Derby blend

In order to translate western names into Chinese characters, you take a word that has a phonetic resemblance and a positive meaning. The name Derby on this package is made up of two signs meaning something like: Golden Capital. Having said that: at 20 cents, they are the cheapest brand on offer.

descent into China

From above, proof of human existence suddenly becomes endearing.


The way cultures depict their nature always seems artificial, until you see the real thing. Clouds are especially astonishing, what could be more universal than the sky? But clouds in China really do that swirly thing. When I first saw clouds on English paintings I felt they looked like rocks. Nothing like the transparent creations of the Dutch masters. But hiking through the Peaks I had to admit: they really tend to look like clotted cream.

The inflight cartoon characters were clearly upset about the quality of the food.


You can almost see those Mongol hordes coming down the mountains, swarming into China. They just had to do it.





For some reason I can watch these murky structures for ever.

Beijing suburb.

flight to Beijing, mountains of Mongolia

I am not sure if one really needs a camera, this photo was taken with a phone.

新年好!‏

Happy (Chinese) New Year!
25.1.2009 Three days of fireworks, dumplings and visiting relatives.


The lights on all the corridors of the high rises are triggered by sound and switch on and of immediately. They looked like disco lights reacting to music.