Autumn

It's been a while since I posted last, got busy, distracted, lost writing spirit...
I meant to for a few times... but laptop in the backpack hiking through numerous coffee places did not happen somehow. Just couple of days ago I spotted a place riding a bike on the way to school (I am a happy owner of a two wheels vehicle) it brought back some things I was missing immersed in simple everyday routine: Chinese, work and some social life until I drop dead tired. Thousands of pictures untouched and unsorted, books unread, running paths undiscovered....


This month flew fast but was as eventful as 24 hours a day could ever allow. I went to Tibet for a week. Took amazing photos on 5000 m altitude: mountains, lakes, people, glaciers... beautiful wonders of nature... monks and Buddhist flags, temples... as if from older times, all less materialistic.

Came back to jump right into Chinese exam(disappointed) and some worldwide economy craziness (amazed by interdependence)... I did not happen to owe much, so I had nothing to lose just maybe got a bit stronger connection to the Confucius's saying: We are here to live not plan to live .


I continued exploration of this wonderful place that I call home now... it treats me as home as well, huge and surprising on every corner. I have a great hopes on my bike, until it gets stolen...

Last weekend I found myself racing on dragon boats out of town, enjoying probably the last hot days until the cold slows down adventures, attending Formula 1 and Art Festival's ballet performance.... not to count numerous good and not so movies I watched alone, with friends and just random people...

It's Friday again, looking forward to a company of my bike, camera and couple of friends to run away from work and Chinese characters right into wide spread welcoming arms of Shanghai...

Jazz Festival

It was before 7 am when I woke up on Saturday, strangely enough eager than ever over the week to start the day. I had a sleep over at some friends' place... the morning sun was paving the floor through the large window. I picked a book, it was China Travel Guide... I opened the Tibet page. Hope to go there one of these days.

We did some yoga, following the women on the tape, laughing half way, since the translation into Russian was quite funny - too direct... and still sweating stretching our bodies. It's killing... the yoga... especially if you do not stretch for ages... I should do it more.

We were off into the city after breakfast, heading to the tea market. On the way in taxi I had time to let my imagination grow and make a picture of the tea market life. Chaotic and maybe unorganized, huge souks with green leaves and old ladies thrusting in their fingers to get a handful of what will go into the teapot for a probe.

It was completely different though, as many things in China that I tend to underestimate. Many separated rooms, clean, well thought, equipped with all necessary tools for pleasant and long tea testing. It is quite time consuming, I would say, one bunch of leaves can last for 10 times of brewing and it gives slightly different taste every time. Sellers like to talk about their type of tea and it is quite interesting to listen if you know Chinese or have someone who can translate. I had, so we went through several rooms, drinking maybe 20 cups in total.

I like tea ceremony, I have never thought of doing one myself. Well, after this visit to the market I am proud to admit I have everything for a basic amateur tea ceremony.

Since Monday I was dreaming of Jazz Festival. It started on Friday and is going for three days in the park not that far from where I live. We walked there, watching streets and people, feeling the energy tea gave us. The tickets were sold out. Ha? How could that be, there should be one left for me, or three left for us, since we really wanted to go... Well, the music was heard outside the park, so we walked around catching the smooth sounds. And then we have found it. The entrance that did not require the tickets. Just a fence, low and unguarded, it was just impossible not to jump over it. So we did. Heading towards the lights of the stage I was thinking that this was a perfect cooperation of initially contradicting facts which makes me happy and does not make anyone else unhappy - since they got all expected profits anyway.
The place was crowded, but not as much as at Natura concert in Iceland when the Bjork was announced to sing. People set on the grass, some danced.

There were Chinese bands, playing instrumental jazz first, followed by female solo singers.
Very deep, again unexpectedly nice voices. The light was soft under the lantern we set. My friend pulled a book by Richard Bach. I watched the fireworks behind the stage. A girl on stage swing softly with the rime, her voice hanging in the night air.

Putuo Shan

Not exactly sure how I happen to be on the back of a motorbike moving for some reason just towards the rest of the traffic. I just hoped the 'taxi' driver knew what he was doing. He knew, we were at the port in a matter of minutes, having escaped all the jams. There was a smell of fried chestnuts in the night and many people moving towards the deem light of a port building.


We took a night ship Friday evening, moving smoothly through the waves and wind towards a small dragon island. The wake up call happen almost 3 hours in advance that allowed for slow breakfast and refreshing walk with camera pointed at patches of land raising out of the water and disappearing towards the horizon.

We were met by the hostess and briskly walked towards our lodging for the night, it was drizzling.


Putuo Shan is famous for it's Buddhist temples as well as mount Putuo, that is considered to be one of the 4 sacred mountains in Buddhism. It is not limited by that however. Two beaches, poetically named, caves and sculpture are not of a less interest to an eye spoiled by western views.


The temples, with their quieting atmosphere, burning aroma sticks, prayers and Buddhas, coins thrown here and there for luck, Buddhist monks walking around in tidy orange cloths, lotuses in the wells and ponds - symbol of Buddhism, lions and dragons - signs of imperial power, fish that is hit on it side to call monks and visitors for the humble and very cheap dinner, beautiful nature these all make for an incredible experience.


I am back to the city, with it's 100 000 taxis, neon lights and countless people... having had a royal treatment at a massage center, nice dinner in the up scale restaurant, in my mind I am still going back to the quietness and mystic of the Buddhist temples... hope one day... soon, I will find my way back there.

One day in planet China

It is quite early in the night but I feel sleepy... no trace of thoughts, blank and empty mind, feel sorry for people who have to be around jet lagged individuals. Just came back from dinner out... actually was brought back on the seat of motorcycle(3 wheels one - we've got lots of attention). Wind into the face, ear rings swinging in fast motion. I am home now, on the 18th level of happiness. Am I? Well, may be, may be not, depends what I focus on...

Afternoon, at the office. Young faces around. Calm and concentrated atmosphere. A bit dim, just screens standing out of darkness. Working. Early lunch in the Chinese upscale restaurant, sticks playing tricks on me. Fork is an attractive option, just I am in China... should go Chinese way. Nice view on the district from the terrace. Contrasting tall and slim condominiums and small brick tale houses. Gardens with drying underwear, cafes and restaurants filled with Europeans... All under the gray linen of polluted sky. Late snack served to the desk by ayi... feels like home...unexpected(undeserved) care...

Morning. Sun is quite summery. Put my running shoes on. Off for the streets. People cycling to work. Some stopping on the way to grab fast breakfast. Smells good, lines are long. Running past 2 Starbucks, coffee is a trend here more than pleasurable drink. Get into the crowd in a small park, all engaged in hypnotizing motion of tai chi. Some dance to their inner music, careless of people around, deep into themselves. Some write verses with slightly tainted brushes, right on the paved ground. Not sure for whom...

Early... before the day even starts, seating up on very white bed. I am in China. Feels great, does not feel Chinese...

Random

Have you ever thought why you are doing things you do not mean to do, those that do not feel right neither in the process of doing nor when they are done? Often, those are words that leave our mouth - words that maybe we regret later... being rude, aggressive or just ignorant of people's feelings. (If you do not do any of those, maybe you can become my mentor...) Just being random and a bit separating from yourself and being a spectator in your own life. Is it a weakness... or opposite? Is it an impulsive test?
Turning upside down the whole group dynamics - can you do that? Don't you feel powerful then? Is it bad?

Just had an experience recently: it was a bit of test as well as just letting it out. A bit of stress, a bit of pressure, a bit of dissatisfaction with each other. We can be polite (or dishonest) and say all is good...or be a bit straightforward...or maybe not just a bit till the point of fingerprinting. We did just that, fingers as swards were raising in the airs in opposite from us direction. It was childish... it was destructive, and all in all I knew it should not be done. It was a bit of masochistic approach - how low can we fall? How painful the experience can be? And at the same time knowing that at any point in time you can stop it. Power, ha?

Seating at the session after sleepless night at the international conference in Brazil, listening and falling out of communicated message... peaking up my own thoughts line. It is not too straight, more curvy. Was thinking a lot recently about communication, interpretation.
Some thoughts just are not leaving anymore, tired of coming back anyway...
What is my purpose? Do I have it? how do I know I do (not)? How do I deal with s ocial conditioning? What if ambitions do not support passions? How to learn to read yourself? How do you know you are passionate? How do you know it is time to leave if not?

Do you know the answers? Do you have same questions? Do you bother to think?

Do you know that in best case scenario you have 60 years left (if you are same age as me)? Do you know that with every passing day you have less? Do you know that each day is a small projection of your life? Can you see what your life is like? Are you happy?

El Rio

Rio, a place to be…vivid, noisy and just very nice and homey. Sunny and welcoming even in winter stretches it’s innumerous beaches for thousands visitors... half naked tanned bodies on the sand or jumping in the waves or sliding on the surfing boards, jogging, walking, building sand castles, drinking coco juice, practicing aikido... having fun… just living…

Skyscrapers shadowing the sidewalks, corner fresh juice stalls, tall palm trees, monuments to famous and dead with infamous and alive sleeping at their feet… restaurant’s smells in the air… street fairs with valleys of cute paintings and all kinds of objects to spend money on. Sugar Loaf on one side, Christ stretching his hands on the other…both good places to catch a view of the wide spread city… especially in the dusk with all the lights promising an intense night…

Nightlife spilling out of the bars onto the streets, people shaking their bodies, drinking, talking on the sidewalks, life music, and couples skillfully dancing salsa… midnight dinners, kids not yet sleeping…boiling life everywhere.

Mornings are tight close to nights; days go by rapidly…carelessly… but it’s time to live this sandy paradise and small comfy hostel downtown, with a huge scary butterfly on the ceiling…

and tourists, coming for the Christ’s sake and the one of Girl from Ipanema that Jobim made immortal…

Outloud in Brazil

What has the next minute got for you… are you asking this question sometimes? Maybe you are too deep into the past… thinking over and over what had happened and why. There is a good chance you are missing new experiences then and something exciting is not becoming your reality, not adding to your past. It’s almost as watching the same movie over and over again and missing all the rest offered.

Happens to me, walking down streets wherever I am, watching people coming towards, thinking...what are they? Maybe they have an answer to my questions, maybe they have right questions... we walk past not being parts of each others lives. But happens also you stop, make and eye contact and this is a connection for life or part of it...

...sometime ago in New York... Just happened to be alone in China town, was suspiciously inspecting my plate before trying, sensed a body landing next to me on the bar chair... ended up learning much about his life struggles, getting some lessons and advices as well as exploring the area, better than I could have ever done on my own... unexpected learning experience ...

...couple of days ago at the restaurant in Buenos Aires...my camera run out of batteries. I was on the way to the most photographed district in the city and was blaming myself for not charging the camera the night before. I had a thought while chewing on mesila that the restaurant might have foreigners with Cannon camera on them...and the charger for some reason brought along... it does not seem to be very realistic but I had nothing to loose, so I turned to the person at the next table and asked if he had a camera...Yes, he said. Cannon?...Yes... Charger?...Yes... My friends´ faces were completely blank...not knowing what was going on, I felt they would prefer not to be a part of my table at the moment... so I went on with explanations about unfortunate death of my batteries... Conversation went quite beyond taking pictures... we talked about life and careers, social conditioning and making decisions, pursuing dreams and...just happiness... It was very nutritious lunch I thought(for brain and soul at least, since my potatoes were fried anyway... ) walking out the place... and it did not matter much that I could not charge my batteries, since the cameras happened to be of different model at the end... there are plenty of pictures on flickr... and so much less people opening up just like that... to straightforward questions...

...today in Sao Paulo, missed the metro station, was walking back looking around for some place ... stopped to ask for directions...Spanish works better from my experience... nice female face, happened to be an actress... studying and working... we happened to walk together for next three hours, talking about everything, me - in broken Spanish, her - on perfect Portuguese that I am yet to learn... her boyfriend happened to be near by, he happened to have Russian grand parents and happened to be a friend of Abramovich... well, could I have asked someone else... and walked away with just directions, missing sharing and maybe friendship?

Look around, who is standing next to you?... maybe someone who has answers to your questions, or just right questions to ask.