Lost in Time in Xingping, China - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Remember the gentleman that lost track of time by the side of street in Carmel, California?  Well, I have another version of it, in China. In the days when I was growing up, we tended to refer to future as the 21th Century, as if it's somewhere far far away.  With a blink of eyes, we are already more than a decade into the so-referenced Century.  A visit to Xingping (兴坪), an ancient town that's close to Guilin(桂林), China, makes me realize, maybe, some people have never been "back to the future".

In this little room, it'd be safe to say that everywhere your eyes land, you'd see an indication of time - three calendars and one clock.  And yet, history seems to refuse to leave.  I mean, if Mao Zedong (毛泽东) is still around, he'd been 121 years old.

Senior-Citizen-Falling-Asleep-in-a-room-Full-of-Jutaposition-of-History-and-the-Present-Xingping-China-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

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Have Fun Drying Your Fish Net - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

In Chinese, there is a phrase that describes someone as lacking perseverance - "三天打鱼，两天晒网".  Translated into English, it basically means someone spends one day fishing followed with two days to dry the net.  You see, it's known in the Chinese culture that working hard is a virtue and "slacking off" is frown upon.  Since I've become cross-cultured over the years, my response to that is "why not"?

If my English is up-to-par, isn't there a phrase "stop and smell the roses"?  What's wrong with drying the net while kicking up and enjoying a Corona when it's OK to smell the roses? ;-)  In my opinion, all work and no play is no life.  Do you agree?

Due to the upcoming July 4th holiday, many of you will be having a 4-day long weekend for a 3-day work week.  The Chinese in me mumbles "how dare you"! (Hahaha...)  And "the other version of me" screams "have a great time drying your fish net"! :-)

This image was made in the fishing village of Xingping (兴坪) by the side of Li River (漓江) on our recent trip to Guangxi (广西), China.  I'm drawn to anything old, especially traditional crafts.  So you know how I love the scene of a fisherman casting his net under the glowing sunset with the Karst landform in the background, which is characteristic of this region.

To view example of my other fine art photography to grace your home or office, please click here.

Fisherman-Casting-Fish-Net-in-Sunset--Xingping-China-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Would All Fishermen Have the Wisdom of the Mexican Fisherman? - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

Have you heard of the story of the Mexican fisherman?  In this story, an executive from America had a much grander plan for the fisherman.  The problem is that according to the plan, the fisherman would find himself where he already was, after 15-20 years of "mad rat race" (my own opinion :-)).  If you haven't, you can read it here.

On my recent trip to Xingping (兴坪), China, a small fishing village near Yangshuo (阳朔), I met one fisherman.  As tourism is quickly changing the world, such little gem tucked in a corner can not escape.  Would people there have the wisdom to see what the Mexican fisherman saw?

It took me 16 years in "the America" to finally quit the rat race.  Places as depicted in this image are still beautiful to me.  Do people there see what I see?  I mean, what kind of life would you choose - mad (rat race) vs. peaceful?

Fisherman-with-Cormorant-in-Xingping-China-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

 P.S. You know how to find me, if you'd like any of my fine art photography to decorate your home or office. :-)