Always carry your camera

This is why I always carry my camera.

As I left the office today (for the last time!) I was mobbed by a roving band of McDonald’s bags.

Suddenly my professional future doesn’t seem all that dim.

Onward

I’m leaving my job at the end of this week. My company asked me to move to Guangzhou to be closer to our client's office. Despite the city’s many delights (spicy food, smog, motorcycle thieves who cut off your fingers with lawn shearers,) I said no.

Luckily advertising professionals are a fungible resource (like cotton or oil or pork bellies!), so I was able to find another, largely similar job at a competitive agency here in Shanghai. The new job won’t involve as much travel. This is a great relief after almost 3 years of watching my youth fade in antiseptic airport lounges and charmless corporate hotels.

The upside of the new job is the free time before the new job. I’m going to Beijing this Sunday to take an intensive Mandarin language course for an entire month. I’ll have the same mobile phone number and personal email. I’ll try to update my progress here.

Here’s a powerfully inspirational photo Todd took of me during his visit to Shanghai. I’d like to imagine I’m leading the proletariat to victory over the capitalist running dogs – but the glass of champagne in the foreground kinda ruins the visual integrity.

Anyway, more soon.

New Socks

Everyone should buy Bob’s new book. You may want to order now to avoid the murderous human stampedes at Wal-Mart.

He wrote it AND illustrated it. The reviews are terrific.

If you want to see some bad reviews you can see my book here. Cheryl Ferry from Chicago called it “a complete waste of time.”

Spring

Spring is almost here.

This photo is from a park near the office. People (mainly old men) bring their pet birds in cages to hang from the branches. They position the birds so they can’t see each other -- so the birds sing like crazy. Depending on your perspective, it’s either a strangely ethereal, poetic scene or a fucking noisy racket.

Come to think of it, everything in China falls into one of those categories.

Me, Todd, Emil and Lei Feng

The entrance to Juan’s building always features some well-illustrated admonition to “keep a harmonious neighborhood” or “cooperate for a better city.” Far from aspiring to such anodyne niceties, I’d be happy if the locals didn’t toss their garbage out the window like we live in some squalid medieval village.

In this photo you’ll see myself, Todd and Emil (recently visiting from San Francisco) contemplating the life lessons of revolutionary hero Lei Feng. He’s the quintessential Chinese everyman who, despite being orphaned and penniless, joined the PLA and gave everything to the poor. While his death (killed by a falling pole) might not be the stuff of epic poems, Mao singled him out as an example of a most noble adherent of Mao Zedong Thought.

In other news, Todd and Emil were perfect houseguests – going so far as to help clean up after the birthday party. While collecting garbage at 3AM is maybe not as heroic as getting smacked by a pole, they have my utmost appreciation.

Hopefully they’ll come again soon. After visiting cultural highpoints like this, who wouldn’t?

Next stop: Tonga!

Birthday

Juan’s birthday was a few weeks ago. We had a party to celebrate for he and Quentin (whose actual birthday is this week.) Lots of people came. It was nice.

We had chocolates with the Juan and Quentin’s face printed on them (pictured here.)

You can have anything made in Shanghai.

Kuala Lumpur

After visiting Juan’s family in Teluk Intan we spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur.

It’s a pleasant city. Relatively clean, seemingly sedate and well air-conditioned. It’s an interesting mix of peoples, languages and cultures – Malay Muslims, Chinese and Indians.

Most importantly super-lux real estate is cheap, cheap, CHEAP (compared to NYC and Shanghai, at least.) I’m putting it on my list of places to live when I finally goes nuts and drop out of society.

The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world – quite remarkable and less gaudy than I imagined. We visited the observation deck in the bridge that spans the two towers on the 48th floor. Unfortunately it was raining so, unless you like photos of clouds and mist, there’s not much to show.

We had several nice meals. Went to the National Mosque and Museum of Islamic Art (second photo.) Met up with some of Juan’s friends. Sat by the pool.

The first photo was taken from the rooftop restaurant at the Trader's Hotel. It's got the perfect view.

Gross

In my marketing career I’ve sold some pretty loathesome things. Tooth-rotting sugar water. Landfill hogging disposable doo-dads. Tubs of “edible” triple-bleached goo.

However I’ve never enabled a culinary atrocity of this magnitude.

A mashed potatoes and gravy vending machine. I think my life will be complete if I never see instant gravy squirt out of a machine.

“Mmm… Simply delicious!”

Gross.

Juan

Here’s a photo of Juan at his family’s house in Teluk Intan. It was February 18th around 4PM.

We just got through playing badminton with his nephews. I suck at badminton. Also, it's a million degrees and humid.

Teluk Intan

Juan and I spent Chinese New Year with his family in his hometown of Teluk Intan, a small town about 3 hours north of Kuala Lumpur. The landscape around it is beautiful, lush and tropical with expansive rivers and endless palm oil plantations.

The town also features a notable regional tourist attraction, a leaning tower (pictured.) There’s some kind of story. I can’t remember.

Juan’s family was extremely kind and generous – and insisted on feeding me about every 30 minutes. Language wasn’t an issue as my mouth with constantly stuffed with food.

Here are some photos. The second photo is a Hindu temple. The third photo shows the brilliant blue sky – nice to see after months of China smog.

Thank you for waiting

Okay, I’m back.

I know it’s been well over a month since I posted here. During my absence a few things happened:

Chinese New Year
It’s like a Chinese version of Christmas with cash instead of presents, pork instead of Santa, and two weeks of ear-shattering fireworks instead of two months of soulless seasonal Muzak.

Juan and Quentin’s birthday party
Lots of people came and drank our booze. We had chocolates with Juan’s face printed on them. Julu hid in the closet.

Travel
Malaysia for Spring Festival (Chinese New Year); then some work trips to Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Work
After some hand-wringing and self indulgent “what am I meant to do with my life?” soul-searching, I’ve decided to switch jobs. I’ll still be in Shanghai, but without the weekly trips to my favorite South China ‘berg. I hope I never see the Hongqiao airport at 5:45AM ever again.


The photo is the view from Juan’s balcony. The fireworks are to celebrate the last night of the Spring Festival. The brightly-lit building on the left is the post office. There's a stamp museum there.

Back soon

I know, I know. I haven’t posted in over a month.

Lots happening here. Chinese New Year. Visitors. Another case of food poisoning. Mundane career drama too boring to recount.

I’ll try to catch up over the next few days.

In the meantime, please enjoy more Julu-inspired art photography.