So, a few weeks back took a trip to the Green Dragon Temple (青龙寺 – Qin Long Si), in Xi’an. It’s most famous for it’s flowers; a whole load of Japanese cherry blossoms that come into bloom every April. Info on the temple is hard to find in English, but essentially, way back in the day (think ~500A.D.) China and Japan had a bunch of cultural exchange happening. China sent monks and scholars to Japan, and vice versa. This temple is where the Japanese monks were chillin’. Anyway, The original temple got demolished at some point (as happens with everything in Chinese history), then the bad things happened between China and Japan in the 20th century. Well, to come over all of that (or try to) I think the Japanese planted a whole bunch of these trees to say sorry. Enough of the history, let’s look at pretty pictures! Click below to read on…

At the end of February I was once again back in Winfred’s studio; 121. This time with two models I dubbed Lorraine and Jessie. I like to give all the models English names so that they’re easier to remember. Most the time I don’t even tell the girls their names. That’ll just bring a bunch of drama of them wanting the meaning of the name, blah, blah, blah. 😛 Anyway, Lorraine and Jessie were both fab to work with, and second time in the studio was definately more at home than the first. Click through for plenty of photos…

So, it’s starting to happen. Last weekend was apparently easter, I thought it was this weekend. Oops. I’m starting to loose track of all western dates and events, although, that’s kind of a lie; anybody who knew me in England knew I used to forget that stuff anyway, but advertisements and promotions in Woolworth’s shop window used to remind me. That’s another point. I haven’t lived in England since Woolworth’s still existed…eek. Anyway, here are some Chinese themed easter photos, click to continue…

“121” is the name of my friend’s new photo studio he’s opened up in Weinan. It’s a venture between Winfred and some of his friends (you may remember him from previous posts.) Anyway, I’ve been helping him out with his company portfolio and in return I get to play around in a full size studio with over 2000 watts of light. It’s quite good fun. These are my photos from the first time in the studio…

So, for spring festival (just over a month ago now) I head to An’Kang, Beryl’s hometown, to meet the family and to see where she grew up. 🙂 It was quite a personal experience, and I rarely took out my camera (I didn’t wanna be the stupid foreigner with the big camera) so I don’t think this blog post tells even half the story, but… read on for a “small” (150+ photo) sampling…

Sorry to disappoint, but the previous post was an April fools prank. I know it wasn’t particularly wild or crazy, but all my other ideas would have had my parents phoning the Chinese embassy to beg for my pardoning and such, so I had to keep it relatively tame.

Some of you probably guessed, as my typing actually improves when I’m drunk. Would be cool to hang out with the mayor though…

My students actually got me with an April fools today too. I walked into the classroom and they all started singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas.” I started to quiz them as to what “Merry Christmas” meant, and then smarmily said “Yes, and what day is it today?” to which they replied “April Fools!” Out-smarted by 6 year olds. 🙁 (hey, the conversation was all in Chinese, singing in English.)

Happy April Fools! 🙂

OMG I am so drunk but I ahd to write this b,log to t ell you abhout my night. So i was eathuing dinner in the restuant when I see a huge entiourage of guys coming through and the the guy in the middle of the pack sees me and comes over tpo me and I tihnk “oh ho, here we go again.” but he starts talking s and he is the MAYER OF THE FRIGGIN CITY! Wer start talking abouty photography and then city and things like that and then he invites me to his hojme. Thne mayor and nhis entourage were all pretty tanked up alreasdy but i thought that this chnace whill not happen again so me and b said yes and then we got in their cars, they had 3 black audi A8s without license plates of course. OMG his hourse is pimp. and the internet is super quick, haha. He’s gonna arrnge for me to do a family portrait photo of his family and omg im so hooked up now. really need to sleep now. too much baijiu. mbye bye. will tell more tomorrow but now it’s after midnight so goooodnight.

This was an April Fools prank. Har-har.