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Hong Kong March 23 - March 28 Hong Kong skyline Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper ascending into the clouds (not Photoshopped!) Couple on the Kowloon waterfront Life-size statue of Bruce Lee Jackie Chan's handprints on the Walk of Stars I met some students doing a marketing survey. This is the mall atrium where Jackie Chan jumped from the fifth-floor balcony to the ground in Police Story. The infamous Chunking Mansions on Nathan Street. Tourists are assaulted by Pakistani hawkers here. Copy watch, sir? Custom-tailor suit? The northern part of Nathan Road, viewed from the Langham Hotel in Mong Kok Street outside the Times Square building This is what most of Hong Kong actually looks like when you are walking around. It's one big underground mall. Filipino domestic helpers gather in Central on Sundays. The Giant Buddha, more a civil engineering showpiece than religious site Giant Buddha up close Statues around Giant Buddha Burning incense at the Great Buddha temple Dog rests near the Great Buddha This holy temple features a bored monk sitting at his computer terminal. Changsha, the biggest beach in Hong Kong. Which isn't saying much. I like the cartoon animals undergoing various forms of torture. Memorial to doctors who died during the SARS outbreak Fish on sale at Tai O market

Taipei March 28 - April 4 Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Gate of CKS Memorial Nationalist Chinese flags Flag-lowering ceremony National Palace Museum Protestors Shilin Market Street next to Shilin Market Taipei 101 at night View from the top of Taipei 101 Kevin and his girlfriend sing Karaoke With Kevin at Danshui

Bangkok April 4 - April 7 Wat Arun Statue at Wot Arun Giant reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Wat Pho

Tokyo April 7 - April 11 Cherry blossoms Hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties) in Ueno Park Prayer cards near the temple at Ueno Park PASS MY EXAM! Oh, and world peace too. Statue of Saigo Takamori (inspiration for the movie The Last Samurai) Akihabara: nerd shopping heaven The Budokan is Tokyo's most famous martial arts venue. However, all they had today was a matriculation ceremony. Shibuya, Tokyo's busiest intersection Street near Shibuya intersection Girls do marketing surveys in Tokyo too! A replica of the US Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, given to Japan after WWII Yasukuni Temple: resting place for Japanese war dead. Zero fighter at the Japanese War Museum My friend Rich generously allowed me to stay at his apartment Tuna fish at the Tsukiji Fish Market Crab Cutting tuna fish with an industrial bandsaw Ginza: camera shopping heaven. Note the diagonal jaywalker street crossings!

Singapore April 11 - April 14 At the revolving restaurant above Singapore's harbor Paper lions guard the gate of Night Safari Eating on the street past midnight

Kuala Lumpur April 14 - April 16 In front of the Petronas Towers

Beijing April 16 - April 21 Mao & Me Tiananmen Gate at night Tiananmen Gate at night #2 Monument of the People's Heroes and Mao's Masoleum at night White Pagoda in Beihai Park Long live the struggling peasants The other National Palace Museum That's a big door Passageway inside the Forbidden City Throne in the Forbidden City Palace This tree was probably around back when a real emperor walked in the palace, as opposed to throngs of tourists. More Forbidden City Some Chinglish for you The Great Wall at Simatai. You climb from left to right. Climbing the Great Wall Simatai view Simatai view #2 On tower #8 at Simatai

© Dan Maas 2006. All rights reserved.