Chinese tourists take the most interesting vacation photos. From the ubiquitous 2 finger victory sign, to jumping in the air, to positioning themselves and the camera to make it appear that they are holding the setting sun in their hands, they are very creative when it comes to snapping a vacation photo. We have been witness to this vacation photo creativity throughout Asia, but the Chinese seem to take it to a whole new level.
Note the grandmother's arm coming across Amy's neck
Outside the Vietnam Pavilion
Then there are the attempts to pose with white tourists, and we have both been the object of Chinese grandmothers and random strangers wanting a picture with us. After a couple of requests for pictures with us we started turning the tables, also asking for a picture in return. With all of this creativity, when Chinese tourists share their pictures with friends and family back home they have to be filled with great stories. And once we gave it try it was fun, and kind of addictive. At first I was somewhat reserved in my poses, a quick 2 finger victory sign before the shutter snapped, but high up on the city walls in Xi’an I went for the mid-air jump photo. And thanks to Amy’s skill with the camera we caught this little gem.
Although the Chinese have been impressive with their creativity and enthusiasm for photos, at the Forbidden City in Beijing we got a small taste of what maybe in store for us in Japan. While waiting for our tour guide we started talking with a group of Japanese high school students that had lost their teacher and were waiting for her at the North Gate. Before we left on our tour of the Forbidden City I suggested we get a photo with them. You would have thought I offered each of them a $100 bill. Enthusiasm for pictures does make taking them a lot more fun. So expect a bit more creativity from us in our portraits for the rest of the trip. I wonder if the Australians and Kiwis will think strangely of us with our new photo posing ways?
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
The child with the two fingers looks like a salute and doesn’t seem to happy.
And white boys can jump !!!!!!!!!!! That gets you over the six foot mark for sure.
Pictures are great, I am enjoying your trip with every phote.
Love Dad
Oh man. They are gonna LOVE you in Japan. Amy might blend in a bit more thanks to her height and dark hair, but trust me, especially if you go to some smaller cities, you’re gonna feel like a celebrity.
Jenny Kennedy has people taking photos of her all the time, and when we were both in Tahara, we were constantly being grabbed by kids who wanted to practice English and old men who took us to teahouses with food and drinks to ask, “What are your hobbies? I like swimming, fishing and cycling.”
Hee! It’s so cute. And you’ll definitely be hard-pressed to find any Japanese tourist who isn’t posing in some crazy way for photos.
BTW, I sent an email to my Japanese friend in Yokohama and haven’t heard back from him. I’m going to go ahead and CC you on an email in the hopes that he replies soon!
Thanks sister, I have followed up with him and hopefully we can met up next week in Tokyo. I have to find some old men to tell me about their hobbies. That sounds amazing and the tea sounds good. Although it sounds a lot like a scam that happens here in China, a young person will tell you that they want to practice English so why not join them for some tea. Then the bill comes and it is outrageous. We heard of one guy at our hostel here in Beijing that was stuck with a 450RMB ($66) tab at the end of tea. As long as the old Japanese men are not up to those sort of tricks it sounds great.
I love jumping in photos, it makes them so much more interesting. But I really love the girl in the lead photo who has just flung herself against the wall.
Yeah I liked that picture not because the family in the front was so interesting but because it caught two different groups of Chinese tourists posing, and the girl throwing herself against the wall was quite dramatic.
Keith!!
Watch your hair ; D The Japanese love themselves a good tall blond American!!! They can also seem very dismissive….Greg had a hard time with that, especially after experiencing the Korean culture!
Have fun!!! I look forward to see you & Amy in person to hear all of your stories!!!!
Susanne – I hope that we can get up to Wisconsin when we get back. Will you guys be moved in by September?
hi, I really like this post.^.^
I`m chinese, but i dont like 2 finger victory sign when I take photos.