Chinatown movies
(Crowd outside video store in Chinatown: Bangkok, Thailand)
I imagine this used to happen on the streets of Britain during the moon landings or the Queen’s coronation, but surely not since I was born in the mid eighties. A group of men scrunched around a television screen in a rental shop window, keeping abreast of the action on a recent Hollywood blockbuster. I was compelled to capture the moment, even though I’m positive there are similar sights in countless Asian cities from China right across to India. To me, however the scene is completely alien and I turned to Pete for an answer as to their behaviour. To discover they had convened to watch a film standing in the street seemed odd to me, but I suppose it’s a free show.
There appears to be a sense of community in Asia, yet also in the Chinatowns of the world that knits the people together. Chinatown as a concept has always felt quite separate to the areas around it as if it’s a little segregated from the rest of whatever country it nestles in, but once inside, one is swept up in the commotion and noise of it all. It is rather idyllic to imagine walking down a familiar street, recognising friends and stopping to hear news and assemble for some recreational purpose or other. I almost envy their film watching since I can never be a part of it.
guess who!
It’s Reiko from Sydney Australia. This is amaging to see you through internet and you live in one of the Asian country.
You look compretly different from Rosie who is in my memories of Calisle.
but you look fine!
I enjoyed your blog, especialy to read when you went to Thailand which is my faverite coutry.
I would like to keep in touch.
see you!
World Cup, London, 2002. Commuting to work, streets quieter than a Sunday except clusters here and there around windows facing TVs. The few people who were going into work still drawn to glimpse something of an event that had the nation holding its breath.