Good day!  I have returned home from my extended and wonderful trip to Australia and Hong Kong.  Ah, the perks of having family all over the world.  Traveling has become an accidental hobby of mine, a passion I happened to fall into.  From year long backpacking trips with friends, to family visits 26 hours away, I've got to experience many different parts of the world. 

When I travel somewhere new, I try to live life like the locals: taking off my tourist shoes and discovering a local bar, a secret waterfall, or getting short-term jobs that most visitors don't get to experience.  I think the desire to find these things stems from our innate passion to fit in, to belong and feel like we're part of something.  I was talking to my sister about the importance of traveling and she stressed the fact that so many people don't do it.  Yes, many don't have family they can visit in exotic places, but some just don't want to either.  I hope that everyone has a time in their life when their curiosity brings them to a new place, out of their comfort zone, across the language barrier, and to a place overflowing with a new culture.  It teaches you humility, modesty, and respect.  Most of all, the experiences stay with you and become a part of who you are.  

Happy traveling!

-B

I write this post from the big, smoggy, happening city of Hong Kong, where I have been vacationing/working/enjoying myself for the past month.  My father being from here, I expected to visit maybe once or twice in my lifetime, but this is now my 6th time here.  My sisters both live here now, as do my adorable niece and nephew.  It is a wonderful place full of busy, ambitious and motivated people whose creativity is embraced and welcomed with open arms.  Everyone I meet here believes my 'vacation' will never end; that I will decide to stay here as they had when they were expecting to leave.  I can see why the've stayed.  It's an infectious city with millions of things happening at all times of the day and night and many friendly faces you seem to run into daily.  Most of the people I have met have moved here for an occupation or big opportunity and ended up loving it so much, they stayed. 

Traveling around the world has been a big part of my life for the past 5 years and I am very aware how lucky I am to say that.  Seeing different countries and their cultures for extended periods of time has shown me alternate ways of life.  I try to take the things I appreciate from every place I visit and remember to use them in my own life, no matter where I am.  Hong Kong has taught me to be driven, Perth-friendly, Laos-outgoing, Fox Glacier-brave, Rome-strong... and Paris has taught me that I love pastries. 

I am thankful for every experience, good and bad, that I have because I know they are building me into the person I will become. My flight is booked to come home April 4th.  Even though I'm not moving to Hong Kong as of now, I promise to take this slice of Chinese life with me when I go. 

-B