My World: Get on the scene

[fahim mohammed]

 

[Asher Kelman]

So romantic, Fahim! People have the same needs and aspirations all over. I like the asymmetry of the composition - gives some sense of actual drama!

Asher

 

[Antonio Correia]

Very nice Fahim. Were they in a marriage party ?
Nice zenithal light.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Asher, Antonio..thank you stopping by.

Actually they were on location for a soap opera. How I got there is a long and even more hilarious story.
For some other time, maybe.

Best regards.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher, Antonio..thank you stopping by.

Actually they were on location for a soap opera. How I got there is a long and even more hilarious story.
For some other time, maybe.

Best regards.

You can't tease us like that! Either don't mention the hilarious story, or start the tale!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

I stayed for more than a couple of days in Lijiang. An ancient town in the Yunnan Province of the PRC. The whole town has been assigned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not only ancient, but beautiful and very well preserved.

Its fame has spread worldwide and the town becomes rather crowded at times. Asher, I remember you quoting Wikipedia stating the town is well known for nighttime revelry. True.

It is also a town where artists and painters and lovers sit down under a tree in quite contemplation. The Jade Snow Dragon Mountain looms over the town and provides a scenic beauty unrivaled.

Here, let me show you...

I was fortunate enough to stay in a grand hotel located inside the perimeter of this beautiful and ancient town. My suite faced a manmade pond, a small waterfall, storks etc. Not that there was a lack of live birds. It was lush green, the entire province and my hotel.

In the morning, I would walk over to the pond and find my table and request breakfast. Corn flakes, skimmed milk, 2 toasts, apple, grapes and butter..Anchor or Lurpak. Particular about that. Coffee and sugar. I did have a very hard boiled egg once, though. Cholestrol. Oh, yes this is the pond facing my suite..

The hotel had multiple guarded entrances. One of them lay behind the pond past a thick growth of trees.
I had struggled the first day up a steep hill to the main entrance..huffing and puffing, without realizing that I had already past one of the hotel's secondary gates.

I was told about this the following day by Cindy, an angel of a guide. She was with me throughout my stay and she was something. Wonderful girl, Cindy. I remember, I took her photo..yes here it is..

We were visiting the Baisha Murals in Lijiang. One of the national treasures of the PRC, when I took this photo of her. Did I say she was a wonderful lady..yes, I must have. Lijiang is a beautiful town.
Really pretty. Did I say this before? No.

Well no problem, here is a shot from Lijiang...

I know I wanted to mention something..my memory and my arthritic fingers..what was it...

Got it.

I would like to wish all of you friends Allah's Peace and Blessings at the start of our Holy Month of Ramadan. Tomorrow being the first fasting day.

I forget, what was it you asked me Asher?

 

[James Lemon]

Fahim

I always enjoy your wide variety of work!

James

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thank you James. Much appreciated.

Where were we. I remember.

Sitting one day having my breakfast around the pond ( I wear my long white dress in informal secluded places..airy, and very comfortable for me..more so than jeans, t-shirts, shirts, chinos, trousers etc.,)
having breakfast, I saw more than the usual hotel security suvs and noise coming from behind a cloister of trees.

I walked around, and saw the suvs and a small melee of people. Further down saw that big boom or whatever one calls it with somebody up there. As I approached, I was politely told not to go.

Being a resident of the hotel and suddenly wanting to visit the spa ( which lay past this gathering ), we started an amicable talk. They looked at me, at my dress. I looked at them. We smiled to each other. I indicated I needed a massage...and after a little while I was allowed to go through. I smiled and bowed as I approached the actors you see in the picture. Smiled and a slight bow and the camera had already done its magic.

I just carried on along my way to spend some unneeded time in the spa.

But I have digressed. I really have to tell you how beautiful Lijiang is. Maybe post some pictures.

Maybe one day.

 

[Antonio Correia]

Another superb image !

Haven't you seen women dressed in traditional costumes ?

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thanks Antonio.

The traditional dress..if there is one..is very rare. Ethnic minorities might wear them deep in rural PRC. But in normal life this is what I encountered.

Unless for tourists....

Stay well my friend.

 

[Antonio Correia]

I remember seeing near the canal and on the streets women dressed with traditional hats but I may be wrong. However, my wife does remember.

From this part of China I have only a book. I think I have lost the photographs...
Shame on me.