It’s been more than 20 days since I left the states, saw countless faces, one after another dinner gathering, and yet to devote some time to myself just get my shit together and finish some of the projects that I’ve promised to finish ages ago ( to those who know what I mean, I swear I will finish it before head out to india.)

Things that I have been seeing around here changed yet again, more foreigners in the mass public area, the metro, mall, restaurants, even the area where I’m currently staying. Shanghai has become like the hub of international flash gather point, some rooted here, some are here for short gigs, some are just here for their biz trip, and the rest falls into tourist group???

Free internet, there’s no such thing as free wifi here, after some serious hunting, coffee bean is the only place that offer free wifi (if you don’t mind the slowness). And both smoking/non smoking indoor rooms. Starbucks offer wifi, but not free, iphone owner will find themself get away with slow/crawing wifi connections, free eh? you get what you paid for.

there are things i meant to blog, but they kept on skipping my mind like fadded pages in a notebook. i might as well need to jog down the thoughts on my phone while i still holding onto it. otherwise it’d take me some thinking in front of a computer. after all i cant carry the laptop with me everywhere i go. thurs goes with the notebook. but i think i will have some more free personal time once i arrive india.

the price to india for one way from shanghai is redulicious. 4500 RMB estmated. i’m like wtf.. that costed more than what i paid for my one way trip to here from DC. another idea is to enroute tibet and cross nepal into india.. but i dont have much time here, my 30 days tourist visa for this time expires in 29th, and that leaves me less than a week and half to travel from shanghai to india via land.. doable but it’s going to be stressful and rushed. i’d like to stay in Lahsa for few days and enjoy the sun from high above. *sigh* next time then. and i hope india is going to grant me more than just 30 days stay once i landed, if not… i’m screwed, i’d have to do a short overland trip else where and come back to india for a longer stay. i will worry about that later.

the internet addiction withdraw is still hard to shake off, im still holding on my phone for some web actions, offten i find myself looking at facebook’s latest status, news on cnn, wapo etc. *sigh* we are i am totally hopeless without the internet. still hours before i hit the hay still stays with book reading and games on the phone, there’s no network reception on the bed :/ no tv at all, there isnt cable in the apartment. pretty much sucked. i tried to visit my aunt’s apt which is next block to mine, but with her crappy attatidute, facital express toward my visit for using their internet, i’m not gonna put up with it, even if i have to suffer slower than 56k speed with the phone in my apt, or the internet bar. so see you later auntie.

more to come…

pictures this way

timmy hard at work, with a broken foot.

i can say this wedding has been iphonelized! Apple owns all the wedding now

as they look onto their life together into the future

gotta love that little girl’s expression

it’s groom’s job to make the ladies happy that night

but only tim can order the ladies around that night

for more photos, click here

Ghostly basement, ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

another 1933 building across the main building

american appear inside the building

the view on the roof

more links regarding to the building from others.

???????????????- ??????- 1933
1933-??????????????????
Shanghaiist: 1933: Where’s the beef?
???????????? - ?????????1933????????????
1933 official website

more pictures here

just two days ago, i went to hangzhou to see a friend, and man.. rain rain rain… i’m getting sick of rain around here, everything is muddy, went and hazy. friends around me are calling me the god of rain.. suggesting me to visit africa for their drout problem.

and now comes the food part

More photos here

so much for promising to blog often, i find myself going out too much. meeting friends than just find a place and sit, get online and do my business. the apartment i’m currently staying at doesn’t give me a reliable network connection.. crappy mobile coverage that is, i get no reception anywhere but one bar next to my bed. but funny thing is, as soon as i connect my laptop to the phone via bluetooth, the reception craps out on me.. like magic if you say. oh well.. time to improvise and move on.

I’ve got myself a new phone, spanking new nokia E71, other than the small non touchable screen and ok ok keyboard.. it’s one soild build phone, dare i say it’s sexier than the iphone? yeah i basically traded in my 3 mobiles to get this one, iphone, the panny SH901, and the nokia N75 that doesn’t have any Chinese input firmware for it. but unlocked mobile phones are everywhere here, if you are looking for a reasonable priced mobile phones, look no further, come to china E71 costs more than USD500 back in the states or euro, but this one i got cost me only 400, with trade in cash, the cost of it went below 200. excuse me for my fuzzy math

and guess what i did first when i got the phone?
it’s no secret, i went online and checked facebook, yeah i’m such an addict i’ve gotta to admit it’s going to take a while for the internet withdraw. it’s mighty hard to do so :/ i’ve gotta keep myself busy with other stuff, else i might go crazy at this state of mind.

with all those election crazeness going on back at the states, i wish i could be part of it, be part of the history. but then again… i’m bound to miss out things that are happening in the states everyday.

one thing nice with the fact that i have almost no access to the internet at home, i get more things done, planing my travel routes, get all the info off the book and unload them on my project application on the laptop. finally finish the damn book i’ve been meaning to finish. rest more

some pics from qibao (?????????

soy sauced fish

uncle attacks his pry

some kind of green veggie..

skinned chicken. steamed.

yellow chives n egg

seafood sauce tofu

shrimp stri fry ( a bit too salty… )

kicking back and relax…

i’ve arrived shanghai without a hitch, got a full bench on the plane as a makeshift bed, the groves in between seats was killing my back. do not underestimate those little bumps, 10+ hours on them will break you down mentally at the end. as soon as i landed, rushed out though the customs like visiting an old friend. picked up my luggage in record time, where it could take more than one hour. zoomed out of the apartment door right after i dropped off my luggage. got myself a SMS card and i’m in business. met with a friend to pick a place to eat, i had to eat, i was starving with less than enough to eat on the plane. short layovers in the connect flight didn’t give me enough time to buy anything at all. i did remember to bring my camera so to snap photos for what i had that evening, but ended up eating my heart out :/ sorry people.. i will try to remember take more photos religiously before i start mow the plate.

the costs of here can be ranging from 250RMB ( 36.55 USD ) all you can eat seafood buffet in an upper class neibohood to 3RMB ( .44 USD ) in the local restaurant. either way, i got my belly happy and healthy.

internet cafe in china could be awful, with 50+ people chain smoking local tobaccos… the air quality is just simply unable to breath in. I’m a smoker, but this is more than what i can take. in china, you are bound to be the victim of first hand smokers. you can run but you can hide, and you cant avoid it. so i’ve decided to use mobile phone to get online instead of visiting the dreaded internet cafe/bar. then comes with phone problem… my iPhone is hacked and unlocked to use with any sim card, yet i haven’t figured out how to get the laptop to leech the data network from iphone. dear god.. cant you make anything easier for me? so i might have to sell my phones ( if anyone is going to take em in ) and get a new nokia that does the job.

and oh.. my sleep pattern is fucked again.. :-/ it could be either jet-lag or the new places or the bedbugs that’s been bugging me… i swear to god that i can feel something’s crawling around me while i was asleep.

and oh oh oh, i’ve completely forgot to load those movies that i had back home, so… basically how i spend my downtime at home is reading book.. listen to ipod and try to write. i guess i could also get some freelance work done too, but i need a table that’s allowing me to sit up straight, and the glass table wont do it for me, i have this thing with glass surface tables.. the cold surface can drive me nuts.

bye iphone…

until then….

the 441 cox Halloween party marks my last public appearance and i’ve only got less than 28 hrs before i take off. send back the car, cut my phone contract, send out the last remaining ebay sold items, wash my last batch of clothes. and yet, to this wee hour, i still have not packed my suit cases… and before i know it, im gone for who knows how long.. and i just hope i’m not leaving anything important behind. but leaving all of you guys behind in DC, CA, NM, everywhere else, sure makes me sad… do i hope ya all will come out and visit me on the road at some point, fuel me with the gossips, ASL, the the familiar face. for one, i will miss you all and i will just leave this as is. enjoy the pictures from the party

rent a car bulgaria

and the rest of them are here as well as on my facebook photo albums.

as many of you been asking,
“when are you leaving?”
“when is your last day??”
“why are you still here? ”
“are you in china now?”

ok guys im still here.. and picking up all my shit left and right, selling most on ebay and packing up some, giving clothes away to goodwell.. etc etc, and oh my last day here is Oct 27th. Flying out of here on 28th early morning.

and yeah, i am no longer required to report to work daily from 9-5, dude! i’m telling you it feels so damn good and liberating. no boss to answer to, no clients to deal with. no stupid questions to answer and no long ass report/review to write. it’s OVER and done for me.

if you need a last minute photo gig, let me know ahead of time before i leave. and yeah i NEED your MONEY! i have no shame in that, more money i have, the longer i can stay afloat out there. boy.. it’s gonna be tough

until the next blog.. possibly the last one before i leave. have a great week and dont forget to check back here for more update, my trip plans etc

smitha asked me if i was looking forward to my going away party next weekend, i froze for a second… next weekend? already? wow.. time flew when you stop counting. and the next 25 days could just flew by me. and before i knew it, i’m on the road exploring just like how i pictured 3 months ago. for one thing i’m glad this anticipation will be soon over, i wont be tortured by counting 3 digit days like i did 3 months ago.

fast forward ten days later, here i am.. writing the 15 days left post.. time can play mind tricks with you. now everyone in the world knows i’m leaving the states and most response i got was.. *chuckles*
“you what?”
“Are you fucking out of your mind? ”
“where are you going really?”
“how are you going to be able afford it?”
“can i come with you?”

the list goes on and on, some seems to be negative, and most are positive toward my decision. and i myself still wondering if i have made right choice. the though of fuck the plan and simply just move to SF has also been fliring with me lately. but these are just thoughts. let’s move on with the going away party photos

click here to see more

Dawn and Joe in their moment.

a father’s blessing.

the original gangstas~

I can’t complain about the food, it was so de-li-cious

for the full photo album, click here

yeah ok, i’m selling my beloved toy collections, so to fund my upcoming trip. if you are interested, let me know!

even more ~~!!

this bad boy is up for sale too

For more photos, go here

invited by manny and muck to shoot their fun gig night, dresses are designed and made by manny himself. more to come as i’m still editing them.

Tim was chatting with me last Thursday like usual during work, and he teased me about going camping last weekend, “why don’t you join us? ” i hesitated for a second, and scanned through my trusted cheap flight search site, good enough, a round trip to SF for 270 popped up on my screen, few clicks later and i book the ticket. now all i have to do is force my boss to give me the day off on Friday so i can fly over. and the rest are in the photos below ^_^

and thanks to my fabulous camp mates.

Suz “all-the-snazzy-lizzard-moves-and-thousand-expressions” Lai

Gabe “i-can-hang-onto-anything” Leung

Timmy “i-love-myself” Kettering

Steph “chaboy” Chao

some random picks

Flickr links
Day 1
Day 2
Bodie State Park
Taneya Lake

well, camping of course! i guess this one will be my last time camping at Assateague, i don’t know when the next time will be. it’s been a wonderful experience camping there almost every year. Then again, my up coming travel will be ‘camping’ out everyday, endless beach hunt opportunities. enjoy the photos

Camping photos

Epiphyllum (”upon the leaf” in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

i’ve been working OT non-stop for months and never had time or chance of going home early and just do nothing, just chill. so there u have it, this is how i kick back and relax.

now with days winding down to just 60 days from 100 days when i confirmed on my own epic voyage in south east asia. before i knew it, i’m adding africa and south america to my map, and extended my stay from one year to two years. then again, who knows.. once im out there, it might even ended up to be three to four years. let’s just play by the ears for now.

ciao~!

ps. enjoy the wider format of my blog, bigger is better!

I took a weekend getaway at my cousins’ place, another one was flying in from las vegas for a visit as well. and get to see how their kids are like now because i have seen them since 2001. regardless how bad it was on the road, the traffic both way sucked, 3 road repairs to PA, and 1 bad accident back to DC *sigh* the visit was well worth it.
up on arriving may’s home, i was amazed by the greenness, totally admiring how nice it’s to live at the country side, views from any point is totally stunning. i took few snaps at their farm and the back yard, go see for yourself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangezippo/sets/72157606545533846/

paid a visit to gallaudet the other day, and man.. SLCC is coming along fast.. the last time i was here, the roof wasn’t even added yet. but i have to admit, the new building is HOT! click on the photo for more pictures at flickr.

BAM~! just like that.

[based on a true event]

Hey
-Tif’ :]]

um… ok so it was 2am in the morning and i got this SMS from a phone number that was not in my address book, i tried to scan my mind to look up for a Tiffany… um.. searching Facebook buddies… um.. all my resources came up zip.. so i decided to play along.

me: Hey: Tiffany?
Tif’ :]]: What are you doing?

um… i look around.. it’s monday early morning and i cant fucking sleep.. trying to get hours to get by while i do some researching.

me: screwing around, u?
Tif’ :]]: Ah. Just sitting here watching a scary movie.

just to get idea where the hell she’s from..

me: where are u?
Tif’ :]]: In my room. Where are you?

ok that doesnt help… grilling down my brain again and hope a Tiffany will popup in my mind…

Tif’ :]]: Are ya’ gonna be out of state anytime soon?

um… based on that info.. so she’s someone i know? meh… * grilling my brain *

me: yeah, LV next month then [ making up a place to gone for few years ]
Tif’ :]]: Oh really. Why are you going to [this place] for 2 yrs. And maybe fore you leave … well hha. You know

-_-||| this better not be a prank.. or whatever this is.. so i deiced to mess around a bit with her.

me: that def sounds good to me as for [this exotic place].. [ blah blah blah made up excuses]
Tif’ :]]: Ha. Yea. Im happy for you…

time to revel the truth

me: are u sure u know who this is? O_O
Tif’ :]]: Yeah micheal? Right?
me: LOL i’m sorry honey u’ve been talking to the wrong guy
Tif’ :]]: Really than who is this
me: hui, and u are ?
Tif’ :]]: Tiffany, isnt this his phone?
me: Well um i’ve had this phone for quiet a while now, not sure how u mised it up as his
Tif’ :]]: Oh sorry. I didnt know

and …. let the game begin

me: it’s ok, but is ur offer still good?
Tif’ :]]: well i kinda need information?
me: well what do u need to know then
Tif’ :]]: Ageljust the basics
me: In DC for too long and i’m not too old just yet, are u in Ohio?
Tif’ :]]: ???
me: what’s the matter dear?
Tif’ :]]: Yea’ but you can tell me your age, but let me guess? 23 - 31
me: LOL u are pretty good at guessing, yep 31
Tif’ :]]: Hah I know im good, So are u white|black what?
me: asian, ur turn now
Tif’ :]]:: white|hispanic
me: 24?
Tif’ :]]: Huh?
me: ur age?
Tif’ :]]:16.

a long pause…. … … in my head.. it’s screaming * it’s a police scam trying to bust you for having dirty little converstation with underages!! they are just waiting outside and ready to bust your door down, local tv crew is ready make your day yet even worse, perhaps slaping u with some jail time.

me: ok… U are def too young for me sorry
Tif’ :]]: Oh it’s cool.
me: well this def has been one of the most interesting SMS i’ve ever had
Tif’ :]]: Aw thanks but you know what would make this more fun?

oh she wants to play… fine i will play! let’s see what she got.

me: u tell me
Tif’ :]]: well are u up for anything?
me: sure anything beats nothing
Tif’ :]]: well im kinda feelin naughty if ya know what i mean
me: just how naughty can u get?
Tif’ :]]: so do you want to ?
Tif’ :]]: you wanna find out ?
me: show me
Tif’ :]]: i cant show u but… im touchin myself.

grilling her for a pic so i can see what im dealing with here, then again.. it could be a fat police officer sitting behind a monitor getting all naughty with himself.

me:alright sorry i dont do this over the sms i’d rather see it for real, got a pic?
Tif’ :]]: Ah can you help me?
Tif’ :]]: No sorry.

i tested the number back with online relay, the other end took 6 rings to finally pick it up, and it was female voice, ok no fat guy.

me: nothing??
me: u gotta help me with what u look like
Tif’ :]]: i got curly hair hot little body! and im horney as hell
me: LOL im sorry i can do this, u sound good as it is, i’d rather see u in person
Tif’ :]]: Just this one time please
me: i will pass
Tif’ :]]: Ok but until then peace
me: Take care and use protection!!
Tif’ :]]: u2
me: btw what’s ur last name?
Tif’ :]]: Brown

alas… i cant really make anything out of this… spam adult SMS ? i just hope there isnt any special SMS fee showing up on my next phone bills. until then, ya all behave!

around the town in SF while i was on my week long vacation, but actually only 2 days in SF, i have to say, it was too DAMN short :/ not to mention gabe took my fav hat for hostage. he would only return them to me once i moved in. nice going gabe..

SD has always been a town where i can visit and kick back, enjoy the local fish taco that you cant get any where else. not to mention uncrowded beaches. i swear, once i moved to SF, i’d hit those south beaches every weekend.

VLA is an odd ball place where u see the largest satellite in US, their sole purpose… to hear voice from outer spaces… no im just kidding. it’s actually operates by multiplying the data from each pair of telescopes together to form interference patterns. The structure of those interference patterns, and how they change with time as the earth rotates, reflect the structure of radio sources on the sky: they can take these patterns and use a mathematical technique called the Fourier transform to make maps. ok enough nerdy info, let’s move on.

4 hours south of my brother’s home, i hit up white sand national park, it’s been a long time want to visit place. i’ve been to NM too often that i’ve never got the chance to actually GO there. alas.. i got my wish and spend the whole evening doing nothing but lay in those purely white sands.. it was amazing.

in and around NM, tons of cute pictures of my nephew “Niven”

bobby’s place is where u need to be during the holidays like 4th of july or halloween, he will ensure you enjoy your stay. and i did.

i was asked by deafdc to do a photo gig at DPHH in july, the place is so fucking packed that i couldnt even get any elbow room.

after the DPHH, i zoomed over to va and met up with friends at a hole in the wall hookah place in VA. and i love places that just dont kick u out because other places are closing. i think i will host a special even there soon so keep your eyes open.

*Bang!*

The loud noise from upstairs pulled me out of my sleep, i grasped for air, soaked in my own sweat. No, not a nightmare this time. But I’ve got this killing headache. The fan on the ceiling hums endlessly, no doubt.. AC is broke again.

*sigh*

I looked over the clock, 6:21am. I guess the old house maid is working upstairs, she’s too old to hold a broom stick, i guess she’s letting it fall on purpose just to wake me up. The noise from the street is unbelievably loud, the place i stay is right above a market where the locals comes in every fucking morning to sell their goods.

Glance over the left side
…

There’s a mysterious hot blond on my left side… her light bronze skin tightly warps around a perfect toned body where i can’t find any flawed curves. what a magnificent creature. i rolled along her back with the end of my fingertip, she replied with a light purr. ok .. she’s real… I need to pull myself into the reality of what just happened here, and who the fuck is she? and it’s totally strange to wake up with a blond in bed while in Vietnam.

Appearly i cant recall any.. Alas, those cheap shots at the bars has finally managed to pull me down, it might have been her, who helped me getting back here? or i brought her back here? as i reaches over to my camera, and hope to find some picture of her from last night. Nothing.. my ol trusty camera couldn’t tell me anything more. well.. i might have been too drunk to take any photos. let along successfully bring back the camera itself. * thank god.. *

Putting down the camera, i gently warps around her like I’ve know her for ages. With her back rolls into me, I spooned her perfectly from behind, holds onto her tighter. Fearing that she will disappear like a dream.

Ok.. back to sleep.
[TBC]

what beats a group of good people, the only santa cruz’s own fish tacos, hidden beaches and cool sea breeze? absolutely nothing. i heart you! Santa Cruz!

Photos are up at flickr

I just go back from a 10 days vacation away from DC, it’s hard to gather all the things i have seen and the feelings that i’ve got through. i guess it will just take some time to sort them out. for sure, stressless days helped me made some decisions that have been troubled me lately which i have no time to think about, while too occupied working and doing errands around home. more photos to come soon, stay tuned!

Speed freak
Faster than a speedin’ bullet,
Slow down, if I don’t,
If I don’t I might just lose it
Locked up
You’ve got me honey
Locked up under heavy braking
yeah yeah
You know I’ve got to hang on
Drive too fast I might be last

for now let me rest my eyes and soul, good night ya all.

the guild ridden feeling of not being able to blog for the last few days, which in my word.. a lot has happened since i got procession of the new 5D, bunch of lens and tons of good times. and it just keeps on coming.

for starters, here are some photos for u to ogle at

CSG Web/MM team rocks the happy hours
85L test
June DPHH
Chelsea gallery hop
Happy times at Brooklyn

And more to come in 2 weeks. that’s all for now and happy photo viewing. i’m off to the west coast.. might not even consider coming back at all * grins *

it almost smelled like the town i grew up,
little rust tangling with moisture.

it almost smelled like Shanghai.

There isn’t much i can say or i can do, but donate my part. as you may have seen it plenty from CNN, BBC, and everywhere else. Please visit Redcross when you have a chance. Thank You

here’s what nike+ said:

i might consider getting a new shoes.. this one is just not up to what i need, well it was just a cheap set to get me started for running. and now i know that running more is going to happen in the future. Not to mention i’ve enrolled Nike+ marathon training for 28 weeks, which will need to clock in 2000 miles in 28 weeks. with the current shoes i have? i’m gonna break my ankles at 100 miles LOL.

on the side note.. i got a hot camera strap! Go look!

until then, more running for me, more blogs coming for u too.
ciao~!

with just 4 days left in this week before this Sunday’s 10K… i haven’t yet clock in any runs on Nike+ lately.. and today 2 miles that almost killed me with hills was painful and slow… most of the run ended up walking.

i hope this condition will improve by Thursday and Saturday, otherwise i am in no freaking shape to run a mare 6.2miles on Sunday. and this.. i sounds pathetic.

it was a beautiful day for a trip to the artomatic, i managed to stay from 6 til 11.. and once i got out, reality appeared stranger than ever to me.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????. ??????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????

everything hit me once i pressed the shutter release… drown with the memories i’ve had with this camera. like time travel, being sucked up in wormholes. and all of sudden here i am again, with the new 5D just like the beginning. let’s go at it again, this time to the FUTure!