Faces in China

Visit to Baoji, China

My lastest trip to China last week took me to the lovely city of Baoji, close to the famous Xian. During my visit to this city of about 4 million people, I was a guest of the Baoji Vocational Technology College which has a current enrollment of about 16,000 students. When the college construction is complete, this number will grow to over 30,000 students. The college currently offers 3 year courses in a range of faculties, including English, nursing, engineering, agriculture, and teaching















The campus is quite vast and modern, having just opened in 2007















The college has a rich history, commencing over 100 years ago, and is the result of the amalgamation of 6 colleges which were scattered around the city

The building project is still continuing and their plans are ambitious and exciting













Still more work to do...


























Time to take a tour! The attractive lady on my left is my translator, Dong Li, a teacher from the English department















Trying my hand at being a medical doctor! Fortunately, the patient is only a dummy!


I made a new friend who shared with me his weight loss secrets!

























The engineering department, with some of the students working on a lathe


My translator invited me to take a couple of her English classes. This was great fun!













And the students were so friendly!













The teaching material used by the college is first rate!

























I was part of a group from Malaysia and Hong Kong discussing providing future overseas programs with the college, so there were meetings and much discussion.














The visit was concluded with the signing of an agreement.

Check out their website: http://www.bjvtc.com/

Sunset over Xian

At the end of my recent trip to China, I was standing in the departure lounge of Xian airport, waiting for boarding, when I noticed a plane pass in my view with the setting sun in the background.

The sky changed colors quickly as the sun began to drop into the horizon, between the trees.

It was a splendid sight.

Setting suns are not only ending to a day, but often are like endings to an experience, a feeling, a desire, or just the hope of a new and even better day.

Mum Left Us- February 2009

My final farewell to mum at the graveside; what was I thinking? I was just thinking that she was the most wonderful mother and friend that any son could ever wish to have. I was also thinking what a blessing that she had gone so quickly without any suffering. She had finished her life's journey and now she was resting... A precious moment; never to be relived...












Mum carried Neil and I into the world; we carried her out!












My son spoke with such feeling, yet humour, about his 'granny'. Mum adored Matthew, and he was such a wonderful grandson to her...











The hardest 'last lecture' I ever had to give...















Yet, what an honor to honor one's mother!
















Funerals are always 'catching up' times; my brother and I in deep conversation about something...but at least we were together, and we were talking. Distance, in all its meanings, has kept us apart for too long. And mum, lying beside us, would agree....

My Mum's 90th Birthday-June 2008

Mum has left us now. However, thought I'd share what was such a memorial event in her more recent life- her 90th birthday.
Her church friends organized a surprise party.
















I love these pics; mum and I enjoying a few moments in conversation. The scarf I was wearing was purchased in Scotland and is the clan colors of my mother- McLean. I wore this scarf just to honor her ancestory. Yes, I am very sentimential at times...





There are moments in our life that are so meaningful and we can never recapture... yet the memory lingers...




























Four generations represented here: mum, myself, my son, Matthew (and his lovely wife, Rebecca) and their son, Alexander. Unfortunately my daughter, Miriam, and my brother, Neil, and his wife, Elaine, could not make the party.

Trainspotting in Malaysia

One of my favourite past times is to chat with gate attendants at the railway level crossing, and watch the KL-Singapore trains.











These guys take their job very seriously, yet enjoy what they are doing!

And here comes the mid day Singapore to KL passenger train

One of my passions...

Something more 'creative'

For those of you who have been 'complaining' about the lack of pics on my blogs; here are a few attempts at some 'creative' photography.

All pics were taken with my Lumix G1 camera.

Firstly, some bottles...











'His and hers'...












Who won the football?











Locks...












Kiss this frog and it may turn into a Prince...or Princess!











Love the brand...











Lamp at dusk...










Clouds, as the sun is setting....