The Chinese Immigrant At The Golden Buddha Temple

The Golden Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Chinatown has a museum section devoted to the hard-working life of Chinese immigrants. Bangkok provided trade opportunities for the poor and immigrants, particularly from China. They arrived in droves during the 1800s.

Fresh off the boat. Chinese labor on the docks.

You can't work without a good meal, street food always plentiful.

The dry goods food store.

Other trades settled in Bangkok, producing baskets and classic Chinese porcelain.

Back to the docks, more cargo to haul.

In The Port Area Of Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The Yancheng area of Kaohsiung in Taiwan is near the old port area of town and the gritty neighborhood is still full of support services for the shipping industry. Think pumps, chains, winches, engine repair. Cover yourself in grease and you're all in.

Typical storefronts, piles of old gear, machinery to move it.

Did they shoot the Taiwan version of Sanford and Son here? Endless chains.

A lot of the work happens right beside the front sidewalk.

Strips of colorful plastic whatever. A nice nod in a nearby park to the maritime history, benches made from old tanks.

Labor portrait.