People’s Park in Tianjin

April 28, 2013-

I've had this goal in my head to learn how to use my big fancy schmancy DSLR Canon camera by photographing different places in Tianjin.  Our expat friends have mentioned at various different times that People's Park is an interesting location, especially early in the morning when the Chinese are out doing their morning exercise routines.

Let's go check it out!

Sadly, today is a gray, blah sort of day.  But hey, let's go anyway!

The entrance to the park:

We have with us one extra person- one of the girls' friends, Amelie.  All the girls have either a scooter or roller skates to play with.  So, if I thought that I got a lot of attention having two kids….having THREE kids is just plain ol' CRAZY!  It was amazing how many Chinese people were gasping and exclaming that I had THREE kids in Chinese (remember, they've got no clue that Amelie isn't mine).  Those girls sure made a LOT of heads turn!  LOL!!!!  

It's fun watching the Chinese doing their exercises- some people are practicing tai chi.  Others are practicing a form of martial art using swords (like iaido), others are dancing, playing badminton, doing calisthenics, jogging and strolling around the park.

The park looks like a jewel green island in the middle of a dull, concrete gray city landscape.

Hilarious boats on the man-made "lake":

Using swords: 

There were several different groups of people practicing tai chi. Anyone and everyone is allowed to join in.  You don't have to sign up or pay…you just show up and join in!  Next time I come I'll try it too!  

Tai chi is beautiful to watch. It's very graceful and ballet-like.

Several men were playing with these string toys that make loud noises.  I'm not sure how to describe the noise or these toys.  All I can say is it looks complicated to use.  It definitely takes skill to keep those bobs (?) on the string and not fall on the ground:

Beautiful flower display at one of the park's entrances:

Making heads turn:

See? Didn't I tell you that we made lots of people stop and stare at us?

Do they have any birds in this park???

Well, sort of…What do I mean by that ?????  Take a look:

Do you see the bird inside the birdcage in the middle of all the flowering fruit trees???? All I can say- that poor bird. How can it not long to be set free from its prison???

And making more peoples' heads turn:

LOL!

A couple practicing their dance moves:

We'd heard that people practice cracking their METAL CHAIN whips in the park….so Mark decided to bring his special New Zealand handmade whip with him to practice.  

We found the guys practicing their whips and they were more than very interested in watching Mark crack his own whip and then trading whips so that he could try their chain whips and they try his.  

Do you see what's wrong with the below photo? Mark is trying to crack a chain whip.  

Well, okay. So nothing is really wrong. However, in China you do NOT walk or play on the grass. Grass is for looking at – not playing on. That just drives me up the wall! At one point a police officer came over and started yelling at Mark – telling him in Chinese to get off the grass. The other whip guys came to Mark's defense though.

Mark was amazed at how much strength it took to crack one of the metal whips. Plus, he said they use them different than how he taught himself to crack whips.  By the way- never mess with a person with a metal chain whip.  Honestly.  Those things are dangerous weapons!  (so guns are outlawed in this country but you can own and use one of these….we think these could potentially do more damage than a gun!).  

Two ladies asked very politely and kindly in English if they could their photo taken with the girls.  Thank you for asking nicely and yes you may:

Some other women were trying to strike up a conversation with Annika and Amelie:

Not sure what was going on in front of this building:

Looks like a Buddhist ceremony…but I'm not sure.

oh, wow!  Now there's a different, large group of people practicing calisthenics at one of the entrances to the park:

Time to go!

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Huh.  So I was trying to take nice photos of the park but I have to say I didn't the photos I was hoping for.  I still need help figuring out how to use my camera properly.  The light gray concrete threw off the light meter and my photos all look washed out and blah.