Best of San Francisco in 4K, a video with high-resolution footage taken by me (the song is also mine, so please subscribe to my YouTube music channel if you like it!). I couldn’t visit every top attraction in San Francisco, but I hope I captured some of your favorites.

What was included

Including the Golden Gate Bridge was a no-brainer. A visit there led me through the Presidio and also to the Palace of Fine Arts. Other obvious additions are Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Cable Cars, Union Square and the Financial District, SF City Hall, Chinatown, Japantown, and the Castro. Capturing an SF Giants game at Oracle Park was also important to me. I didn’t want to just show touristy must-see landmarks; I also wanted to showcase the love and culture that exists among the people who live in the city.

What wasn’t included

There were also some failed attempts, namely when I tried to film Sutro Tower all lit up with laser lights during a temporary art installation only to find it obscured behind a dense layer of fog (Karl gonna Karl). The Ferry Building was also camera shy, as the current retrofit has it behind a shield of construction scaffolding. I also didn’t get a chance to make it up to Twin Peaks, nor did I get great video of Haight-Ashbury or the Painted Ladies. If I missed any of your favorite San Francisco attractions, please let me know in the comments.

It’s not fine art, and I’m not a talented videographer; this was an exercise of love for a city that holds so much beauty and history, even in sometimes troubled times. I hope you like it.

To watch the video in 4K, you may need to select the resolution under the Settings menu (the gear below the video). And if you enjoy this video, please consider “liking” and subscribing on YouTube.

The post The Best of San Francisco in Beautiful 4K Video first appeared on Keane Li.

John Chinaman. Jake. Celestial. Yellow-skin. Chink. Many less-than-preferable words were used to describe the Chinese. Spat upon by many, they were however seen as invaluable to the Central Pacific tycoons who employed them. Hard-working, rarely drunk, seldom sick, paid less… Yet, despite their contributions, many of their histories are lost. When we see their faces in photographs, we see ghosts; we don’t know their names, we don’t know their stories.

One of the most notable things to keep in mind is how nativist (read: racist) forces of the era tried to paint the Chinese railmen as a coerced workforce. While there were many atrocities committed against them, the Chinese who worked for the Central Pacific Railroad weren’t slaves. They chose to leave home for work and better pay, much like immigrants do today. (Much can be said of the fact that they were paid less than the white men who did the same jobs, but the pay was still substantial compared to what they would’ve earned back home.) In true gaslighting fashion, the nativists who equated the Chinese to slaves pretended to care but really only wanted to vilify their hiring and push them out of the country.

And what of the industrialists? Leland Stanford played into the nativist sentiment when he was governor of California, but he (not surprisingly) praised the Chinese when they served him well during his tenure as the president of the Central Pacific. His mood change wasn’t unique, as the nation itself seemed to celebrate the Chinese for their work during the railroad’s completion. It wasn’t until after, when the Chinese and white former railmen went off to compete for the same jobs, did the worst of the violence take place.

A notorious example can be found in the history of Truckee, California. Once home to a healthy population of Chinese workers, the town drove them out in the 1880s using a technique of exclusion so effective it became known as “The Truckee Method.” Charles McGlashan, founder of the Truckee Anti-Chinese Boycotting Committee and the head of the local newspaper, later toured the state promoting this method. Imagine having to be his opening act.

Clearly, there’s a lot of history and nuance to uncover, but what interested me most was how the Chinese departed their predominantly rural homes for jobs in America. Many left behind bloodshed, as banditry and ethnic wars plagued the region exporting the majority of the laborers. And while we often view them as a homogenous workforce today, they were really individuals with their own reasons to leave, their own traumas and their own families left behind.

This is what inspired me to write my novel, The Bamboo Brothers. I wanted to tell a story that gives the reader a sense of what it might’ve been like to leave home, travel across the Pacific, and toil in the American West from the frigid Sierra Nevada to the deserts of Nevada and Utah. While it’s a work of fiction, all the historical elements are true.

Two brothers witness their bucolic lives in rural China upended when bandits destroy their village. Forced to flee, they enlist as railroad workers and follow an exodus of Chinese laborers to California. Thoughts of returning home accompany them as they endure the foreign and often brutal conditions of the American frontier. Little do they know that the troubles of their homeland have also emigrated to find them in the new world, splitting them apart and making them question what it means to find “home.”

At the heart of it is a coming-of-age story following the younger brother as he navigates the emotional journey of losing his family, leaving home and coming to America. It deals with the immigrant experience, family bonds and the universal struggles that none of us can escape, regardless of our skin color.

The post The Bamboo Brothers – A Story of the Chinese Who Connected America first appeared on Keane Li.

Here are a few photos I took. You can view my full SF Pride Parade 2019 photo collection on my Flickr page, where you should definitely add me!

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The post Photos from the 2019 San Francisco Pride Parade first appeared on Keane Li.

Need proof that San Francisco is the best city ever? Check out the last pic.

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The post Photos from the 2014 SF Giants World Series Victory Parade first appeared on Keane Li.

We learned the importance of equanimity in the response of stimuli, that we should remain objective to how we react to things that would habitually cause us to react with aversion or craving. This is not a concept unknown to many of us, however we are also taught the difference between understanding this on an intellectual level and practicing it on an experiential level. Through meditation, vipassana is a practice that can help one break out of the aforementioned habit patterns through the objective analysis of body sensations, with the understanding that all things are impermanent and destined to fade. We are told to release the past and not dwell on speculations of the future, that the time for change comes with the present moment, the one we ought to observe.

There were frequent one-hour addithana sittings when we were encouraged not to change positions. Pains in the legs and back were definitely tests of my equanimity, as was being placed on the zabuton directly in front of the one guy who didn’t seem to comprehend repeated farting in a silent and full meditation hall as a complete faux pas.

The sensations I experienced were intense; pulses, electricity and heat. Of course, there were the completely random memories that came flooding to mind, strange symbols and, because I lived in a dorm with dudes who somehow still peed with the toilet seats down, the intro scene for Danny McBride from This Is the End.

Noble Silence was enacted, meaning we couldn’t speak or even gesture to others for the majority of the course. (It’s a weird thing to know intimate details about someone like whether one is a before-brushing-flosser or an after-brushing-flosser before even knowing their name.) Not socializing, I wandered the woods for hours each day during breaks, taking in the symphony of bird songs, giving names to trees and even composing a poem about them (scroll to the very bottom). There were many beautiful moments, the best being the illumination of once-invisible spider webs, shimmering diamond strands in the subdued morning sun. On the limited number of paths, we explored with our newly enhanced imaginations, creating stone art and playing with sticks like Lost Boys (without the mommy issues) or the kids from “Lord of the Flies” (sans the child murders — spoiler alert).

Stone ogre along the men’s walking trail

I lost track of the days, barely realizing I had numerologically grown a year older. In meditation, I contemplated the food item I craved the most (obviously, this was before the lecture on inhibiting cravings). I concluded that I wanted a something-like-a-burrito-but-less-heavy or a something-like-a-veggie-wrap-but-more-satisfying. For lunch that day they offered a burrito and salad bar, allowing me to create this mythical food item and satiate my desire. I had manifested this lunch wrap, I concluded, and the universe was looking out for me (this was apparently also before the lecture on deflating the ego).

I’ll admit it was not easy, and I felt relieved to be returning home, however I already miss it and suspect I will likely attend again as a server (an old student who both volunteers and meditates). It was an amazing experience, and being back home and feeling fundamentally changed seems more jarring than it was after returning from Italy after two months, even though I was only at Dhamma Manda for less than two weeks. I’ll keep up the practice. Here’s hoping it sticks.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go outside and experience the nowness of now now.

MORE INFO

Part of a global network of self-sustained vipassana centers, the meditation course at Dhamma Manda is taught primarily through audio instructions and video discourses by the late Satya Narayan Goenka, a brilliant and amusing instructor from Burma, with the assistance of a small staff that administers the sittings and fields any questions on the practice. The course is completely free, and, no, it’s not a cult or a scam or a trick to make you join any religion. In fact, it can complement most any crazy faith. Vipassana is appealing because it’s not only pragmatic in its beliefs, it’s also a practice that yields observable benefits in the current life.

If you are thinking of attending, the Dhamma Manda website offers pretty much everything you need to know about your visit, including the Code of Discipline and Course Checklist (including items to bring and directions to the center). Here are some points that might help you out that aren’t explicitly mentioned on their site:

– If you’re new to meditation, I highly recommend practicing at home to get used to sitting in various poses before attending. There is no “wrong” position (they only ask that you keep your back and neck straight), though it’s helpful to have a few in memory to test out which works best for you over long periods of time. I learned that my preferred position was good for an hour but not sustainable when meditating for as much as one does at the center.

– The addithana “sittings of strong determination” are encouraged but not strictly enforced. You meditate for an hour without moving to make the sittings more effective. Like much of the course, how hard you push yourself and how much you get out of it really depends on your own determination. If you experience severe pain, moving is definitely allowed. Just don’t leave the hall until it’s over.

– A bell sounds whenever you need to be someplace, so a watch really isn’t necessary. Still, it’s a useful way to keep track of time if you’re the type to zone out so much you miss the sounds of things. Personally, I think not having a watch makes the days flow more smoothly.

– You should bring everything you need, of course, but should you miss anything, most items are available at the center, including extra blankets, toiletries, alarm clocks and flashlights.

– I attended in May, when nights were cold and days were warm. Layers are particularly helpful, especially light, long-sleeved tops for wandering the woods and protecting yourself from mosquitoes (they offer mosquito repellant as well).

– There are plenty of cushions in the Dhamma Hall, though you may want to bring one you know you like. If you can’t sit on the floor, they also have stools, backrests and chairs.

– Dhamma Manda is entirely run by volunteers and they have no full-time staff, so reserve some time during the last day to help clean up. If you drove and have space in your car, you may be called upon to provide rides for others, however this is not mandatory.

– Please don’t fart repeatedly in the meditation hall.

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“Tree’s Company”
There once was a lonely tree,
who needed some company,
so a rock came down and hammered the ground,
splitting the one to three

The post I Went to a Vipassana Meditation Center for my Birthday and Survived first appeared on Keane Li.

I opted for the Aquatic Park, a historic district at the western end of Fisherman’s Wharf, most recognizable for encompassing Ghirardelli Square. As the sun set, I moved on to Pier 39 to catch the night lights, particularly the two-story carousel located within. (I love carousels.)

The post Fisherman’s Wharf by Night: Aquatic Park Sunset to Pier 39 After Dark first appeared on Keane Li.

I took these photos during my last visit to Half Moon Bay about 25 years later. From historic Main Street to the shores of Dunes Beach to the docks around Barbara’s Fishtrap, here are some pics my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35 mm never could’ve captured.

The post A Magical Day in Half Moon Bay first appeared on Keane Li.

You can thank me later.

The post Golden Gate Park & the Golden Gate Bridge in the Rain first appeared on Keane Li.

Fashion. Travel. Fancy underpants. These were just some of the themes present at Trendy Lime’s JETLAG 26, held last Wednesday at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco. The hotel’s lounge, The Redwood Room, was sealed off for this chic charity event, benefitting the Academy of Friends, an organization that raises funds for care services and educational programs for those at risk of HIV/AIDS.

A diverse crowd of San Franciscans bore witness to a fashion show that went from elegant to playfully provocative (“How does that guy walk so well in heels?!” — See photos below). A date auction followed, all to raise money for the aforementioned charity. Over $2,000 was raised that night, making the event a great success. For more info, check out “JETLAG: 7 Points to Awesomeness,” a post on the event by the group’s founder, Liana Burtsava.

And what’s a San Francisco party without a fun photobooth? Scroll through some of the photos of pretty faces in attendance that night.

Interested in checking out a future JETLAG event? Follow Trendy Lime on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated!

See below for descriptions on the vendors and players in house that night. All photos posted were taken by Damien Miller of Sapient Studios.

SUDAR
The SUDAR collection offers mod, sleek and chic clothing and accessories for both men and women. Focused on experimental, ambitious, future-leaning clothing and jewelry, the label is inspired by a mixture of rich and luxurious cultural references.

SUDAR’s work has been featured in People, Harper’s Bazaar, Advocate, SOMA, Gentry Magazine, Chicago Now and the SF Chronicle, and on television stations such as BRAVO, NBC, FOX and KRON 4. He has designed for James Franco, Art Smith, the 49ers, the NY Jets, Daniel Bedingfield, Delon, Bill Dorfman and many others. Early last year, SUDAR won a Jean Paul Gaultier contest.

SOLZ
The winner of 2012 “Designer of the Year” in the San Francisco Fashion Awards, SOLZ is dedicated to creating functional shoes and accessories for active lifestyles. Famous for their innovative foldable shoes, solar-powered backpacks and mirror watches, SOLZ offered an exclusive sneak-preview unveiling of their newest SOLZwatch, “SHINE.”

ZOZI
ZOZI inspires people to live active lifestyles by connecting them local experiences, getaways and the gear they need to Get Out Thereâ„¢. On ZOZI, you can discover and book unforgettable experiences that are around the corner or around the world and find the Gear you need for your next adventure. It is ranked as one of the “Top 50 Places to Work in America” two years in a row by Outside Magazine, and is listed as one of the “100 Most Brilliant Companies” by Entrepreneur Magazine.

SONAS
Sonas has been creating innovative jeans for the past two and a half years in the heart of San Francisco. Their signature jean, designed and manufactured in California, is a unique patchwork couture jean made from over 50 individual pieces. These unique details have an amazing slimming effect on the body, drawing the eyes to the vertical patchwork and away from thighs. Sonas donates 10% of net profits to animal welfare.

PR SUMMIT
The PR Summit assembles top media influencers for one day of intense panel discussions, keynotes, break-out sessions and networking. Join other media professionals, entrepreneurs, marketers and public relations practitioners driving the next generation of PR. Join 300+ executives, top media infuencers & entrepreneurs discuss the latest trends and best practices in business communications.

The post A Recap of Trendy Lime’s JETLAG 26 at the Clift Hotel in SF first appeared on Keane Li.

Legal reasons prohibit me from doing thusly.

When I lived here as a kid, I had the opportunity to be in the CNY Parade. I wasn’t able to capture that opportunity, and since then I’ve only seen the parade once. Thanks to AT&T and their promotion for the HTC One X+ smartphone, and bloggers Suki and Donna, I was able to fulfill my childhood dream.

Throughout the parade, the AT&T team used the HTC One X+ to livestream video of the crowd directly onto an LED screen along their float, creating much commotion. It was a clever idea, as was the inclusion of cute little kids on the float itself.

If you’re planning on attending the annual Chinese New Year Parade in downtown San Francisco, dress warm and prepare for crowds. Walking may be a better plan than taking Muni, which faces redirection and delays for many of the lines. Watching from hilly streets like California Street is a good option because they’re at the center of the parade, offer ample lights and provide a slope so you can see even from the back.

The current route takes the parade down Market Street, turning down Post to pass Union Square, turning then on Powell and onto Sutter, and finally finishing down Kearny after it turns the corner on Columbus, ending near the Transamerica Pyramid.

Photos and video taken from the 2013 Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco (with a regular camera since I couldn’t score an HTC One X+; boo-hoo, and hence no disclaimer needed for this post).

The post Walking with AT&T in the SF Chinese New Year Parade 2013 first appeared on Keane Li.