Caftans and Circuses

The past week has taken me (with my sketchbook) to a hospital cafe and a medical clinic, waiting while my spouse is seen to for a cataract procedure. What would I do without a sketching hobby! 

Here's a lady wearing a striking striped caftan with a headscarf in the rather small and quiet hospital cafe. 

It turned out a much more stimulating experience than expected when a mandarin-only speaking man asked to share my table. With my primary school mandarin and the translation app on his phone, we managed to strike up a long conversation and exchanged life stories! I was impressed he knew mine was a sketch and he taught me the mandarin term for it (su4 miao2). He was very happy to have me sketch him too! Urban Sketchers just keep on having good experiences. Art does bring people together!

Here's people in the waiting room of an eye clinic while my spouse had a checkup after his successful procedure a couple of days ago. 

Is that a circus I see in the distance out of the window!? Yes indeed! It is the Circus Royale Australia near the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. As I learn, it is an Australian owned and operated circus that travels around Australia. Currently closed on a belated Christmas break they will soon be back performing!

Marker pens, #Stillman&Birn Zeta Sketchbook, 7.5”x 7.5”, #HandbookJournal 5.5" x 5.5".