“A little coffee. A little sunlight. Your troubles will get smaller.”
― Richard Webbera
I've always been a tea drinker but as I got older I realized that coffee makes sense especially if you need a good boost to start the mornings. Apart from that, I know so little about coffee, which is probably because I visit coffee shops purely for the interiors. I couldn't, for the life of me, tell the difference between a cappuccino and a latte, apart from the fact that both taste good with lots of cream and sugar. It's just my luck that more often than not, these cups are served in cafes with gorgeous interiors and lots of character.
Case in point, Coffeeholic in Testbed II, Nanping. I love Nordic-inspired interiors, with their white walls, clean lines and minimalist designs, so when I saw all the white and the succulents, I fell in love. They have a pretty limited menu when it comes to food, but according to the husband, the coffee is really good so that's one reason to go back.
“As long as there was coffee in the world,
how bad could things be?”
― Cassandra Clare,
City of Ashes
Coffeeshop catch-ups are fast becoming one of my favorite weekend To-Dos. So when my friend Helena messaged to get together for some coffee and a quick portrait session, meeting up in a coffee shop was first on our list. It didn't hurt that we both lived near a Zoo Coffee (this one in Caifu Zhongxin), perhaps one of the biggest Zoo Coffees in this city, so it was a meetup that I pretty much looked forward to the entire week.
Meeting new people who turn out to be great friends, the type who you can easily slide into deep, meaningful conversations with, is one of the great adventures when living so far from home. Kindred spirits come in all shapes and sizes and nationalities. For one, we both like to go hang out at coffee shops while ordering the least caffeinated item on the menu! I can't pass up good interiors, even if it means having to order a cup of mocha or hot chocolate every time I see a coffee shop that's fitted out nicely. We were lucky enough since Zoo Coffee serves full meals on top of coffee, has big, wooden tables and plush, comfy chairs that are big enough to sleep in. So between bites, we caught up, snapped a few frames, and made the most out of the Sunday.
It's amazing to think that somewhere out there are future friends who we are bound to meet, swap life stories with, and share significant portions of our lives with-- it's a beautiful thing.
A few shots from that afternoon.
Portraits, Portraits, Portraits, Portraits,Portraits, Portraits,Portraits, Portraits,Portraits, Portraits
I need you before I'm too old
To have and to hold
To walk with you and watch you grow
And know that you're blessed.
Blessed
Elton John
I cannot believe it's been a week since I got together with the CQ ladies for brunch and good old adult conversations at Alpha Cafe. Afterwards we decided to take a quick shortcut through the park on the way home so we can sneak in a few mom and daughter shots of my friend Nochele and her toddler Cayla.
Cayla is a cutiepatootie with the biggest gap-toothed grin and the most adorable laugh. And she's fascinated by everything! I'm jealous at how she can look at a leaf and think that it's the most interesting thing in the world! She was particularly smitten by the flowers and flower-picked her way through the quick and impromptu session. It was a joy just watching and clicking, or occasionally bribing her with a flower to look my way.
Littles, with all their wonder and seemingly boundless energy, are rays of sunshine wrapped in tiny jumpers and toddler sneakers. They really are.
A few shots from that day.