I could have taken an hour flight from Kunming to Lijiang, but decided to be more adventurous and take the train instead. I wanted to experience and get a feel of the local's way of commuting on the railway lines. The passengers I shared the booth were very friendly , helpful and generous . After striking a conversation with them in my limited Mandarin, they wanted to share their meals with me. In return for their kindness, I bought snacks on the train and shared with them as well. When I arrived in Lijiang, fellow passengers were kind to help me unload and carry my excess luggage of gifts I had bought for my family.
Finally home with my Brother , Nephews and Grand children.
Reunion with my childhood schoolmates
We were kids in Chung Hua Xiao Xue ( Chinese School ) in the late 1950s in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India . Our lives parted in 1960 when my family moved to the city of Calcutta . During the Indo - China border conflict in 1962 , Chinese families were uprooted from their homes in the border towns. Some were incarcerated to Delo Concentration Camp in Western India, in the State of Rajisthan while others made their way out of the country back to China and other parts of the world. Most of us in this picture were between the ages of 10-12 when we parted our ways in 1960 . After a separation of 51 years, we met again in April 2011 in Kunming . My schoolmates were so kind to invite me on 2 occasions for reunion banquets . Words cannot express the joy and gratitude for their kindness, hospitality and generosity, each one extended to me. That was definitely one the the highlights of my visit to Kunming.
Visit with my Family
My late aunt had 6 daughters . My second cousin passed away several years back. I went to visit my Brother-in- law and other members of my Mother's family.
Kunming, Yunnan .
I was a year old when my family moved from Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province in South West China to Hong Kong in 1949. A year later, my family sailed to the city of Calcutta, India . We eventually settled in the hill station of Kalimpong amongst the Nepalese people. There was a fair size community of people from Yunnan in the 1950s.
My first visit back to Kunming was in 1996 when I returned with my wife and youngest son. Fifteen years later, I revisited my birth place. The pictures following are scenes I encountered in the early morning when commuters were heading out to their work places and schools .
Street Photography- Kunming
