Baiyun Guan

Leaf 68 – Looking Back

 

The Baiyun Guan, or, White Cloud Taoist Temple in Beijing. I visited on a very hot, dry and dusty day in the summer of 2007.

 

 

A woman bowing deep

before the Eight Immortals,

straightens her back

– and lets out

a thunderous belch.

 

 

 

Photographs by Tim Chamberlain

Old Routemaster Magic

Leaf 32 – Looking Back

 

The No. 73 (from an old MG advert, c.1960s)

In the late 1990s, I used to live in London’s Stoke Newington, when the old Routemaster buses were still the best and quickest way to get about town. On Friday nights, the Number 73 was always the party bus – where strangers and familiar faces with unknown names used to relax and chat, or even sing-a-long together on their late night, communal ride home. I also used to hop on the Number 38 sometimes, which was always entertaining whenever Duke Bassie was the on-board bus conductor. Those were happy days for sure.

 

 

DUKE BASSIE

 

Hangin’ from the footplate,

harmonica in hand –

remembering:

the old Routemaster magic,

that kept London moving.

 

 

The Singing Conductor (2001)