Homebound

We began our journey home with a bit of luck - an actual overnight cart! Sadly, we were separated from some of our train buddies as they were stopping along the way and therefore placed in other carts.

A rush of adrenaline

If you ask Dan and I about a stand-out moment in Vancouver, I'm pretty sure we will both think of this day first.

We started the day off pretty easy. We didn't set any alarms and left our hostel at 10am. We decided to pay a visit to Finch's, a cute cafe we had passed by the other day.

Conquering the Chief

Stawamus Chief deserves a post of its own. I have been wanting to do this hike the last three times I was in BC, but things never worked out. We almost didn't make it here this time as well; it is difficult to visit Squamish without a car, but thankfully Ranee's roommate and Evo saved us!




The two more advanced hikers lost us pretty early on, and we started up the stairs and quickly realized we would need several breaks to get through this.

We hike to eat

We started the morning with a trip to Revolver Coffee, which was across our hostel in Gastown. We sat to write our postcards before venturing over to the post office.



We wandered over to Richmond to have dim sum with my aunt and uncle, and then went to pay Daiso a visit. There, we encountered the longest line I've ever seen on my life - it looped the entirety of Aberdeen Centre. When we asked a man in line what it was for, he said they were trading regular toonies for a limited edition Canada 150 one.

After spending a shocking amount at a "dollar store", we met up with Ran and took the bus to Lighthouse Park.

Back to the west coast

This is the dearly delayed post of last year's VIA Rail adventures.

The very first thing we did when we got off the train was book it to our hostel. After we remedied the 4 days of no showering, we headed out for brunch at the nearby Catch 122 Cafe Bistro.




We also lived by JJ Bean, and paid it our first visit of many.

The rest of the day was spent leisurely walking around downtown, picking up some Dollarama items for our room, stumbling across more bears, and ended with super indulgent ice cream and Messenger video chats.

Embarrassing moments

Sometimes situations arise where you are asked very specific questions in order for others to understand you more.

I dread these questions because I usually cannot remember either one specific moment, or one that can be defined as the most representative of the question and my experience. When I thought about it later, this came to mind.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

While probably not the most embarrassing thing, it was one witnessed by the most people.
We were watching a movie, and the mad scientist suddenly appeared in the living room and I screamed. In the theatre. My friend, who was crying at an emotional part before this, promptly began to laugh.

The movie was Click. I was 13. Thank goodness the theatre was dark...

Wandering in the darkness

What scares you? What drives you? What makes you determined to live, what makes the struggle worth it, what pushes you to do better?

I have asked these questions repeatedly and truthfully, even if I knew the answer, I don't think the questions end there.

I turn to music during these times to put in words things that I feel but cannot express. To be able to find others who have the same thoughts, worries, experiences, offers some comfort to push through a difficult day.

Reflection 
Glass of Water
Always
So Far Away
Tomorrow
Paradise

Take care.

To spring days

Spring is such a beautiful time of the year. It's hard not to feel happy from all the sunshine, budding plants, and chirping of birds, among other things. Slightly less enjoyable but equally important is the inevitable mud, reemergence of bugs, and rapidly changing weather.

Some things I have been really enjoying lately are in-taking copious amount of warm water, in-season mangoes, lazy lounging on the green grass with Tofu, comeback season, a trusty new hat, grandpa-style, wearing sandals again, the ease of drying hair with a diffuser, and the feeling of warm sun on my skin.

Spring forward

A couple of weeks ago, we were in Edmonton for a layover on our way back from Yellowknife. We had a few hours to kill, so we decided to pay a visit to the Muttart Conservatory.

Thicker than water

I don't necessarily subscribe to the belief that family comes first. A lot of people are often surprised and a bit disgusted when I say so, but blood relations do not make a family. Adoptions, blended families, friends who are closer than family... there are so many mixes that can make a family. Being related by blood may mean we can never properly sever ties, but I don't believe in forcing a family with people who antagonize and attack you yet expect you to be there for them unconditionally.

Family is those who you love and who love you for who you are. They accept you as you are yet want you to grow and constantly improve yourself, and hope that you do the same for them. There are misunderstandings, there can be arguments, sometimes you may say things you regret, but at the end of the day, you want what is best for them.

Yet, society makes me feel guilty for not unconditionally loving my blood family.