Contrast

An 18 hour train (approx 80 mph), 2 hour bus ride (approx 50mph), and a 45 minute electric scooter rental (approx 23 mph) brought me to this distant, oily-aired Southern village in China. Only on a an adventure will you find genuine moments like the ones that was experienced on this day. We traveled all day with the clear plan of aimlessness. For on this day direction did not matter. Every direction brought us directly to our goal: discovery.

Each corner we turned pushed our hair back so that we were surprised over and over again... There was a degree of anxiety and stress not far from that of competing in an important sports match, but it had the tranquility of taking a dip on a warm stale night and the reward of earning a weekend. We were way off our comfort grid, but somehow this was welcomed.

During my day I came across this scene. I'll let your imagination figure out how, why, and who got this table to the middle of an extremely poor and rural part of China. Let me know what you think.

Tasmanian Bloom

While in Australia during the Fall of 2005 I was fortunate enough to visit the pure community of Tasmania. It's easy to call this large island off Australia's southern coast a pure community because with a population density of 18 people per square mile human contact is a pleasure. Tazzies just like things simple and quaint. This theme is expressed in their devotion to the land. 36% of Tasmania is protected by National Parks or World Heritage Sites.

This photo was taken on a nearly perfect day during our drive North from Hobart on route to famous Wine Glass Bay.

If I ever get the chance to go back to Tasmania I would do a bike trip starting in Hobart moving to the North and circling around the island visiting all the natural beauties to finally end in Hobart again.

798

This photo was taken in the northeast corner of Beijing known as the 798 Art District in Dashanzi area. The district was originally designed by East German architects in the 1950s and was used to manufacture electronics in the East German Bauhaus style. More recently 798 has become the hub of Beijing's modern art movement. Practically all of the old factories have been converted into galleries, cafes, and restaurants. Imagine old East German smoke stacks full of modern art galleries created by Chinese hippies.

As you walk the streets there is always something new to discover. The entire district is an evolving piece of art in itself. A developing canvas in the form of graffiti, abandoned sculptures, dirty art supplies, and curious photographers occupy each corner. 798 is a refreshing distraction to the everyday tense atmosphere in the rest of Beijing and a welcoming place to Chinese citizens who feel like their life styles do not mesh with the communist regime.