Misleading Fence

This dilapidated fence looks isolated deep in the wilderness. But, if the truth be told, it is right by the ocean and a few hundred yards from the highway.
Looks are deceiving...

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Inside the Nest

Do all these twisted steel beams look familiar to you? You might have seen them on tv during the 2008 Summer Olympics Games.

If you guessed the Beijing National Stadium or "Bird's Nest", you are correct.
On my trip, I got a chance to visit the Nest, but on a day when I, along with all these tourists, were pelted with hail. If you look closely at the ground, you can see all the white pebbles.

The 80,000 seat interior is quite impressive and you can almost imagine the thunderous applause and the beating of the drums during the Opening Ceremonies. But unfortunately these days, it stands fairly quiet and used mainly as a tourist attraction.

- Karen

Odd Angles

Interior architecture of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
There is much more to see there than just the exhibits.

Have a nice weekend!

- Karen

Great Stoneface Park

Can you see it?
One of the many well-hidden parks great for rock climbing in the hills of Berkeley, California. I recently discovered it during a photo walk with some local photographers.

Feeding the Fishes

During a recent trip to the aquarium, a diver feeds the fishes inside the huge tank and answers questions from the audience.
I don't know what was more interesting to watch, the diver inside the tank or him watching the people outside.

- Karen

Signs on the Great Wall

Here are some signs I noticed during my trek on the Great Wall of China.

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Closed for the Season

A deserted McDonald's kiosk stands alone in the fog and cold. During the height of the warm tourist season in Shanghai, this place must come alive with laughing children and smiling visitors.

It is winter season now, no ice cream for sale and no tourists to wander by.

- Karen

Brick Tower

Step back in time when you see the decorations outside of this home.
It reminds me of a medieval castle or a dungeon with faux windows.

- Karen

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Mesmerizing

What are these you ask?
These Tube Anemones burrow their "feet" in sediment underwater while their innumerable tentacles perform their undulating silent dance to put everyone who watches them into a spellbinding trance.

- Karen

Working for a Living

Whenever I travel overseas, I like to see how other people live. During my recent trip to China, I spotted some of these workers.
Souvenir vendors are everywhere. They are quite persistent and are not shy about bargaining with you.

An idle pedicab driver waiting for his next fare. I wonder how many people need a ride in a land surrounded by bicyclists and motorists.

When she was zooming about me, I wondered what she was doing. After quickly realizing how efficient this vehicle is to help her pick up garbage in the world's largest public square visited by tens of thousands of people on a daily basis.

He made me nervous by the way he was standing on that boat cleaning leaves from the pond.

Street vendor selling cooked chestnuts. The vendor further up was selling cooked yams.

- Karen

Sky in the Water

Is there sky in the water, water in the sky, or neither?
What do you see?

- Karen

The Lady & the Gambler

There could be a story in there somewhere.
Spotted these colorful characters on the otherwise dull control boxes.

- Karen

Water Village

A few readers were curious where I took the photo of my last post.
Just outside of Shanghai is Zhouzhuang, the town is known as the "Venice of the East". I have never been to Venice, but from what most people have said, the canals in Zhouzhuang are narrower and obviously the residences are of a different style.


The gondoliers are both men and women steering up to 8 people in each boat. If you pay them extra, they will belt out a song.
I imagine the passengers are mostly made up of tourists. The locals probably have their own boats to get around.


Here is the same bridge as my previous post. People live along this tourist spot. Being this town is over 900 years-old, the houses are run down, but they have not lost their charm.

- Karen

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- Karen

Drive-In Service

As a kid, I remember my parents driving to a fast food restaurant, park, and a waiter would come out to take our order without us ever having to leave our car. When the order came, it would hang over the side of the window just like in the picture.

I miss the uniqueness of the drive-ins and unfortunately, times have changed and most of these are in our memories as opposed to reality.

Does one still exist in your town? Or, do you know of an restaurant that has a unique way of serving its customers?

- Karen

Group Exercise

Early Saturday morning, people in Beijing gather at this huge public park to join in on group exercises.
With so many active people, it makes one motivated to get in shape.

Another group here is performing Tai Chi, a type of martial arts usually practiced as a form of meditation and exercise.

See the concentration in this group practicing Tai Chi with a ball and racket. I think the goal is to use flowing motions without dropping the ball.

Have a nice weekend!

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday

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- Karen