More Sights from the Expo 2010

Disclaimer: I know it's March 2011 and these photos were all taken last year, 2010, but that does not mean I can't blog about them anymore. The way I see it, pictures/videos capture not the moment but the memory of the experience; it triggers back how you felt and what you saw...taking you back to that experience. ALL PHOTOS BY JI unless otherwise stated 


Call me weird but I am fascinated with empty spaces, most of the time when I travel I prefer to take pictures of scenes without any person. I just want to have this notion that I was alone. However during the Expo this scenario was simply impossible, I think its in the entirety of China, since it is heavily populated. don't get me wrong I am a people person, its just that sometimes its better to take pictures without strangers in it. Here are a few of my shots during the expo sans the crowd.

More sights from the Expo. 

Towards the end of our first day, we went up to the Expo Culture Center. It's one of the most recognizable structures from a distance, it looks like an UFO that laded, its kind of cool actually. The top floor has its perimeter as a view deck, a 360-degree-view of the Expo grounds and its surrounding is quite a view at night

Expo Culture Center

Image source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shanghai_Expo_Cultural_Center.jpg

Sceneries from the view deck.

I will try to upload a video that summarizes my Expo 2010 Experience

I know the picture quality isn't that good. I was running on super low battery for my canon 550d at this time so I i just used my back up 400d camera with prime lens mounted. I also remember, how tired and hungry I was. I was sticky with sweat from walking all day under the heat. It was one of those experiences where it makes you just wanna go home to your bed to sleep all you want..

Expo 2010 Shanghai China Night Vision

Disclaimer: I know it's March 2011 and these photos were all taken last year, 2010, but that does not mean I can't blog about them anymore. The way I see it, pictures/videos capture not the moment but the memory of the experience; it triggers back how you felt and what you saw... taking you back to that experience. ALL PHOTOS BY JI unless otherwise stated

When the sun sets, the Expo grounds turn into a LED spectacle. Most people would be in awe with all the lights.  If you have seen the movie AI - Artificial Intelligence, you would feel that you are in that time sans the rubles, flying cars, robots but the atmosphere was close. It's like the pre-Jetsons age!

China Pavilion

The icon for this particular Expo. I like it a lot, it has this look/feel of contemporary traditional design. I mean the elements of traditional chinese designs are still present even if the structure is very contemporary. I find it a good fusion.

China Pavilion

More of the Expo Grounds

Taiwan Pavilion

 Taiwan's Pavilion was fully-booked until the end of the Expo. From the outside you could see this "floating" globe that is an actual spherical screen it's so cool since it zooms in and out. Just imagine google earth on a spherical screen.

Taiwan Pavilion

Philippines Pavilion

I have to admit i was excited to enter our pavilion, okay it was more of "shoot i hope its something decent" the queue wasn't that bad, as soon as I entered I heard clubbing music, and we just missed the dance presentation, the crowd i think was 90% korean, which didn't really surprise me. It was a busy crowd and unlike most pavilion, ours was more of the merchandising, I guess we aren't really that technologically advanced like most countries so we just showcased our products.  And the main highlight of our Pavilion was the "Hilot" of course it was for free! Overall the Pavilion was alright, it passed. Maybe next time we should focus more on showcasing our natural resources, culture and tradition, the various lifestyles we live here in the Philippines, you know just so we can show the world how "rich" our country really is. Just thinking.

Philippines Pavilion

The following pavilions, I was not able to go in, just took a picture of the outside. The queues for these pavilions were ridiculously long although I am sure the wait was worth it, i still wouldn't wait since my time was restricted.

Portugal Pavilion

Portugal Pavilion

Latvia Pavilion

Latvia Pavilion

Estonia Pavilion

Estonia Pavilion

Serbia Pavilion

Serbia Pavilion

Spain Pavilion

Spain Pavilion

Germany Pavilion

Amazing architectural design from Germany, and to think this structure is temporary.

Germany Pavilion

France Pavilion

Why are the French so... classic? We all should learn from the french, I still have to see something french-made/inspired that is not elegant. I could be wrong.

France Pavilion

Romania Pavilion

Romania Pavilion

Sweden Pavilion

Sweden Pavilion

Expo 2010 Shanghai China part 2

Disclaimer: I know it's March 2011 and these photos were all taken last year, 2010, but that does not mean I can't blog about them anymore. The way I see it, pictures/videos capture not the moment but the memory of the experience; it triggers back how you felt and what you saw... taking you back to that experience. ALL PHOTOS BY JI unless otherwise stated

Continuation..

Vietnam Pavilion

Another personal favorite, I like how everything was made of wood, the rich wood color gives warmth and simplicity to this structure.

Vietnam Pavilion Exterior

Entrance/ Foyer

Vietnam Pavilion Interior

Exit/ Foyer Part

United Kingdom Pavilion

The United Kingdom Pavilion was also a crowd favorite, the queue for this was just horribly long. I personally don't find the structure that interesting during the day, but comes night time and its quite an attraction.

Back Part of the United Kingdom Pavilion

United Kingdom Pavilion from an Ant's View

This is the front view of the UK Pavilion, I don't see anything special with the cube structure

United Kingdom Pavilion Front View

But I saw pictures of it during the night. Since it was drizzling the night we were near the UK Pavilion, the LED lights were not turned on. Apparently those spiky things have LED lights on their tip, enabling the whole cube to change color. It's pretty cool.

Canada Pavilion

I am partial to this pavilion since I lived in Canada. I like how minimalist the structure is, its classic and massive hehe, the inside of the structure is pretty straight forward, nothing too fancy, just a ramp that goes into the main room I think its just functional, ergonomics played a key element in its design.

Canada Pavilion

Inside the main room, are several interactive activities, there are these bikes and hand pedals you would have to work for the super tall screen in front of you to play a movie. The movies are different each time since the playback depends on how hard you work the pedal. I worked quite a sweat.

Me, having a blast with the pedals.

Canada Pavilion Back View

Italy Pavilion

One of the busiest pavilions, what else can you expect from Italy? aside from being CLASSIC! I swear i wanted to cut in line just to get in the Pavilion, you can barely see what is inside from the glass, just a glimpse enough for you to want to get in.

Italy Pavilion

Luxembourg Pavilion

Whenever I hear this country, I am reminded that they have the highest GDP per capita meaning POVERTY does not EXIST here. I am guessing they have an abundance in steel since the entire structure was built from steel. I learned this the "HOT" way I accidentally touched the exterior wall and damn it was really HOT!

Luxembourg Pavilion

Luxembourg Pavilion Interior

Luxembourg Pavilion Back View

Brazil Pavilion

Nothing special with this pavilion, aside from the HOT BRAZILIAN GIRLS inside assisting but they were kinda uptight and timed everyone's stay inside. The music and the video presentation as really catchy though.

Brazil Pavilion