Exploring | Hong Kong Revisited

This is the second time I have visited Hong Kong and the city continues to amaze me. It's interesting going to a place you've been before with different people. Not having school three days a week this time around meant being able to go exploring every single day, whether it was in Central or Mong Kok or a hiking trail an hour away. Thanks to the power of Instagram, I got the chance to meet some really great people and find some new amazing spots I would've never been able to look up on a tourism website. 

I'm pretty sure I'll be back again. It may not be as soon but I will come back. There's so many places I still want to see.

Exploring | Rawson Lake

On the early drive out to Kananaskis we saw not only an outstanding sunrise against the cloudy mountains but also the most brilliant rainbow I have ever seen with my own eyes. At the entrance of the parking lot, we also spotted a moose. Good signs for things to come.

When we made it to the top of the 4 km hike (slowly on my part), we were greeted with a moody view of the lake. We faced pretty much all the elements on our hike up to Rawson Lake - Rain. Sleet. Snow. Howling winds. Once in a while the sun would make an appearance and cast a beautiful light across the mountains.

Once we made it back down, we headed to Canmore for dinner and drinks. A focused effort to be present in the moment meant face-down phones until the bill was paid. During that time I don't think there was a single moment where I wasn't laughing or smiling. 

I can't believe how lucky I am to have found a group of people I love spending so much time with. The day before hanging out I can never sleep because my brain goes crazy with anticipation, like if it's the day before Christmas. This is a group of people who pushes me to be better and who constantly inspires me. A group where I truly feel like myself.

Exploring | Banff National Park (Part II)

From Mount Norquay, we made an impromptu trip to Lake Minnewanka just in time to catch the next tour boat. We opted to sit on the deck of the boat. One of the operators told us that the last people to sit outside only lasted twenty minutes before surrendering to the cold; the views were so great, however, we became oblivious to the chilling wind, darting back and forth to capture every single stunning sight of the lake and the mountains. We made a quick stop at Two Jack Lake after the tour to scope out a forest. Chris, Ernest, and I then made a detour, pulling over to the side of the highway for a quick trek and some last photos of the day. After a lovely dinner at Communitea in Canmore, we finally headed back to Calgary. It's amazing how much you can get out of a day when you're with a group of really amazing people who are down for anything.

The crew: Chris Amat, Shan Fredrickson, Ernest Hon, Vian Esterhuizen, and Katelyn Strang

Exploring | Banff National Park (Part I)

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Sometimes a day is so good you want to remember every part that made it that way. We left Calgary at 5:00am in hopes of catching a good sunrise in Banff. Although it didn't pan out quite the way we wanted, the early start opened up many opportunities. After a quick stop in town for breakfast, we set out to Vermilion Lakes, where our ideas got a little more wild. From there we set off to Mount Norquay. The fog at the top of the mountain was so heavy the view was nowhere to be found, but the ethereal quality helped create some beautiful portraits. We stopped in the tea house to warm up, eat, and have some great conversations before descending down the mountain in search of more adventure.

Stay tuned for part two!

Las Vegas x Arizona x Los Angeles

As we have gotten older, I've been seeing less and less of my siblings. Both my sisters live in different provinces right now. Even when they come home to visit we still don't get to spend the same quality time we did the past. Although my brother lives in the same house as me, social lives and age differences keep us separate. So it was pretty nice being able to spend a full two weeks with all of them, with limited wifi so we were forced to hang out with each other. We did a little circuit - landed in Los Vegas, drove to the Grand Canyon and spent a night in Flagstaff, explored Sedona for a day, spent a few days in Phoenix and another few in Los Angeles, then ended up in Las Vegas for the last leg of the trip. Spending so much time with my family made me realize that although sometimes they drive me absolutely crazy, I do love their company so much. My siblings are so ridiculously funny and so good to talk to. While I do enjoy my own personal space, a small part of me misses sharing a bed with my two sisters and all the time spent driving in a minivan.

I want to make sure I remember all the little things that happened this trip, because it'll be months before I get to see my sisters again. The first night in Las Vegas my younger sister and I stayed up till three in the morning looking over my food pictures on my phone. On Christmas we ate at Denny's for lunch. My mom yelled at me for jumping by the rail at the Grand Canyon. We rode Space Mountain for the first time ever. I cried laughing telling my older sister about something silly that happened regarding my younger sister and a coat. We watched Love the last night we were in Las Vegas and could not stop talking about it. I'm so, so grateful and thankful that my parents took us on this trip and I'm so glad we got so much out of it.