Currently
Big Break
I’m going back to South Asia this weekend, as I’ve been alluding to. Tomorrow night, to be specific. To the remote bits of Northeast India, and possibly Bangladesh. I’m not nuts, I’m just like everyone else, chasing money — ‘cept in this case, I do that by chasing the monsoon, and then chasing leprosy. That is to say, I’m running off to play pseudo photojournalist. Remember when Gregory David Roberts says in Shantaram, that dreams are made (and broken) in Bombay? Right there, in Maximum City, City of Dreams and sidewalk sleepers chasing dreams, mine was made in Colaba, probably the least shady sort of deal going on at Leopold’s that night.
I do a piece for a big name magazine, and I work together with a fantastic photojournalist who is reaching his peak; then pop into Bangladesh to do some work for a UK charity. At this point I’m at the cerebral equivalent of ’shitting in your pants’, and going through the whole melee: OMG how did that happen, how did it get to be me, do I even write well enough, or shoot well enough, to do this? Apparently someone thinks I do, so I’ll just go along with that. In other words, this is my big break. That I will be paid obscenely in a currency that is way stronger than ours, comes second only to what a great addition to my portfolio this will be.
In a completely unrelated incident, the press was over this morning to take photographs of me packing. I’m not that much of a celebrity; it just so happens they’re doing a story on “intrepid women travellers”. It comes out tomorrow in the New Paper, and my mugshot had better be good (I had to wake up at 9 in the morning to pretend to be packing, just for that).
I’ve hit that point where I am brimming profusely with love, and am glad to have certain people around me while all these exciting pieces are unfolding. Especially my parents, who are reading this: you’re the coolest. If I don’t say that I love you enough, well, I do.
To everyone who has been worried about my safety (vis-a-vis Mumbai train blasts): I was not there, and will be miles and miles and miles away. If anything happens in Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunjee, or Bangladesh, don’t freak out, too. I’m more likely to be washed over by rain in the world’s wettest place, caught in the midst of separatist insurgency (kidding). No, I am on my way to launching my professional career and the amount of drive I’ve been exhibiting, has been pleasantly uncharacteristic.
To the winner of Femmequest 2006: oh my goodness, you are so hot.
And on school: I can’t believe I actually have to return in a month.
I am going to miss you.
26 Comments
I love you
i love you too.
we love you too!
all the best all the best all the best!!!!
i’m so happy for you! (i hope i dont sound like a groupie) eekss!! so exciting!!
Be safe, Pop! :)
Have a good one.
not everyone gets the big break but you did because you deserve it. all the best for this trip and stay well. =)
Have a great trip!
So do we! So do we!
Bangalore? Are you passing through here?
And hey, link to those pictures when they’re out, please?
wish i have half your drive and energy…
good luck and be safe…
You do write that well, and you do shoot that well.
Go for it. :)
winner of FQ 2006 rox my sox!
you’ve got a great view of the stage! i would have grabbed her if i was standing at where you are last night :)
I Love you too!!! &
Salut A,
best of luck! you may already have left.. but wherever u r, have a ball!
bon voyage!
gros bises, Satya
PS: I am not going to be in Bangalore till August end now.. so unless u come to Bombay, or r back in S’pore by August 15, wont meet you..
what about my art graded assignment?
haha, hope you enjoy yourself there.i’m kinda sure you will.scratch that. i meant, you WILL enjoy yourself there.
meanwhile, i’ll try to save my art grades:D photoshop really isn’t me.
Nice one, P.
Best of luck with your assignment - it’s a dream of mine to get someone to actually pay me to travel, too. With the high standard of writing / photography on this site on every concievable subject, it doesn’t surprise me that you’ve managed to convince someone to do just that.
I’m looking forward to hearing about how you get on in the North-East of India.
Have a good trip. :)
All the best! Have a great trip and take lots of photos!
Adri,
Have a great trip. And you are that good a writer!
Cheers,
Aun
good luck, be safe!
e: I know I know I know! I have such great friends that they arrive early to chope me a place with the best view, i.e. stage right. Aya in front of me (and upskirt!), Rebecca Tan and Denise Keller to my right… I still don’t know what hit me! :0 (i couldn’t do any grabbing, i’m supposed to be monogamous and all that.. hah)
everyone: thanks a bunch. still packing. sucks.
Hey dri,
got you dark columbian beans from queen vic…either that or the Papua new guinea roast…choose one and tell me by sunday.
and also give me a buzz when you are back cos ive got other stuff for you.
cheers.
Fatgoose @ Melbourne
Congratulations! You rock. (And so does the FemmeQuest winner; my GOODNESS, she was head and shoulders above the competition.)
Oh, you wonderful Adri! You most CERTAINLY write well enough and shoot well enough to more than deserve this fabulous assignment!! You have earned it many time over… Right now you are already my favorite photojournalist in the whole wide world.
Congratulations, Adri, and much, much love always.
im so happy for u girl.
all the best!! u deserve this.
Congratulations! We don’t know each other obviously but that needn’t stop me from congratulating you. You’re an old hand but I still hope you enjoy the trip like it was your first time. Which, if you haven’t to WB, Assam, etc before, you will.
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