My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

ZhouZhuang - Life by the Canal

China | Friday, July 5, 2013 | 5 photos

In December 2012, I travelled to mainland China for the first time. After seeing Shanghai, I decided to head to ZhouZhuang Water Village, regarded as the "Venice of the East", situated a few hundred kilometres away from the modern city.

The very first thing that caught my eye were the 'gondolas' and the men operating them. This was what ZhouZhuang was famous for - men on boats ferrying tourists from morning till dusk, just to earn a living. Coming from Shanghai city, ZhouZhuang Water Village was like an ancient China frozen in time. Every aspect of life by the canal was so basic and minimal, it was like a glimpse of the harsh reality of life in the area.

It was unquestionable that places like ZhouZhuang were deliberately conserved as tourist destinations, and I couldn't help but wonder if these small villages reflected the true China, while the big cities like Shanghai were nothing but a facade created for the world. What else lay out of sight to the average tourist?

Being relatively new to photography, I tried my best to capture the lives of these men - from ferrying tourists on their ‘gondolas’, to preparing dinner. As I submit this entry, I hope to inspire other travelers to think beyond the facade of tourist destinations and to look for the true stories behind the places we travel to.

With my camera, I hope to develop the skills and ability to tell stories about places, which have important stories that need to be told. Being adventurous, committed and willing to go the extra mile to capture that shot, I would say that, with proper guidance, I have the potential to be a true Nat Geo photographer. It would be an honor to work alongside Mr Jason Edward.