It's now April 2015 and I feel like so many things have happened in the 3 years since my last post. First, I graduated high school and I'm finishing up my freshman year of college. Thing sure do move fast. I feel like as I've gotten older (I cringe using this word) time moves faster. Im pretty sure a year felt like centuries when I was five.
Anyways reading through my old post makes me surprised at how similar I am to my 15 year old self. The two goals I have in my life are still to just travel and support my parents. I guess the important things never change.
Speaking of traveling, thats exactly what I've been doing this past year since graduating high school. I started working during my senior year of high school and was able to save up for a few domestic trips.
Before starting college I flew to the BIG APPLE with a friend. As a girl living in California I always dreamed of living in NYC and it did not disappoint. I still hope to live there one day~
Of course we couldn't not stop by the statue of Liberty. She was a beauty
Than we headed to the 7/11 memorial museum. It was a very serene and awe filled moment for me. It was hard to think that each name carved on the block was a life lost.
While in New York we knew we had to watch a broadway show and we saw Pippin! We originally wanted to watch wicked, but couldn't due to the shortage of tickets :(
But Pippin was awesome and super fun!
This is what I do at museums. HA just kidding I just like being a blatant tourist sometimes ;)
The beautiful New York night scene that will never fail to leave me speechless.
These picture were taken on the rooftop on the met. Such a beautiful place, I totally recommend you go up and take in the beauty that is New York. Also take sun glasses so you can actually open your eyes in photos hehe
My beautiful friend Kaite!
My favorite place that I went to in New York was Chelsea. It's such a cute little place that I can't wait to go back to.
New York was amazing and lived up to all my expectations. It left me breathless and wanting more of the city life. I loved the fast pace nature and the constant buzzing. I have no doubt I'll be back in NY sometime soon.
After my trip I pack up and moved into college. Which was an adventure in its own. During my winter break I was able to fit in a trip to San Francisco, which was another city I had always dreamed of living in one day.
We drove up to San Francisco from LA and the drive in itself was an adventure. It was SUPER foggy and we couldn't see anything for miles. This was even the worst fog we came across. But it gave the drive a super calm and relaxed vibe.
Our first view of the San Francisco Skyline.
Can I please be part of your group??
Cute friends being cute tourist in front of cute bridge
Why you so photogenic bridge!?!?
HAHAHA
When will I be able to take non awkward photos????
For some reason this has become my signature travel pic pose?
Alex and I being super asian. (1.2.3 CHEESE)
Clearly none of us were really prepared for this photo.
A cute family I creepily took photos of.
San Francisco was super beautiful, but also didn't really live up to my super high expectations. I still really enjoyed our trip, but I don't think I would enjoy living there anymore. I'm just not a walk up a hill everyday to get anywhere type of person. Maybe I'll live in the outskirts of the city one day who knows?
Yep and most recently me and a friend went on another road trip up north to Monterey. We went during my spring break and went camping for a night at Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur. It was SUPER fun and an awesome experience.
We stopped by the Lompoc Flower Fields while heading up and it was beautiful~ It wasn't yet filled with flowers because we were there mid march, but still the fields that were blooming were amazing.
I have to say that the drive up there and back had some of the best views of the trip
Case in Point 1
Shameless selfie among the beautiful landscape
Case in Point 2 (excuse the dirty window. For some reason it got really dirty while driving up to Big Sur)
Case in Point 3
This is in Pfeiffer National park. If you are EVER near the Big Sur/Monterey area you HAVE to stop by. It's so beautiful and raw. There are tons of hikes you can do or you could just chill in the river.
Oh my bejeezus. This river was super cold. Staying in it for more than 30 seconds gives you numb feet. It is super refreshing though.
For some reason I wanna title this picture "stairway to heaven" (in fact it was the stairway to a tough hike)
REDWOOOOOOOOODS I love you. never leave me.
We look super grimy and tired, but we got to the waterfall! It was kinda small, but awesome nonetheless.
We also went on a second hike that gave us a wonderful view over Big Sur.
This is me at Lompoc fields. Clearly no one has taught me the proper way to pose in pictures.
Overall, these last few weeks have been super fun and eye opening for me. Before graduating high school I had honestly done little to no traveling. I only knew that I loved the idea of travel and always made it a goal of mine. These trips made me realize how much I do love going to new places, exploring cities I've never been to, and meeting people on the road. I realized that trips don't always have to be super big, they could be going to santa Barbara for a weekend or going to the beach. I learned that if I want something I have to go get it, no excuses. I always thought that traveling was expensive and I would have to wait until I got a proper job to do it, but now I know that priorities are everything(i.e. spend the 50 dollars on clothes or save it for a potential trip?). I've been able to go on these amazing trips without depending on my parents and I'm glad that I fund these experiences myself(although they always offer to help). I know there are a ton of more trips in my future(in fact going to Monterey this weekend! and Korea next month!) and I can't wait!
Bye guys till next time!
