Wednesday, September 22, 2010

People I met in China - part 2

Business must be good with millions of tired feet, not to mention achy bodies seeking relief after enjoying the sights of Beijing. I too succumbed to all the endless miles covered and treated myself to half an hour of foot massage at the famous Silk Street market. This shop offers pedicure, removal of dead skin on soles, massage of body, shoulder and feet.


A tourist posing with a Muslim at the Nan Dou Ya Mosque in Beijing. The exterior of this mosque looks like another Chinese temple except there's a yellow crescent above the roof top and Arabic writings to indicate you're in another place of worship.



The woman in the white cap was conducting singing practice with a group of women in the park. How nice to hear sweet voices floating in the air, under shady trees.


Poetry in motion - two agile seniors exercising with a yin-yang looking fan and ball. I fell in love with his graceful movements as he caught the ball in his fan with a crouching tai chi stance. Then he swung the fan with the ball under his leg and threw it back to his friend who did the same manoeuvres . Someone offered me the fan. We engaged and oh, how clumsy I was tho I too managed to swing the ball on the fan under my feet ( once) and then it was over!

Chinese kids just wanted to be in the photos encouraged by an adult. Not a bit shy tho the dark haired girl wasn't too sure what was going on!


Let the music play on - expressing their inner souls in the music they enjoy.


How nice to see men and women immersed in craft - making beaded balls. Seems like keeping minds and hands busy is an everyday activity among adults.


This surely beats all - happiness is a pair of knitting needles in the old man's hands. I mustn't say I can't knit anymore!!


With a smile in your heart, your music will be heard. A blind man playing on a traditional musical instrument outside the Summer Palace.


An air of importance -before entering the Forbidden City. Several souvenir stalls line the walkway.

16 comments:

  1. Great post - again!
    Isn't it interesting how in Chinese culture it's normal that men do pedicure and knitting. In Western world many think those are too feminine for men. Wrong! Creating doesn't care if you're male/female.
    Pedicure and knitting are creative work of human hands.

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  2. Your blog is becoming a habituation for me!

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  3. A nice experience.. going by your own is definitely better than following tours..

    reanaclaire.com

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  4. I particularly like the photo of the smiling blind man playing the erhu. He doesn't let his disability hinder his ability.

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  5. Great pictures, I loved the one of the old man knitting and the blind man as well. Those two made me smile! And I also think it's so funny how Americans think that men knitting and working on your toes is too feminine!

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  6. Nothing like a good pedi! It makes me feel younger just to have my toes pampered.

    I like these photos you share of people. You always capture their personalities so well.

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  7. I like the 'urut kaki' very much..esp in Bangkok where its very cheap :)

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  8. Such heartwarming portraits of ordinary folks, Keats! A foot massage sounds really good right now, as I've been on my feet at the SPCA all day. I love the photos of the senior citizens engaging in crafts. It's a productive hobby and perhaps they could also earn a little pocketmoney out of it. Now, if only we could get teens to sit down and knit and make beaded balls! ;o)

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  9. Hi Keats! You surely had a great time there... Beijing is a world in itself...

    Blogtrotter Two is showing a wonderful site for your holidays: Costa Smeralda!! Enjoy, leave your comment and have a great weekend!

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  10. Pedicure, massage, music or knitting, it's like I got a chance to witness it myself. Thanks for sharing your experiences :)

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  11. Love the pics especially the smiling kids!!

    Have a nice day, Keats!

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  12. What a wonderful virtual tour !i will come back for more,specially your post on Great Wall Of China.

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  13. Catching up on your blog and enjoying all the fabulous photos from your China journey. The Great Wall is on my list of must-see places...some day.

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  14. These are fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Hi Keats! Thanks for your comment at Blogtrotter Two, which is almost leaving Costa Smeralda, but still has some new pictures for you to enjoy!!! Drop a line and have a great week!

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Great to have you popping in!