2012

Sunrise at beautiful, majestic Angkor Wat, taken January 3, 2012

I can't quite believe that it is *already* the middle of January. Here I sit in my office at school, hopelessly jetlagged, trying to mark 180 assignments and catch up on hundreds(!) of pages of reading. 

More photos from Angkor to come (since I have lots of work to avoid over the next few days :). 

New favourite places (and new favourite people)

photos taken at Chesterman Beach in Tofino, BC on a particularly beautiful day last week

I've been to Ucluelet/Tofino twice since moving to "the island" in September and it is becoming one of my favourite places to visit. The drive there and back is so beautiful, the beaches are just magnificent, and everywhere you look is the most amazing wildlife (we spotted a few bears this time around!).  

I went on this trip with some new friends from school and we had the most wonderful time. What is it about travel (near or far) that seems to accelerate the friendship process? Some of my dearest friends are people that I've met on short trips, whom I've gotten to know over a few short days. 

I'm so thankful that I was given the opportunity to study here, and I definitely intend to make the most of it (travel and otherwise :). 

Descending

Descending - Series Teaser from Echo Bay Media on Vimeo.

I am incredibly excited for this series to premiere. Departures is one of my all-time favourite TV shows (you must check it out if you have a chance!) and I can't wait to see how Andre will capture the beauty of the oceans in this new show.

I received my PADI Open Water certification in the Philippines a few months ago (inspired in part by Scott & Andre), and I've been itching to get back in the water. There is really nothing quite like diving and I can't wait to experience that meditative calmness again soon.

First impressions of the Pacific Northwest

 We drove for 4 hours through winding roads like this...

...to get here.

It felt like we had travelled to the ends of the Earth; seeing those magnificent waves crashing onto the rocky shore and grey whales surfacing in the distance was such a breathtaking experience.  Having grown up in large cities (Hong Kong and Toronto), the Pacific Northwest feels like a magical place. I can't wait to explore more of it in the years(!) to come.

*photos taken with instagr.am  on my iPhone.

Light

photos taken at Elk/Beaver Lake in Victoria, BC (my new home!)

Well, I'm here.

There are good days and bad days. Most days I feel so happy to be where I am; I love the people, I love the fresh air, being close to forests, lakes, mountains, ocean. But there are those moments...

...those moments where I wonder what I'm doing, when I feel I can't possibly live up to everyone's expectations, where I miss all the people who know me best.

Thankfully these moments are rare, and school has kept me so busy that I don't have much time to dwell on the fact that I miss Toronto every day. I'm also thankful that I have a group of new friends that are in the same position, who understand this lonely transitional phase.

Today was a wonderful day and it has reminded me that I made the right decision; that I'm lucky to be doing exactly what I've wanted to do.