Paintings so vivid...

Even after hundreds of years the paintings adorning the walls, arches and ceilings of old-world China still hold their colour. I tried to frame in as much of each piece of art as best I could and the photos turned out very well. All of this shot with an iPhone no less, I did bring my Nikon but all around versatility won over in the end and my iPhone ended up being the photographers tool of choice. Can't wait until they up the megapixel count/resolution of the iPhone 5, just so I can buy it and take another trip. =)

Nights of the Round Table.

Well-deserved dinner. Not so much for the tofu or fish dishes but I tried a little of everything once out of a sense of adventure, and a little hunger. ;) Frequently throughout our journey were the round tables with spinning glass tops and plethora of tasty food.

Cotton Weaving - Yes, people still do this by hand!

Our tour-guide Tony describes cotton weaving in the traditional style. The craft is of course passed down generation to generation. I was in awe at the fact that that across several moats, down through narrow passageways in rooms that have withstood the test of time...people are actually weaving cotton by hand.

Entrance to the Master of Nets Garden

An ornate incense pyre and throngs of tourists (including myself) outside of the Master of Nets Garden in Suzhou, China.

Details within the Garden...

Our journey through the maze-like causeways, arches and rocky paths seemed eternal, but the staggering beauty of our surroundings kept us ever-curious of what lay around the next corner. It was though the placement of every tree and boulder had been pre-planned with surgical precision, anticipating the growth of flora years in advance to culminate in such incredible displays.

Even the windows between areas (show below) were rife with carved deco of superb quality. 

Guardians in many shapes and sizes stood watch over not only rooftops but nearly every arch and doorway as well. Seen lining the roof edges are a line of bats, considered to be very lucky.

More of the Master of Nets Garden, Suzhou, China

Enter the Master of Nets Garden - Suzhou, China

Some of the most visually stunning scenery I have ever laid eyes on. I captured a ton of photos and shall be posting them momentarily. So beautiful, so imaginative in it's design and construction. From wood carvings and stone sculpture to the very numerous statuettes that line the tops of nearly every roof in the area. Various creatures and heroes of legend stand watch over all below, warding away evil spirits and guarding those who dwelt here...and perhaps those who walk there today.

 For more information on this incredible historical monument, please refer to the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_the_Nets_Garden

And the front of our hotel in Wuxi looked like...

A short clip showing the brightly lit water fountain deco in the parking lot of our hotel in Wuxi. After an incredibly long day on the bus we we're relieved to be getting some quality 'off-bus' time. Our arrival however was late in the evening, but that still didn't stop some of my kung-fu brothers and sisters from tracking down a good time. It was off to the waterfront for drinks and such. Incredible weather; light breeze, warm but not too warm. I think for most of us the thrill of being there was still at it's peak with no signs of abating.

A Busy Marketplace, but What a View.

The busiest of marketplaces in Shanghai. Many of us had to restrain ourselves from buying too much so early in the trip as we were all reminded of the weight restrictions when flying. The sounds of haggling everywhere as shopkeeps vyed for attention but the architecture and landscaping was way more distracting. Several people acquired nice art and gifts for our coming meeting with the Shaolin Monks.

Juxtapositioning.

Me chillin' in front of one of the many statues that stood on almost every corner in older parts of China. Everywhere a person went were signs of old-world craftsmanship juxtapositioned against the background static of technological advancement.

The Electrical Situation...

The Chiu Lau crew wanders into the tight-knit streets of a marketplace in Shanghai, China.

and the wiring situation for electricity and cable just gets worse...

lmao!..Let's see those clowns at the elctrical company figure this mess out. I suspect when shorts/damages occur they simply cut-n-splice their way around it.