2014 Round Up

As cliché as it sounds, 2014 has been one hell of a roller coaster ride. I wouldn't say it was the best year of my life but it was definitely something else.

365 days ago, I was on the street half drunk whilst counting down for 2014; 365 days later, I am sitting on my bed, writing this blog post with 3 adorable dogs lying next to me. (If you'd ask me, probably the best way to start the year) Crazy huh? How things could change so much in a year.

Change is a scary thing. It's always scary to step out of your comfort zone and do something different. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I started off the year as a person that based her happiness entirely on others, a person that didn't really know the true meaning of happiness. I had 2 terrible heartbreaks in 2014 and I can ensure you, they were the most horrible thing I have encountered ever in my entire life. Five months ago, I lost someone that I really loved. It was hard, really hard. I couldn't eat, couldn't work, couldn't do anything at all. He made everything so easy and that hurt me even more. I tried everything to take the pain away. I drank and partied almost every day but it was useless. Yes, these things might be able to numb your pain for a while, but that's it. A while. What about the minute you wake up? What about the day after tomorrow? That pain you're feeling right now will always be here waiting for you. In the past few months, I figured the only way to truly get over someone and be happy again is to understand your feelings; understand the core of the pain. Don't be afraid to admit you're hurt. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Try to comprehend the reasons behind your feelings. Be brave and face whatever's hurting you. It's okay to curl up into a ball and cry. Nobody says it's going to be easy. Take as long time as you need but always, always remember that things will eventually be okay.

"Until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed. You can bandage the bleeding with food, with alcohol, with drugs, with work, with cigarettes, with sex; But eventually, it will all ooze through and stain your life. You must find the strength to open the wounds, Stick your hand inside, pull out the core of the pain that is holding you in your past, the memories and make peace with them." - Iyanla Vanzan

As much as I would like to rant about the heartbreak, I wish to end this insane year with a smile, so here is the happy side of my 2014.

• Finished my amazing freshman year in Hawaii 
• Interned at a vet clinic for 2 months
• Helped the veterinary desexed 2 of my dogs
• Started the first half of my sophomore year in the University of Rhode Island
• Saw snow for the first time
• Met a ton of new friends in Rhode Island
• Been to a total of 6 states (California, Utah, New York, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Massachusetts)
• Went to Japan and Bali 
• Started this blog
• And finally, survived 2014

Choosing Happiness

Choosing happiness is not as simple as choosing what flavour ice cream to buy. It is not just like "okay, this is the one I'll pick." It is not only about having a change in your perspective but also making a plan and setting your goals; knowing what are you need, what are the things that will help you or cure your unhappiness - and telling yourself what you should do yo get what you want. And, of course, for you plans not to be wasted, you have to pout them into actions; if you have told yourself tomorrow you'll talk to your old friends or write them letters or you'll go to your favourite coffee shop or fast food chain or somewhere else with someone, do it, with all your heart and your mind believing that you'll really be happy. 

Happiness, you don't just choose it, if you don't work for it, you won't get it. 

- Jerico Silvers

Throwback Travel: Phuket '13

Ugh why didn't I start blogging a year before, I would have had so many travel posts by now! But I guess that's okay, we got throwback thursday now right? Whoever invented that, props to you! *wink*

"Passengers, please fasten your seat belts. We are about to arrive at the Phuket International Airport."  I quickly finished my lunch meal (Yes! Lunch was provided!) and buckled up. I was lucky I got the window seat because the aerial view was absolutely stunning. The sun was shining brightly on the Andaman Sea, making it sparkle as we flew across it. With a bit of your imagination, the whole view actually looked like little green chess pieces floating on a dark turquoise board, absolutely gorgeous.

I've been to Thailand a little more than ten times now and I can assure you, Thailand is one of those places where you would never get bored of. I discovered so much more about this incredible country every time I came back.

The hotel we stayed in was the Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. It is a five star resort, and according to their website description, is "located in the heart of Patong and tucked within the fashionable Jungceylon shopping centre - Phuket's trendy shopping hub." Well, what more could I say? Best resort ever! Oh, and did I mention we got a 5-day package for around 600USD INCLUDING AIR TICKETS (From Hong Kong to Phuket)? SCORE.

Random stranger photobombing, but oh wells, everyone's having fun!

Speaking of fun, what's more fun than traveling with all your besties at the same time! From taking tuk-tuks to shopping in a local supermarket to having a traditional Thai massage to watching a lady-boy show, everything was extra fun with them around me.

Nope. Totally not lusting for a Phuket getaway in this cold brutal Rhode Island winter right now. The thing I like about Thailand is that you could always experience different culture about the country. Bangkok is more of the city side of Thailand while Phuket is the relaxation side of it. You could always "island hop" (if there's even such a word) - go to different islands by speedy boats or planes.

My friends and I went to this tiny island called Racha Yai Island (Raya) on the second day. It was a 45 minute speedy boat ride from the west of Phuket, which was kind of bad if you get seasick easily like me. Just take some motion sickness pills an hour before your journey and you'll be fine though! Racha Yai Island is approximately 20km (or 12.4 miles for my American readers) south of Phuket and is known as one of the most excellent diving or snorkelling day trip destinations. See for yourself!

Beautiful, isn't it? If you want to stay overnight or even spend a week at Racha Yai, be sure to check out Trip Advisor's resort recommendations! It has listed out all the possible resorts and hotels you could find at this magical island.

Next and final stop, Patong. I don't even know where to start. We left a whole day for Patong Beach because we knew it was going to be one hella CRAZY day. Well, as a mad water lover, I obviously went directly to the water sports 'centre'. 'Centre' because it wasn't really a centre but more of a sheltered spot with people offering great deals for various water activities. With around 1500 baht ($45 USD), we got to jet ski, parasail and ride on the banana boat. As much fun as they are, do keep in mind water sports here carry some degree of risk - operators are seldom insured and an increasingly common scam is people blackmailing tourists for damages to the equipment that were already there. Yet, other than that, everything was wonderful about Patong. 

I can safely say this was probably one of my favourite trips I have had so far; such a bummer we only got to stay for 5 days though. There's still so much stuff to do in Phuket! (Take out my travel notebook) Like, experience Phuket's nightlife (I heard it's insane!), hike across Khao Sok National Park, and of course, watch a Thai boxing tournament. 

But for now, goodbye Phuket, I'd be back soon. 

"Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life. Get out of your comfort zone. Explore the world. Meet new people. Befriend animals. Take pictures with them. Sit on the wet salty sand. Have a photoshoot with your friends once in a while. Who cares what others think about you. It's your life. It's time to start living it."

What about you? What's your favourite #ThrowbackTravel?

Thanksgiving in New York

I have never had a traditional thanksgiving dinner before. This year was no exception. Since both our families are in Hong Kong and we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving there, Jasmie and I decided to head off to New York and spend 4 days there for *cough* Black Friday *cough*.

One thing when I got off at Penn Station for sure was that I am glad I'm from good old Hong Kong; that I was born in a city twice as busy as NYC. People were literally everywhere. Some rushing around with multiple luggages and some trying to catch on the earliest train back home. You name it! You remember the Ministry of Magic Headquater in Harry Potter? Yeah. It's basically the same thing except you'd be squished by muggles instead of wizards. (Damn it!) Having been in Hawaii for a year, I had forgotten what's it like to be in a city. I have to admit I was quite overwhelmed at first. But after a while, I got used to it and it felt like home again. Oh how I miss those days where I had to squeeze into the subway for school, or how I would rather stand under a pungent armpit for an hour than waiting for the next bus to come.

Wandering NYC was fun, especially when you're in a Christmasy mood. Everyone seem to be extra nice during this time of the year, don't you think so? Apart from potentially breaking our feet from all those shopping, Jasmie and I also went up to the Empire State Building. We got the express tickets just so we could skip the three hour waiting time and go directly up to the 86th floor. And let me tell you, it was so worth the extra $50 because the view was phe-no-men-al.

Isn't it gorgeous? The whole Manhattan looked like a giant Christmas tree decorated with sparkling ornaments and fairy lights! BEAUTIFUL.

And what is New York without a Broadway show right? I've seen "Singing In The Rain" back in 2012 in London before and I absolutely loved it. The Lion King was a zillion times better though. (Don't get me wrong, Singing In The Rain was incredible but the Lion King has taken it to a whole new level.) The effects were out of the world and the costumes and music were unbelievable. They sounded just like the original movie. There are honestly no adequate words to describe the performance other than it's worth every penny you paid. Definitely, definitely go watch it if you have a chance!

Four days in New York City was not enough at all. We barely even did anything! So many things to do yet so little time. I hate that. I can't wait to come back and explore more because my friend, New York City has already become one of my favourite place on the planet! Cheers to you NY!

"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There's nothin' you can't do

Now you're in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new

The lights will inspire you."

29 Things I Am Grateful For

I am going to say it straightaway. This week has been ridiculously hectic for me. With less than 15 days left till home and 22 days till Christmas (Can you believe that!), I found myself drowning slowly in the pool of excitement and anxiety. Why do we even have to go to school at this time of the year?

Funny enough, while I was doing a research for my writing class, I stumbled across a blog post on an app called "Stop, Breathe & Think". This app is basically a meditation app where it teaches you how to meditate and helps you clear things off your mind. It is really easy and it specifically targets on beginners, so don't worry, if I can use it, so can you! I am honestly no expert in meditation. In fact, today was my first time meditating in my 19 years of life. During the whole process, it talked about gratitude. And it kept me wondering, how many times did we actually stop and give thanks to the things we have in our lives?

And so, to celebrate the last 29 days of 2014, here are 29 things I am grateful for.

1. I am grateful for my family. For a mother that is as stubborn as I am but still puts up with my hotheadedness and temper 24/7, for a father that is handsomer than George Cloony and sends me money secretly all the time and of course, for my annoying little sister who is always there to support me. For my three dogs, Ody, Joey and Jayden, they have showed me the definition of unconditional love. 
   
   
   
2. I am grateful for being able to go to school in Hawaii. Not many people could go surfing before classes and have a beach that is 5 minute away from campus. 
   
   
3. I am grateful for having almost perfect eyesight. I actually had terrible eyesight before 7th grade but somehow it just disappeared when I got older. Lucky me!
   
   
4. I am grateful for a body that allows me to dive in oceans and climb mountains. I am grateful for the peace and tranquility the nature gives. 
   
   
5. I am grateful for the bowl of Alfredo pasta I had for dinner.
   
   
6. I am grateful for having a group of amazing friends that I can proudly say are the best. The crazy members of the Hunga tribe back in high school. Yes, you guys... Without them, I highly doubt I would survive high school. And of course, my Hawaiian ohana! And the Rhody Rams! For the laughter and joy they brought to my freshman and sophomore years. 
   
   
   
7. I am grateful for having hair that barely needs maintenance. A natural hair color that even my hairdresser says he's jealous of!
   
   
8. I am grateful for the love of flying. For how easy it is for me to sit on a plane for 16 hours straight. 
   
   
9. I am grateful for having small feet. Kids' shoes are so much cheaper!
   
   
10. I am grateful for being able to speak three languages. English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
    
    
11. I am grateful for being financial-burden free. I am so thankful for having parents that are willing to pay for my tuition fees and living expenses. 
    
    
12. I am grateful for all the adventures I had. For being able to see thirteen countries with my own eyes, for all the memories I made. 
    
    
    
13. I am grateful for being able to play the piano. For being able to free my mind when I place my fingers on those black and white keys. 
    
    
14. I am grateful for knowing what I wanted to be at a young age - a veterinarian. A huge thanks to Ody for that!
    
    
    
15. I am grateful for having a ridiculously high pain tolerance, which has helped me a lot when I fell off my skateboard and scraped my chin.
    
    
16. I am grateful for owning an iPhone 5s that takes high quality pictures.
    
    
17. I am grateful for the ocean. For all the sea creatures I have swum with, for all the rocks and shells I have picked. 
    
    
    
18. I am grateful for teachers that inspired and challenged me. From the ones in Diocesan Girls' School to the ones in the University of Hawaii. I am thankful for the guidance and support they have given me. 
    
    
19. I am grateful for books and movies that allow me to get lost in. 
    
    
20. I am grateful for the confidence to leave home for college. It's not easy to be 8000 miles away from home. 
    
    
21. I am grateful for the easy access of drinking water. The purity of the water we have.
    
    
22. I am grateful for the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear. 
    
    
23. I am grateful to have Hong Kong as my home. I am grateful that I live in a tax-free country. 
    
    
24. I am grateful for competitive swimming. For all the friends I made, the coaches that yelled at me. For those insane 5am trainings and the horrible muscle pain. I would not have been able to represent Hong Kong to compete if it weren't because of those things. 
    
    
    
25. I am grateful for webcams. I couldn't imagine life without Skype or Facetime... How would I be able to see my family and friends when I am out of the country?
    
    
26. I am grateful for not being allergic to anything. 
    
    
27. I am grateful for the strength I had when facing troubles and sorrows.
    
    
28. I am grateful for the sun. Without it, food wouldn't grow and my body wouldn't experience its warmth. Without the sun, I wouldn't be able to see the incredible sunsets in Mauna Kea and the Maldives. 
    
    
    
29. I am grateful for my name, both Chinese and English. It gave me place in this world.
    
    
30. I am grateful for my warm and soft bed.
    
    
31. I am grateful for the strangers that said 'good morning' or nodded at me when they passed by. 
    
    
32. I am grateful for all the heart breaks I had. As painful as they were, they had strengthened me both physically and mentally. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. So thank you. 
    
    
33. I am grateful for having Jesus Christ in my life who I can always run to when I am lost and sad. 
    
    
34. I am grateful for the alarm that goes off in the morning hours because it means that I am still alive. 

So, what about you? What are you grateful for in your lives?