Xinxing
Inside my grandmother’s old family village home.
Xinxing
Inside my grandmother’s old family village home.
Wa Fu
The locals have created their own open air swimming pool on the coast. Minimalist design and minimal maintenance costs. Steps and handrail enables easy access in and out of the South China Sea, a covered 3-walled enclosure with a freshwater hole provides a scenic one person changing and shower area.
And as for the swimming clubhouse, it has a coastline garden filled with never-ending statues watching over those taking a dip.
Macau
2 in 1 fence system.
Macau
Street food snack.
Dim sum brunch.
Afternoon cafe coffee.
Furong, Dehang
As the number of tourists increase to China, both of local Chinese and international visitors, more and more Chinese ancient villages are turning into theme-park-like attractions. As hard as you might try, it is impossible to ignore the streams of large coaches delivering the snap-happy masses. Chattering incessantly over their guide’s handheld booming loudspeaker, they follow their chaperone’s tour flag through reconstructed streets designed to sell them as much as possible, regardless of whether it was produced locally or not. Wandering far and deep, you may be able to find snippets of authentic visual delights, the camera editing out the noise and cropping out the construction.
True, tourism is bringing economic gains to these areas, but perhaps development should be planned with more sensitivity to the soul of the villages and the villagers. The sad thing is, for most of these places, it is too late. The remaining gems of what gives these places character already caught in the tide of change.
Kvosgol
In each and every ger, touches of the modern world are seeping through the rafters. One evening I would be watching a loud incomprehensible Russian card game lit by a single lightbulb. The next day lunchtime, I would be thanking a chain smoking old lady for tea, eyeing curiously the electronic boxes that powered her small flat screen monitor. Later that evening, I would be sitting warming my feet in the ger of a family of 3 in complete darkness, following the glowing blue screen of a mobile phone as the mother pushes in-between the wooden roof structure and the fabric top.
This gradual infiltration of modern conveniences in the countryside, as opposed to the bulldozing over with technology in many developing countries such as China, gives Mongolia a poetic charm. Whether this current lifestyle is as poetic to live as a daily reality is questionable. However, in the long run, perhaps this gradual change will allow for a more culturally rich modern society to emerge. Only time will tell.
Darkhan
“Sand” at the petrol station.
Erdenet
Building mural
Taipei, Taiwan
I was taken by my aunt who had heard from someone else (who had probably heard from someone else) about this man, who after he retired started building his own model village halfway up a steep hiking trail. First an impressively long miniature Great Wall of China appears, then all along the path what seems to be an endless clusters of little worlds. There were well known world landmarks, recognisable Taiwan locations, Taipei places only familiar to the locals, little fish shaped seats…Carved out of existing rock, moulded from clay, improvised with toys, statues and whatever took his imagination.
Despite all the work, there is no advertisement of his name, no entrance fee, no patrons or donations requested. There had been no publicity or fancy private opening. He made these little works of art out of dedication and purely for the joy of it, and for anyone to enjoy as long as they are lucky enough to hike by them.
That day I definitely came across the creations of a true artist.
Shixing
Venturing through the side entrance of a run down traditional family ancestral hall building (祠堂), I realise that the crude drawings on the outside are not graffiti, but rather a hint to what can be discovered inside: a basic children’s classroom and playground. Amongst the crumbling walls and pillars, are metal climbing frames and plastic toy planes. On one side of my mind, I question how the community could allow such historical architectural elements fall into such disrepair, and wonder if it is taking away the building’s integrity by removing it’s original purpose. However, as I watch my uncle being followed by shy curious children, I realise that perhaps we are sometimes too quick to judge. Clearly there is not the money to restore the building, and in many ways the school is doing an equally important job in serving the community and keeping the building alive.
Of course it would be ideal if the building could be restored with the school integrated, but where would the money or time come from?
Euston, London
Mini architecture in street level ventilation system.