We had originally planned a quiet afternoon at the Whitworth Gallery and its famous café. Nestled within Whitworth Park, the park’s entrance is framed by a stunning row of tall trees, with carpets of bluebells blooming underneath. The little bluebells were so cute.

However, life had other plans. Upon arriving, we discovered the café was closed for a private wedding. While the coffee would have to wait, the art certainly didn’t disappoint.

We spent some time exploring the works of Katsushika Hokusai and other masters. It’s impossible to escape Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa in modern pop culture, but seeing it in person is a different experience entirely. Although several hundred impressions of this woodblock print exist worldwide, there is a distinct gravity in knowing you are looking at a piece struck from those original historic blocks.
It brought back memories of visiting the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands with my dear friend. Standing before Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, and The Bedroom—pieces I had only ever seen in books or on screens, felt surreal.

I found myself wondering, “Is this really what Van Gogh painted, stroke by stroke, over 130 years ago?. What was he thinking as the brush hit the canvas? I suppose I have a habit of getting lost in these “useless” little daydreams.

Since the Gallery Café was closed, we finally made our way to Neighbourhood, a spot we’d been meaning to visit for ages.  The owners clearly pour their hearts into the menu. We ordered the Taro Homemade Pork Floss Bagel. I never would have imagined that sweet taro mash and chewy mochi could pair perfectly with savoury pork floss, but the flavours were incredibly balanced. Plus, the presentation of the giant bagel was just too cute not to share.

Sometimes, plans fall through and reality takes a different turn. I’m starting to realize that when one door closes, a different and perhaps more interesting choice is usually waiting just ahead. There is so much in life beyond our  control. All I can do is remind myself to keep moving forward.