Where Are You From? - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

At a village that’s surrounded by mountains that touch the clouds, we were told to hike up to its El Castillo part (also called Bulnes de Arriba).

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The castillo was what we expected to see. But instead, we bumped into him, bucket in hand.

”Where are you from?” Him in Spanish.
”America.” Me with my limited Español. (Side note: To avoid confusion, we’ve long decided to not say we are from Los Angeles in Spanish speaking countries. Go here and you’ll know why.)

As we turned around the corner after him, we discovered beautiful vista and the happiest chicken in my opinion.

Nonetheless, I sensed a troubled cloud on his forehead somehow.

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“Peru?” Finally, he asked, minutes later.
”Huh?”
After a few back-and-forth, I realized what he meant - the Peru in the America.
”Oh, no, Estados Unidos.” Me again, putting my best foot forward in Spanish.

Relieved, off he went, leaving us with the chicken, roaming at our will. Until, we realized we had more to learn than things like where we are from - “borrowing” from your neighbors, at free will.

Do you want to know how we figured out it was not her house?

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Fairy Tale or Fiction in Guangxi, China - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Traveling in places with scenery that’s out of this world, one is guaranteed to have unusual encounters.

On our stroll to photograph the rice terrace in Longsheng, China, a boy in the middle of the road caught our attention, hunched down, dried noodles in hands.

We got down to his level and had a short but meaningful exchange:”What are you doinggg?”

Him:”I’m feeding ants.”

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He recognized our subsequent amazement. And we went on with our journey. On the way, I remembered another encounter earlier in the day, when we waited for the bus to take us up here from the foot of the village.

It was a long wait by only the two of us, until a person in the outfit of a peasant (judging by the straw hat) got near and sat down next to us. As meeting locals is always what we love in travels, I was getting ready to have a fun and meaningful exchange of our respective experiences and background. When he turned around and spoke to us, I noticed his fair skin under the hat, fair for a peasant.

”There’s been great improvement to the people’s quality of life in this region”, he said.

Seemingly acknowledged his comment, I was searching for words to compliment his skin.

But, after a brief pause, off he went, leaving us befuddled about what just happened.

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After this many years, that little boy popped up in my head the other day. I wonder, if his ants got big from his dried noodles.

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Me and My Shadow - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

I have a shadow. But I think I’m the better-looking one, if there is such thing.

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My shadow follows me around and tries to copy what I do.

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Sometimes, I’m not even sure if I’m me or my shadow.

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Do you have a shadow?

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