It was In October 2006 that China Foto Press invited a couple of photographers on a weekend-trip to the city of Langfang, in the South of Beijing. Of course it was a great honor for me to be given this opportunity, and I tried my best, worked very hard and I think I got some good shots for them.

The whole event was sponsored by the municipal Ministry of Culture, though I am not sure exactly how it all came into place.

We were a group of six or seven photographers from China and from abroad, and what those government officials did is they invited us to excellent lunches and dinners all the time, and then they would load us in SUVs and show us around the place; cultural landmarks, car factories, schools, golf courses, and the likes.

Once they split up the group and hauled me to an old folks’ home in the outskirts. I was by myself with two local officials when our car stopped in front of a group of dancing ladies in a large courtyard. So they like to dance! I thought, and I found it very enjoyable, but I really felt the need to go pee.

The ladies were chanting and dancing and hurling ribbons, there was a large crowd watching.

I stood there in front of them, my camera dangling from my neck. I decided to ask one of the officials about a restroom.

The restroom was right behind the dancing ladies in the back of the courtyard, the door facing the crowd.

The ladies were dancing, the chant went AYAYAY or something like that. It sounded nice.

I crossed the courtyard and advanced toward the toilet door.

The ladies were dancing, and I noticed a couple of old dudes playing the drums in the back.

I entered the toilet, unbuttoned my pants, whacked it out, leaned my head back, and-

- the sound stopped?!

When I was done washing my hands, as I stepped out the toilet door and squinted into the bright light of the day, I could see them: the dancing ladies, the crowd, the officials, and the old dudes with the drums. They were all looking at me.

Langfang, October 26th 2006.

I tried to smile, hoping that I hadn’t left my fly open.

Then someone started with the drums again.

One after the other, the ladies started chanting again.

The dance went on again.

Round and round the courtyard they went.

AYAYAY…

And I suddenly knew it was about time I started taking some pictures.

Posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 02:19 ;Filed under Hebei, I.Heart.China.

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