on to life itself.
a ray of warm light bursts through the clouds, slips between the oppressive buildings, lighting her soul on white fire.
101. love chain
in the courtyard garden of a temple outside of the city, prayers are tied into magnolia trees and sacred chains.
red ribbons with golden writing are ceremoniously tied with a breath and a blessing.
locks of love clasp to the chain, in hopes that their loves will be bound, as unbreakable and holy as these.
incense and bells ring and fill the air.
this is a place where dreams set sail, where wishes begin to construct themselves around us.
87. babies
babies!
i just got back from watching a film about them.
the joy of a mother and a father at their creation is contagious.
their infant, pure spirit and genuine inquisitive behavior is gripping.
it is illuminating.
that we make it past being a helpless little ball is nothing short of a miracle.
we have a lot to learn from these simple, energetic beings.
maybe one day i will get the joy of learning from one of these wise teachers.
57
trekking up the side of this mountain peak, one can feel the ancient energies all around you. as you ascend the face of the mountain, faces start appearing out of the rock. indeed, more than five hundred buddhas are said to have been carved in the stone, dating from around the 10th century on. even more impressive are the naturally occurring rock formations that take all kinds of shapes and forms. this is one rare, pure limestone mountain, more than two hundred meters tall. it is so unique among the common sandstone found in the area, that an indian monk named it fei lai feng, the ‘peak flown from afar’. it is said that the buddhas were carved to keep the mountain from flying off.
40
stopping to look up amidst the packed streets busy with people in hong kong central, skyscrapers display slow, breathtaking shows of subtle light nuances as they cast their shadows on themselves. each tower casts its unique shades, shapes, colors, and reflections on its neighbor, according to the movement of the sun or the reflection of the moon. depicted here is one of my favorite buildings in hong kong. the rigor and purity of its square format, the geometric design in clean and simple white lines truly allows this building to stand out among the rest. a blank framework for light to work its magic day and night.
34
like most developing cities in asia, beijing is a powerhouse of contradictions. a city of extremes pushed up against each other, developing at lightning speed. extreme wealth exudes out of the corners of some streets. yet, as you turn that corner, you may walk in a little alley, and find yourself transported in time and space, into a hutong. these are the traditional walled neighborhoods that used to fill the city of beijing. the word hutong describes these narrow lanes or alleys, that lead you into the siheyuan, a traditional coutryard style housing that is intimate, communal and familial. almost all of them have been demolished, people uprooted from their historic homes for the sake of a gigantic development. the ones spared are strategically facing a touristification that threatens to erase the authenticity of these great, humane spaces. leaning on the wall is the instrument of the people.
18
ahhh… childhood. this morning, i was biking to work on my usual route through the civic center. when passing the opera, i heard a commotion and alas, saw a group of children, all excited, guided by their teachers, for a full day of fun and leisure. seeing this little girl being driven by her mom in zhu jiao jiao, what some people call the venice of china, reminds me of the beauty of a carefree life, a simple existence, a pure mind. being a child inside every day is one of my goals. to receive every day as a gift, as it surely is. to quote sigur ros, the best thing god has created is a new day.
6. smooth & shiny
inside the clean, sleek, glass and metal skyscrapers, mesmerizing installations defying gravity greet you in the tall, clean, white spaces. in you go to a warm, welcoming, consumerist environment. in this modern world, our most grandiose spaces are dedicated to the gods of consumption.
5. grit
a wall. a palimpsest of paper, paint, soot, grime, dirt. traces of what once was an advertisement pasted on the wall yield to graffiti, claiming the concrete rising in the back streets of hong kong, behind the veil of neon and bright colorful clean images and sounds. around the corner, a different city coexists with itself.
photothought 