Been a Loooooooong Time ( Chinese New Year 2015 )

Well now its 2015, been a really long time between post. A lot has gone on many changes happy to say mostly for the good. More post will follow on some of these new developments but for now I will spend some time on most recent events. Having just returned from Taiwan and Chinese New Year it seems thats a good place to start. 2015 is the year of the ( Ram Goat Sheep ) haven’t been able to get a consistent answer on this from Chinese friends and since they are all pretty much the same thing gonna go with Goat…

Here is my latest New Years Card, I try to do these every year depending on work load. As usual this was done pretty fast last minute, I think if to do again I would change the orientation of the mountain but otherwise I like it… Unlike most of my other cards, Christmas, New Year, Halloween etc… this was done all on my Samsung tablet using Sketchbook Pro. In a way this makes it more like a hand done piece of art as I don’t have all the fun toys Photoshop offers and for this no 3D…

Xin Nian Kuai Le

This yeah had me heading to Taiwan straight from a job in Beijing for Themetech Culture and Creative. They are a relatively new company ” attended their 2nd annual office party ” serving the Themed Entertainment industry in China. Specifically Disney Shanghai… Themetech has potential especially if they continue to satisfy Disneys quality standards; no easy task that, but so far they are doing it well. My old friend and boss from Gameworks, Mark Stutz is heading up their design effort as VP of Design so they are in good hands… More on that for later.

I can’t really discuss what I did there yet as the projects are still in negotiation but I am proud of what we accomplished and really hope Themetech gets the jobs green lighted as they are both quite cool…

The area I was in was in Bejing’s 6th ring Changping District. Its really far out there and not much like the other places in Beijing I have seen. Very little to do and quite dingy even for China. I was put up for the month at The Thaishan Hotel, which is supposedly a 5 Star Hotel. I am not sure how they came to that conclusion. Maybe its the amount of marble used in the lobby because it sure isn’t the service or accommodations… Anyway I was there to work not sightsee so it is what it is…

One Sat I wandered around the hotel neighborhood to see if there was anything interesting. I think these pics capture the environment  pretty well and offer a nice contrast to where I went next…

Would love to know what this beauty is doing here.

Seen better days

When the weather turns cold China ramps up the coal plants to produce the energy for heat, in many places you can see evidence of individuals doing the same…

and a pile of coal…

“Not very well ventilated down there “…

Northern China has serious issues with air quality but I have to admit the air wasn’t too terrible most of my stay, of course that could be that I have gotten used to it and my standards have fallen.

I guess painting half the wall was good enough…

ran out of paint…

during my stay here in ChangPing I must have seen this 4 or 5 times, I guess when the car breaks down it becomes fair game

Pimp My Ride

This poster was on a big board outside the little neighborhood I walked through, part of me wants to know what its for, part of me really doesn’t…

Seriously WTF is this about?

I am excited to get out of here and back to Taiwan.

Goodbye China Hello Taiwan…

 

Taiwan was beautiful as usual; clean air, great food, friendly peeps and of course my beautiful wife.

Arrived on the 14th of Feb with a good 5 days till CNY. Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar calender so it fluctuates every year this time falling on Feb 19. Not sure exactly how this is decided but I am picturing a monk somewhere in a room full of smokey incense.

Now thats a great way to welcome somebody home…

Famous Taiwan Beer

Taipei has great many Temples, this one is right next to another great Taiwanese feature, the night markets…

Temple Visit

The temple was less crowded then usual as we came in on a weekday a bit ahead of the CNY rush, this calm will not last…

In the Temple

Beautiful carvings everywhere, this particular temple is around 250 years old, quite young by the standards of China. Taiwan still holds onto many of the cultural treasures of the  past, unlike the mainland where many of these artifacts have been damaged or even purposefully destroyed during the Cultural Revolution…

Imagine Dragons

These lanterns are made by school children. there were a lot of them, quite creative and beautiful.

Cool Lanterns 1

Cool Lanterns 2

The traditional market near Fanny’s parents  house, it’s late in the day so the selection was a bit spare

Traditional Market

Presentation is everything… CNY is all about family and food.

Hmmmm…

To the left…

Brother V

Lao Ma and 2 of her grandsons…

Hangin with Lao Ma

The General and his ladies…

Fannys Ba & Ma

New Years fun… The kids tend to mess around and joke while the elders play heated games of Mah Jong…

Such Drama

Every time in Taipei we have to get some xiao long bao from Din Tai Fung, Best dumplings  ever…

Best Dumplings in Town

During the New Year each family group will sponsor a dinner or activity, Brother V took us all to a great tepenyaki place excellent food, great presentation.

Great Teppanyaki  Dinner

Fancy Feast

Fancy Feast

Special Desert

This is a shot of another popular temple the day after New Year as you can see its a bit more crowded now…

Waiting to get in

This is my 5th Chinese New Year in Taiwan I really enjoy this time with fan’s family but I am also looking forward to heading back to Shenzhen and getting back to work

More to come…