Elephant Game

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, is a two-player Chinese board game and one of the most popular board games in China. The name Xiangqi means "elephant game," a reference to the bishops. It's a battle between two armies, with the object of capturing the enemy's general. Distinctive features of Xiangqi include the cannon, which must jump to capture, a rule prohibiting the generals from facing each other directly, and areas on the board called the river and palace, which restrict the movement of some pieces. Also, notice the placement of pieces on the intersections of the lines, rather than within the squares as is done in American chess. I stumbled across this scene while strolling through San Francisco's Chinatown and it was really fascinating. It was evident these men took the game very seriously. They were strategic in their moves and the competition was fierce.

The Bucketman of San Francisco

I met Larry Hunt on the street just before leaving San Francisco. Larry, who has battled homelessness, is making a living as a musician but acknowledged he's behind on rent because of tickets for playing on the street. He has had some success: He made an appearance in the movie The Pursuit of Happiness starring Will Smith, for which he now collects royalty checks, and his music is in several TV shows now.

The Bucketman from Ryan Stanton on Vimeo.

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After seeing it on postcards my entire life, I finally experienced the Golden Gate Bridge up close and personal today. The bridge is technically Highway 101 North, which links San Francisco and Marin County, Calif. The bridge was built in 1937, a feat some considered impossible because of the area's foggy weather, 60-mph winds and strong ocean currents. I'm told the two main cables contain enough steel wire (80,000 miles) to encircle the equator three times. And the concrete poured into its piers and anchorages would pave a 5-foot-wide sidewalk from New York to San Francisco. Oh, and I also learned the color of the bridge: International Orange.

San Fran Day 4 (Part I)

A few random sightings on the way to Coit Tower and city hall.

San Fran Day 3

Sunday involved a trip to the southern parts of town, seen in the first two images, followed by a ferry ride out to Alcatraz, the famous federal prison known as "The Rock."