Phuket | Island Weekend
It was one of those grey rainy winter days in Shanghai, I kept drinking coffee but my body just could not get warm. 100% humidity is a joke to no one. So when my then boyfriend texted me with a ticket to Phuket over the weekend, you could imagine how happy I was.
It's amazing how one flight can change your surrounding like that. From cold humid Shanghai night to sunny hot Phuket morning, it takes 5 and a half hours.
It's always easier for me to get up in the morning when it's summertime. You don't have to fight with your duvet for 5 more mins and I usually wake up feeling fresh and full of joy. Maybe I should move to somewhere warmer again.
It was the first time ever for me to visit Thailand. Like I said before, because certain places are just right there, I would overlook them and choose a rather further destination for my trips, I like contrast and I like what is exotic for me.
We rented a scooter to drive around the island. The Australian shop owner gave me the pink helmet, he told me it's new arrival and it suits me, I would take his words and you would be the judge.:) I loved the hot wind blowing my face, I just returned from a trip to Canada, and oh boy was it cold there, I almost forgot what does warmth feels like. The sky is so blue and the sun so bright. I can smell the salty ocean as the hot air whip through my hair and the palm trees allow me to daydream. When we were driving down to the beach, It almost felt like we were in one of Lana Del Rey's albums.
I have a confession to make, I actually don't know how to swim. I mean I know how to float and I won't drown. But I can't put my head down the water. I would feel suffocated and that I'm dying. As a true Canadian or you know, a living human being, Mr. K decided it's time I let go of all the fears and learn how to swim. But I was so scared that I would run away from him. Eventually, he got me and he promised he wouldn't let go of my hand that I went deep in the ocean. Maybe because I trust the person who's holding my hand, or maybe I just get carried away of this little adventurous trip, I went down the water and I was not scared at all, He even convinced me that I should move my feet as if I'm actually swimming by myself. Haha so silly. He kept his promise and never let go of my hand and I felt safe, even just then.
Mr. K went up to the street and brought back a bowl of something. It was no joke, hands down to the best papaya salad I had in my life. It's cheap, healthy, and right by the side of the street. Just like the colors of its food, this island has so many beautiful vivid colors. I even found myself a yellow house!
Walk down the island, I forgot about the cold back in Shanghai or anything that's not on this island honestly. Mr. K invited me out for a date, and we sat next to the ocean, the moon and the tide, the dinner and the eyes, it was all very romantic. I didn't drink any alcohol but clearly my face was blushing.
Just when I thought the island couldn't get any more romantic, it started to rain, in the dry season. It was pouring and we had to hide in a 7/11, He looked at me and snapped my "makeup ruined" face, commented "cute".
We waited for a while but the rain did not want to take a break, we decided to walk home in the rain. Jumped into the shower in case of getting the flu, and when we were out, the rain stopped and we could hear the bugs singing in the garden again.
It only has been 24 hours, but I felt I've known every tree and flower on this island. Our host, Suzanne, who was just wanting to help a friend out, gave herself three months and booked the ticket to come down here.
That was 16 years ago.
That night in my dream, I thought I too, have already lived here for many, many years.
All photos my own shot in Phuket, Thailand.
Dubai | Happy New Year!
Yep, this post is 20 days too late to the party, I know, you would think I'm talking about my New Year that will happen in less than 15 days already. But hey, better later than never right? Plus, a little party never killed nobody!
I welcomed 2018 in the extreme cold ( at least to me ) and now I'm here in a hot night, impatiently waiting for 2019 to come. Talking about what can happen in a year? I really thought 2018 wanted to kill me. It's the year I shattered into million pieces and it's the year that I look back and my heart aches. I'm so ready to save the file 2018 in a folder that I won't open for a long long time and ready to put some of the shattered pieces back together in the coming year, with hope.
My friends booked a table and that brought me to DIFC and the universe brought me fate. Julia, a dear friend of mine is all about astrology and stuff like that, I often roll my eyes when she does that. But the last day of 2018 converted me into her too, I am utterly thankful for what the universe brought to me and I can't think of a better way to start a new year!
Champagne and fireworks, hugs and laughter, music and dance, glitters and chocolate cake. I like to celebrate things in a big way and I need all these essentials. At one point of the night, I thought I was somewhere over the rainbow. Okay maybe I was dancing on the table, but it got me there.
DIFC is such a wonderful place, I spent a large amount of time reading under the trees or in a cafe when I lived here. The galleries and auction house, different restaurants. I might have a few glasses of drinks, but I was so surprised to see Chinese artist Zhuang Hongyi's works showing in Opera gallery. Art really has no borders and it can bring us together.
I left Dubai in early 2014, shortly after the new year. I danced in LPM with all my girlfriends to celebrate that new year. Maybe because I know I was leaving, I hugged everyone a bit harder and laughed a bit louder. It was an epic night, so is this one. I have to catch the flight back home in 4 hours. I have my luggage packed in Marina's car, and we headed to the beach after picking up some shawarmas from Zaroob of course.
There's something about a big body of water that calms your soul. It was so quiet and peaceful. And the new moon is up there, with us. It's always this kind of spontaneous trips that stay in your mind and excites your nerves right? The short 16 hours I spent in Zurich, the weekend at the Nai Harn Beach. And now another epic new year memory.
I wish when I'm old and grey, I can still remember those days and remind of myself what a wonderful journey life has been, and because I don't want to disappoint my future, I will keep wandering, keep moving, keep believing, keep loving.
Where to next, my heart?
Photos by Marina Qureshi and me shot in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Dubai | Half Desert, Half Sea, Half of My Heart
My feelings towards the desert are something extra.
I read about Echo and her Sahara life at a very very young age and always dreamed about going. So when school was finally finished I found myself a job in the desert and didn't hesitate a second and jumped on the plane.
And my oh my, was it a wild ride.
I left the desert for about 5 years now, but the life I had there, forever has a soft spot in my heart. The sunset is different from any other places, the water is different from any other beaches.
I don't know about other countries, but in China, you get three days off over The New Years, and it might sound crazy to a lot of people, but I booked a flight and decided to go to the desert for a quick weekend getaway. I'm newly single, and I need my supporting system. Plus I really miss my girlfriends over there. Adding all that up, I booked the ticket and went straight to the airport after work.
Well, it is kind of crazy, even the guy at the check-in counter said it's crazy. It's not from Germany to Spain, it's not from Shanghai to Phuket. It's a solid 10 and a half hour flight, it's like going to Paris for a weekend and come back. But I went for it. I followed my heart and I knew it's worth it, and it was way beyond my imagination of how wonderful the trip was.
Half Desert, Half My Heart
I didn't even go to Downtown the first day, I stayed with my friend Marina, the brain behind the Fashion label Marina Qureshi London at The Villa, outside of the city and I can't wait to go into the deep desert with her.
Other than the Christmas Eve we spent in the desert for Moroccan tea and talk 7 years ago, Marina hasn't done any desert safari before and I decided that it's time for her to experience. For people who don't know desert safari, a desert safari involves a jeep drive through enormous mounds of sand (called "dune-bashing"), you have to flat your tire first before you hit up the hills. We were only paying for it for the sake of Marina's safari experience. The rest of the packaged deal of camel riding and belly dancing etc are just too touristic for us, and we decided to escape. Also, I think the camels there were crying and it's too sad for me to watch, let alone ride.
As we sat back in the car and headed back home, we saw the sunset and decided to against the GPS's will and to do a little detour, and we found the perfect desert that just there for us, no one else. I always loved a good desert sunset, You hear the wind, the prayers far from the mosque, it's something that I call "beautifully sad". It's so grand that you, and everybody else, seem so small within.
I came down here for some consolation, not necessary from people. I know if there's any place in the world can keep me grounded, it's here, with my barefoot in the sand. I always consider here as the starting point of my adult life, This land kept a lot of my "First". It might seem strange to someone that home is not the place where I feel most comfortable at. But at home, I can't be completely who I am, I'm my parents' daughter, my little siblings' big sister, my grandparents' sweetheart and all the other hats that are me, a real me too. But at some level, subconsciously I behave the way that they want me to, not exactly what I wanted to.
But here, I can be truly who I am. I can walk down the beach at 4 am, I can drive to the desert for the sunrise. I can eat as many shawarmas as I want, at any time, any place. (Well, actually the best two places to get shawarmas are Zaroob in Sheikh Zayed Raod and Al Malah in Al Satawa. ) I am a little bit out of control, and I feel free anytime after midnight. I would not consider moving back here because life is all about moving on right? But what this land gave me is something I will cherish forever, whenever and wherever. And that, my friend, in a city where money can literally buy everything, is precious and certainly priceless.
Photo by Marina Qureshi and me, shot in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
London | 28 Degree and Sunny
There's something special about the European Summer. Those sandy beaches and seafood pasta, pink sky and longer days are making it much harder for anyone to be anywhere else. I love Shanghai as much as the next person, but god, summer in the city is just a cross to bear. 100% humidity, rains almost every day, sometimes 48 hours non-stop. Like what?
So this summer I planned a two weeks getaway to England and spent a wonderful time with my nearest and dearest.
I know, I know, England for summer? Really? Why?
Honestly, I wasn't sure in the beginning either. But I figured as long as I'm in Europe, I can just hop on a train or plane if England's summer fails me. So with some extra scarf and jacket packed in my summer luggage, I took the flight to a little town called London.
Wow, was I surprised that the whole time when I was there, United Kingdom was sunny and hot like a proper summer every day! They even had their heatwave (29 degrees! LOL) ！Summer '18 might just be Europe's best summer yet.
First and foremost, we obviously took our first day in London as proper tourists and went to all the sites that you've probably seen a million times. But like "There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes", my experience is unique to myself. Walking on Piccadilly street like what I have read from "Mrs. Dalloway" is something personal and emotional, and when we walked down the Fleet street, I thought of Yeats and his "The Lake Isle of Innisfree " immediately.
We went to the London Eye and my fear of height decided to kick in at that very moment. It's not even that high but because it's not very still as the cabin is shaking by the wind, I couldn't move at all only to hold on to the bench. Money well spent.
If the London Eye made me almost cry, then the London Dungeon just made the 27-year-old me burst into tears! Even though I know everyone is just acting and everything is fake, it's just way too much for me to handle. I only signed up for it because I saw a 9-year-old boy was in the group too, and I figured it can't be that scary, turned out, I can't even beat a 9-year-old. Shame.
I couldn't be happier when the tour in the dungeon was finally over, and I was able to breathe under the sun again. Walking around with ice cream in my hand, I felt grounded and safe. Tate Modern in front, St. Paul's Cathedral in the back, Jasmine blooms on the sidewalk and the wall, red phone booth kept reminding me where I was.
The sundown came as late as 10 pm as we were crossing from the south bank of the Thames. The Knight bridge was on our right side. That was a beautiful summer sunset, the whole sky was rendered by the color of orange, like a piece of work from Claude Monet, my favorite artist de le Impressionnisme.
Do you believe the charm of "love at first sight"? Do you believe it's all written in the stars? The first time I came to visit, you abandoned your usual " 15 degrees and gloomy ", and welcomed me with sunshine and flowers. It's my first time landed on the island physically, but I felt I've known you from long ago already.
"与君初相识， 犹如故人归。"
( I can't and don't want this poem to be translated. If you know, you know.)
All photos my own shot in London, United Kingdom.
Balibaba | In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle
I tend to write about every trip in just three posts and trust me, it's not an easy job! I have to skip a lot of things that I wanted to talk about. But if you do understand a simple language that is called Mandarin, then, by all means, go to the Chinese version of it, you will know that I like to yada yada a lot.
It was one typical hot Bali afternoon, we were hiking to a spa that we reserved a month ago. The whole hike is about 30 minutes, but my weak city legs stretched it into one hour. And every single time when this happens, I would immediately sign up a gym class back home and end up not going. (can't deal with gym, really. )
Apart from my weak city legs that caused the delay, I was also just taking a moment and soaking in the beautiful scenery along the way. It's simply breathtaking.
Ah Jungle!
In the house where I spent most of my summers as a little girl, we had this small forest in the backyard. According to my grandpa (may he rest in peace), years ago, it was a grand river, and it went dry up and trees and other things started to grow in it. And half a century later, it became what it is today. A lot of the nap time, or so my grandparents believed that I did nap, I would escape the house with bare feet and go down to the little "jungle" with my other fellow "nap-skippers". We'd climb up to the mulberry trees, or lie down on the grass, it's so quite, and only the cicadas sang along, strangely I found it's very soothing.
So walking around besides the real jungle just bring back those sweet memories! I also saw houses among those trees and could not help but wonder what their lives look like? How does it feel to live in such a luxury oxygen factory? Would they want to trade life with me? Even just for a short brief moment?
The Massage in Karsa Spa is so good that I slept the entire time! Honest writing about it just put me into that mood again and I almost fall asleep! The room is quite private but not completely closed, they have the sarong instead of the door so that the hot breeze went through the entire room and it just felt so relaxed. They also have an outdoor shower in the garden which is just incredible. The last time I had an outdoor shower was in a Tibetan tribe family house facing Qinghai lake. There is something about outdoor showers. They are of course private and honestly, no one else will see you, but you still kind of feel bold and fun and has the thrill that someone might just pass through. Does that sound pervy? No?
I mean the massage was that good that we decided to stay a little longer and have a drink, and a drink led to a long lunch. We talked about everything and nothing, and time just went by like that. I stared at these rice fields and thought about one article of Shanghainese writer Chen Danyan. It was published in Traveller Magazine I believe. I read about it when I was in high school. (wondering if that magazine still exits?) She and her daughter were traveling in Bali. And One afternoon in a ventilated gazebo, everything seemed so quiet and peaceful. She felt a little tipsy, not sure if it's the gin tonic or the gorgeous view. She fell asleep, without the help of the Balinese massage. And that was her best memory of that trip.
I didn't know if I was just mumbling or actually telling the story out loud. But that day, I got to experience what Chen Danyan has experienced and I know the young girl in the school library would be happy to know that too.
Isn't life just beautiful?
All photos my own shot in Bali, Indonesia.
Balibaba | Live under a Volcano
We designed a perfect route up north to chase the world famous waterfalls, little did we know that the weather would be a bitch in the mix. It almost never rained during my stay, but after our first beautiful Nung Nung waterfall, we were driving in the rain on the top of the mountains the whole afternoon. It was cats and dogs, and we couldn't open our eyes. When the rain finally stopped, we found ourselves arrived in a quiet town called Lovina. Hot shower and ice cream later, we went to bed early, with a dream of a sunny tomorrow.
Oh boy was it a good dream!
The next day we got up together with the sunrise. We were at a boat when the sun shines all over. It's so rare to catch a sunrise in the city, so this moment seemed particularly precious to us. Morning breeze went through my oversize white blouse, I was having my coffee inside the boat, and thinking how wonderful life is.
With a lot agenda in our plate, we thanked the host for his hospitality and headed to the volcano.
Through the weekend temple traffic, we came to a lookout where the volcano is right in front of us. And under the volcano, there's houses and homes. I thought of Pompei, the ancient city that got ruined by the volcano. It was just like that, kids were playing, couples were eating, farmers in the field and fish man in the sea, in the blink of time, all gone.
The two things in life I revere the most are the mysterious nature, and the invisible time.
We headed down to the famous spring, my body floats in the warm water, I thought of Aristotle. “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” I thought of this famous line by him one afternoon at the top of Zurich, and once again, well put my great thinker, well put.
A rather long relaxed hot spring later, we set off on the road again. The sun started to move toward the west, so did we. We need to catch the dinner reservation back in Ubud.
There's something special about passing through a volcano. Weeds grow out on the bare rocks after the years. Unnamed yellow flowers sparsely scattered in between. I thought of Route 66, Thema & Louise, and every single western movie with Ennio Morricone's soundtrack.
I don't know where I will be many years from now, maybe also on an island, maybe another earth. But in my twenties, I have journeyed in a wonderful wild land, with my favorite person. This and the yellow flower at the foot of the mountain will remind me of the ever so bright youth. And I know in one of these cold nights when I can't sleep, I will journey back to the sunny and forever youthful days, and feeling absolutely lucky.
“...And fare thee weel a while;
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho’s it were ten thousand mile!"
All photos my own shot in Bali, Indonesia.
Balibaba | Hi Canggu is that you?
Even though “never say never,” I’m almost sure I will never return to the magical island that is called Bali.
It’s not because it’s bad that I don’t want to go again, on the complete contrary, It was too good, it was surreal, it was once in a lifetime adventure. I want to hold on to this feeling of warmth and happiness. I’m afraid returning back will ruin it, and it would be an insult to the memory we shared.
I’m always longing for something “long ago," and “far away”. So because Bali is right there, I never thought of going until early this spring when opportunity offered itself.
I have just finished a week of work in Hong Kong, flew back to Shanghai, immediately changed the Art week business attire to tropical island dresses in my carryon and next thing I know, I’m already in the plane again, heading to summer.
Hi Canggu is that you?
I always wonder what is it that people just seem much happier under the sun and by the water? Quite literally from the concrete jungle to jungle, we drove from Ubud to Canggu in the afternoon sun, I could not wait any longer to see the sea. After all, we are on an island right?
I will spare you with the thousand pics I had snapped on my phone, but a couple of them. I remember posting a Chinese journal that night using the photos fresh out of the oven, no filter, not even any light fixing. What you see here is exactly what I saw. There are boys playing soccer on the beach, and there are girls surfing in the sea. The dogs they run, in the golden sun.
Hours later the sun started to set and here returns the surfer. My nose started to peel and I turned my head to the person sat by my side. I wanted to tell him " thank you", I had a thousand words at the tip of my tongue. But instead, I hold his hands and said nothing at all.
When the sky largely turned into pink, we hit the road again and headed back to where there's the jungle, the deities and spirits, and the endless adventures.
All photos my own shot in Canggu, Bali.
Note on Travel
My love for travel came early and it was influenced by two people: My father and Echo.
We have a globe in the house and that’s both me and my dad’s favorite thing. We’d turn the globe and I would point my finger on it when it stops, and my dad would tell me everything about that place, history, politics, and the people. It was such a wonderful thing to know there are so many fascinating places in the world and I promised myself that I would go and see with my eyes one day. Also, thanks to my dad, I never come in second place in geography exams!
And then there’s Echo. I read her book at a very young age, they are everywhere in my house too, her books belong to my mother, I could not stop reading them through once I discovered her. I used to introduce her to my foreign friends as “the first travel blogger and influencer in the 70s.” she traveled everywhere in the world, spoke Chinese, Spanish, German, and English.
Her life with her Spanish husband in the Sahara desert that she documented in her first book《Sahara stories》 made her famous. Through her writing, People back in the East got to know the rest of the world. Her book《Gentle nights》documented her life in the Canary Islands, oh that island life! I was devastated when I read about her husband’s accident and learned later that she committed suicide. It was a beautifully sad story.
I read all her books, but I chose to keep always the first two, the ones that she wrote before the accident, the happy Echo, I intentionally chose to live a happy life. I know it’s not what life is all about, but it reminds me of the beauty of travel and love and life itself. No matter how many times I moved, these two books will forever be found dogeared in my shelves.
So thanks, Dad and Echo, thank you for showing me the world at an early age and teaching me to appreciate the diversity of different cultures. You planted the seeds in my heart, and everywhere I go, it feels like coming home.
Photo shot in Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai, China.