After our two days in Kunming we gathered our gear and borded an overnight sleeper bus. The bus has two levels of beds all about a foot to short. We arrived in Lijiang the next morning after a not so refreshing sleep on the bus and walked through old town to our hostile. Lijiang is set up into a new and an old city, the new city is just like any other city, but the old city is all small cobblestone roads and small traditional shops. We spent a few days in Lijiang preparing for our Mekong trip.

Stone Arch Bridge with Reflexion: ISO:200 F-stop:5.6 Shutter Speed:1/1

The old city of Lijiang is set up as a series of cobblestone walkways among river channels. This is an old stone arch bridge that crosses one of the small river channels. At night the channels are lit up by lights and you can purchase lotus flowers made of paper with candels in them that you can float down the rivers.

Morgan on a Horse: ISO:200 F-stop:5.6 Shutter Speed:1/125

Old style people dressed in fur carrying guns and swords walk around with horses that you can ride for a small fee.

Young Monks: ISO:400 F-stop:4.5 Shutter Speed:1/60

We rented bikes and rode them about 7 miles out of Lijiang and then hiked about a mile into the mountains to a Buddhist Monastery. We each burned incense, left a donation, and received a small prayer bead. We were not allowed to use cameras or wear glasses, shoes, or hats inside the inner building.

Morgan, Tino, and Dave: ISO:400 F-stop:4.8 Shutter Speed:1/80

Morgan, Tino, and Dace are watching a guy pull ginger candy. It is similar to salt water taffy except it dries up and tastes like ginger. 

After spending a couple days in Shanghai, New River Academy gathered all of our gear and got on the subway of Shanghai. After a long tiring hike we arrived at the Shanghai train station where we got onto a train and settled in for the 37 hour ride to Kunming. Upon arrival, we once again hiked across a city to a hostel where we would stay one night and two days. During this time we were able to spend time exploring the city and finding any last minute items.

Kunming Arch’s: ISO:200 F-stop:6.3 Shutter Speed:1/160

These arch’s are scattered around Kunming. Each has different chinese symbols above the main arch and different animals above the two smaller arches. This one and one other were lined up right outside our hostile.

School Children Brawling: ISO:200 F-stop:5.0 Shutter Speed:1/100

While exploring we came across a school yard. We stopped to take pictures and a bunch of children came running up to say hello. They asked us every question in English that they knew. These two were fighting for the attention of my camera. 

Stone Dragon: ISO:200 F-stop:5.6 Shutter Speed:1/125

Sculptures like this are littered around Kunming along with tons of other really cool stone and metal structures and statues. 

After spending a couple days in Shanghai, New River Academy gathered all of our gear and got on the subway of Shanghai. After a long tiring hike we arrived at the Shanghai train station where we got onto a train and settled in for the 37 hour ride to Kunming. Upon arrival, we once again hiked across a city to a hostel where we would stay one night and two days. During this time we were able to spend time exploring the city and finding any last minute items.

Kunming Arch’s: ISO:200 F-stop:6.3 Shutter Speed:1/160

These arch’s are scattered around Kunming. Each has different chinese symbols above the main arch and different animals above the two smaller arches. This one and one other were lined up right outside our hostile.

School Children Brawling: ISO:200 F-stop:5.0 Shutter Speed:1/100

While exploring we came across a school yard. We stopped to take pictures and a bunch of children came running up to say hello. They asked us every question in English that they knew. These two were fighting for the attention of my camera. 

Stone Dragon: ISO:200 F-stop:5.6 Shutter Speed:1/125

Sculptures like this are littered around Kunming along with tons of other really cool stone and metal structures and statues. 

Well, so far we have spent a couple of days in Shanghi, took a 36 hour
train ride to Kunming, and are about to take a bus ride to Lijiang to
prepare for our first river run on the Mekong.  Our trip leader, Levin
Brown, has gotten access to the river from the government to get on the
Mekong.  There has only been a couple other groups ever do and
expedition on this section so we are in for an adventure. 
The
river will be running big at around 8-10 thousand cfs.  With raft
support, we will be spending 5 or more days on the river depending how
hard the river is, how much school we can get in, and, of coarse, what
playspots we find.  The team is nervous but excited for our first
trip.  All of our training, knowledge of river running, and keeping a
good group dynamic on the river will be put to the test this trip.  

Wish us luck.
Shane Groves

Well we’ve been here in China for a few days now, and its been mostly traveling and a bunch of city shooting. The cities have been wild. A lot of people. The food is very interesting, and pretty adventurous. Shanghai didn’t have much in the way of typical older chinese buildings, but offered a lot of interesting street vendors of cats, turtles, fish, and tons of other animals all around. Kunming has offered an amazing view of neon lights at night as well as some cool old chinese buildings to shoot. We’ll leave Kunming today, and head up away from the cities and to the rivers. Here’s some photos for your view pleasure.

A man in Shanghai wishes us on our way. He talked to us about the best places to shoot photos in the city. Photo (c) Sam Fulbright 2007

A kitten sits in a bike outside a pet shop in the streets of Shanghai. Photo (c) Sam Fulbright 2007.

Students sit in the train. The train ride was 36 hours of small beds and rooms. Photo (C) Sam Fulbright 2007.

 A chinese gate at night in Kunming. This is the view from our hostel in Kunming. Photo (C) Sam Fulbright 2007.

I shot this photo in Kunming, China. It can be difficult to shoot photographs of people here because there seems to be a general fear of cameras.

Shutter Speed: 1/1000; F-Stop: 4.5; ISO: 500

I shot this photo of an outside fruit stand in Shanghai, China. I especially was attracted to the various colors that the various fruits provided.

Shutter Speed: 1/320 F-Stop:4.5 ISO:500 

In Shanghai, China I shot a photo of a man feeding the pigeons in a city park.

Shutter Speed: 1/200; Aperture: F-4.5: ISO :500