California, as many of you already know, is the most racially diverse state in the nation. You get in a place, look around, and you’ll never find just one racial group. Here, it isn’t difficult to cross-culture. I have a pleasure of knowing that I have plenty of options to satisfy wherever my desire and imagination decide to go or be. I can walk to the end of my street and choose what kind of cuisine to eat. On the way, I can come across people of different backgrounds. I can travel further a mile or two, and it’s as if I can get transported anywhere in the world.
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-Do check it at night when the lanterns and buildings are illuminated.-
The Chinese immigration dates back to 1800′s during the California Gold Rush in San Francisco. They did not just mine for golds, but also took other domestic jobs. Most of the restaurants, shops and stores were geared towards Chinese workers. As their population grew, they build their own community that still are rich of their own culture. Today, Chinatowns are scattered all over the states, and the world.
- This is a statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a Chinese revolutionary and first and founding father of the Republic of China. His statues can be found in many Asian locations and Chinatowns around the wold. He developed The Three Principles of the People – nationalism, democracy, and the livelihood of the people. The settling of Chinese in America was not easy. They endured social acceptance, harsh labor, nature calamities and urban renewals. -
Source: Wikipedia, Frommer’s California 2012
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The general consensus is that San Francisco’s first and most important Chinatown is a lot better than LA’s. As for me, it was yet an another amazing turn of event. I didn’t plan to stay the whole day at FYF Fest. I wanted to cross off one of the destinations I put in my recently-created Travel Bucket List. Little did I know, Chinatown was only a 7-minute walk from the FYF Fest venue. Plus, whenever I go to a certain travel destination, I always start from a clean slate, with open-mind and fresh outlook. I may be naive, but I don’t complain anything about it. It’s touristy, small but crowded, and it doesn’t have high-standards. Above all, it’s a trip that allowed me to cross-culture in a big modernistic urban city that is LA.
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What to look for:
- Street Food esp. Sugar Cane Juice stand
- Mahjong Players
- Gift Shops
- Bargains, Cheap Buys esp. clothing, accessories/jewelries and decorations
- Chinese Chess Players (the picture above)
- Traditional Dim Sum
- Chinese tea, poultry, and vegetables
- Palm Readers
May you all have these things, esp. the same good luck I seem to possess when I travel. *knock on wood*
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People’s Republic of China?
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Last Call…
The one below is not from LA. This is from Chinatown in San Francisco. I was there with my mom.
The pictures are great!! I’d love to visit there. I would also love to have as wide a range of cultures and different cuisines here as you get in San Francisco!
I know it is like that in many places as well. But I think California has more spread out international restaurants and establishments than anywhere else. It is cool for us to have that easy convenience. I’d be nice to see what quirks you two come up with if you do get here. Hehe
We’d definitely try searching them out, though often times they find us instead, we’re like quirk magnets!!
Superb, thanks for my tour it feels like I was there!
Thanks as always, Gilly!
Thanks for the tour Rommel. We have never been to Chinatown in LA, only SF. Love your photos!
I bet Chinatown in SF is still as lively and vibrant as it was when me and my mom was there years ago.
Great shots! I love China town (part chinese)…haven’t been in awhile, though, so thanks for sharing!
Glad to see you up and about from time to time Desiree. How’s surfing? So many people along the Santa Monica-Malibu stretch.
Thanks for such a thoughtful post, it was refreshing! I love to hear about new places. The only Chinatown I’ve ever been to was in Canada (Toronto I think?) when I was 11 or 12. I hope to go back someday and get a new take on the whole experience…and bring my camera, too!
Then it’d be a refreshing moment for you if do come back to a Chinatown.
woah! awesome shots! my favorite was that red Chinese lantern! (not really sure of it’s name)…i just loved the bokeh on this pic
Bokeh? Huh?
the subject is sharp and the background is aesthetically blurred
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh
I see. Hehe. You learn something everyday…… from the blogosphere.
I certainly agree!! ^__^
These are beautiful photos Rommel. I love those lanterns.
I want to protest that your Blue photo didn’t win the Colour my World competition!
Oh no, i didn’t enter my pictures. If I did there won’t be any competition at all. BwahahahaHa! Thank for the strong compliment, Debra.
Those are some beautiful images…
Felicia
Thank you, Felicia.
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Beautifull photos! Love those bright red Chinese lanterns! Suddenly missing China town In Manila. Hey, i nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog Awards
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Another one! So Cool! I’m getting a lot of these. I always wondered about a Chinatown in the PHilippines. I only found out about it during research when I was making this post. Do you have a post of the one in Manila, by any chance? Link it here if you do.
Beautiful series!! I love the colors!
Well, hello Featured Blogger.
Thanks for the compliments.
In every country I visit, it’s cool to look for their own Chinatown. And it’s amazing to find the glaring similarities (which is expected) and the peculiar differences brought about by the country hosting it. Have you been to our own version in Binondo?
I’ll just re-reply it. Hehe. I always wondered about a Chinatown in the PHilippines. I only found out about it during research when I was making this post. Do you have a post of the one in Manila, by any chance? Link it here if you do.
Doc Gelo’s blog has a post on Manila Chinatown and other links to Binondo stuff as well. I love how he teams up with fellow bloggers and visit a place he has been to many times. It’s like seeing the place with “fresh eyes.” You should visit binondo the next time you’re here! Here’s the link, hope it helps…
http://docgelo.com/tag/manila-chinatown/
Great images, rommel. I’ve been to a few China Towns across the States. San Fran is my favourite.
I didn’t actually realize that there are so many Chinatowns out there until I research making this post. San Fran sure is making a run for the other Chinatown’s yen.
Love those red lanterns! Thanks for the tour!
The lanterns are actually faded in color. That’s why I don’t have night close up shots of it. Thanks anyways.Those lanterns are very representative of Chinatowns.
Excellent photos Rommel! Some fabulous reds there. These felt more Chinese than some places in China
They actually say that from other blogs. Chinatowns from all over are more Chinese than a lot of places in China.
Great post. Thanks for the tour.
No probs. Thanks for the visit.
Rich colors and texture . You captured the beauty and magic of Chinatown. I only saw the one in San Francisco and it was also a wonderful cultural immersion.
I adore Chinese Lanterns. These are wonderful images. I heard our Texas State Fair is going to have a Chinese Lantern exhibit. I am hoping to get out there and try a few shots. It’s a nighttime thing.
Okay! But don’t do too much of a good job taking pictures which I know you always do. Else, my pictures would feel so small afterwards. Hehehe I’m only joking. Go and share us what you see.
Your photograph is wonderful! a joy to see! Thank you…
Thanks for visiting the blog.
first, I like your new layout and theme color… it is clean and slate and the design don’t crowd over your content.
second, have you been to Hsi Lai temple? I see it on this post as related to.
third, I have a photo of Oxnard that I am not sure what it means, can you help me? someone’s asked me too but I can’t answer it. It’s the road trip highlight… a couple of high poles in the city.
fourth, thanks in advance. see yah!
Yes, the not at all popular Hsi Lai Temple was the first CA destination I’ve gone to.
About Oxnard, I replied my answer to your blog.
Hsi Lai is festive around February, when they celebrate their new year and we always visit. I live around the area and it’s my fave place to go when I want solitude and meditation.
Beautiful images, Rommel — I love all the red! Steph
Wow, have not been here since I was a little kid … a long time ago
Your photos bring back lots of great memories.
really great photo set! I’ve been here twice and it was such a dynamic and energetic place!
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Just so you know I did come back to look again!