Bitten by the Travel Bug

Note: Isn't Park City beautiful?! 

I always hate coming back from vacation. I always have to deal with the withdraws and depression of leaving a wonderful place. It's never long enough, and I always have an unbearable urge to return to the place.

Coming back from vacation always means that you are coming back to reality. Whatever that was making me depressed before, the things that stressed me out is now back into my life. It's not all bad though. I get to sleep on my own bed again, I get to see my parents (even if they are nagging me about my life choices), I get to read in bed, and I get to spend time with my friends. 

Sometimes I think a vacation for me is a means of escape. I get tired of being in a rut. I get tired of life sometimes, and a vacation is just what I need to rejuvenate me. It's a breath of fresh air, a break from the complications of life.

But I come home determined to travel more. It's always been one of my goals to travel the world, and after every vacation the urge gets stronger. The older I get, the more I want to explore the world. I want to be more cultured. I want to see what others see. I want to be able to experience all the great things in life. I want to live life to the fullest. To me that means traveling the world.

I want to see the divergent plate boundary in Iceland. I want to explore the Andes mountain. I want to climb a volcano in Hawaii. I want to sit in a Scottish bar, and listen to the locals talk. I especially want to photograph it all.

I think in the future my savings will be dedicated to traveling. Maybe I'll become BFFs with a traveling photographer, and we'd travel the world. I think I am automatically in love with photographers. (I can't help it. I sometimes don't notice cute guys walking by, but I will always notice if someone has a nice camera.)

I already need another escape. My bags are always half packed (it may also be half packed because I am afraid for the next major earthquake), and ready for a vacation. :D

New Addictions

My friend came over today, and I think I fell in love with her a little bit more. She had bought me a new rice cooker (mine was broken), and food to make me dinner. She made my heart sing a little. How can I not love someone who brings me dinner? Food is the way to my heart.

Then she did something terrible. She had me start watching a Korean drama. I was hooked the first moment I watched the show, and have been at it for the last 5 hours. I cannot sleep or eat without thinking about what is going to happen.

I swoon when one of the guys do something sweet. I laugh when the main characters are flirting. I sigh, I weep, and I groan often. I am smitten with the show, and I have a constant itch to watch it. 

Hello, my name is Hang, and I am addicted to Korean drama. I am in love with the cast.  I always swoon whenever I see the love interest. He's just that adorable. I now know what true love feels like.

P.S. Thanks a lot, Julie Bean. You have now ruined my life. :D

Sundance Movies

Note: Frances and I at a movie. :)

I watched a good handful of movies while in Sundance. I had a lot of time to think about how I felt about them. There were some movies that I couldn't stand, and there were some that made my heart sing.

1. Happythankyoumoreplease was my personal favorite. I think I have a major crush on Josh Radnor now. I also cannot resist a good romantic comedy. I've always enjoy seeing love win at the end of any movie.
2. The shorts that I saw were pretty interesting. I adored the documentary about the fence between the US and Mexico. Issues like that always break my heart. I'm such a sucker for a sob story. I didn't really care for the robots falling in love or the older couple who had marriage problems. I did enjoy the short about famous logos. It may have to do with Ronald McDonald being evil.
3. The Extra Man was interesting. It may have to do with the fact that the main character was a cross dresser, and had issues. I wouldn't say it was a fabulous movie, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention for the whole movie.
4. Skateland was eh. I didn't really hate it, but there was a lot of problems in the movie. The storyline didn't flow, and I couldn't relate to the characters. It was a story about growing up, and I didn't really care for it.
5. Lovers of Hate was a really messed up movie. The characters were so selfish and self serving that it was a bit hard to watch. It did have funny moments though, so I was engaged in the movie for the most part. Some people hated the movie, and some people liked it. I can see both sides of the issue although I am leaning towards the not liking it so much.
6. Obselidia was boring and long. The story didn't make sense, and we didn't even bother to stay after for the Q&A. The story would go off tangent so often that it would be hard to focus. I had a problem with trying to keep up with it, and some of the things that happened were way too convenient. 
7. Imperialists Are Still Alive! was the worst. I couldn't understand their accents, and there was basically no plot. I didn't understand what was going on, and I still don't. I felt like the movie didn't have a point, and I was left bored. I couldn't wait until the movie was over. It was that bad.
8. I fell asleep in My Perestrokia, so I can't really judge it. I may of fell asleep because it was an 8 am movie, and we didn't sleep all that week or it may of been boring. I'm not really sure.

If I ever go back to Sundance, I want to watch much more movies. I would love to wait list more so that I can see the movies that people are buzzing about. There were a lot of movies that I was interested in, but we didn't have the time. I know that I want to watch more documentaries the next time around.

I hope I get to go back there because the experience was so unique and exciting. I feel myself already being addicted, and I am suffering from withdraws. I really liked that crowd and environment. I wish I was still there.

It Must Be Love...

Note: I love these guys. They made Sundance that much more enjoyable.

Sundance was amazing. It was the most exciting experience. I didn't expect to have as much fun as I had. I thought it might get a little bit dry if I were just going to watch movies day after day. Boy was I wrong. I had the BEST time. It may even be one of my favorite trips.

I ended up watching 8 movies, and loving the experience. Even when the movies were really bad, I found myself enjoying myself (it could be because it would then become the perfect time to take a nap). There is something so different about watching an independent movie. The plot would generally be so random that you can't help but like the movie. A guy who likes to cross dress? Robots in love? How can I not like the movies? 

The weather was just perfect. It was snowing for most of our trip. I didn't think it was that cold because I was properly bundled up. The only problem was trying to keep my feet from getting wet. My shoes weren't really waterproof, and the giant puddles looked liked small lakes to me. It was almost impossible to stay dry when it was snowing heavily.

Everyone on the trip was wonderful. We shared cooking duties, stayed up late into the night and played games. (Although I had anxiety when we were playing charades.) We all got along great which I think made the trip so much better for me.

Whenever we were going to watch a movie, we had to take the bus to the theater. That was an interesting experience. After every movie, the actors and directors would come out and discuss their movies. I love that about Sundance, people would come out and talk about their movies. They were passionate about it, and I found it charming. (Josh Radnor was pretty amazing.)

The town on Main Street was so cute that I immediately feel in love. The houses looked so cozy and charming. I fell even more in love when I got a bunch of free loot. I ended up with countless water bottles, a journal, beer glasses, gloves, a mug, chapsticks, mints, and sunglasses. How can I not love Utah?

I never thought that I was really passionate about movies (I just enjoy it immensely), but I think I am addicted. I am addicted to Utah and glorious Sundance. I have an itch to watch a countless number of movies. I NEED TO WATCH MORE!

I had an amazing trip, and I am already counting down the days when I can return. :)

Currently in Sundance

I've been having so much fun in the last few days. It has been snowing every single day I have been here. The snow is nice and fluffy, and it's beautiful. It's just not that fun when it starts to melt and leaves puddles everywhere. Especially if you don't have waterproof shoes.

I have seen three movies so far. I loved Happythankyoumoreplease. It was such an adorable movie. I hope it gets released into theaters soon. I also saw Obselidia and some shorts that were ok. I still have five more movies before I leave on Tuesday. I'm just so excited!

I just love Park City so much. The city is small, and everyone there is mellow. There is no need for a car because everything is within walking distance or is a bus ride away.

I love how everything looks so much more romantic under snow. It's not even that cold. I have fallen in love with the city, and I want to come back every year. Utah has stolen my heart.

Next order of action is to build a snowman. I can't wait for the next few days. :)

Music

It's such a loaded question when people ask me what I like to listen to. I realize that people are looking for more than the generic, "I like everything" answer. 

The thing is... I do like almost everything (I just CANNOT stand heavy metal, rap, and trance.). I'm not particularly picky about what I listen to as long as it's tasteful.

But if I was to go into detail about the kind of music I love, I must say that I love mellow music. I love music that has a calming effect or has beautiful lyrics. My life can get pretty stressful, and so I always prefer to listen to something that makes my heart flutter. I need mellow in my life.

That means I spend a lot of time listening to Jack Johnson, Colbie Caillat, Michael Buble, Rob Thomas, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride...

Yes, I love slow music. I like to actually be able to hear the words. I also may love it when people confess their love. Oh, I'm such a sucker. :)

Shoe Shopping

I normally hate shopping for dress shoes because it's really hard for me to find shoes that I will love. It's usually just ok or doesn't fit in all the right places. I'm more of a flip flop gal.

Putting all of that aside, I went shopping with a friend (Thanks for being my shopping buddy, Mariana.) today to look for shoes. We had to get moving because we were going to be in a wedding in two months. (Wow, time flies!)

We tried on silly shoes, fancy shoes, and even really tall shoes. I even fell in love with a pair of heels that fit perfectly. It was made for me... except it had a three inch heel. Can you imagine me trying to walk in them? I can barely walk with regular shoes. I still end up tripping all the time! I am legendary for my klutziness. Goodness gracious, I am imagining walking in them all day. Yet I was still tempted to buy them. Good thing common sense took over.

We ended up looking at dresses, and one of the sales lady asked us if we were going to a dance. Her question made me laugh. I'm WAY too old to be going to a school dance. I can't even remember what it felt like to be in high school. 

At the end of the day, I still didn't have any shoes, but we ended the day with ice cream. Well, ice cream and 90% off Christmas stuff. :)

A Letter

Dear Rain,

You wet my shoes, car, and wallet today. You made it unpleasant to drive, and I had trouble seeing through my windshield. When I prayed that you would go away, you only rained harder. 

You make me feel lazy, and want to stay in bed all day. I read all day in bed when I should of been productive looking for a job.

I am leaving you in the next few days for snow. I hope you will die down by the time I come back. 

I don't really hate you, but I miss the sunshine. 

Sincerely,

Hang

A New Recipe

In my quest to be a better cook, I found what looks like a yummy recipe for tofu and bok choy stir fry. I decided to test the waters, and pretend that I can actually cook. I have to learn how to cook sometime. 

I read the recipe. I bought the ingredients. I tried to cook. I conquered! It actually came out really yummy. The tofu was crispy, and the veggies were crunchy.

I want to try to make so many more things. Maybe I'll try some new recipes or have my friends show me how to cook. I still can't believe that I am actually trying to learn how to cook. Who knew that I had it in me.

Idea of Fun

I'm a homebody. I like to read during rainy days or watching movies right before bed time. I am am easily amused, and I am perfectly ok with entertaining myself. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends, and I am always looking forward to seeing them. It's just that our form of entertainment is watching a movie, eating lunch, or simply painting our nails. 

I've never been to a club, and I've definitely never even seen drugs. I've lived a very sheltered life, and I'm ok with that. I like that I am amused with bike rides, and that I find museums fascinating. I love the outdoors, and am content with just sitting on the beach or going on a hike. I know that I am low maintenance.

I used to think I was a bit strange for not wanting to go parties every week or being able to drink like a fish. (I can't hold my alcohol, and it's quite sad.)

I actually don't mind anymore. I know I am easily amused, and that it doesn't take much to make me happy. I like that about me, and I don't have to pretend. Yes, I like lazy afternoons chatting with friends much better than a party full of strangers. (I do enjoy parties sometimes. I just wouldn't be able to do it every week or even every month.)

That's right... I just admitted that I am boring. I even embrace it. ;)

Taking Things Personally

I've been watching a lot of movies lately, and I realize that I take a lot of movies personally.

What I mean is that sometimes I get so involved with the characters that I take it to the heart. I get upset for days when something doesn't end well. If something ends really well, I will sigh over it for days. 

Warning there are spoilers in the next few paragraphs:

I really liked Up in the Air, but the ending left me upset for days. Yes, the George Clooney's character did grow as a person, but it didn't necessarily mean it that his life would end up peachy. I appreciate the realistic ending, but it left me a bit sad. I cried gallons when they were firing people. I am such a sucker for a sob story, and it left me a little bit heart broken.

I don't know how I feel about Avatar. The story really isn't all that original, and some of the things that happened were so hard to believe. I spent half of the time covering my eye because I couldn't take the suspense. Were the Na'vi people doomed? Why is the world so cruel? I wondered about these things for days. 

Then there are movies like The Blind Side that leave me feeling warm hearted and happy. My heart always skips a beat whenever a movie ends well. I love that even though life was hard, there is still hope. I become satisfied and content with life whenever I watch these kind of movies.

Or movies like Pride and Prejudice, that leaves me mooning for Mr Darcy, and it always has a way of cheering me up whenever I lose faith in humanity. Who needs a relationship when I can just live vicariously through Elizabeth Bennet?

I think I have a problem with taking movies too personally. I can't just watch a movie, and not be involved with the characters. I become emotional a lot of times. That's a good reason why I hate scary movies. I become paranoid, and then I become the biggest baby on the planet.

I do that with books too or even when people tell me stories about people they know. I just get so involved that they become people I know and care about (even though I never have met them). 

Wow, I feel like I have more issues then I realized. 

Early Packing

I am going on a trip next week, but I am already thinking about what I need to pack into my bag. I tend to over pack, but I've always thought it was better than being without something. Can you imagine getting somewhere and realizing that you don't have any underwear?

I checked the airline's website to see if I can check in any bags, and to see how many bags I can actually carry on. I haven't gone on a flight in years. It must of been four years ago when I actually set foot in a plane. 

I just found out that it cost $25 to check in a bag. What on Earth? That is a small fortune. To avoid a fee, you can just bring carry ons. They even limit the size of your carry ons.

That really isn't a problem for me except that I now have to worry about not carrying liquid more than 3 oz. Oh boy, that means I have to find small containers for my essentials. 

I realize that it's too early to think about packing, but I'm just so excited. I can't wait! California has been having 70 degree weather, and it'll be interesting to see what winter is like outside of Southern California. :D

Huntington Library

Note: We're in the Japanese Garden.

I don't go explore the city as much as I should. I've been living in Orange County for the last 18 years of my life, and there is still so much I haven't seen. I don't know what I have been doing, but apparently not discovering the interesting places around me.

I finally went to the Huntington Library for the first time to admire the gardens, and I couldn't get over how vast and beautiful it was. There were gardens after gardens, ponds after ponds, and even some cute critters.

It was GLORIOUS! There was so much to see, and I was trying to take it all in. This place is meant for photographs, so we did what every normal person would do, and ended up taking 440 pictures in just 2 1/2 hours. 

We ended the day eating Thai food, and I was a happy, full, and sleepy camper by the end of the night. It was just the way to end an amazing day. 

What a Horrible Day

The day started out nice. I had breakfast (I may be in love with breakfast burritos.) with a friend, and she was sweet enough to buy me dessert. I'm a sucker for apple strudel. I think I like all things that resemble or relate to pie. It's the pie filling. 

While I was checking my online bank statement, I saw that my cell phone company had withdrawn $749. WHAT?! (I had a mini heart attack.) I definitely do not have that kind of money for a cell phone bill. 

After I got that problem fixed, I got a letter in the mail saying that an online payment I made last month didn't go through. It was now overdue. Oh, I definitely knew by then it wasn't my day. I had to call them to make sure that my new payment went through. 

I spent the day on the phone, calling my bank, my insurance, my phone company, etc. Talking to customer service is always a pain. They always give you the run around, and by the time you hang up, you realize that your question wasn't even answered. 

At least my brother bought me a sundae at the end of the night. Frozen yogurt can really cure frustration. 

Picture Time

It isn't that special, nor does it have a lot of features, but I finally have a camera. I'm just excited to be able to take pictures again after what felt like a century of being without a camera.

I can finally go back to taking pictures of the food I eat, trips I go on, and other random things in my life. The pages of my photo albums will no longer be empty, and will now be filled with many future adventures.

My life is complete for now (It doesn't take much to make me happy. haha.)... that is until I finally get my hands on a DSLR camera. That is part of my ultimate goal, and I am going to get there someday. Cameras own a little piece of my heart, and I don't think there is a lot of things that I love more.

Shopping Spree

I've been preparing for Sundance's rigid weather, and have gone a little crazy with shopping. 

I really dislike the cold, and would like the cold to be minimal. I will wear 6 shirts, and 3 pairs of socks if that is what it takes to keep warm. There's a reason why I love California, and it's mostly because of its weather.

I picked up so many things in the last week... undergarments, a waterproof coat, jeans, pants, a sweater, and a watch. The shopping was long overdue, and I am now prepared for the bitter cold.

In the process of shopping, I ended up wanting so many more things. I now want winter boots, hiking boots, flip flops, more shoes, and purses. I also fell in love with camping gear. I dream about owning one of those mummy sleeping bags and those huge lanterns. Don't ask, I don't know why I like the things I do.

I am trying really hard to use self control, and not spend anymore money.

Two weeks until vacation time! I cannot wait! :D

P.S. Frances just mentioned that she wanted earmuffs and gloves. I want them now too. SIGH. 

2010 Goals

I hate making new year resolutions because the truth is... I usually don't follow through. I tend to forget what resolutions I make by March, and end up feeling guilty that I didn't do what I said I would.

This year I'm going to try to work on myself. I have a lot of tragic flaws, and I think it's about time I started doing something about it. I am just going to take baby steps towards the right direction, but I won't necessarily complete my goals. I'm ok with that, as long as I am making progress.

This year, I am going to:

1. Ride my bike often. I will try to do this even when my bottom isn't feeling well.
2. Be more assertive. I have a problem with actually doing the things I want to do. I get discouraged easily, and am intimidated by people I admire.
3. Do the things I want to do. I sometimes can't say no when I really want to. I am a total pushover a lot of the time, and it bothers me.
4. Learn to be less negative. I hate it when I am a total Negative Nelly. I am my own hardest critic. 

There's a lot of things that I need to work on, and I am determined to reach my goals... even if it takes me years...

2009 Movies

I went back to see how many movies I watched that was released in 2009, and I realized I watched over 40. I've watched much more movies if you count movies that weren't released in 2009, but there was no way for me to calculate (nor did I want to) how many movies I watched in total. Apparently Netflix owns my life.

This may have to do with the fact that I have a lot of free time, and no one wants to hang out with me. Or maybe it's the fact that I love watching movies and reading books. Well, movies and books with happy endings at least. I tend to cry if there is a lot of sadness in a story.

I wouldn't say I am an addict, but I think I go to the movies at least twice a month, and I try to go through a decent amount of dvds on Netflix. I'm pretty low key, so that's where I am usually hanging out with my friends.

I'm even going to Sundance this month which means I'm going to add at least 5 movies to this year's count. I may be watching more movies this year than last year, and I don't have a problem with that... :)

Biking Around Town

Note: This picture was stolen from Julie. I was happy to take a break and eat.

I went on a delightful biking adventure today. I think I may be slightly in love with this new activity. Maybe it's because of the company... maybe it's something new... maybe it's because there was food involved. Naw, I think it's the company.

We decided to bike to a vegetarian restaurant which was a good distance away. I haven't biked for a long time, so they picked a route that was fairly easy for me to do. (no hills; thank goodness!) 

The trip to the restaurant was pretty slow. I was getting used to my bike, and admiring the view. (There was an adorable Lassie dog too. I was in love.) We had to make some stops because I was uncomfortable on my bike, and my bike seat was starting to really bother me. 

Dinner was fantastic. There was fried rice, chicken, and grapefruit salad. I love vegetarian chicken. It has this chewy texture that I really enjoy. Sometimes I think I enjoy fake meat over real meat. Not to say that I don't miss real chicken sometimes, but my judgment may be biased.

It was pitch black when it was time for us to go home, and I was really worried about the dark. I have a paranoid personality, and I kept thinking I was going to get mugged, killed by a car, or fall into a ditch. I think that's why we rode really fast on the way home, (Or at least I did) and it took barely any time to get home.

I spent the rest of the evening getting pamper. She decided to paint my nails a whole different color from last week, and I can't help enjoy having nice nails all the time. I may be a little spoiled now. (Thanks Julie!)

I wanted to go on a little bike ride by myself tomorrow, but I think my butt hurts too much. I wish the bike seats were more comfortable...

A Sunday in San Diego

I really enjoy going to San Diego. It's far enough to be considered a treat, but close enough to drive without making the drive a drag. It's also different enough that you feel like you are going on a mini vacation. 

I went to San Diego because I was helping Frances' sister pick out a wedding dress. It was actually a pain free experience because she had already known what dress she wanted to buy, and was just going to purchase it. The dress is beautiful, and she's going to make a beautiful bride.

While we were waiting for Frances' sister to make her purchase, Frances and I started to people watch. I couldn't help watching them as they went through countless dresses, and overhear their conversations. I learned how old their fiancé were, what careers they had, and even a bit about their personality. There was a woman who couldn't decide between two dresses, and I wanted so badly to give her my opinion. 

When it was time to leave, I felt a little ripped off. The woman still hadn't decide between the two dresses, and I was never going to find out. It's like never finding out the ending of a story. I guess I will just always wonder, but in my mind, she picked the dress that I thought was perfect on her.

Dinner began as an ordeal. We waited over an hour to just get seated, and almost another hour to get our meal. We became extremely grumpy, and I almost didn't enjoy my sushi. (Oh sushi, how did I think I could ever give you up?) 

The waiter was really nice though. Even though we ordered the wrong thing, he corrected it for us, and apologized.

The biggest surprise was when we realized how much was our bill. Frances' sister (Thanks Anh!) was the first to hand her credit card while the rest of us was trying to whip it out. The server walked away laughing with her card. It was strange. 

The bill turned out to only be $13 dollars. We thought it was a mistake... maybe it wasn't our check... maybe they split it up... maybe they forgot to charge us? We were perplexed. How is that even possible? We ate 7 rolls.

While examining the original bill, we realized that he comped 4 of the rolls, and we were only paying for the cheapest rolls. The original bill was almost $40. 

These kind of things never happen to me. I never get free food, and cool things rarely happen to me. I'm kind of used to getting screwed over, so this was a delightful surprise. I think it maybe be one of my favorite meals ever. I still can't believe we only paid $13. It must of been because of our sparkling personality, and our undeniable cuteness. Yeah, that's definitely it. (Or not.) 

Paper Obsession

I think I have a shopping problem. I always come home with a bunch of strange things when I go to Target, and I think it's starting to get out of hand.

I went into Target today with the intentions of getting my mom some band-aids. She didn't really care to use the Batman one that I already had, (Most awesome band-aids in the universe!) and the regular ones we had were too small. 

While I was looking for band-aids, I found the Christmas clearance section in the store, and had to take a peek. I saw the 75% off, and thought it wouldn't hurt to look. 

I ended up with 4 packs of Christmas cards, 3 rolls of wrapping paper, and tissue paper. (It cost $6. It was impossible for me to resist.) When on earth am I ever going to need all of that? It would take me 5 years to be able to use all of that. Plus I already have a closet dedicated to wrapping paper and cards. 

It's an illness, and I don't know why I do it. I always tell myself that I won't buy any more wrapping paper or cards because: 

a) I DO NOT NEED IT.

b) I do not have the space.

c) I shouldn't be spend money on something so ridiculous.

d) No normal person hoards wrapping paper and cards.

Hallmark owns my soul. It may have to do with the fact that I love sending and receiving cards, and that I sometime like the wrapping of a present better than the present.

Sigh. I have issues, but I'm working on it...

2010

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone has a wonderful new year. Be safe!

I hope 2010 is going to be much better than 2009 because quite frankly... 2009 sucked. I'm ready for a fabulous new year, and I have a feeling it's going to be. I have so much to look forward to (weddings, trips, etc.), and I'm going to try to have a productive new year.

I have a few things about myself that I want to work on. I guess I should get right on it! 

I started the year with a Big Bang, and I hope that continues. :D