Going Dark

I'm going to China tomorrow for 6 days. I am not bringing my iPhone or laptop. The reason being last month the iPhone 4 was released in China and people have been going apeshit trying to buy it. So much so that many Chinese have resorted to importing from Hong Kong to skip the wait/pay less. So the gov have started to tax all "i" products going into China from Hong Kong (and from some reports, taxing in general).

People on the internet have been saying they have been taxing even iPhones/iPads/MacBooks that look clearly used. Normally it wouldn't be a problem for Americans but since I am flying in from Hong Kong, it's a different matter. And well, it's just not worth the risk/hassle when dealing with China. Yes, (Dapo) there is a difference between Hong Kong and China.

The tax on the iPhone is like $100 or something. I think it's more for a laptop if they choose to tax you. It seems like the customs officials will enforce this law if they feel like it (from what I am understanding). My mom is telling me not to bring anything. So I will be without a phone or laptop for 6 days. Which means I won't have any music or internet connection.

For. Six. Days.

I can't even remember the last time I went 6 days without going on the internet. Might have been never. I'm going to have to do some really creative juggling with my camera memory cards. I don't think I will fill them up in 6 days though. Let's hope.

I'll be back to the civilized world Oct 31/Nov 1st.

Hong Kong Day 2 of Passing out between the 3rd and 4th course

Went to the wedding of a couple I barely know. It was a 6 hour affair. We got there at 5pm. By 7pm I was passing out at my seat because of jetlag. Here are some notable dishes of the evening.



Barbecued whole suckling pig
48 tables at this wedding = 48 baby pigs sacrificed for our eating enjoyment. Pretty sure baby pigs are illegal for consumption in the U.S. (It's tasty!)



Braised shark's fin with assorted seafood in lobster bisque
A waste of perfectly good shark's fin and lobster. Why mess with a perfectly fine shark's fin soup by making it a lobster bisque? The taste of the shark's fin gets drowned out by the lobster bisque. Lobster bisque is also a waste of lobster IMO.



Braised sliced abolone with Chinese mushrooms and vegetables
Pretty good abolone, not too chewy.



Baked mini egg tarts with bird's nest and deep fried sesame dumplings with lotus paste
A waste of bird's nest! Ahhh! This egg tart is very showy but it's a a waste of bird's nest. The tart itself was not very good- I like the crust to be flaky and this one was too hard and compressed. The deep fried sesame dumpling was good. I'm not usually into then enough to order them at dim sum in the states.

Notes:
-This was a 13 course dinner (3 were dessert). By the 7th or 8th I was already really full (and taking naps between courses)

-The east and west truly do everything opposite. All the wedding activities were done backwards as compared to a typical Chinese wedding in America. What I mean to say is, they did photos on the stage first (for like the first 3 hours!), then they had the sappy slide show of the bride and groom (usually reserved for near the end at most American weddings), then the bridesmaid and best man made there speeches, then the couple came and said a few words. Then we started eating.

-The waitstaff proportion every course at a side table. In America, a big plate would just be put on the table and everyone would serve themselves. (more differences!).

-There was no open bar which made me highly not want to be there about 2 seconds after I found out. Just a lot of low quality red wine, which I drank (but not too much).

-Just realized the majority of my posts in Hong Kong will be about food. Which reminds me, I should go pick up some mango Tic Tacs.

-Sorry for the crappy iPhone photos!

Hong Kong Day 2

Finally made it. The flight was not bad, at first. But after about 12 hours of sitting, I got restless. Was sitting for way too long. The weather here is low 80s. Totally extending my summer into November!

I'm still jetlagged and couldn't really sleep last night. My parents and I got up and went to a congee shop for breakfast. We went here the last time we visited Hong Kong.



The menus are all in Chinese- no English at all. Not at out of the way places like this. Most of the places in Central Hong Kong will have English.



My bowl of congee. I don't even like congee but I had it anyway. The coffee I got (left) tasted terrible. I had one this morning and knew the taste but couldn't put my finger on it. Then I ordered this iced one and they topped it off with coffee powder and I knew right away- it was Folgers instant coffee. Ugh. No one here brews coffee. I don't know what the rice thing on top is called in English so don't ask me. Yup, this is a typical Chinese breakfast.

Tonight, we're going to a wedding in Tsim Sha Sui, Kowloon. I'm very excited, it better be as traditional as fuck or I'm going to be disappointed. Kowloon is north of Hong Kong island. It is sort of like Hong Kong's Brooklyn (if Hong Kong island was Manhattan). It's more hip and gritty.

Random thoughs:
-Hong Kong itself is pretty boring as a subject to photograph. I'm way more interested in China proper so I'm not even carrying my DSLR around. iPhone photos will be sufficient.

-Buns here are MAD CHEAP. This place I went to this morning was selling any bun for 2 HKD which is equivalent to 25 cents USD.

-We are leaving for China on Tuesday. Staying for 6 days sight seeing. I am trying to refrain from running off to MUJI tomorrow and buying a bunch of crap. I should wait til I come back to Hong Kong from China.

South China moon, I'm coming back to you

Beijing, China, April 2009

I'm going to be in Hong Kong and China for 3 weeks. I will be updating this blog again when I am abroad. Check back for more this weekend when I arrive. Hopefully I'll have a good connection there.

I'm really nervous and excited. I don't know why I'm nervous, I've been to Hong Kong before. I am going to refrain from posting in detail while I am abroad. I can tell you all about it in person when I get back, but expect regular updates while I am there.

In the meantime, fee free to look at the photos from my last trip to Beijing and Hong Kong at my Flickr page.

June 2002

What people say about you makes up who you are. I recently looked at my old high school yearbook and looked at all the things people wrote in it. I can't even remember who more than half of these people are. I can't even read some of their signatures. I'll be posting a selection of them on this blog.

"Dear Adam,

You were totally wrong about me. You'll probably be wrong for much of your life. Haha, that's okay. I will too.

Sincerely,
Cindy"

A summary of my HS experience in one photo

A girl I don't remember (or know, really) uploaded this photo to facebook recently. It's of her and her friends posing for a photo on pajama day. For some reason I'm in the background on the right side of the photo.

This photo sums up my feelings about high school at La Guardia so well. I don't even feel like I have to explain anything for you to get it. The crossed arms, the indifferent expression on my face. It's also pajama day going by how everyone is dressed in the photo, and I obviously choose not to participate.

I'm so glad this photo exists. It's just such a great photo, sentimentally. Why am I even in the corner standing in that position at that time? It makes no sense. It's such an insignificant passing of a moment in time but it just sums everything up so well.

Crap I want for xmas even though I don't celebrate it

Here is a list of stuff I either won't get or will be buying for myself at some point in the next year, unless you, the reader personally knows me and is feeling more generous than usual.


1. Portland Design Works Pogo Pump
Because we all need to keep our bike tires full of air and this seems like a better long (very long) term investment than paying 75 cents at a gas station. I remember when it was 25, and then 50 cents at the gas station.


2. The Beatles Abbey Road on Vinyl
Because CDs are now worthless and I already have it in a digital format. Edit: A friend has decided to graciously get me this item.

3. Poses 1 by Red de Leon
A book of poses shot by one of my favorite local photographers. It would be really useful to have this as a reference now that I am shooting a fashion column.




4. Instax Mini 7s Camera by Fujifilm
Yes, I have it's bigger brother, the Instax 200, but I can always use another instant photo format! I looked for this in Hong Kong when I was there buy decided not to buy it then, this would be great to have to take portraits when I shoot for my fashion blog.

This is all I can think of right now.

What's old and ugly is new and cool again

I was invited to a 90s theme party tonight. Besides instantly thinking of JNCO jeans, which I've since threw out or gave away, I couldn't think of what the clothing style is. The girl throwing the party said, "plaid!" Oh yeah, the whole grunge look, which was just before my time.

6th grade is when I became fashion conscious. All the rage by then ('96) was JNCO jeans and maybe Korn t-shirts. Well, I have neither. Tonight while eating dinner with my father, I remember a plaid shirt I had in my closet. It sat there for years and I never bothered to wear it. It ws ugly. It's that distinctively 90s plaid too- fuzzy lines and all. Not like the blocky patterns that are popular today. It's also 3 shades of grey. Now that I think about it, it sounds kind of awesome, in a really ironic hipster way.

So I'll be wearing it tonight. I really wish I had the sense to keep a pair of JNCOs. It would be perfect right now.

happiness is a warm gun

My first memory of the Beatles was in 7th grade social studies class. A classmate had recently discovered the band and became obsessed with them. I quickly dismissed seeking them out. You have to remember this was pre-Napster and we still had to actually buy music. Plus, I had gotten the impression that the Beatles was "my father's music" and I didn't have any interest.

Fast forward to a few months ago, just right before the remasters and The Beatles: Rock Band. I was obsessed with Rock Band for a while, but had never sat down and listened to the Beatles. I thought it was a good time to get the full catalog and see if the music would interest me enough to get the game.

I'm kind of glad I held off for so long and can "discover" them for the first time now when I can have some context and really be amazed by some of it. I've only really listened to Abbey Road and the first disc of the White album but damn, that first disc of White is amazing. I've also noticed that I've been hearing various Beatles songs a lot more in general after knowing it's the Beatles- in commercials, bars, etc. Now I'm just slowly going through all the albums. I should probably go in order, but whatever.

I wish they had released these albums on vinyl. That's about the only music format I buy these days.

a new winner

I was in Greenpoint today. We decided to have brunch and went to Brooklyn Label. I had taken a photo of the space for The L and noticed they served Stumptown coffee. They are really picky about who they let serve their coffee so I was interested in trying it.

The only way to test is to order a cappuccino, so I did. I have to tell you, that first sip hit me with a wave of emotions I haven't felt since 2005. I was instantly transported back to my favorite cafe of all time, in Florence, Italy called Cafe Rapphella. This cup of cappuccino tastes the most similar to what I can remember of Cafe Rapphella's. I still can't get over it. It was a really well made cappuccino and was only made better by the fact the Stumptown coffee tasted really balanced. I used just 1 sugar packet and it was the perfect amount. I don't even have to go to Joe's anymore after this. It's going to be really hard not going to Brooklyn Label every day soon to get a cappuccino. Holy shit.

how do you find the people you like?

This week's New York Times Magazine cover article is about how people around you affect you. First, I want to say, "well, duh!". Seriously, can you get more obvious than that? Yes, my peers have a huge effect on how I am. I think everyone can generally say the same.

People generally gravitate towards others with similar interest or personalities. It's called "having things in common." The article did get me thinking though. Do I have any people I regularly talk to that I have nothing in common with? And why?

I do. His name is Paul Dai. I've known him since junior high school. He lives 3 blocks away from me. We rarely hang out anymore, except under specific circumstances (it usually involves girls, or the lack of). Before we both became the persons we are today, we use to hang out. In junior high I guess we hung out because we were both Chinese. There was another article somewhere saying how in schools there is still a huge racial divide- the blacks tend to befriend other blacks, Asians with Asians, whites with whites, etc. while the teachers all say they have an integrated school (which is true in theory).

Anyway, we both did art and liked videogames. That was enough back then. But he has left that part of him in the past and have no interest in art now. He's a stock broker now. All business. Can you imagine me being friends with someone like that? And yet, here we are. He is definitely a dependable friend, but we have almost nothing in common anymore. We used to shoot pool regularly. He was teaching me. But then he got bored and we stopped.

I recently got him into biking. It's not that hard to do though. I guess at some point growing up, most people stop riding their bikes, but now you tell someone to ride one after not having rid one for a few years and they remember how fun it is right away. I really do think that is the hurdle to getting more people to ride bikes regularly again- just remind them how fun it is. So we've been doing that a lot.

I realize now that it's good to be friends with someone you have almost nothing in common with, although hard to do since you'd have little to talk about, or you'd both be disinterested in each other's passions and hobbies. That is how people become friends right? A shared, mutual appreciation of certain things.

I guess what this long post boils down to is, I want to try and met more people that I have nothing in common with to get their perspective on things, be less ignorant. I need to make some republican friends.

Grizzly Bears

Grizzly Bear played the last Jelly NYC Pool Parties show yesterday. It was fun, but they aren't exactly a high energy band to photograph. Here is a few, plus beach house. View the rest on The L Magazine's blog.


Beach House opened.







The real story of the show was Jay-Z and Beyonce coming to see Grizzly Bear. I think I'm the only person to have missed Jay-Z. He was under the sound tent. Mischa Burton was also there, but who cares about her.


Peter, me, Sandy, Ray

After the show we went to Caracas for dinner. Their service was terrible last night. Seems like they were swamped. The food took forever. I still love them, but they need to fix that shit.

Mid-summer update, life.

I know I haven't updated this blog at all in the past few months- since China in April really. But that's because I've been too busy having fun this summer. It's been the best one for a long time so far. Everything and everyone I enjoy the company of is here, there is no drama (except for a few girl problems) and we've just been having a blast.

Rosemary came back into our lives like a hurricane in late May and has added a lot of dynamic to my group of friends. It's great that my Alfred friends and my high school friends get along so well too. I've been holding out colliding those 2 worlds for years because til now but that's because 3 years ago, it was 2 different groups whose dynamics wouldn't work. That's the funny thing about NYC though. It will eat you alive if you can't handle it, and I know more than a few who have since left the city for one reason or another.

I haven't been this tight (pause) with my group of high school friends since high school I think. No one can really say why we started hanging out this much again. It just reaffirms my belief that you can't force friendships, or relationships, for that matter. At some point, everything just clicked all over again.

Here are some pictures from the Girl Talk show I shot for The L this past weekend. Go to my flickr for the rest, or the L Mag's blog.

hit the heartbreaks, baby

Adam: "I don't think he's physically sick, it's heartache."
Dapo: "Yeah, I think you're right."

None of us could sleep last night.

Like a sniper, shooting at Northside

The Hold Steady at Music Hall of Williamsburg

A few weeks ago, The L Magazine put on Northside Art and Music Festival. I shot a few shows. It was my first real time shooting live music. I think live music and wedding photography are tied as the 2 hardest types of events to cover. One has erratic lighting conditions and the need to shoot at high ISO and the latter is often has really high contrast situations. Both are hard to deal with if you don't know what you're doing.

I looked at the photos I shot over the course of Northside and can see huge improvements in my shots from the first show to the last I shot. I learned a lot about shooting shows. I am getting shots that are usable and that I can stand behind (and so can Brooklyn Vegan).

I don't enjoy doing it though. It doesn't become about listening to the music anymore. You have to pay attention to everything else but the music. I feel like a hunter stalking a deer. Camera pointed at all times, waiting for the light to change so that I can get a good shot, the musician in just the right spot and pose. Don't hesitate or you will lose the shot and end up with a awkward or blurry mess of a photo. It's all in the details. You're not just shooting the people, you're shooting everything else around them when all the conditions line up to make a good shot.



Take this shot of Bishop Allen for example. It's a bit purple for my taste. Taking a shot between the lights changing colors would have resulted in a better photo. But the band members are ok. If you look at their faces, none of them are at an awkward moment.



This photo of Darbie is decently lit. It's not red (I hate the red/purple lights).



The photos that are really red or purple are good for one thing though- turning it into a black and white photograph. This photo would not work otherwise.


The Dodos at Studio B

Overall, Northside was a great time - pretty much 4 days of binge drinking free Heineken. Can't wait til next year.

Things only a minority can notice

Sandy and I went to a new (to us) restaurant for dinner over the weekend. It was a french bistro called Cafe Leot (or something) on West 13th and 6th Ave. It's not a spot we would usually hit up. The crowd there is old- over 30. Like, people with actual incomes and can afford ~$25 entrees. I only found it because I really wanted to have good Belgium frites and this place got pretty good reviews for it from New York Magazine.

They sat us way in the back (like the back corner that's tucked in) which I didn't care or think much about at first. But then a little into our meal, they sat another Asian couple right next to us in the corner. Sandy and I both instantly tried to contain our laughter. It's so great to know someone who can think on the same wavelength as me and can appreciate/see the humor in such situations.

I'm sure it was pure coincidence that they sat the only 2 Asian tables in the entire restaurant (and it's a pretty big restaurant) next to each other in the back corner. They weren't even close to capacity either. What's even more funny is that a little bit later they sat a gay couple next to the Asian couple next to us. And one of them was Asian! Again, Sandy and I couldn't help but try not to laugh.

Well, the food was pretty good. I had the burger and frites. I can say that the frites were worth it. They are about as good as the ones from Metro Marche, which is my favorite. I haven't had them in a long time though, so I don't remember if they are better. Will be going back there in the future and hey, the back isn't so bad. It's less noisy than the front, where the bar is.

The L Magazine's 6th Anniversary Party

Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Happy Ending.


Mark, Lauren and I


Liz, Sandy and Raymond


Susannah and Justine


Yudah, Paul and his GF


Kendall and I

Visit Diana Levin's Photobooth for more fun shots.

eightyfive - Mercedes!

Finally got to use my new camera to photograph a person. It's all my wildest dreams come true (srsly). Full frame plus 85mm F1.4= dreamy portraits. I'll have to stop being lazy and smooth out the skin tone when I put this up on my website.



This second shot would have really benefited by a hair light. Ugh, I should just sucker up and buy a second strobe.

This was not part of a portrait session. Just took these "for fun" after helping Mercedes photograph jewelery she makes for her soon-to-launch website. Speaking of websites, have you been on The L Magazine's recently redesigned website yet?

Adam in China Fantasy Betting Pool RESULTS

Total photos taken: 1050

Colleen- 260 points
40 pts. Adam spots the Chinese version of someone he knows in America 5:1
20 pts. Adam visits an area where there are no modern toilets 6:1
20 pts. Adam gets a dirty look by a native because they can tell he is an ABC (American born Chinese) 10:1
20 pts. Adam eats something funky and regrets it 7:1
Photo guess: 475

Ming- 210 points

10pts Adam spots Chinese hipsters 4:1

10pts Adam spots a hot Chinese hipster 6:1

25pts Adam finds a bar that has a high percentage of Chinese hipsters 15:1

10pts Adam gets sick at some point on the trip 3:1

10pts Adam buys something that is made mostly of bamboo 5:1

10pts Adam eats something funky and regrets it 7:1

15pts Adam finds the Chinese equivalent of The L Magazine 8:1

10pts Adam spots the Chinese version of someone he knows in America 5:1

Photo guess: 548pictures

Mark- 100 points
25pts Adam spots Chinese hipsters 4:1
15pts Adam finds a bar that has a high percentage of Chinese hipsters 15:1

25pts Adam's mom tries to set him up with a Chinese girl 15:1

20pts Adam spots the Chinese version of someone he knows in America 5:1

15pts Adam gets a dirty look by a native because they can tell he is an ABC (American born Chinese) 10:1
Photo guess: 2005

Lauren- 240

35pts Adam buys a camera 2:1

15pts Adam spots Chinese Hipsters 4:1

20pts Adam gets sick at some point on the trip 3:1

10pts Adam spots the Chinese of version of someone he knows in America 5:1 (me!)

10pts Adam gets drunk at a Chinese Bar 5:1

10pts Adam eats something funky and regrets it 7:1
Photo guess- 247

Gabe- 180 +200 bonus points= 380 (Winner)
Adam buys a camera 20
Adam steps into a Chinese nightclub 10
Adam's mom tries to set him up with a Chinese girl 10
Adam gets a dirty look by a native becasue they can tell he's an ABC 10
5:1 Adam buys something that is made mostly of bamboo 10
Adam visits a rice paddy 10

7:1 Adam eats something funky and regrets it 10

Adam spots the Chinese version of someone he knows in America 10
6:1 Adam visits an area where there are no modern toilets 10

Photo guess: 685 (Winner)

Soojye- 162

50 pts. Adam runs into someone he knows from America 25:1

30 pts. Adam gets sick at some point on the trip 3:1

12 pts. Adam visits an area where there are no modern toilets 6:1

8 pts. Adam gets a haircut in Hong Kong 8:1

Daniel- 0
50 points - Adam bleaches hair gold

50 points - Adam befriends Chinese hipsters

Photo guess: 1,899

Kaci- 220
10pts. Adam's mom tries to set him up with a Chinese girl 15:1
20pts. Adam has a bonding moment with his sister 5:1
25pts. Adam spots a hot Chinese hipster 6:1
10pts. Adam eats something funky and regrets it 7:1
20 pts. Adam buys a camera 2:1
5pts. Adam makes a Chinese friend that he isn't related to 10:1
10pts. Adam spots the Chinese version of someone he knows in America 5:1
Total number of photos 2,413

China in photos: Beijing, part 1

All I see is sadness in the people's faces.



I didn't get to see "real" Beijing, just tourist areas since I was on a guided tour the entire time and had no time to wander. Taking shots of places that a million people take photos of does not interest me, so I took photos of something that does- people.

Top shot is uh, Chinese hot pot on the street. It's like $1 USD for a stick-o-stuff. Fishballs, cow intestines, whatever.



This was shot after dinner one night. We were waiting to board the bus and had some time to buy snacks. A group of girls in uniforms walked by. I have no idea what they are about. But they all had bags of fruits and were wearing way out of place slippers.



Oh, girls of Beijing. Some of them know how to dress.



Dai look los. Dudes from mainland China. They DO look different from Hong Kong folk. They're skin is darker, they eyes more "Chinese-like". Most of them are farmers.



Some of them were really happy to be in Beijing and seeing the sights. You can see it in their faces. I feel happiness and sadness at the same time when I see them. You have to understand how much harder life is in China in general. Seeing it first hand really saddens me.

The golden knobs on the giant red door represents how high class the people living there are. This one has the most possible- nine. Obvious because this was taken at the Forbidden City.



The dude in this photo is hilarious. I have another shot of him- same expression.





More soon.