Monday, 12 April, 2010

"Correspondence Over Hot Soup"

Kitchen, Øresundskollegiet, København

I finally checked my mail after almost two weeks...and was overjoyed to find 4 letters and a beautiful black and white photo waiting patiently for me. So many dreams, fears and vulnerabilities have been shared in this trans-atlantic-pacific exchange, such a lot of extravagant love.

A swedish Wasa cracker was originally in the soup bowl, but it got really soggy while I took my own sweet time composing this picture, so I ate it up :)

I read the letters over good hot tomato soup and grinned like an idiot the rest of the night.

-Darell

Sunday, 11 April, 2010

Get Hot and Get Medals

Swarthmore

Has been my saying for the past season. It's a way of motivating myself (and my squad) to train and get to the gym. And it paid off! These are my two medals from the South Atlantic Conference 3 weeks ago (gold squad medal and bronze individual medal), and I just got 7th place for the individual round at nationals yesterday.

Our squad should have done a lot better. We had a pretty high seed, but we were upset in the second round of pools. Oh well. There is always next year. None of the girls are graduating, so we'll do better when I get back from Copenhagen!

And I made the individual round, which was pretty epic. All the other girls were INSANELY good. I got wrecked by some of them. But I had my fair share of nice touches and lucky touches (including a really nice one I made to someone's foot!). Basically my entire team was there cheering me on, which is the best feeling in the world. My friends made a pyramid for me.

I also get really bad nerves on the fencing strip, but I am finally getting hold of my mental game. One of my coaches always told me to get on the strip, to take all the negative energy balled up in my stomach, and to let it explode. I never understood what he meant till this weekend.

Ahhhh season's finally over. I have so much time now! It feels amazing. What a good way to go out. I am in so much pain right now but it was all so so worth it. Plus I went out right afterwards and had a huge omelette and a side of bacon. :)

-Jing

"All Knotted Up"

Rungsted Kyst, Denmark

-Darell

-june.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Nifty Fifties

Folsom, PA

Milkshakes. So good.

-Jing

"A Royal Parade"

Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

Figures of old kings bow in reverence as one approaches the highest point in the tiny city of Kutna Hora: the Church of St. Barbara, with its dark gothic spires.

A dizzying climb up but so worth it.

-Darell

-june.

Friday, April 9, 2010

"Cradle Mountain"
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

This basically sums up the weather 80% of the time I was in Tasmania.

It was a long walk around Dove Lake to get a glimpse of Cradle Mountain but alas it was covered in fog!! Anyway, funny story because we were snapping pictures at what we thought was the peak of the mountain....only to realise the next morning that it was the wrong peak (after the fog cleared up).

- Jian

Sunglass weather

Swarthmore, PA

I love it when it's nice enough out to drive with my red sunglasses and my windows down. Sun! This was the day I went out sketching with my friends Fanny and Ben.

-Jing

Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

Stumbled upon a live concert by chance.

*giggles for obvious reasons*

-Darell

-june.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Quest!

Swarthmore, PA

Saw this on the way to the science centre.

-Jing

"Trailing Lines"
Gordon River, Tasmania

One of the highlights of our trip was a cruise along the Gordon River in the West side of Tasmania. It was pricey but worth it! The colours were beautiful on the day itself.

We began our journey from the quaint mining town of Strahan (pronounced Straw-n) and ventured down the Gordon River making 2 stops some islands along the way. Lush greenery!

- Jian

"Essentials"

Cafe Vitezzi, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

My loyal travel companions include:

-the obligatory cup of local coffee

(Cesky coffee gives a sludge that collects at the bottom of your cup)

-a pretentious Notring fountain pen

-the warmest, softest pashmina shawl in the world

-the newly-acquired Kafka-esque fedora

<3

(minus the ashtray)

-Darell

-june.

Wednesday, 7 April, 2010

"Whipping Easter Monday"

Stare Mesto, Prague, Czech Republic

Boys whip girls (gently) with pussywillow twigs to ward off bad spirits. Girls reward boys with painted eggs. I can see how this tradition won't be favourable in the US...

-Darell

Take-out

Swarthmore, PA

-Jing

"Was it worth it?"
The Gulch @ Bicheno, Tasmania

We stayed the night in Bicheno (which is South of Binalong Bay) and the next morning, myself and J went for a sunrise shoot. We got up at 515am I think?

Anyway, I got a great long exposure shot of the sunrise. Everything is perfect except for...the rain droplets on the lens. Ah!!! How frustrating. Another lesson learned: wipe your lens before taking a shot!

Sunrise was exceptional by the way.

- Jian

Tuesday, April 6, 2010.

Roberts

Swarthmore, PA

This is the arch at the entrance of my dorm. And these are the trees that smell good.

-Jing

"Peep Hole"

Castle Fortification Wall, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This was how they kept tabs on approaching enemies.

On your guardsssss, men!

Pour the hot oil cauldrons down!

I've got calf muscles now, all this castle-climbing :D

-Darell

"Footsteps In Time"
Bay of Fires @ Binalong Bay, Tasmania

My favourite shot of my trip to Tasmania. I've always wanted to do this standard shot that everyone does. I am so glad I got it right!

Footsteps really intrigue me. A reminder than we leave a bit of ourselves wherever we go.

Anyway, Binalong Bay is on the East of Tasmania. It rained about half an hour after we started walking on the beach!

- Jian

-june.