"We are the Children of the Sea, and we have a heart pure and strong as the ocean."

One of my closest friend made such overestimation to ourselves—think we are some kind of artists in our own way and I was somewhat reluctant to consider myself in his fashion but as time goes by I start to realize that this might be true. We were then tenting on Dengbu Island, on a lonesome seashore. I played guitar. We did some shots and drank local rice liquor. It was our utopia and a place full of adventure. We tried to make a fire but the seaside humidity forbade. We were forced to relocate the tent several times because of the tempest and tidings. That night was the first night in my life that I felt so skin to skin with the ocean and with my root, the ocean. 

That was almost half a decade when I just graduated from Putuo High School and we were that innocent and bold with curiosity and love for virtually anything. Afterwards I studied in the best linguistic institute in China. I was the rare ones to have the opportunity to leave and have the chance to look at Zhoushan from a global perspective because language is my forte and I get to travel all the time to strange places serving as bridges between distinct cultures, ergo, only coming back once in a while to this land floating on waters. 

For the time being, I am studying and growing to be a poet, a photographer, a translator, a musician and a filmmaker and I swear to Buddha, none of my current 'works of art' would ever exist if were not for the blessings of the sea, the islands and the inspiration I drew from their innate mystic power.

Mayi Island, on a sunny afternoon, old man cycling home

It is the nostalgia buried deep in the bottom of heart that drives me to write this essay, which is, unfortunately, too impotent to express the dynamic range of this sentiment, though I feel it should be the right time and space for me to at least attempt to describe this smoldering love towards my hometown.

I loved, still love and will continue to love Zhoushan, a lovely constellation of islands. Thereupon I will try my utmost to portray the sight and sound unique to the archipelago.