Snapshots: Sun Yat-Sen Garden Fashion Shoot
in Vancouver's Chinatown
September 24, 2008
The Sun Yat-Sen Garden is an oasis of peace and beauty in Vancouver's old Chinatown. On a rainy day in late September I was guiding several old friends from Japan around Vancouver and we strolled through the garden and then through the commercial area of Chinatown. Along the way we ran into a group of older Chinese-Canadian women who were enjoying themselves with a 'fashion shoot'. Here are a few souvenir snapshots of the hour we spent in Chinatown that day.
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6 " Fashion Photo Shoot" of elderly Chinese-Canaadian women at the Sun Yat-Sen Park
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13 This is 'Su-Liu'. When she learned I could speak a little rudimentary Chinese, she was eager to have me take pictures of the group and made me promise to email them to her. "But not too close up!" She said. "Don't take close-up pictures of an old woman's face!" Later, when I emailed a few standard group shots to her, she wrote me a short letter in Chinese: "Dear Mr. Ahn Shi-Deng (my name in Chinese):How are you? I was happy to meet you the other day in Zhongshan Park (the Chinese name for the Sun Yat-sen Garden).Thank you for sending your beautiful pictures. All of my friends enjoy getting together and taking photos. I am 76 years old, but in my spirit the years still weigh lightly. I hope to run into you again, either in Vancouver or in Shanghai. I hope you and all your family will remain in good health. Zai Jian!"
14 A few steps away from the quiet of the garden are the bustling streets of Chinatown shops.
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Image and text copyright Sidney Atkins, all rights reserved