Fantastic photos Monica. I have been reading your blogs on your site & am really impressed you tracked down that one of Anthony Bourdain. Job well done LOL
Annie

Wow! I love your Faces of China pictures. It is amazing how you were able to capture so much in these photographs--people young and old, from all walks of life, every day activities, as well as special occasions. You've really made China come alive for me. Thanks

why don't i ever get to see such interesting faces: mandarin lady with purse, lady with bunnies and puppy, old man with long mandarin coat....wow

Great shots! Loads of food. I am hungry now!

Great people pictures. LOVE the baby pictures. They are sooo cute. Thanks for posting.

Thank you very much for the compliments. I was lucky to get those people shots. I wanted to do others but sometimes it's hard to point a camera in someone's direction, especially if you think they would reject. Reenie and I saw a couple of men sitting outside their hung with a cute dog. I wanted to take a photo of the dog and one of the men shooed us away thinking we were going to photograph him. Understandably, we left.

One of my favorites I happened to miss posting, but I have added it. It was taken in the town of Xitang. Reenie and I were heading back to get to bus station and I saw this old man in his boat. He was just sitting in his boat while talking to a friend nearby. Here's the link:

http://mjpileggi.smugmug.com/gallery...15852092_Ro7h8

Annie, I dined at two recommended restaurants by A.B.

I will try to get a another set up tomorrow. I am taking an online class starting next week, so I'd like to get as much posted before I get tied down to a book (financial management).

Monica ((F))

Wow, these are just wonderful photos. What wonderful experiences you had in China!!

Monica,
Your photos are really, really seriously good. I know some people look at photos & think easy peasy - but it's not like that at all! It's not easy to point a camera at someone in China & I always worry I will give offence but you have managed so well.
The shots you took display life & travel in China to a T. You see some of the photos & how can you not smile back:)
We had changed our mind about seeing HanglongXi as we are going to Loudai but you have changed it back again with your photos.
Annie
P.s: How was your guide in Yangshuo?

Hi Annie,

Thank you very much for the compliments! Yes, it is hard to point a camera to a person you don’t know, but I have learned to overcome my shyness. If they say no, fine, and I move on.

Huanglongxi is touristy but I really enjoyed it. I had considered Loudai but a friend went there last year and he wasn’t impressed. Who knows, you may love it. I will post more photos of Juanglongxi once I start working on each city/town.

My guide in Yangshuo was great! I will be posting my Yangshuo notes when I get home tonight. I need to add a couple of items, otherwise I’d do it now. We paid Juan (she’s about 35) 100 RMB each day for the two of us, which is the going rate in Yangshuo. Without a guide, we would never have taken the back roads in the countryside like we did.

And I highly recommend Fiona! I can put the two of you in touch if interested. Email me. You have it.

Monica ((F))

Thanks Monica,
I will email you re Fiona.
That's why we thought of getting a guide in Yangshuo too. It seems pretty easy to find your own way but having a guide in Yangshuo we figured we would get to go to all the good spots. I like the thought of Lynclarkes secret beach - wow.
Can't wait to read the next bit of your travels - no pressure so course to get it written Lol
Annie

Reenie and I saw some bikers that were lost and looking at a map. A guide in Yangshuo helps! You can get to the smaller villages and pathways.

I posted my Yangshuo journal, although I still have the last day there to post....tomorrow!

Monica ((F))

Monica -- I came home Sunday and your photos are sensational, makes me want to hop back on a plane again. Love the way you set up the pix into Food, Faces, etc., can't wait for more. Great pix happen not only with good cameras but with a passion for the subjects you capture.

I understand the need for watermarks, some beautiful photos without watermarks of a Fodorite who went to China last year ended up for sale on a chinese website, they took them off after being contacted.

I'm drooling all over my computer now. Ok, time to go eat now!

BTW--that airline food looked truly horrifying, especially in contrast to all that divine Chinese food.

Monica,
Your pictures are great to look at.
It shows that photography is one of your passions

Hi Shanghainese, filmwill, and Nywoman,

Glad you enjoyed the photos and thank you for the compliments!

Filmwill, I didn’t mean to make you drool all over your computer. ;) I did that to someone else with other food photos.

Thanks for supporting my watermark. I know it can be distracting, but it does protect them from being stolen, especially since I’m trying to get into the photography business of selling my photos. I’ve sold several to date but would love to build the business up.

Monica ((F))

Thanks for the additional food photos. As another lover of eggplant, that eggplant dish looked fabulous!

Monica,

Thanks for the trip report and sharing your beautiful photos.

Stinky tofu brings back memories. Last time in Hong Kong I searched high and low both HK and Kowloon but couldn't find them.

The eggplant dish looks great. I found a less oily recipe on you tube where the eggplant is steamed instead of fried. The subtitle is chinese and has no narrative but provides a list of ingredients.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfwrX...eature=related

Good luck in launching your photo business.

You may still find the Taiwanese-style stinky tofu in special Taiwanese restaurants in Hong Kong, but those are less smelly.

In Hong Kong, the really stinky ones were only sold by unlicensed vendors from a cart. Since the government started to crack down on these carts in the mid-80's, along with several incidents of injuries from the boiling oil when the vendors tried to escape health officials through crowded streets, I had not smelled stinky tofu in Hong Kong.

If someone knows where I can find it, please post.

You can find the "real-thing" Stinky tofu aplenty in Chengdu - the best places to find this stuff is outside university gates - those street vendors with their carts of traditional snacks and penny-pinching students go hand in hand!!!!
______________________________________
Chengdu Travel Blog - http://chengdutravel.blogspot.com/

Hi there,

I had stinky tofu when I visited Hong Kong in September 2008. The place sells snacks like fish balls etc in addition to stinky tofu. It is located close to the intersection Tung Choi Street and Argyle Street in Mongkok (close to Nathan Road). i don't know if it is the authentic type or not as it has been such a long time for me to have stinky tofu since last time I was in Hong Kong, but it is pretty good. The stinky tofu is deep fried, crispy and served with either hot or sweet sauce.