Murals In Oakland's Chinatown

Art abounds in Oakland and its Chinatown area has murals practically around every corner. Space to fill and paint to fill it.

Here's a typical Chinatown mural, giant and full of tradition. And then some overlay graffiti. Art evolves.

Asian themes are featured, from mythical, ancient warriors to mythical, silly cartoons.

Hey, you're not Chinese. "No, I'm just god of all basketball in the Bay Area. You need a pizza?"

Back to the Asian themes, love us some panda and dragon cuddling. Another crasher. Wait, you were here first, please accept our apologies.

Why stop at walls when your art can go mobile?

Details Of Samarkand, Part Three

What other little visual gifts you got, Samarkand?

Building construction in the standard concrete with brick filler design.

Decorative wall behind the Registan and a sea of sprinklers in the morning light. A mighty mural, a type of art commonly featured on many apartment buildings throughout Uzbekistan.

Heavily groomed park with a big, fake, metallic tree.

Throwback medallion. Golden disc commemorating 50 years of atomic accomplishment research at a university. Sweet looking sweets outside a shop.

The everyday next to the timeless. Always good to get a parking space close to a monument. 

Details Of Samarkand, Part Two

Wandering the streets of Samarkand, stopping at some non-sites.

Restaurant mural. Pristine waterfalls or giant slabs of raw beef?

Memorial flowers at a cemetery. All plastic. Dusty field with poles.

A neighborhood market, low on inventory.

A tree grows in Samarkand. Apparently, all it needs is a gutter. Quickie Silk Road character cutout photo op.

Samarkand Costco. Toilet paper, jars of pickled tomatoes, cooking oil, diapers by the pallet.

The Palestinian Struggle In Murals

The city of Kota Bharu is in the most conservative, Muslim part of Malaysia and it features a set of street art murals to express sympathies for the plight of the Palestinians in the Middle East.

The city has re-purposed a section of alleys for the murals, complete with carpet entrance.

A holy war down the street, complete with preaching Imam, military helicopters, injuries and bloody despair.

Triage.

A little break for a look at the arts and sports.

Back to conflict, a helicopter and tank rumbling.

Murals In Kota Bharu

Time for Kota Bharu's Instagram moment. If you paint it, the hipsters with their handphones will snap, right?

Ooh, a willing couple enters a mural alley.

Make sure to feature regional highlights. For Kota Bharu, religion and food. Notice the 3D pouring teacup.

Some respect for the area's railroad, with 3D wheel detail.

More 3D magic, this time for Chinese themes: trishaw riding and costume parades.

The themes come quickly, upping the posing opportunities.

Some Details Of Surabaya

Time to take a little wander, see what makes Surabaya unique.

Military statue of general Sudirman Kogartap, with Indonesian flag. To the point.

Fish stall woman, keeping the 'do in tact with a plastic bag coverup. Chinese office supply shop with vendor feet.

Lobby of an old hotel, now used mostly as mini offices.

Fun sculptures in the city. For some reason, a crocodile fighting a shark is Surabaya's main symbol. Another regional passion is bull racing. Best of luck in those endeavors.

Political mural. Check out the money, rat and hoax details. A mood sweeping the world?

Murals At The Submarine Pasopati Museum

When you visit the Russian submarine Pasopati museum, don't miss the parade of folk art-like murals along the boundary wall that circles the area. There are more than a dozen scenes, telling somewhat random sea, Navy stories.

First up, let's go with a site plan of the place.

A slice of ancient maritime history and a more present look at naval power.

Highlighting healthcare, education and climbing buildings?

Time waits for no mural. Several of the works are now obscured by mini hawker shops. You gotta dig through the stock to find the art.

Have a seat and order a sub with your sub.

A Mural For Everyone At Wat Khun Inthapramun

Frequently Buddhist temple complexes have elaborate murals that depict various religious legends, tales, fables. At Wat Khun Inthapramun, they're busy painting a different kind of mural. Call it hyper realism for their own community.

The mural, partially finished.

Alright, taking inclusivity seriously. The mural is a combination of painted versions of photographs from the congregation. Fun stuff, nothing is edited away. Taking pics, selfie sticks, sunglasses, jeans, sure!

A little shout out to the folks building and restoring the complex.

Your dog, dorky camera gear, it's all good.

The cops get their space. And are seen doing their cop things with cell phones. It should look great in 50 years, a real time capsule.