China Stories

Umbrella ella ella eh eh eh.

6th June 2008, Maria

Chongqing women were all sporting one fashion accessory today - the umbrella. They use them as a parasol to protect their skin against the (very very very) hot sun. I noticed that many were lined with silver material to reflect the heat - very clever.

George told me that some Chinese women don't like to get their skin tanned. It seems that to have a lighter skin is somehow seen as having greater beauty. I've noticed a lot of cosmetic counters selling skin whitening products both here and in Beijing. Darker skins are associated with peasants working in the field all day - it would seem that some of China's new middle class want to be associated with the idle rich sitting indoors all day. Whatever the actual reason, the women of China are a beautiful race that definitely shouldn't feel the need to alter their appearances in this way.

On a less serious note, it reminded me that we'll be returning home in a few days where, no doubt, I'll be putting my own umbrella to good use against the Scottish climate.

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Inter-nerves.

6th June 2008, Gerald

It's the second last day of shooting and I was a little nervous (again) this morning.

Lot's of things were spinning around my head. What if the last story doesn't work out? What if the contributor gets ill? What if no one will talk about what I am asking them to? The fact that the last story is perhaps our most controversial didn't help at all. It's all about the internet and how China (the government, not the actual land mass obviously) manages what people can and can't view.

In particular the biggest question for the day was not, "which spicy little number will I have for lunch", but, what if the internet cafe we are being taken to shoot at is rubbish? I imagined a small hot garage with a couple of lap tops and some dodgy guy taking money at the door as people paid fat cash (or Kuai as they say here) to look at supermodels and football results.

Gerald, dear Gerald, thy worries for no reason.

We were taken to an internet cafe of the highest quality! A place where young gamers score perfect scores at strange Chinese dancing games. A place where both girl and boy gamers blast aliens in pure harmony. A place where people watch all sorts of crazy TV shows as they are streamed in high, high quality to their massive computer screens.

Most importantly, a place that looks real fine on camera!!

I am now filled with hope for tomorrow. Well, when I say "filled" I mean maybe 10 percent more hopeful.

Locked-off shots.

6th June 2008, MariaandGerald

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