What, you were expecting baby pictures?

There will be lots of those – as soon as Baby Stevo learns to stay awake for more 10 minutes at a stretch, and can keep her beautiful blue eyes open.

My month of traveling is almost up – I look forward to being home-bound for a month or so.

What can I say about Shanghai?

• It’s hot.
• The staff at the restaurant we are frequenting are loud, rude, and slow.
• There may be some sort of ghost in my hotel room – I’m having dreams that can only be described as “freaky.”
• Did I mention it’s hot?

The above photo was taken of a beautiful Asian model at the Interphoto Shanghai show. I’ll keep shooting or another 2.5 days.

Mrs. Stevo and Baby Stevo a week later.

It happened like this:

Monday, June 7: We went to the hospital. Knowing someone that knew someone, as well as a giant basket of fruit to bribe the floor nurses, secured Mrs. Stevo a nice room and attentive care. After checking in and meeting with the doctor it was off to the labour room. A bag of IV fluid, labour-inducing medication, and five hours later, Baby Stevo had yet to arrive. Baby Stevo was stubborn. Back to the room and a night sleep for Mrs. Stevo – back home for moi.

Tuesday, June 8: Back to the labour room. Unlike the day before, the medication kindled a fire. Just after lunch a stronger medication was introduced. Mrs. Stevo’s contractions went from winces to bed-sheet clawing near-convulsions. Our temp Nanny arrived, a sentinel over Mrs. and yet-to-be born Baby Stevo. By early evening Mrs. Stevo was in agony. No epidural until she was dilated enough, said the doctor. “I’m going to die,” she said, again and again. Because things were progressing slowly she was moved back to her room. The baby would come tomorrow, they said. I returned home, to be called when Mrs. Stevo returned  to the labor room.

Wednesday June 9: 1 am – The nanny said “Guo Lai!” when I picked up the phone. I dressed, found a taxi and headed back to the hospital. Mrs. Stevo was in the labour room again, pale, sweaty, and grimly facing her fate. No epidural yet. “I’m going to die” was her mantra. A doctor appeared and I was ushered out. When I returned Mrs. Stevo was roses and rainbows – an IV line snaked from under the sheets to a stand above the bed. She was able to get some sleep, as did I, outside the mosquito net, eaten alive. Three other women arrived in the labour room, they were quickly taken into the delivery room. Baby Stevo was still stubborn. By 5 am the doctor suggested Mrs. Stevo drink Red Bull and eat chocolate. They took her away and the orderly showed me the door. Husbands don’t routinely go into the delivery room in China.

I anxiously sat until an entire extended family arrived to wait. Quiet is not ever a word I would use to describe China. I roamed the corridors, coming back every 10 minutes to see if a nurse had appeared. Tired of walking I stood by the waiting room window and listened to my iPod (with noise excluding headphones) to drown out the unquiet family.

The door to the labour room had been dead-bolted – I had tried to get back in earlier. As I took a break from my musical escape I heard the bolt scrape open. A doctor emerged. All I caught of her statement was “… nu hai.” A  girl. What I wanted. I was excited, but exhausted. No where near as exhausted as Mrs. Stevo must have been. After another hour I was allowed in to visit.

Mrs. Stevo was radiant and angelic, like a renaissance painting. A bundle of blankets was held in the crook of her arm. Babies aren’t bathed their first day in China. Even with a mucky head, Baby Stevo was beautiful. The nanny fawned over them both. I sat a spell and returned home.

I returned mid-afternoon, after sleeping and packing. Baby Stevo and Mrs. Stevo were back in their room. I held my daughter for the first time and walked about the room with her in my arms. It was a brief first meeting – I was headed for Beijing. It would be a week before we spent more time together.

Welcome Baby Stevo.

A pregnant Mrs. Stevo two days before giving birth.

Mrs. Stevo and I will go to the hospital this morning – the goal being the birth of Baby Stevo. My lovely wife is not due until June 11 but during a recent hospital visit the doctor suggested Mrs. Stevo induce labour.

Hopefully this will go quickly and end in a natural birth. Many women in China opt for a c-section to reduce the pain factor. Mrs. Stevo is determined to have the baby naturally – but Mrs. Stevo is a small women. We will have to play it by ear.

It’s isn’t the norm for husbands in China to be in the delivery room with their wives. I asked Mrs. Stevo if she wanted me present to offer support, etc – but she has barred me from accompanying her. In her own words, she will be like a “crazy woman” and doesn’t want me to witness related crazy woman behavior. Given the drama that Mrs. Stevo displays from a stubbed toe it is probably for the best that I wait outside.

While we are hoping this is quick I am going prepared. My iPod is loaded with films, including the classic 1981 Clash of the Titans and something called Mega Piranha.  The netbook and GPRS-equipped phone will be standing ready – as will a Canon DSLR to catch some images of Baby Stevo.

Wish us luck – check Facebook for updates.

Worshippers at the Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan.

I spent a few days in Taiwan, more business than pleasure. I managed to get in a little Taiwan travel and met long-time amigos Carrie from My Several Worlds and Craig, majordomo of Craig Ferguson Images.

Carrie, for those of you that read her amazing blog (and you should), is as you would imagine. In a word: Wonderful. The most surprising thing about Craig was his shock of hair – as red as the fires of hell (thank you Simpson’s writers from that great simile). It was fun to finally meet two people who I greatly admire and who inspire me.

I had one free morning and was able to wander the city. I did what I like to do most: Visit temples.

In the space of two hours I visited four temples. The Longshan Temple in Taipei was the tastiest. There was a service in progress – men and women chanting in a place of worship built in 1738.  I stood and soaked up the sights and sounds – then back to my room. Next time I may spend more time looking at Taiwan Hotels before booking.

I hope to get back to Taiwan – it was too short a trip and there is so much to see and do.

The movers and a rotund Mrs. Stevo.

Asian Ramblings has been woefully neglected as of late. That’s what happens when you’re a jet-setting photo guy with a pregnant wife, a new house, and far too much RL stuff to do.

Mrs. Stevo is quite round and moving at a snails pace. The doctor said the baby is ready to arrive although the due date is June 11. If the doctor was using the lunar calendar (which I still don’t comprehend) Mrs. Stevo could be overdue. I’ve learned not to ask too many questions about Chinese culture.

We have finally moved into Chateau Stevo, freshly remodeled.  I say we meaning myself and my mother-in-law. Mrs. Stevo is still staying with friends and will move in when her maternity leave starts this Friday. I look around the place with awe I we paid for all this, or will have in 23.5 years.

Most of the rooms  are lovely. My “study” is not. Boxes of books, photography gear and assorted crap are stacked helter skelter. I may have time to organize it all, when the baby starts kindergarten.

Pictured above are the movers I have gotten to be quite good friends with. Last Sunday they brought the final load to Chateau Stevo – our large wedding photos and a television. They didn’t even charge us (because they over-charged a naive generous Stevo last time). The television no longer works we learned after trying to hook it up. I have no idea what mother-in-law is doing with her time.

And special thanks to Jessie at Wandering Educators for the lovely baby blanket she sent. Either by luck or fate – It’s Mrs. Stevo’s favorite color.

Dubai

I spent almost a week in Dubai, business hub and home of the world’s largest white elephant building. What can I say about Dubai? It’s hot. It’s surrounded by desert (except for the ocean side), and, the expats outnumber the locals seven to one.

You don’t get to see a lot of a place when you’re working a trade show. The inside of your hotel room and exhibition hall become all too familiar – as does the taxi route between the two. I’m not complaining – I met a lot of great photographers and had some amazing conversations.

My last day in Dubai was free and was spent “seeing the sites.” I don’t have many photos as I grabbed one memory card before jetting away from Hong Kong. My bad.

A desert dune-busting safari in a 4×4, the world’s largest building, a nearly empty beach: Good times. The beach, virtually empty save a few expats was on par with any of the Best Beaches in Hong Kong I’ve seen. I saw the famous 7-star hotel – from the outside. We were not allowed in  – and were approached by security as we sought an alternate route.

I did eat a lot of Indian food. Growing up in suburban Canada didn’t offer many opportunities (actually, any) to consume Indian cuisine. Tasty stuff, I need to try more.

The trip did allow me to indulge in something I have not had in 5 years. Taco Bell. Yes, I went to Dubai and ate Taco Bell. I have fond memories of “running for the border” and it was nice to eat cheese fries again. Of course, I was terribly ill later, but that’s another story.

I did miss China. I missed Chinese food. Dubai was fun but I’m happy to be home.