There are people who live lives of adventure after adventure, an interesting side effect in the search for a better life beyond our tropical cluster of islands. They amaze me with their stories, of taking chances in a foreign land where they didn't speak the language, of surviving by solving each problem as it arose, and stumbling through each roadblock to arrive at a destination where life is at its worst, bearable, and at its best, wonderful.
People who thrive on searching for the next big opportunity or the chance to start something, anything, are always interesting. I've always been the one to choose erring on the side of caution when presented with an opportunity, so the chances that these people have taken I know I can never take for myself, and that's what makes their stories the stuff you want to vicariously live your life by.
These stories are not without their bad sides, however. Some have downright scary turns. But what's amazing is the will to stand up and start all over again.
Took these shots of my friend Rigs, one of the most enterprising people I know and the man behind Imperial Ethos Consulting, a consulting firm in CQ. We scheduled this shoot inside one of the lovely cafes in Olympic Gardens on a drab and rainy afternoon. Shu Cafe is where all the people who have decided to shun Starbucks like to congregate instead. The chairs are huge and comfy and the wooden tables long and perfect for large dinners with friends.
Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits
Or an afternoon portrait session on the fly.
I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
Rabindranath Tagore
Four frames of this lovely couple.
Shot this session back in May and looking back at the photos is making me miss the warm sunshine and the lovely way the leaves turned yellow as spring sprung to its fullest. These days, the city is a gray, weepy mess, although it is still beautiful in it's own way. I can't wait for the leaves to turn and have their colors warm this otherwise cold and drab landscape. For now, I'll have these shots to tide me over.
I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation.
It is too long ago.
I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
― Jane Austen
Living in a foreign country for the better part of the year can be daunting and lonely. My first months in CQ were spent indoors. Although I love staying at home, there comes a point when it becomes stale and you crave for human interaction once again.
This is why JP and I are so blessed to find a group of like-minded people who come from where we come from, speak the same language, and love the same things we do. M and C hold a special place in my heart because they were the ones who basically taught me the ropes about living in this big and beautiful city, from how and where to buy a SIM card to where to go for a haircut and everything in between. Honestly, we enjoy living in this city so much because of them and the family that they welcomed us into. And for that, I will forever be grateful.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
So JP and I decided to visit university town Da Xue Cheng which is where the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute is located. Although the area is still part of CQ, I felt like I travelled to another city because unlike other metro trips, we passed by sparsely-inhabited areas and new construction zones after leaving the denser part of the city. The trip also took us about an hour.
Upon arriving, I immediately sensed the young, fresh energy distinct to university towns. Lots of kids on bikes taking photos, congregating in coffee shops, as well as families on picnics. Ofo, a bike rental company that rents out its bikes using a nifty app, just opened in the area, so you can see everyone, young and old, trying out the trademark yellow bikes.
We spent the entire afternoon walking around, and got to see the institute famous graffiti wall, went inside art galleries and walked through the commercial area populated by dress shops, flower shops, cafes and restaurants.
The place reminded me a little bit of Dumaguete and Silliman. Young energy, students with fresh faces and the vibe of a thousand bright futures that are just getting started made me miss home all of a sudden, not to mention the fact that the area is criss-crossed by walking lanes flanked left and right by different types of trees. if you're observant enough, you might spot the sculpted form of a woman in red, blue or yellow peeking through the trees. They're not spooky, but they add to the artsy vibe. Camera-toting groups are also a common sight.
I definitely, definitely love this place, and this is already a favored weekend spot if and when we find the time again. Friends also recommended a few restaurants in the area that we should try, so that's another reason to go back.
A few shots of one of my favorite areas in Da Xue Cheng.
travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel
PS: If you want to see Da Xue Cheng on film, watch the movie A Woman in the Shadow, a 2016 psychological thriller set in university which features it's most popular spots. Watched it last night only to realize it was the same place we visited a few weeks ago!