Travel {Missing Home in Da Xue Cheng}

“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.” 

― John Muir

 The Mountains of California

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! 

Personal {Thoughts of home while chasing the last of the sunlight}

Nothing is made, nothing disappears.
The same changes, at the same places, never stopping.” 

― Dejan Stojanovic

 The Shape

I've been having a few conversations about life and growing old and jumping off to new adventures lately  and these conversations always leave me thinking long after the moment is done.

Life is constantly moving and places are perhaps the silent witnesses to life's lows and highs and the beautiful moments in between. There are places that do not leave any impression at all, and then there are those that tug at your heartstrings and beg you to slow down, sit awhile, and even put down roots.

Coming here has allowed me to cross paths with wonderful people who have chosen to put make their homes in a foreign land and made it their own with beautiful moments, memories and hopes for the future and their stories are changing the way I view the world and the very concept of home.

A few shots of Teacher T, at the beautiful Olympic Gardens as we tried to salvage the last few minutes of sunlight the other day.

Portraits, portraits, portraits, portraits,portraits, portraits, portraits, portrait

Personal {Mrs H}

From my observation, the older you get, the more you like the word cozy. 

Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s

There's this restaurant at the Korean business center that has the coziest spaces, complete with large tables, comfy sofas and private booths that are large enough to sleep in. I think it sits between a Korean BBQ and a Chinese hotpot restaurant, but the decor, both inside and out, screams English cafe. I've never done any sleeping the two times I was there, but I can definitely say if I had to choose a place where you can order shepherd's pie and sleep if you feel like it, this would be my choice.

This is also a great place for some girl talk.  Sometimes girls just need a cozy nook to chat and giggle and be serious all at the same time. Took a few snaps of the details while I was there for a quick afternoon drink with T, a good friend who's been teaching in CQ for years.

Too few photos, too short a time to spend there, the good thing is that it's only two bus stops from where we live.