{"id":2307,"date":"2009-08-03T07:05:59","date_gmt":"2009-08-02T23:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.asianramblings.com\/?p=2307"},"modified":"2009-08-03T07:05:59","modified_gmt":"2009-08-02T23:05:59","slug":"random-scary-encounters-shamian-island-guangzhou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevepeer.com\/blog\/random-scary-encounters-shamian-island-guangzhou\/","title":{"rendered":"A Random, Some-what Scary Encounters on Shamian Island, Guangzhou"},"content":{"rendered":"

I wanted to shoot Shamian Island in Guangzhou. I’d been there before, briefly, at night. Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, China, is only 90 minutes from my place in Shenzhen – a quick trip.<\/p>\n

Usually, I take the first bus to Guangzhou, leaving at 6:30 and arriving at 8:00. There’s still a little bit of morning light to play with. I hummed and hawed that morning and didn’t leave until 7:45. By the time I arrived in the former-Canton it was hot:  I-think-I-may-melt sort of hot.<\/p>\n

I jumped on the Guangzhou Metro<\/a> and got off at the Huangsha stop. After navigating a construction zone and an overpass I crossed the fabled bridge onto the former French and British concession.<\/p>\n

I walked the narrow streets, sweating, and looked at the manses and the people. Older folks moved with fluid slowness in a park by the Pearl River, doing their morning Tai Chi<\/a>. Small groups of dancers practiced the Cha Cha as music played from boom boxes. Shamian Boulevard is the island\u2019s main east-west thoroughfare. The road’s center strip changes over its length. Small parks, playground equipment, and fountains, can be found in the Boulevard center.<\/p>\n

One block of Victorian buildings was being renovated. I drifted over, camera in hand. I knelt and captured a few images. I heard a voice while wiping the sweat from my face (and the back of my camera).<\/p>\n

“Hello!”<\/p>\n

The young man, in his 20s, was jacked. The first thing I noticed was his pecs. After a year of bench presses I was nowhere close to being that big.  I was envious, his physique was unusual for a Chinese male. He had put in some time at the gym. His entire upper body bulged with muscles. He was shirtless and sweatless.<\/p>\n

The \u201chello\u201d had been gruff, more of an order than a greeting. I took in his size, considered his voice, and wondered if I might be in trouble. No, not on Shamian Island. There were hundreds of people around, a tourist area. Notwithstanding, my hand held my Canon 40D a little tighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to practice my English,\u201d he said. It wasn\u2019t a request but a command.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d I replied, a nervous smile on my face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go to America and play basketball with American boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou like basketball?\u201d Silly question. It may be genetic or an additive in the rice: All of China\u2019s young men like basketball. The WWE is gaining a foothold in China but the likes of Triple-H and The Edge overtaking Kobe Bryant in popularity is a long way off.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Where are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada, near Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRaptors. Chris Bosh,\u201d he said. There was a hint of a smile on his face, he wasn\u2019t nearly as gruff.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t followed basketball since coming to China in 2005. Other than a few superstars I know few players in the NBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to like Vince Carter,\u201d I opined. I wiped my face again. I was sweating from the moist heat and nerves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was long ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

I nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do you like?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

He rhymed off players and teams. I nodded faux-wisely.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy oral English is very poor since I finished college,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s quite good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to learn American English and slang. My college teacher was from the UK so I watched American movies and television shows. Prison Break.\u201d<\/p>\n

I explained I had been a teacher but now took photos. I pointed at the buildings. \u201cWhen will you go to America,\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I save enough money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The conversation fell into a lull. Despite the heat he was still dry. I looked as if I had been swimming in the nearby Pearl River. I made an excuse and my escape. He shook my wet hand and returned to the exercise equipment and his friends.<\/p>\n

I breathed a sign of relief and went back to taking a visual inventory of Shamian Da Dao. The light had gone from passable to horrible. I would make mental notes and estimations, and come back another time.<\/p>\n

A hint of scary, and random fun conversations: Such is my life in China.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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