The Holiday Blur

In my mind, the holidays always have a slow start... there's a lot of anticipation and planning involved (especially if you're hosting an event or traveling somewhere). However, once they get started, they go by rather quickly and can be a bit of a blur. These are a few photos representing that "Holiday Blur".

Miniature Christmas

Each year, my brother, father, and myself would purchase miniature North Pole figurines and buildings for my mom. My brother and I would be responsible for building the village... and each year it kept growing (to the point where we had to add an extra table). My mom still keeps the tradition alive, but to a much smaller extent.

Stockings Hung On the Chimney With Care

Waking up on Christmas morning, the first thing I would do was run down the stairs and look at all presents that had been "delivered". It was definitely one of the most exciting times of the year. This was the first view I would get of the Christmas tree and fireplace in the background. My brother and I were allowed to open up any presents in our stockings... but had to wait until later in the day to see what was under the tree. It definitely helped build up the excitement. 

Oh Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree is the centerpiece of a house during the holidays. However, when I was young, it was my least favorite item to decorate (which is probably why I've never gotten one for my own apartment). We would spend hours putting the tree together, hanging lights, replacing broken lights, unwrapping ornaments, hanging ornaments (there were hundreds upon hundreds). My brother and I would actually go in shifts. Each year I tried to convince my mom to reduce the amount of ornaments... but each one had special meaning to her and brought back memories. Therefore, I was never successful.

These are a few photos I took of my parent's tree this holiday. Can you see the tree underneath the ornaments?

Lighting Up the Christmas Spirit

When I was young, one of my favorite things about this time of year was looking at all of the houses decorated with lights. It always felt kind of "magical". My family never went overboard with the decorations on the outside of the house (maybe went a little overboard on the decorations inside the house)... but it always looked quite nice.

These are a few photos I took of my parent's home this year... my mom and dad are still keeping the tradition alive.
(wonder how much power is wasted during this time of year?)

Christmas Time

I was looking through the photos I took during the Christmas holiday and tried to find one that I felt best represented the feeling of this time of year. For whatever reason, this one caught my eye... fireplace heating the room, stockings hung with care, ornaments on the tree, colorful lights, dark setting, warm colors... can't help but get a warm/cozy feeling looking at this setting. 

Lounging Riverside in Guangzhou

Lounging on the riverside in Guangzhou and enjoying a cold Tsingtao "Gold" in the hot/humid climate. There are a few interesting comments I have about these photos.

Tsingtao beer is one of China's greatest exports. They have several different varieties... the most popular/plentiful/cheap is the green label. The green label is a standard pilsner beer and is similar to a Budweiser in flavor. It is brewed all over the country. If you're at a more fancy restaurant (or happen to be up North in Qingdao), you can get the gold label. The gold label is still brewed in Qingdao and uses mineral water from Laoshan Spring. This gives it a more unique flavor. I actually quite enjoy the gold label (if I can find it)... and as you can see from the photos, I was lucky on this particular evening.

Another interesting thing to note in these photos are the Christmas-looking lights in the background. There's a common joke I've heard from several Westerners living in Southern China related to these lights. If you walk around Guangzhou (at any time of the year), you will see what looks like Christmas lights all over the place: buildings, trees, restaurants, bridges, etc... and as you might know, China is good at copying things (technology, hand bags, shoes). The joke goes that a city planner for Guangzhou decided to travel to several western cities (just as his city was starting to explode with growth) to get a better understanding of how they were developed. This planner went to London, Paris, Munich, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco... and came back with many great ideas. However, he went during the month of December... hence the Christmas lights.

Christmas Lights and Decorations

Some Christmas decorations at my family's house in Chicago.

Chicago Nights

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to wander around the streets of Chicago with a camera (and no tripod) after a night out at Rush & Division (all shots were taken post-2AM). Surprisingly, some of the photographs came back non-blurred. It's amazing how empty the streets look in some shots... several hours prior, you could barely move because there were so many people out for Black Friday.

'X' Marks the Spot

"Rooftopping" in Chicago. A nice view from C-View Bar at the top of Affinia Hotel... looking down at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Superior. This was basically the heart of the Black Friday madness in downtown Chicago.

January 26, 2011

Now Winter Nights Enlarge. 

Now winter nights enlarge
 This number of their hours;
And clouds their storms discharge
 Upon the airy towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze
 And cups o'erflow with wine,
Let well-tuned words amaze
 With harmony divine...

This time doth well dispense
 With lovers' long discourse;
Much speech hath some defense,
 Though beauty no remorse.
All do not all things well:
 Some measures comely tread,
Some knotted riddles tell,
 Some poems smoothly read.
The summer hath his joys,
 And winter his delights;
Though love and all his pleasures are but toys
 They shorten tedious nights.

(Thomas Campion)

January 21, 2011

Tree lights next to the Peet's Coffee at Harvard Square.

January 2, 2011

Twas the night before Christmas at my parent's house in Chicago.

If you want to see more Christmas photos, here is a link to the entire album: Christmas 2010

December 26, 2010

The day after Christmas... as a kid, it was always a bit of a let down. However, as you get older, it acts as more of a relief. By this day, the majority of your obligations should be finished. Here's a picture of my parent's Christmas tree, with the ornaments still up.