DMW: 中国乡镇 Chinese Towns
I got to explore three unique towns in China for this episode.
I was amazed by the unique and intricate styles of buildings and its wonderful history.
I am more than convinced that every building tell a story of history and reflects the lifestyle of that era.
I am envious of the fact that their descendants are able to touch, feel and see their ancestor’s work and rewards and able to trace their roots.
I am more than convinced that memories of the past need not make way for modernisation.
开平碉楼村镇
Interestingly, when those who left motherland to work overseas made big money, much of the money was sent back to build houses.Houses so big, wealth well flaunted, it attracted bandits who came along and harassed the folks .As a result, towers were built to serve as watch towers as well as a fort to house the males of the household.Only the males were protected as the ingenious bandits knew that only thru ransome , money would come forth.If the family choose not to pay, off comes the ears…
永定/南靖土楼乡镇
Listed as a UNESCO World heritage site, the unique hakka’s architectural wonder showcases the ingenuity the creativity of the Hakkas..
西江千户苗寨
Even though the rest of the world is marching full steam ahead in pursuit of modernisation, this unique tribe show us that traditional values are worth preserving and one’s past denotes and guides one’s future…
a spider,
takes countless hours to weave its web
a place that it calls….. a home.
we,
we take our entire lifetime,
to build ourselves….. a home.
Historians left their mark
for us to learn ………and remember..
we take to the bulldozer
and demolish….. their home.
alls that’s left
is perhaps a faded picture..or a distant memory.
we will,
in time,
forget our origins..
and perhaps…
even our homes….
on April 1st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
After see this 中国乡镇 Chinese Towns epi. i really wish to go Chinese.. especially 永定/南靖to see土楼, wanna see how they built it… just using the Earth, Bamboo..etc…
Even the 开平碉楼had many many sad story behind its.. but they really beautiful & comnine the building architure from europe.. really really nice…
on April 1st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
nice pics bryan! can really see u enjoy the place very much. Ah….china…rich culture..i love the place. ya, what u say is really true. we cannot forget our orgins…its really important to us.
Thank you for sharing bro!
cheers!
Take care.
Johnson
on April 1st, 2009 at 10:54 pm
yes indeed… when i saw the 星期二特写 mentioned about our last kampong in SG is gonna be cleared for the construction of a main road… i’m disappointed and sad about it. We are losing our original heritage…
on April 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 am
Hello,
I love the way you host the show, it is so informative and the way you interview the locals is fun to watch.
Thanks for showing us the cultures in these different countries which you had gone to – an eye opener.
Good JOb.
on April 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 am
hi bryan.
once again you’ve never fail to wow us with ur superb photography skills.
“picture speaks a thousand words”. even without watching the show, i still could relate to every much what you have to say and the post-visit thoughts.
inspiring indeed.
=)
on April 2nd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
hi bryan
really really love to c your superb beautiful pictures..
So superb well taken…
on April 3rd, 2009 at 2:12 am
Yoz Bryan!
Well, needless to say about the beautiful pics which you have taken, my reflections after watching the above episode, it tells me how our chinese counterparts live in China in those years, no doubt we Chinese Singaporeans share the same origin with them.
Right before our eyes, they leave behind a real living heritage for their descendents.
What about Singapore? This little red dot is too modernised. Sigh…
I feel that at least once in a lifetime, we Chinese Singaporeans should go China to see and explore, be amazed at how diverse and vast China is, and search for our dialect origins, for example me a Teochew boy. Hehe.
on April 4th, 2009 at 7:43 am
actually, i am thinking along the lines of this isle of ours…
on April 5th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
欢迎你来中国玩
on April 10th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Wah! I love all these pics!!!!
on April 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Hi Bryan,
Love your programmes, love your photos, the journeys you took looks great, may I know how you get in touch with the locals, you arrange in S’pore or you just meet them by concidence? I love to TRAVEL but I have to go backpack because of $$$$$- budget.
I know you are a very busy man, but…….do hope to hear from you. TQ
on April 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
dear ann,
most often than not the locals are people that we met there..however, if you are going backpacking, iwould suggest that just seek out the accomodations online and probably at these places of interest there are local guides easily available at each point.It is really depnding on your heng suay lor… goodluck!
on April 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Wow! Nice pictures
Absolutely stunning.
Argh~ I missed this episode
on April 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
I noticed Bryan Wong has done many travel places which are not the norm, may I suggest he or the sponsor considers doing the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Krakow, Poland.
The whole place is underground – something out of this world. Google it to see what I mean. Hope to see this in one of the travel programes.