Sweet Paradise

It's been a while since we went on a real family vacation -- the kind with sandy beaches and palm trees. It was really good to us! We hung with longtime friends, we walked, we chilled. Here's a quick glimpse, and for any photo enthusiasts out there, I decided to pack a bit lighter. All shots (with the exception of one) were taken with my Rebel XTi and 50 mm 1.4 lens.

At the grounds of where we stayed:

The diffused morning light with our lovelies:

The water...

And sweet life.

Missing it now but forever wanting to keep that Aloha state of mind.

From Hong Kong To Shanghai

My family and I just got back from a trip to China where we visit my parents every year. I spent eight years growing up in Hong Kong, and in many ways, it still feels like home. Now, before you think I'm crossing over into fashion photography, there was this stunning model standing in the middle of the street. Helloo. Wouldn't you whip out your camera, too?

A bit of local street fare and my personal favorites (sorry if the first one makes you gag) -- fishballs drenched in curry sauce, and fresh sugar cane that can either be munched on or made into juice. Mmm.

A typical Chinese delicatessen:

I naturally had to snap one of the kids posing under a gigantic Buzz Lightyear.

Moving on to Shanghai, one of China's largest, most Westernized cities. Population: 20 million. It has one of the most booming economies in the Far East according to my dad.

While the trip is usually one big food and shopping fest for us, the main reason for our visit to Shanghai was to see Expo. I remember going to Expo in Vancouver, BC more than 20 years ago. It was such a cool experience. Here inside the Chinese Pavilion, many of the local children displayed their artwork. I don't ever remember painting or drawing like this! I love the effort and attention to detail:

Inside the Taiwan Pavilion, a beautiful "guanyin" -- meaning "goddess," only this one's in male form:

We were pretty lucky to be able to see the Italy and Germany pavilions as well. Masses of people stood in line for hours in the heat to get into some exhibits. A couple of abstract photos for fun...

Leaving Expo...

We had an awesome time and plan to check out Beijing and the Great Wall one of these days, maybe when the kids are older. I need to give a special shout-out to my husband who spends almost all of his vacation time making these trips possible. Until next year, China... zai jian!