Nanxi River

[ Yueqing ]

There are some tremendous advantages to being a rare foreigner in an out-of-the-way town. The foremost? Everyone wants to take you places, show you things, and impress you with what their corner of the globe has to offer. This week I was invited by some photographer friends to visit a small village along the Nanxi River for a bit of photo-based exploration, another round of what the hell is that? seafood consumption, and general relaxation (because, as you know, my life is just SOOOO stressful of late).

It was a gorgeous visit, and great fun, but if you ever find yourself in the vicinity I have one pro tip for you:

Beware the velociraptors (they’ll be posing as domesticated white ducks, but don’t be fooled)!
—jim

Deadly Ducks, ETC.

Even in a highly developed tourist area like the Nanxi river, many folks still do things the old-fashioned way. Here a woman is washing clothes in the late afternoon sun.
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Bamboo forests, competing fiercely with Ireland for the championship of All Things Emerald.
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Mist-shrouded, ancient towers in steep, verdant hills? Check.
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Chinese funeral processions involve marching bands and fireworks. By the time I ran back to my room for the camera, the band was gone, but this man was part of crew setting of thousands of firecrackers at each intersection the procession passed. Here you see him wandering back into the exploding rounds to re-ignite one of the strings that had gone out. (It may not look like much, but it was really REALLY loud.)
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A view of the characteristic hills around Yueqing & Wenzhou, across the Nanxi.
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One of many picturesque falls built into the scenic area.
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Green. Green. And more green. This woman was being photographed by her BFF, just out of frame.
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My friend Feiqing under attack by homicidal ducks. About 2 milliseconds before this, they were feigning calm, and Feiqing was taking an innocent snap. And then the Ducky Pitchforks came out, and they attacked! (Totally worth it. And I wish I had been filming instead of just taking pictures: the scream was fantastic. 🙂 )
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The Killer Ducks looking like feathered white velociraptors. I had a very hefty boot between me and them--which they attacked--in order to get this low-level shot. I never saw what had them so agitated. No babies around, nothing home-like...just insta-Duck Rage.
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Thousands and thousands of strands of noodles drying in the sun; to be found in nearly every village along this stretch of the Nanxi River. Needless to say, dinner was fish and noodles, and everything was...fresh.
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Preparing the noodles--making sure they don't stick together during the drying process.
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Local enjoying his breakfast and guarding the noodles.
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Obligatory still-life(ish) photo, because everyone else was doing it?
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A very famous alley along the village's main canal. This alleys is many centuries old and during the day is filled with vendors (and homicidal ducks).
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Typical decorations in front of any shop in China during its Grand Opening. The flowers and banners are meant to bring good luck to the proprietors
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A soothsayer plying his trade as part of a new store's Grand Opening extravaganza. Also, looks a little bit like a Chinese Walter White to me, which prompted lots of interesting, imaginary back-stories.
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Close-up of one of the many tarot-like cards on the soothsayer's table. To have your fortune told, you must choose three cards at random from the dozens on the table, which the fortune-teller then opens and interprets for you.
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Opening a view into my future. *bites nails*
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The Transglobalist
Photographer, cyclist, paraglider pilot, backpacker, skydiver, writer, explorer, musician, hitchhiker, digital nomad, and American dissident.

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Nanxi River

Deadly Ducks, ETC.

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