Some time has passed since I left my home away from home. Here are my last shots I dug up before coming to New York -- a smattering of usual faces from my daily routines -- work and weekend market trips. Beijing will forever be the bustling city maintaining its charm through the haze and the horns. Thank you Beijing. Your faces, streets, and sounds are forever a part of me :)
hello friend.
Our company, Lowe Profero is a digital advertising agency, but behind it all is supported by a strong tech team that consists of .NET, PHP, and FE developers. Until now, our Profero Tech office in Beijing was the one focused on handling the development work coming in for various projects globally. However, with the opening of our new branch in Chengdu, we are now able to work together on a number of projects with the new team. ANDDD what better way to celebrate then to take a trip down south to the lovely Sichuan province and spend some time with China's Giant Pandas and the entire China team? Below are some shots from the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Conservatory. A big thanks for my awesome team and company in taking us on such a trip :)
Some Giant panda facts:
Giant Pandas are listed under the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated 1,600 left in the wild, and 300 in captivity.
Giant Pandas have a similar body typical of other bears, but since they have a diet that consists of 99% bamboo (though carnivorous), and do not hibernate, they spend most of their day resting, seeking food, or eating food.
Lifestyle: Consuming 20-40 pounds of bamboo/day; 10-16 foraging or eating/day.
Aside from marsupials, a Giant Panda is the smallest animal born relative to its mother at 1/900th of its size!
Giant panda babies are born pink, blind, and hairless, and rely considerably on its mother to raise it. Though there are up to four cubs per litter, the considerable effort it takes to raise their offspring only allows one to be kept alive in the wilderness--not to mention, they stay with their mothers for up to three years.
Pandas are quite lethargic creatures, who rarely mate. Not to mention, females only ovulate once a year, which doesn't help their staggering population. Pandas in captivity are almost always bred by artificial insemination. (Imagine that..waking up and realizing you're having a baby. WUT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? IMMACULATE CONCEPTION? AM I THE NEXT MARY?)
Not only are pandas a universal symbol of China, but a universal symbol of preservation. I think observing animals can produce fresh perspectives on life and human nature and all respect for living things teach us things we never knew about ourselves. Love what you are given in this life. Respect all living things.
Here are some shots from the Chengdu trip--and some very special shots of Kerwin and his daughter (but mostly his daughter). Protect what you love :) Save the pandas.
Late night snacks--not panda.
“The greatness of a nation and moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Love,
Daze
October 31st -- Halloween, Dias de Los Muertos, Day of the Dead, Halloweenie, whatever you want to call it, is one of the best days of the year, and the funnest by far. Of course, there is no Halloween without a proper costume. And so each Halloween would begin! Ever since I can remember, my mother would begin preparation for this day at least a month in advance in search of the perfect costume costume. We'd take a trip to the Fabric Store (Pacific Fabric on Bel-Red to be exact), and I would pick out my favorite stuffed animal to join us for the trip--usually my cat (go figure) or my sand bag snake I would wear around my neck. I remember startling one of the kind old ladies at the store with my "pet," or maybe she was just playing along...actually yeah...that's probably it.
Anyway, we would then go through the ritual of going through all the different pattern books, and once a pattern was decided the fun part could begin! Choosing the fabric was always my favorite part, because I always felt that was a keystone for customization and creativity. After all fabric and patterns were purchased, we'd drive on home and I would watch as my mom began carefully cutting out the pieces, ensuring that materials weren't wasted. Sewing machines, boxes, closets full of fabric was our idea of fun :) My mother had always made me clothing when I was younger. Children would taunt and tease, and I began refusing to wear the clothes, but whenever Halloween came around, I always felt like I was on top of the world with my custom individually pearl stitched costumes, and over time the thought of my homemade clothing became overwhelming feelings appreciation and love.
As I grew up, neither my mother nor I had time for making costumes anymore. This was fine as the options were unlimited and there was ALWAYS something you could find online. But over the last couple years, I've revived that the joy in costume making! The best part! This year, after sharing my photos with how I celebrated this year, my mom said to me, "Isn't it a wonderful feeling to be able to spread happiness with your ideas and creations?" I couldn't have said it better myself. The greatest gifts are those unmeasurable but always with us. Thank you to my mother for sparking in me the joys of creativity I carry with me. Thinking of you and your beautiful creative soul from the other side of the planet :)
Here are some shots from Halloween in the JIng this year. A huge thank you to my awesome team and company #LPTech for letting me plan the Halloween Party this year at work, and to everyone who was willing to participate. Although I didn't make my costume, I did have the opportunity to unleash with face paint/ Chinese Opera Paint ;) Enjoy.
“Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to be able to spread happiness with your ideas and creativity?”
Love,
Daze