The night race

Images from the first F1 night race ever, Singapore Grand Prix.

Exiled

Their facial expressions said it all. Karen people of Burma suffered terribly under the military junta that still run that country with an iron fist. Driven from their homeland, a lot of them flee to Thailand, where they live as refugee and illegal immigrants. Known for their custom of wearing brass ring around the neck, they were exploited as tourist attraction. The guide that took us to their village assured us that we are helping them visiting them as they get a cut from the travel agencies that arrange the tours, but still I cant shrug off my uneasiness. I resort to using a long lens to shoot from a distance, but even then, I only managed to take a few shot. Sadly they are only a small fraction of ever growing population of refugees and displaced people in the world.

Faces of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Images II

Chiang Mai Images

Forbidden City Panorama

Behind the Bamboo Curtain

Work took me to the bustling capital of the People's Republic of China. You can clearly see that this Red Dragon is has awaken and flexing its muscle in this ancient and modern city, personified by the brand new $ 3.8 billion new terminal designed Sir Norman Foster with twice the size of the Pentagon, build in record time for the summer Olympics. Beijing really illustrates the multiple personalities that China posses, a capitalistic capital of a communist police state. Freedom to do whatever you wish economically, as long as you submit to the political will of the Communist party with its 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army, seen here guarding the Forbidden City.
The city is a fascinating face to a fascinating nation on track to be, if not already, a great world power. A good first trip to China.