During my trip to the UK last month I spent the best part of a week at my parents home in Surlingham – a rather picturesque village in South Norfolk on the Broads (not far from Norwich). As with most of rural Norfolk the surrounding area is low-lying, sparsely populated and predominantly farmland – the perfect getaway from the megalopolis where I usually reside. Read more
If you enjoyed the visual and musical tour-de-forces of Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka in the 80’s and 90’s then you will undoubtedly be looking forward to the upcoming Samsara which is being released next month (directed by Ron Fricke).
SAMSARA is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, SAMSARA transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, SAMSARA subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and music that infuses the ancient with the modern.
Since moving to China in 2008 I’ve usually only returned to the UK at Christmas but owing to my sister’s wedding last month I had the rare pleasure of visiting during summer. The wedding reception was held in the estate grounds of Firle Place, a beautiful 15th century manor house in Firle, East Sussex which is just about as quintessentially British as it gets. Jane Austen eat your heart out! Read more
Walk through any park at the weekend in China and you’re more than likely to find groups of people flying wonderfully decorated kites high in the sky. This isn’t a pastime just for kids though, and as I found out in Shanghai a few weeks ago, aficionados of the sport have taken it a step further… Read more
During the few occasions that I visit Shanghai each year, there are two things I always look forward to: the blisteringly fast 430 km/h maglev journey to/from the airport, and the chance to explore some of the city’s remaining old quarters. Last month I found myself in the backstreets of Lao Xi Men (老西门) which is located near the former West gate to the Old City of Shanghai. Read more