Atacama - Part 2

"Two golden hours somewhere between sunrise and sunset. Both are set with 60 diamond minutes. No reward is offered. They are gone forever." -Horace Mann

Another interesting (and probably most famous) part of San Pedro is the geysers in El Tatio. A geyser is a spring that discharges water sporadically. It basically rocks with holes on the floor which randomly spews really hot water out. It is actually really cool. I haven't seen something like this before. It like watching water overboiling underground. What is interesting about geysers is that it only discharges water in the morning. They come in all shapes and sizes. So, we all got up at 5am and hopped into a car, drove 2 hours and got to the geysers field which is among the Andes range (I cannot repeat enough what awesome I think the Andes range is). These spewing springs are located among the many mountains in the Andes which makes it extra beautiful and pretty. Since it is winter, it was pretty cold in the morning.

 

(I forgot my sunglasses and I have small eyes.)

Chile: Atacama Desert

I recently just returned from a 3 week vacation in South America. My father decided that we go on a graduation trip. We visited two countries in South American-- Chile and Argentina. Though it was no necessarily the right time to visit these places (its winter in the southern hemisphere), it was still a really good and fun experience.


First stop, the Atacama desert in Chile. It is in the northern part of a very long country. Of the many place we went to on this trip, it is probably the warmest. It was not burning hot or freezing cold which made it perfect whether for hiking. Just like many deserts, it was covered with red sand. What makes this region interesting is the mountain range within the desert.

On the first day, we took a walk among the sand dunes. A relatively easy hike, we stepped down the sand dunes. I took of my shoes so my shoes wouldn't be covered in sand. But, my shoes were covered with sand when I got back anyways. ha.

Since I'm still working on my photographs, here is a snip bit of the first day.

More to come. Trying to get an update in a day. 

The End of One Chapter

 

Choate Graduation in 2009. 4 years ago. Time really does fly.

 In front of the place where we slaved away for many hours.

When I was 12, I told my father I wanted to be an environmental engineer and I wanted to go to Caltech. This dream spurred from one of my favorite movies at the time-- A Cinderella Story. I remember the smile my dad had at the time and i told myself I would do him proud. Since then, I did everything possible to make that happen.

This ambition of mine was really something my father and I connected with. Everything we talked about and did together had some relation to the environment and this dream of mines. We went outside to the park next door and picked leaves. I gathered them and made it into a project. We read books about the environment, trees and animals.

This path had proven to be successful as I entered high school. I took all the classes that had to do with biology and ecology. Little did I realize this dream came further and further away as I struggled through the math problems in algebra. Yet, I overlooked the hiccups and told myself to carry on because no one can tell me otherwise.

My dad always told me that I was a like a salmon that I would swim upstream against the current. So I took his words of wisdom and carried on.

You never really understand what it means to fail until you hit rock bottom. That's exactly what happened to be my sophomore year in college. I had finally come to realize that my ambitions had taken the very best of me and no matter how hard I tried, I simply made matters worse. 

I was confused and upset with myself but I no longer had a direction in my life. I was upset at myself and I argued with my dad a lot more. Being angry was a common attitude. I thought I had lost the thing we were connected by. 

Thank you Berkeley for letting me meet some of the greatest friends.

I always found the saying "when you fall, you dust yourself off and start over" pretty cliche. Until it happened to me. 

Somehow I figured out how to succeed again. Though college has been full of ups and downs for me, I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I met people who showed me what life is really like and supported me when I needed help. I learned to love to learn again. I learned that there is a greater world out there. At times, life can be rough but for the most part, good.

Though now I no longer know what I really want to do with my life anymore, I think it's ok to feel this way. I daydream about my future more often. Thinking about the future brings butterflies to my stomach at times. I feel more nervous about my life than ever before. Yet, I have come to accept that there is nothing wrong to feel this way. Sometimes, I wonder how my dad felt when I told him I threw those dreams out the door. But whatever is it I decide to do this year or the years to come, I now know that it will give a some sort of answer to the question that I once thought I knew the answer to years ago.

Thank you to my parents for their unceasing supporting and putting me through 16 years of education! It must have been hard putting up with me. My parents never went to college but they have shown me the value of education and what a successful and fruitful life really is. 

Also, thank you to my friends and family for supporting me through the hardest yet rewarding 4 years of my life!

Spring Break Cabo: 2013

Hello!

It has certainly been awhile. I rarely update nowadays because I haven't been taking as many photos as before. I promise though, I'll have more time to take photos as soon as I'm done with school (and as long as my computer doesn't die on me). My creative spirit has kind of side tracked but it will be picked up again really soon.

Anyways, I got a chance to take a break for a week (though I wasn't sure whether I should have since I actually have pages of my thesis to write). My friends and I decided to go to cabo, I have always wanted to go there since I first watched Laguna beach (which it is probably a really dumb idea to go there). But, sunshine and beaches, oh..and margaritas...count me in.

I had my fair (or great) share of margaritas, tacos, tan, tequila shots, chilli mango, chilli pineapples and hot tubing. I got to try all sorts of tacos--fish, carnitas, chorizo, chicken.

We went to Medano Beach, the Arch, Lover's beach. We went on a booze cruise (ITS SHOWTIME DJ) and snorkelling. Ms. Zhong was brave enough to join us in the big bad ocean to see the little fishys. Unfortunately, there were no fishes (really there wasn't. it was all murkey sea water).

The night life was also very poppin' El Squid Roe was definitely a place to check out. It has a good mix of music and a good crowd.

Definitely crossed off Cabo on my vacation list. 

For my favorite part... 

The infamous arch.

 

Mango Deck at Medano Beach at night

Booze Cruise

 Showtime DJ! The failed congo line on the snorkeling cruise.

 My cabo headband

 At Lover's Beach

Probably the most and only memorable landmark in Cabo.

 I don't think its a sun burn, its the asian glow. Unlimited booze on the cruise

Uluru

After long periods of fussing and organizing (or unorganizing), my father insisted that he had to make his way to the dessert to spend the holidays for a view days. To be honest, I was quite skeptical and was quite reluctant to go with him. First, I literally just got home from the bay and I was pretty content with simply spending time at home and with my family. Second, since its in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. Meaning central Australia would be the summer. I quickly figured that it was going to be grueling hot there and I was not even prepared for the heat until a day or so into the trip. I'm a weird creature of routine so I like my seasons when I expect them to be. So, spending Christmas in the dessert wasn't really what I was looking for. But, I guess things turned around when I actually uluru.

I didn't really get a chance to update while I was down below. They charged for internet in most parts of the country (besides from the airport). It kind of defeated the purchase of bringing my laptop and my ipad with me. 

Really, it was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It is good to be away from civilization for a few days. With no reception or internet, it really does everyone some good. Just sit back and enjoy your surroundings. So, for three days, we literally became fascinated by Uluru. We got possibly every single view of the rock formation, even from up above.

We also attended the silence of the sound banquet which was an outdoor dinner and cocktail party. People could enjoy refreshments as they watched the sun went down. We learned about the didgeridoo, which is an aboriginal instrument. It apparently helps with asthma or snoring. It makes a really pretty and interesting sound. Unfortunately, didn't manage to snap a picture of it (here is what i'm talking about).

Uluru is a sandstone rock formation in middle of Australia. It was a sacred land for the Anagu, the aboriginals who lived in the region. For those who really like to take pictures, what is also really fascinating about Uluru is the rock changes color at different times of the day and from different angles you look at it from.

We spent 3 days there and and I saw the sunset twice and the sun rise twice. Yes, I really did get up at 5am to watch the sun come up. And, every minute of it was very worthwhile.

There is something extremely peaceful about it. When the sun sets and the sun rises on it, you feel so lucky to be looking at it. You feel blessed that you there and everything that you have in your life. It really helps you reflect.

My mother and I decided to put our photography skills to use. It turns out that I still have lots to learn. But hey, at least I got to play with a DSLR. 

group at the kitchen cave. 

Uluru from the road during mid day. i messed with the color of this photo but it is just as spectacular without.

right before sunset.

men at the silence of the sounds cocktail.

camel ride. they are apparently considered a pest in the desert. 

camels. i found this kind of pointless.

my father made me take this during sunset.

sunset

 playing with the sun during sunset.

sunrise. this photo is not edited.

 

tree in the desert.

Something unfortunate happened with the pictures my mother and I took for the rest of our trip (in Taz). I accidentally wiped out her ipad on which she saved it on. Don't worry I have a few left.

Another New Beginning

It's going to be 2013 and something tells me that life is just about to get better. 2012 has been one of the best ones yet. I learned to appreciate life a lot more. The opportunities that 2012 has given me have been endless. I feel a little more confident as I learned to appreciate what my life and the world has to offer. This summer, I reconnected with old friends and made new ones. For two years now, I have learned to do better in school and remember what success really feels like. This summer gave me confidence and some direction. I'm graceful for the adventures that I have taken this year. From trying new restaurants and cafes with my roommates to visiting the Outback of Australia, there was nothing but a smile on my face. Disney, LA, New York, Seattle, Vegas and Australia. These are just to name some of the major ones. This is arguably one of the best years of my life.

The one thing I really learned this year is to sit back and appreciate. Whether it is nature or the relationships built with each other. Nature can be taken for granted so easily. We are often mesmerized by the new things we can have or making it to the top. It's good to want to be on top and accomplish. Working hard is necessary. But don't forget what's around you and what unknowingly keeps you going all the time.

It's cliche but the smallest things make life so much better.

To me, life is full of possibilities. Every year would not go by without a challenge or adversity. You'll get through it or you'll figure another way out. If not, its ok... start over with something new. Don't compare others adversity. Don't let it be the excuse that stops you from appreciating the world.

Go off the grid ( well, not the drinking part). Turn off the internet, press the off botton on your phone. Listen to some music. Go see something in nature that you wouldn't usually go see. Look for the sun and face it, close your eyes and take a deep breathe. The world is beautiful. If you have an idea, an aspiration, or a dream-- don't stop believing in it, be fearless and just go do it.

Thank you so much to my parents, family and friends for making 2012 the best one yet. I'm ready for you 2013.

Make it happen. 2013.

Ok, I'll stop now I sound like a pageant.

A moment

"Instead of wondering where you next vacation is, maybe you out to set up a life you don't need to escape from" -Seth Godin

Need to start learning from this quote.