Monday, February 25th 2008

Well, my time is up in Dalian, and I'm off for a month long adventure in South East Asia. To quote from someone who has surely come before, 'its been quite a ride , and I'm sorry its over'. Here are a few last images from Dalian......

Motorcycle Taxi
Dalian, China

Shawn Abraham
Dalian, China

Behind Shawn are fliers for one or two night stays at local apartments. These fliers are quite common in University areas as they help students alleviate their rent.

Waitstaff at a pancake restaurant
Dalian, China

Last night of Spring Festival
Dalian, China


Zaijian Dalian!

Monday, February 11th 2008

Only a stone's throw from Russia, and offering a wide array of nesting dolls, Haerbin is famous for its creative use of ice and snow. With winds from Siberia bringing temperatures down around -30C, winter is their time to shine, as long as you have three or more pairs of socks in your bag. The festival themes this year were France (snow festival) and the Olympics (ice festival).

Ice Festival (everything pictured is made of ice)
Haerbin, China

Snow Sculpture at the Snow Festival
Haerbin, China

Beme Lei walks across Songhua River
Haerbin, China

Thursday, February 7th 2008

Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year as we know it in the States, is a time when all China returns home, fills up on dumplings and lights their night skies with fireworks. Red lanterns and firecrackers can be found anywhere and everywhere leading up to the big day, with midnight February 6th being the start of the year of the rat.

Dalian, China

New Years Day
Dalian, China

New Years Eve
Dalian, China

Midnight
Dalian, China

Tuesday, February 5.5th, 2008

"The Haircut"
Dalian, China

Centennial Monument in Xinghai Square
Dalian, China

To commemorate Dalian's 100 years the city built and open book with feet of varying sizes leading up to it to symbolize Dalian's youth its open future.

Xinghai Square
Dalian, China

Shawn Abraham and Matt Herman, tourist for a day.

Tuesday, February 5th 2008

Zhongshan Square
Dalian, China

Two friends of mine, Jessie and Tiffany from Chicago trying to light a sparkler in Zhongshan Square. For the month of February fireworks are like water in China, with markets on every corner.

Elva, age 8
Dalian, China

Elva, one of my high level students, shortly after a drawing on the board sesh in class.