Countdown to ... Asia!

I'm a sucker for good travel deals. And as it turns out, I came across a deal that I couldn't resist -- $760 roundtrip after tax from Toronto to Hong Kong. So naturally, what did I do? I coerced a few friends to join me on what is going to be an EPIC trip to Asia...for FIVE WEEKS.  I'll be flying out November 3rd and returning December 8th. 2 friends (including my best friend!) will be joining me for the entire 5 weeks, and 2-3 other friends will be joining us for 2-3 weeks.

We haven't planned out our itinerary yet, but the tentative plan is a 6-8 days per country, starting with Thailand for the Festival of Lights (Loi Krathong) and Yi Peng -- for the unitiated, think of the floating lantern scene from Tangled! From there, off to Cambodia, then to Vietnam. I'm torn between surfing in Bali or going to Japan. While Japan is definitely on my bucket list -- to tour and to snowboard! -- it warrants a much longer stay, and since I know I'll be going back anyways, I'm tempted to hit up a less expensive country..though Bali would hardly be much cheaper. Finally, we'll be wrapping up our trip in Hong Kong. Five weeks is both an incredibly long and short time to travel such vast countries, but I intend to make it worth my while!

This trip will be my longest trip abroad and the longest amount of time I've spent from home. I'm both anxious and excited and terrified and TOTALLY STOKED. I last went to Asia when I was 17 with my family. Due for a trip 10 years later? Sounds about right. I plan to knock off a few of my bucket list items while I'm there:

-Learn to surf (in Bali?!)
-Get my PADI in Thailand
-Jump off the Macau Tower (might need to revise this, as it is a bit pricier than I had anticipated)
-Great Wall of China (depends if I venture out of HK)

Whistler!!!

I've been toying around with the idea of going to Whistler for years now, always saying, "I'll go next year." "Next year" has come and gone at least a half dozen times, so last night, after a few weeks of planning and discussing it with some friends, we finally bought our plane tickets. 

It hardly feels real. Even just last week, I had a dream...where I got bit by a zombie and was on my deathbed...and one of my biggest regrets was not boarding at Whistler. Seriously. So now it looks like I'll be heading to the west coast in the thick of winter for 2 weeks (or 3! I haven't bought my return flight yet!) next year with a kickass crew who is bound to push me to ride harder than I've ever ridden before. I am SO STOKED. As much as I want to board in Colorado or Japan or Switzerland, there's something about riding pow in your home country that is just that much more amazing. 

2012 in Review (Long overdue, I know)

2012 has been a year of self-discovery and new beginnings.

Physical challenges (Insanity, Spartan Race) have pushed me to my limit and shown me that I'm much stronger than I thought.  Sometimes sheer will is all that stands between you and success.
I've finally finishing school and working full-time has forced me to reevaluate my time management skills (not to mention my financial management skills!) and learn to balance work and a social life.

So what have I been up to?

I celebrated my quarter century in July with as many close friends as I could gather in the midst of a busy summer. I've definitely had my "quarter-life crisis" moments, but nothing too long-lasting that I can't subdue...for now.

Surrounded by my favourites

In mid-August, I flew to Calgary for a youth conference and stayed with family for a week. I hadn't visited Alberta since I turned 18, so it was lovely to meet some oh-so-adorable new cousins, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. And while I didn't get to snowboard in Banff, I did visit the mountains for some scenic pictures and short hikes. Hopefully, it won't be 7 years before I finally knock the Rockies off my to-board list.

True North strong and free..

My mom's side of the family in Calgary

The end of August culminated in the celebration of another BBH wedding, my dear friends, Jon and Flo. Lively crowd, great band, and of course, what better venue to meet lovely new people? Can't wait til the next BBH wedding! I have no doubt that 2013 (and 2014!) will be full of joyous gatherings ;)

The first night we met.
Photo cred: Derrick Francis Wong

We had to make a pyramid to make the bride and groom kiss
Photo cred: Kuba Photography

BBH crew at the BuTran wedding
Photo cred: Kuba Photography

The long-awaited proposal..Congrats, Viet & Robin!

And of course, to wrap up summer and the end of the beach volleyball season, I finally got the tattoo that I've been itching to get since I was 18. While I had wanted it for my 25th birthday, I had to wait until I was out of the sun for the season to get it. Quick and relatively painless, considering I got it on my rib cage. I'm tempted to get another one, but perhaps I'll wait another 7 years just to make sure I reaaaallly want it ;)

Honestly, it didn't really hurt, but the back of my rib was sensitive

This Too Shall Pass

In November, I flew down to Texas to celebrate my first American Thanksgiving. What a blast! I spent the first five days in Austin and Houston, and the latter 5 days in Dallas. K was a wonderful host and kept me plenty fed...I'm pretty sure I ate at least 5-6 times a day while I was in Austin/Houston. Oh, America, I heart your food trucks. I got to make up for my lack of university partying by bar hopping in Austin. What a crazy college town! When I was in Dallas, H & A took me to the gun range and I go to shoot an uzi! This wasn't on my original bucket list...but it should have been!

My very first philly cheese steak! ermagod SO good

Captain Tom's. I always stop by when I'm in Houston 

My first Vietnamese-American Thanksgiving!

Corn. In. A. Cup.
Corn + cheese + spices + butter + sour cream + hot sauce = $1.50 heaven

In America, I get to shoot an uzi.

It's no secret that I love to eat. And while I stray away from watching television too much, the one channel that I'll always watch is the Food Network. Whether it's a Friday night in or just something to run in the background while I cook myself, there is always something interesting to watch on the Food Network. It got to the point that all the episodes were starting to seem like repeats because I left the channel on so often. Then came Master Chef. While it's not a Food Network show per se (Good job, Fox), it had all the fixings of a good foodie reality show. Master Chef opened up the doors to weekly discussions between M and I about the challenges and contestants, with one contestant in particular, Christine Ha, who became our own fan favourite. You see, Christine is legally blind and yet here she was, cooking up a storm on Master Chef, impressing judges, and surprising skeptics. And, of course, the fact that she was Vietnamese was a proud bonus too. I recognized a lot of her dishes and could imagine my own kitchen here at home bustling with the energy and vibrant smells of the traditional Vietnamese dishes she made. But it wasn't just her underdog status that made me want to root for her -- it was her story:

"My mother was my cooking inspiration. She was a wonderful cook. When I was fourteen, before I'd had any interest in cooking, she passed away. She left no recipes. After I moved away for college, I had to learn to cook for myself.[...] I've since spent many hours in the kitchen using my childhood memories trying to recreate my mother's dishes."

This hit home pretty hard for me, and her words have lingered long past the ending of the show. I've never had much of a presence in the kitchen, and up until the last year, I had difficulty cooking rice with a rice cooker. (Okay, that might be a bit of an exageration, but you get my point.) I've always been fond of pasta dishes and the occasional shepherd's pie, and maybe even corn and crab soup if I was feeling particularly adventurous. I also make a full Thanksgiving and Christmas feast each year with S, so I'm not completely hopeless. But in terms of venturing into the domain of Vietnamese cooking...well, there's not much to be said there. I can eat nearly everything on a Vietnamese menu (also worth noting that it's the only Vietnamese I can read fluently) but when I move out, my new home will be sorely lacking in traditional asian cooking. So, with that in mind, I've made a conscious effort over the last couple of months to spend more time in the kitchen with my mother. I could never forgive myself if I didn't learn how to recreate (or at least write down) some of her recipes. I've always helped here and there with food prep, but never really paid attention to the actual cooking portion -- How long do I simmer this before I add this? How much fish sauce do I add? What can I use as a substitute if I don't have a this ingredient?

As a result, I've been writing everything down, almost obsessively, and in finite detail so that I won't forget a step when I try to recreate it. And chances are, it'll probably take a few tries until I perfect it myself, but at least I'll have it written down somewhere. Mom has since taught me how to make my absolutely favourite prawn dish, as well as her staple fish sauce seasoning and a few other dishes as well. Next up: pho, bun rieu and canh chua. I hope to be able to cook these dishes by the end of the year!

As an aside (actually, M lost a bet and I participated just for the fun of it), M and I attempted to 'see' through Christine's eyes by embarking on a blind baking challenge of our own...

We may have made too many peanut butter cookies...

I have no doubt that 2013 is going to be spectacular. If 2012 was the year of self-discovery and new beginnings, 2013 will be a year of transition and growth with a side of adventure. My first full year of working full-time with no schooling. This means saving, saving, saving! And also...traveling, traveling, traveling. I've got lots of places I *want* to travel to this year (Dominican, Turks & Caicos, Rome + Greece, Miami...and the list continues to grow..) but I know I have to put some priority on paying back my school debts.

Upcomings: Glass blowing! All-girls snowboarding workshop! Swedish House Mafia! Tough Mudder!

I promise my next update won't take so long =P

For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald

I Heart Summer

I have been meaning to write this post for a while. So much has been going on in the last couple of months that I really haven't made time to blog. I do miss it. And more often than not, if I don't write an entry as soon as I've done something, I probably never will. Or I'll end up months later, on a Friday night, sitting at my computer typing up a post. Like, say, tonight. But hey, it's been a busy summer, so I'll take whatever down time I can get.

Squeezing a water-filled glove to help with the circulation

On May 17th, I was finally able to donate blood (my hemoglobin levels were 134 this time!). The procedure was easy and took about an hour from start to finish -- normally it's shorter, but as it was my first time, they kept me back a little longer for observation post-donation. The snacks were yummy, I had good company, and I walked away super happy that I finally got to donate blood. If you can, give it a try. It's in you to give. 

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” 
― Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank

I've reached the 56-day mark so I'll make an appointment again soon when my weight goes up. Speaking of weight...

I started Insanity  on April 16th. It's supposed to be 4 weeks training 1 week of recovery (I did 2 wks), then 4 weeks Max training. So I basically did 5-6 days of workouts for 2.5 months. Let me tell you, before April, I. Did. Not. Work. Out. I have been blessed with an awesome metabolism thus far, but I wanted to do Insanity to build up some cardio before Spartan Race. I've never been the type to stick to a dedicated workout plan, but I was determined to see Insanity through until the end, even after my workout partner quit in the first month. The first 2 weeks and the last 2 weeks were the hardest; the first 2 because I was hurting majorly and I struggled with sticking to a daily workout schedule. The last 2 weeks were hard because I was so close to race day and the videos were becoming really tedious. I'd be lying if I said I didn't slack a bit in the last 2-3 weeks.

I am happy with the results, though. I'm sure I could have gotten better results if I actually watched what I ate, but I've never been one to stick to a diet or watch what I eat. I eat what I want to eat, when I want to. Even if that means eating instant noodles at 2 a.m. That being said, I did try to limit eating out, incorporate more veggies into my diet, cut out white rice almost entirely. Here are some before and after pictures. I don't know if I'm ready for P90X yet, but my plan is to do Insanity again, or work exclusively on abs..(I've had "get a 6-pack" on my new year's resolution list since I was in high school).

"Don't be upset with the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do."

Pre-race. Still clean.

Spartans! Aroo!

 I also did Spartan Race in Toronto this year! I don't think I'll do it again next year, as I found it was more running than obstacles (as was Warrior Dash last year), but it was still muddy and fun. Poorly disorganized though, and we spent more time lining up to get our bags back than we did running the race. Oh well. And next time, I'll remember to actually train myself to run...Insanity was soooo not enough, hahaha. Watch the epic Spartan Race Toronto promo here. 

On June 12, I met up with an old friend, W, and he surprised me by taking me to Xtreme Couture for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. Now, BJJ was never on my bucket list, but I had chosen "Compete, play, destroy" as our activity for the evening and I must admit that W chose quite appropriately. I'll admit that I was a bit hesitant at first. It was definitely out of my comfort zone. While the open mat class didn't offer much instruction, especially for beginners like us, I still had a fun time pushing W around and pretending like I would actually have a chance in a one-on-one situation, haha. The next morning, I woke up sore, but totally pumped. For the next few days, I spent a considerable amout of time researching MMA gyms and muay thai classes. But alas, as time went on, my fears and insecurities crept up on me and I lost whatever confidence I had garnered from being thrown into an open BJJ class. Looking at my bucket list, I realize that most of the items, with the exception of one or two (i.e. joining a paintball team) aren't really out of my comfort zone. They are all things I would be willing to do on my own. But sometimes you need that extra little push to realize what you're missing out on, and what you're really capable of. Thanks, W -- if it weren't for you, I never would have even dreamed of jumping into a BJJ class. New addition to my bucket list: Take a BJJ/Sanshou/Muay Thai class.

Not-so-little sis and I

 And a small plug for KT Tape. It. Is. Amazing. A tad expensive, considering how much I go through it (I always take it off after a day of beach volleyball because it gets so sandy and dirty), but it is single-handedly the only reason I've been able to pick up a volleyball this summer at all. Nearly every weekend since Victoria Day, I've gone to Woodbine beach to play beach volleyball. I used to hate volleyball, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've played it in the last five years, if only because I couldn't bump the ball without my wrists ballooning, or have aches in my wrists from hitting/volleying/serving the ball (though my skills, or lack thereof are another story entirely). But ever since I've started using KT Tape on my wrists, I've had no pain. I do have to get neutral colours for when I'm at work though, as bright pink doesn't exactly look very professional in the courtroom =P But I'm hoping that with constant use, it will help ease my carpal tunnel symptoms. Shopper's Drug Mart should be selling them, but I haven't had any luck so far. If you can find it in Canada, let me know!

Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it.
Margaret Thatcher

Stepping Stones

After all those failed tests, I finally passed my 140wpm Q&A, 140 Lit and 160 Jury, which was enough for me to get my diploma in court reporting from my school. It's not enough to get a national certification, but it's enough for me to start work at the firm associated with my school. In the last two weeks, I've started working as a court reporter (albeit not realtime) in Toronto. Within a matter of days, of passing my test, I purchased my professional software, professional back-up recording devices, and my long-awaited professional stenograph machine. Though I've still got a long way to go to get to 225 words a minute, this is been a milestone that has been a long time coming. At least now I'm finally working and getting the experience I've been wanting so desperately. I haven't really celebrated yet, as I don't feel like I rightfully deserve to party until I reach 225, but I am proud of myself. So I've modified my bucket list entry a bit -- I've completed court reporting school. Next up: Realtime Court Reporter (225 wpm). Big dreams, baby steps!

I've been so busy lately -- producing transcripts is a lot harder than I thought! But it's nice to be busy again. It's nice to get a paycheque again. It's realllly nice to say "I'm finally working" hahaha. I'd be lying if I said that I have no doubts or that I don't get discouraged -- I do, absolutely. But I'm determined to see this through. I owe it to myself.

I'm hoping to pay off all my debt by the end of the year -- my parents are helping me with the capital I need to start as a freelancer. Between software and equipment, that's over 10 grand! *grimaces* So next year, I can start saving up for my own place...

Oh, and I've registered to try to donate blood again in two days. The last time I tried, my iron count was borderline low. Hopefully I can donate this time!

And as for my Project 365 ...I have been taking pictures every day (except for maybe missing 3 days since January)...I just haven't gotten around to uploading them. Sigh.

I also started doing Insanity! I'm in the middle of week 5 of 9. I'm due to finish just before Spartan Race in June! Six-pack, here I comeeee...or four-pack..or two. Although I distinctly remember that for as long as I can remember, "get a six-pack" was on my New Year's resolutions list, haha. I'll post before and after pictures when I'm done week 9 on June 17th.

Life has been good. I feel like everything is falling into place. I feel like I've sacrificed the last couple of months to get to where I am now. I have no regrets. Between the late nights studying, staying in because I quit work and have no money (ugh)...I finally feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about.  What's hard is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.
-Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

High Park Cherry Blossoms...success!

Despite the clouds and drizzling weather, I was finally able to make it out to see the High Park cherry blossoms this year! We took the TTC down to High Park and spent the afternoon wandering the park. There were a lot of people around the cherry blossoms, but if you went past that and continued through the park, the crowds gradually thinned out and we were able to have a nice picnic lunch. We also managed to feed some squirrels some peanuts that some visitors had left behind.

It was nice to discover a part of Toronto I had never been to before. Definitely serves as a reminder that you don't have to look very far to find extraordinary things.

“Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.”
 -Alice M. Swaim 

Facing Failure

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
- Colin Powell

When I wrote up my bucket list, one of my goals was to graduate from court reporting school. I wrote the list a little over a year ago. I was scheduled to graduate in December 2011. It is now April 2012. People are constantly asking me when I'll be done school. I'm 3 tests away from graduating with a diploma in court reporting, but it's not quite that simple. You see, I'm done all the academics, but I need to reach certain typing speeds (on my stenograph/court reporting machine) before I can fully graduate. At a minimum, I need to pass one test each in Testimony, Literary and Jury at 140 words per minute (wpm), and one test from any category at 160 wpm. My 3 remaining tests I need to pass: Testimony and Literary at 140, and Jury at 160.

I quit my job in January so that I could focus on speedbuilding. I'm allowed to write two tests a week: one on Wednesday, on on Sunday. "Failing a test" means I wasn't able to attain the required 95% mark to pass. There are no penalties for failing. That being said, I haven't passed a test since February. It's been so frustrating, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but not being able to reach it. I know I'm close but every time I fail a test, it's so damn disheartening.

I had a plan. I was to write (and pass!) my Literary today, my Jury on Sunday, and since it's a special testing week next week where I'm allowed to write up to four tests, I was going to write (and pass!) my most challenging category, Testimony. And that'd be it. I'd be done. But since I didn't pass my Literary today, I'll attempt to pass my 160 Jury this Sunday, but now my four tests next week will have to be split up between Testimony and Literary. Less room for error.

So, it's not over yet. I can still reach my personal goal of passing all three tests by the end of next week. I'm fully capable of writing in the 160s-180s. It's just that when I sit down and take a test, I tend to get anxious and panic which usually results in dropped words and sloppy writing. A fellow classmate told me it's just a mental game. I know it's true. I also know it's entirely possible for me to pass my tests in the upcoming week. I won't lie; if I'm unable to meet my goals by next week, I'll be disappointed. I've been pretty bummed lately because I feel like I'm in a rut. I'm in between jobs (so I have no source of income), I'm in major debt from college and university, and I haven't been able to graduate from my program. For me, these last 3 tests mean everything to me. After I pass, my new firm will hire me as a court reporter. I'll be making money again, I can continue to build speed, and I'll be able to pay off my debt. So much is riding on these tests. I need to get past this.

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
- Bill Cosby

We seem to gain wisdom more readily through our failures than through our successes. We always think of failure as the antithesis of success, but it isn't. Success often lies just the other side of failure.
- Leo F. Buscaglia 

You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.
- Johnny Cash

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end.
- Denis Waitley

Cherry Blossoms, attempt 2

We've been lucky with unseasonably warm weather lately, and as a result, the cherry blossoms in High Park have begun to blossom early! (Last year, they were late, and conflicted with my trip to New York City, so I was unable to go.) I'm determined to tick this off my bucket list this time; it's been a while.... >.<"

They are at about 50-65% in certain sections, less in others, with many predicting next weekend to be peak bloom. So make a trip out -- try to take the TTC, as parking is sure to be terrible -- and enjoy our own local cherry blossoms.

Posted on the High Park Nature Centre's Facebook page today:

Hello, 2012. I've been waiting for you.

It has been a few months since I've blogged. It's not for lack of time, but rather a lack of motivation.

But now, it's a new year, a chance for fresh starts. I have big plans for this year. I'm optimistic. I finished school, though I'm not certified yet because I have yet to meet the minimum speed requirements. My goal is to get the diploma within six months. It's on my bucket list after all. But at least I can say I'm done paying my college tuition! OSAP is next. On the professional front, I was recently offered the opportunity to work at the court reporting firm that I've been eyeing for the last two years! I'm starting to feel like my hard work is starting to pay off. Slowly, but surely. I know I have a looooong way to go. But it's nice to see some actual progress.

On the personal front, I've had to do a lot of soul searching lately. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm happy and I've been trying to figure out how to fill the void. I feel like life has gotten routine, almost boring. But then again, after a year of skydiving and outdoor adventures, anything else would seem boring =P I have a full season of snowboarding ahead of me, with dragon boat to look forward to in the spring. I'm trying to work out on a more regular basis, as I'm doing the Spartan Race this summer, and I'm determined to train for it, as opposed to my lackluster attempt last summer for the Warrior Dash. I'm hoping that these goals (I prefer to avoid the ever-so-popular "resolutions") can be achieved by taking baby steps and sharing the journey with others. Spartan Race, dragon boating, even snowboarding, they all involve other people. We push each other. My running mates will push me to train for the race, dragon boat is a team sport, and I'm constantly being encouraged by my friends to push myself harder when I board -- harder, faster, deeper, stronger (not just a dboat cheer!). I'm aiming for a grab with my board as early as this weekend.

I tried to cross "donating blood" off my bucket list last month, but after walking into a donor clinic without an appointment, I was turned away because they were fully booked. Lesson learned: book an appointment. So I did. I returned this week to give it another shot (no pun intended?) Unfortunately, this time, after some preliminary tests, I was told that my hemoglobin levels were too low to donate *sad face* With a level of 124, I was in the lower but still healthy range, but they needed at least 125 (I only missed by one!) to ensure that my body could afford to lose blood. That being said, I'm still determined to donate blood. I'm allowed to try again in 56 days, so I'll be eating lots of red meat and fibre and protein until then!

Another bucket list item I've been putting off until the new year: Project 365. Granted, I could have started at any time, but starting it at the beginning of a new year seemed appropriate. Follow it here: lisaproject365.tumblr.com

"...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind."  --Neil Gaiman

It's never too early

This week, I came across an article about 17-year-old James Woodall, who died earlier this year after a cycling accident. Two months later, his parents found his bucket list hidden in a bedroom drawer. It was entitled, "Living a Full Life." He had managed to check off a few things, but for the most part, this list remained incomplete. Together, with the help of friends and other family members, his parents and sister have taken it upon themselves to complete James' bucket list for him. They include items such as living to 80, visiting every continent, and looking through a telescope at every planet. It's a touching but heart-wrenching story about a family trying to preserve their son's memory by living to the fullest.

The full article can be found HERE.

It's never too early to start a bucket list. It's been a while since I've knocked a few things off the list, mostly because my lack of funds has limited some adventures (scuba diving), and much of my time spent between work and school, although I know it's a poor excuse for putting off my bucket list.

That being said, it's been a while since I've added some items to my bucket list. Here are a few more:

-donate blood
-own a house
and, inspired by James,
-visit every continent

Without death, our lives would have no meaning.  Death frames our end for us and also puts a value on things.
—Richard J. Leider & David A. Shapiro, Claiming your Place at the Fire: Living the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose

Up, up and away!

June 19, 2011

After our first two failed attempts (1. weather 2. wasn't feeling well), Shivan and I finally managed to suit up and jump out of a plane! We chose to jump from Skydive Toronto, which is in Cookstown, about 45 minutes north of Toronto.

I ended up writing "NO FEAR" on my hands (you can see it in the vid), partly as a shoutout to Kenny & Co., but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Shania Twain had written and signed the same thing inside the plane that we jumped out of.

We crammed at least 10 people in the tiny plane that took us up into the air. Between three jumpers, their tandem instructors, and the videographer/photographers, it was pretty packed. The ascent in the plane was a little nervewracking. It took a lot longer than I expected to reach 12,000 feet, and I spent the majority of my time staring at the altimetre on my hand, hoping that we had reached the necessary height. I didn't even see Shivan jump out of the plane (he was first, I was third). By the time it was my turn, I didn't even have time to be nervous anymore. It was just like 1...2...3...GO!

There was a slight moment of hesitation on my behalf when we launched out of the plane, but when you're attached to a tandem instructor, there's not much you can do -- you just go with him! Skydiving was nothing like I had anticipated. Freefalling is nothing like the feeling you get when you're on a rollercoaster. No big Gs, no dropping stomach. It really is just like a whole rush of air pushing against you. I can tell you that I felt absolutely no anxiety about freefalling, as I was falling, however I did have a really hard time breathing/catching my breath, so I spent a good chunk of my freefalling just trying to breathe, instead of really enjoying the experience. That being said, it was still incredible, looking down and seeing so much scenery and just KNOWING that you're the closest you'll ever get to flying.

That's me pulling the chute cord. You can see the parachute deploying.

I was supposed to pull the cord when we reached 6,000 ft on my altimetre, but I was so caught up in the experience that my instructor had to place my hand on the cord to remind me. After that, a quick jerk upwards as the parachute deployed, and we spent the next few minutes gliding gracefully down to the earth. Got in a bunch of turns too, and those were stomach-dropping but fun!

After landing, I couldn't believe the adrenaline rush! Admitedly, I had to sit down to catch my breath, and the crash after all the adrenaline tapered down hit me harder than expected. I would have taken a nap in my car if I could.

Post-jump

Overall, an incredible, exhilarating experience. I'd do it again (if it didn't cost nearly half a grand after vids/stills/taxes) in a heartbeat.




It is one thing to be in the proximity of death, to know more or less what she is, and it is quite another to seek her.
-Ernest Hemingway

Recap: The Big Apple

Five days was definitely not enough time for me to spend in New York City. I arrived in the city on Wednesday afternoon. I met up with Tammy, an old friend from Calgary who moved to Toronto, and then to NYC for school. We roamed around the city, meeting first at Bryant Prak, walking to Central Park, eating street meat, and making a stop by the Nintendo store and the Lego store. In the evening, my cousin and her bf took me to Boqueria (named after the incredible market in Barcelona, one of my fav stops in Europe), a tapas restaurant.

Pockets in the wall of the Lego Store with pieces sorted by colour!

Thursday was museum day. I (semi-) conquered the New York subway system and made my way to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and later, the American Museum of Natural History. I'm not much of a art buff, so MoMA didn't interest me as much as the MNH, but I did get a chance to see "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali, "Water Lilies" by Monet, and "The Starry Night" by Vincent van Goh. They were all spectacular. I thoroughy enjoyed the MNH. It's like the ROM..but better! Also had some really good street meat. Waiting in line for over 25 minutes at 53rd and 6th. I think when I first counted, there were over 35 people in line! Absolutely worth the wait.

I can't even see the end of the line from this picture.

Thursday night was...memorable to say the least. My cousin took me to BonChon Chicken, a Korean restaurant that serves really, really good wings. YUM. I also met a bunch of her friends. Let's just say it was like real-life Sex and the City. Plenty of juicy gossip, scandalous news, sexy tidbits, and upscale fashion. It was nice to hang around girlfriends for a bit. Definitely a change from my gamer dudes back home.

Malaysian food for the munchies. Yum.

Friday was spent shopping around with a close friend of my cousin's. Shopped along Broadway and ate some yummy Malaysian food. Friday night dinner was extravagant and memorable, as we spent it at Morimoto (Iron Chef America, anyone?). Easily one of the most delicious Japanese meals I've ever had. Definitely pricey, but well, well worth it. Of course, in true New York fashion, we hit up another bar after dinner to continue the drinks. By Friday night, two other cousins had flown up from California and Texas to start our girl's weekend.

Can't seem to find the description of this on the menu..but trust me when I tell you it was yummy.

Avocado toast at Cafe Gitane. Tart, smooth, with a bit of a kick.

Saturday morning brunch was spent at Cafe Gitane, a hipsteresque cafe that serves French-Moroccan food. Tasty, I probably wouldn't go there again. No reservations allowed, and the wait was quite lengthy. More shopping for Saturday and Sunday. We also stopped by Joe's Shanghai. Best. Soup. Dumplings. Ever. MUST GO.

Soup dumplings!

Century 21 is easily my favourite place to shop in New York City. It's like...Winners meets Macy's. The store is MASSIVE (it spans over a city block) and has brand name everythings at cheap prices. Managed to pick up a bunch of Tokidoki purses. We also had dinner at Imperial No. 9, and hit up quite a few exclusive bars that I'll never. Partying til 3-4am in the morning every night is exhausting! I lasted until Saturday night, at which point I cabbed home early and crashed at 2 a.m.

Crack Pie from Momofuko. Doesn't live up to the hype

Unfortunately, between hanging out with my cousins and shopping, I never did end up making it to the Statue of Liberty, seeing Wicked on Broadway, or hitting up Serendipity 3. That being said, I did get a kickass view of the Empire State Building from the rooftop of my cousin's condo, visit Ground Zero, eat a lot of street meat, do a lot of shopping, and visit a bunch of museums. So, just because I didn't get to do all my bucket list items, I did have an extraordinary time during my stay. There's so much that I did while I was New York. I've detailed most of it, but there's still so much that was fascinating that I wouldn't be able to retell. The people, the culture, the experience, the atmosphere -- I'm glad I made the trip, even if it was all a little overwhelming. Still lots to do, and I'd have to spend over a week here next time I'm here. But all in all, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

View from the top of my cousin's apartment at 29th & Park Avenue.

Awesome view of the Empire State Building from her rooftop.

Ground Zero. Breathtaking, heartbreaking

The girls! <3 my fam

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These street will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York!
-Empire State of Mind (pt II), Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Cherry Blossoms

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."

I have lived in the Greater Toronto Area for nearly my entire life. For whatever reason, I only just today discovered that Toronto has its own cherry blossom park.

"In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo. The trees were planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War."

Here I was, thinking about putting "Go to Japan to see cherry blossoms" on my bucket list, and all I could have done was just go to High Park. I love cherry blossoms.

They finally bloomed this weekend. I wished I could have taken my mother and the rest of my fam. It would have been amazing to celebrate Mother's Day amongst such beauty. I can't even see them before they fall because I'm leaving on Wednesday to go to New York City, and by the time I come back, it will have been too late. For future reference, the High Park Nature Centre keeps a blog and updates its readers about the progress of the cherry blossoms, as they don't last for very long, and timing is essential.

I'm actually really disappointed that I didn't get to see them this year. Sigh. Next year, I suppose. And so it's officially on the bucket list...

"In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger."
— Kobayashi Issa

New York, New York!!

I'm finally going to New York City! Some of my cousins are flying up from Texas and California and we're all staying at another cousin's house in NYC. Girl's weekend in the Big Apple!

Statue of Liberty, Serendipity 3, Wicked on Broadway, Central Park, Soho, Greenwich Village...I'm so excited! Granted, I'll be wandering around New York for 3 whole days by myself since my cousin is working, and I'm arriving before the other two fly up, but no worries, I'm sure I'll have plenty to do. Counting down the days! =)

My heart is yours to fill or burst, to break or bury, or wear as jewelery

It's emo, I know. But "Hands Down" is one of my favourite Dashboard Confessional songs. I've always been a hip hop, R&B and slow jam kinda girl. BoyzIIMen, Usher, Brian McKnight, you name it. So when I was introduced to DC in my latter years of high school, I was surprised with how quickly I fell in love with the band. Granted, those were some tumultuous years, filled with heartache and teenage angst, so in retrospect, maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise after all. Listening to DC today doesn't fill me with angst or frustration, but rather, reminds me of a point in time when I was hopelessly, head over heels "in love". And it doesn't necessarily bring up old feelings, but there's an old sense of nostalgia and fond reminiscence associated with the music of that time period.

So when I found out today that Dashboard Confessional has been on tour for the 10th anniversary of their album, Swiss Army Romance, I was ecstatic. I haven't been to many concerts, but every time they've been to Toronto, I always had evening classes or some other obligation. Unfortunately, I missed their New York stop in December, and they don't seem to be coming to Toronto. Therein lies the dilemma. Do I fly to another [American] city just to see them? I know they're on my bucket list...but financially, it doesn't seem responsible to spend hundreds of dollars just to see them for this particular anniversary concert, when they'll likely come back to Toronto whenever they come out with a new album (as they have in previous years for the rest of their albums), but that probably won't be for at least another year or two. Decisions, decisions...

And now, for some Dashboard Confessional, "Hands Down":

Brrr...it's cold in here!

If it wasn't for Darren, I probably would have chickened out of doing a polar bear dip. Not because I'm scared of water, but because...really, who wants to jump into freezing cold (and dirty/possible nuclear!) water anyways? I'm not exactly sure why I chose this as a bucket list item. If anything, I suppose I can say I did it! (And isn't that the point?)

After much humming and hawing, we finally got out of the warm car and made the trek over to the water. In all honesty though, I think it was colder getting ready to jump into the lake, than actually splashing around in the freezing water.

It's a short vid, but here's proof that we actually did it!



High five, polar bear buddy!