I grew up in Hong Kong. It is a wonderful city, full of opportunities but very cramped, so Hong Kong people are known for travelling all around whenever they have holiday. It is like a get away for us, to get away from the crowds, the problems, and small spaces.
My mother sparked my passion for travelling as she is also a traveller who loves discovering new cuisine, culture and environment. So that she would bring me with her to places when I was 14 years old, we went all around Europe, Southeast Asia and China. Throughout these journeys, I realised that this world we live in truly a beauty and there are still so much we have not experienced and seen. We should be there to see it ourselves as it is so much more different, and meaning than experiencing by seeing them on social media. In addition, my mother also told me that we all have one final destination – death, and when we are buried, we will not bring any luxury designer bags and jewelries with us, but meaning memories and experiences you remember. That stuck with me so much I’ve just started using a DJI mini 3 everywhere I go for my adventures.
Gte Uncomfortable
My journey to Cebu, is the most meaningful journey out of all, I have in fact prepared for years.
I have always been scared of the deep water as I was in an accident which I almost drowned when I was young. But one day I saw again a video from Benn TK and Sam Kolder, which inspired me to conquer my fear and do what makes me scared. It was a video of sardine runs and whale sharks, which I found them so, so beautiful. Starting from that day, I went to apply for scuba diving classes and completed the course by myself, so that one day I can see them in front of my eyes. I eventually made it happen last December in 2023, when I finally went to Cebu and Bohol island with my boyfriend.
I remember waking up at 5am and gathering at 5:30am to see the whale sharks. It was Christmas eve and that morning I was barely awake. But then as soon as I stepped into the ocean, they were right under my feet! I was so excited and words couldn’t explain how I felt, because that was the moment I have been waiting for so long, since I had to conquer one of my biggest fear, and that covid took some years off our lives from adventuring.
The people
I also remember the trip where I went to Jeju island, South Korea. It is a place where I have always wanted to visit, as Jeju island is also named as the Hawaii of Asia. My friend invited me to the trip yet I did not know any of the other people that were gonna come. However we made a lifelong friendships as we were all very like-minded, and i will be seeing them again soon as they plan to visit Hong Kong!
They made me realised the importance of travelling with like-minded people.
They made everything special even if it’s just us singing along with the songs while driving midnight. They made the smallest and simplest things special to me throughout the trip and made it 100 times better.
Cuisine
My favourite food is the pad thai and satays from the night markets in Thailand.
It was not just the taste alone, but also the surroundings where I was there at 2 am eating the most delicious food and it was just 5 mins walk away, simply because I was hungry and couldn’t sleep, without the worries of needing to wake up early for work the next day, perhaps you may also call it the freedom from reality.
I also participated at cooking class in the city of Phuket. The teachers were so kind and patient and led us with different steps of cooking various signature dishes. And it was only in 1.5 hours, I was able to make all 5 dishes, including green curry, pad thai, mango sticky rice and more all from scratch, and they tasted just like the ones from restaurants!
Best time to Travel
I believe February and November are the best periods of the year to travel simply because it is not the busy crowded seasons so way less waiting at different attractions and most importantly, the cheapest flights and hotels!
Exchanging Money
I usually exchange about 50 USD in my city before departure as a safe pocket money in case I can only pay by cash for local taxis at destinations and etc. I usually bring cash and exchange at the destination country for a much better and cheaper rate. But they key to getting the best rate is not being afraid of walking around and comparing to find the best price and don’t just choose the first one you see.
Conclusion
In the end, my travels have taught me that the world is not only vast and breathtaking but also deeply personal and transformative. Every journey, whether it’s conquering fears in the waters of Cebu, forging friendships in Jeju, or savoring the vibrant flavors of Thailand, adds a layer of meaning to life. These experiences remind me of what truly matters—connecting with people, stepping beyond comfort zones, and creating memories that will last far longer than any material possession.