Markuswelder wanders around Northern China.

[Markuswelder]

That's my experience, too. My employer pays for data via AT&T when I travel overseas and I find I can access everything I can at home on the phone. In the cities, WiFi can be very slow (as of last November). I found that surprising in some of the "tech hub" areas. How is WiFi where you are? Maybe I'm spoiled because Lincoln, NE has gigabit+ internet almost everywhere. Singapore internet seemed slow too.

Yeah, same. Pretty slow, but I'm not sure what type of plans are available. I've also got gigabit interwebz at home, I still get 950mb + at peak times in the evenings, so it takes a little bit of getting used to. And why I'm happy just to store locally on my devices until I get home. My NAS is gigabit network speed, what I do is set up autosync between my local working folders on my NUC, download my SD cards there when I get home from shooting, & my NAS happily goes about its business syncing everything in the background. I still get lightning quick SSD access to my raw converter, when I finish edits I save to dated folders on my NAS. Works fluidly and seamlessly for me, without any real effort. I'd like to step up to a 2.5 gigabit NAS, maybe at a later date when hardware gets a bit cheaper. Then just use my existing one as remote backup.
I'm honestly in no way, shape or form a techie, just someone who enjoys tinkering with that sort of thing, mainly to make my life easier, once it's set up and running properly

 

[Markuswelder]

Whilst we're talking art, one of the Wife's friends took me for a look around an acquaintance's Art workshop. To say I was highly impressed is quite the understatement. Timber scraps that us Westerners would simply turn up our noses at, and hardly bother with even for firewood, is turned into beautiful artistic sculpture. Lots of vision to see and be able to use the natural features and incorporate them into your finished piece. Fabulous skills and workmanship.

 

[JohnPD]

@Markuswelder
Amazing thread, Markus. I am thoroughly enjoying this tour of China! Great stuff.

 

[Markuswelder]

@Markuswelder
Amazing thread, Markus. I am thoroughly enjoying this tour of China! Great stuff.

Glad you're enjoying it. It takes a bit more time than one would think, stringing it all together. Even one or two lines of text can take a reasonable amount of time to write and research a little, to ensure it's relatively accurate, and your memory hasn't betrayed you or played tricks on you Once again, not complaining, I actually quite enjoy it when I've got a bit of time to spare here and there.

 

[JohnPD]

Glad you're enjoying it. It takes a bit more time than one would think, stringing it all together. Even one or two lines of text can take a reasonable amount of time to write and research a little, to ensure it's relatively accurate, and your memory hasn't betrayed you or played tricks on you Once again, not complaining, I actually quite enjoy it when I've got a bit of time to spare here and there.

And it's greatly appreciated!

 

[RichardB]

Awesome thread!

 

[Darren75]

Edit -I almost forgot. Check out the facial features of this statue they dug up. How do you reckon that happened?

Did you blend your own face in?

 

[Markuswelder]

Did you blend your own face in?

Someone else was actually reading a book about the history of there, and mentioned that there may have been other nationalities in the army around that time. I can't remember the exact backstory about that photograph, it may have been the case. Here's another one. The accompanying text would seem to lend weight to that as well

 

[Markuswelder]

Somewhere along the way, I missed one little excursion.
Whilst we were near the Yardang Geological park/area, and heading back to Dunhuang city, we stopped off at the site of the Yanguan Pass ruins. The other of the two famous passes in the Gansu Province, on the Silk road corridor. They were building a Museum when we were there, I'd guess it would be well finished by now lol. A few shots.

This is a statue of Zhang Qian, who was sent by Emperor Wu as an Imperial envoy in 138 BCE, to central Asia. Yeah, 138 BC. Fairly interesting story/s behind it, his explorations and reports were quite instrumental in the establishment of the Silk road. Which was one of the big factors behind China's trading and cultural exchange with the West. Apparently he was captured by the Xiongnu, held captive for 10 years, before managing to escape and continuing his travels.


Apparently the City itself has been buried by sandstorms, the only thing remaining is some ruins of the old Watchtowers & signaling stations. There's also a bit of a local legend in the area, about buried treasure in the form of Gold coins and the like, after a wedding party for one of the Government officials daughters was ambushed by rebel soldiers, then swallowed up by a giant multi-day sandstorm. There's supposedly been Gold coins and other unexplained items/artifacts that have been found in and around the area over the years, so who really knows?

 

[Darren75]

Someone else was actually reading a book about the history of there, and mentioned that there may have been other nationalities in the army around that time. I can't remember the exact backstory about that photograph, it may have been the case. Here's another one. The accompanying text would seem to lend weight to that as well

The face just looks very modern, like a real life person, photographed today, hence my remark. Amazing.