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musicisforthesoul · 4 months

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The Eras Tour (Detroit)

This is Part 2 of the 2023 Year-End Blog Series. See Part 1 to read about my Summer Experience in Alberta!

Despite failing on multiple attempts to secure tickets to watch the Eras Tour in Toronto or Vancouver in 2024, one thing that I was grateful for in 2023 was being able to watch the Eras Tour in Detroit. Undoubtedly it was the greatest concert experience I have ever been to and truth be told, if I had the opportunity to watch it live again, I would… but (a) Luck was not on my side when trying to get tickets for any of the Canadian shows; (b) There is no way I want to fork up $$$$ from the resale market, despite how magical the experience was. Nonetheless, here is a small recollection of my Eras Tour experience.

The journey starts the morning of the concert, where my friend and I drive from Guelph, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan bright and early to beat the crowd at the border and run some errands in the city (i.e., grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, a bit of sightseeing around the city, etc.). For lunch, we stopped Buddy’s pizza to have some Detroit-style pizza.

Honestly, it was pretty good, but I do prefer New York Style pizza better. The taste was not bad, but it was quite doughy and a bit too salty for my liking. Either way, a solid 7/10.

The moment we arrived at Ford Field, the venue of the concert, it was literally a sea of Swifties waiting earnestly to get into the building. With so many people decked out in Taylor Swift merch or costumes and trading friendship bracelets, fans were ready for the show of a lifetime.

As soon as we were allowed into the building, we were treated to bunch of photo opportunities with some nice concert-theme cardboard cutouts. Of course, I ceased the opportunity and took some photos.

The venue itself, with how the stage was set up and all, was completely surreal.

As soon as the concert began, we were in for quite the experience. Here are some photos to relive the whole experience (since I cannot put it into words how magnificent it was… other than the fact that I lost my voice by the second or third song and had to drink like two bottles of water to stay alive).

The day after the concert, we stumbled across a cool gallery of interesting statues on the Windsor side of the border! Here are some of the interesting ones documented:

All in all, it was a truly unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience of vibing to 44 songs across 9 eras of Taylor Swift’s music… all in a span of three and a half hours. A magical night it was.

#Eras Tour #Taylor Swift #Detroit #Michigan #USA #concert #Swiftie

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musicisforthesoul · 4 months

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The "YEG" Experience (Summer 2023)

This is Part 1 of my 2023 Year-End Blog Series. Hope you enjoy the read! :)

Having visited Edmonton in the Winter of 2022, I was very eager to go back simply for the fact that there were just so many fond memories made the first time I was there. From all food adventures and starting a shared food IG account (which really needs to be updated since it be lacking food posts lately…), to the super fun (but often painful) attempts at learning how to downhill ski, cross-country ski, and skate, and everything else in-between, it was the definitive highlight of 2022 for me. While it was an eventual goal of mine to one-day come back, career goals and aspirations took precedence over planning a trip to Alberta. Since starting a Master of Financial Economics at the University of Western Ontario in the Fall of 2022, it has been a constant grind of studying, completing assignments, writing exams, preparing job application documents, applying for (co-op) jobs, networking, preparing for interviews… all for the hard work and preparation to end with a ‘thank you for your interest in this role, but we have moved on with other candidates… don’t forget to fill out this survey about your application experience!”. As futile as it felt to painstakingly rinse and repeat the job application process, only to have 9 out of 10 of your applications get rejected, there will always be an opportunity out there. Even if it may be 1 interview out of 99 rejection letters, that 1 chance can be the golden ticket for you to achieve great things… so take the opportunities you get and prepare for them as if its your last.

Aside: Although this blog post was not meant to be some sort of inspirational TED Talk, may this small little tangent be a light of inspiration for those who are dealing with similar circumstances. Please remember to never give up and keep giving it your all! Your hard work and dedication will be rewarded 😊

The ‘one’ opportunity I had led me to a summer internship at a company based in Edmonton. Killing two birds with one stone, not only was this an opportunity to build my career, but it also gave me the opportunity to visit Alberta… this time, in the Summer. And so, this began my 4-week Alberta Adventure: Summer 2023 Edition.

Week 1: Calgary Stampede

The first week in Alberta started with a visit to Calgary to experience the Calgary Stampede. It definitely felt like a bigger, better, more extravagant version of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The shows were quite nice to watch (such as the motorcross, dogs how, and miniature horse show) but I suppose the most interesting thing was seeing an EDM concert in the evening. I guess I can check-off seeing a bunch of attendees wearing cowboy/cowgirl attire vibing to techno music from my bucket list.

Week 2: Banff

One thing to note whenever you plan to visit Banff National Park is to plan ahead, especially during peak times when kids are out of school or when families are booking their vacations. Case in point? Not having the foresight to book the reservations needed to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake… since personal vehicles are no longer allowed to visit Moraine Lake and parking is now super limited at Lake Louise (to preserve and protect the surrounding wildlife). Major major major shoutout to Jenny and Stephen (who will be mentioned a lot in this blog because they are the most amazing people ever) for dealing with my shenanigans and be willing to wake up at 3am to drive all the way from Calgary to Lake Louise so that I can at least see Lake Louise. You guys are truly the best <3

Day 1 was spent in Banff Town (or the Town of Banff), since we could not go to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake (since a reservation was needed and everything was already fully booked the day-of when checking for availability while trying to get into the national park). Nonetheless, it was still a fun experience to hike around Bow Falls, bask in the surroundings of Tunnel and Sulphur Mountain, and feeling like a tourist by buying good deals at the now-liquidated Hudson’s Bay in the town. The highlight of the day had to be relaxing in the Banff Upper Hot Springs after a day of hiking… Nothing feels better than relaxing in a natural hot spring after a tiring day. Definitely wished I could have experienced the hot spring in the Winter, but I guess all the more reason to come back again in the Winter!

Day 2 was action-packed, starting at 3am with the hopes of getting one of the limited parking spots at Lake Louise. Despite arriving as early as 6am, we probably nabbed the 3rd or 4th available spot… so, if you ever decide to drive to Lake Louise, go early! (otherwise, you might be waiting a while for people to leave) Our efforts to beat the crowd was rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Louise during sunrise.

In an attempt to find better views (and to enjoy the area while we were there), we decided to embark on a hike that was supposed to be somewhat quick, not too difficult, and would end with nice scenery to take pictures of. Instead, my small brain decided to take the trail that said “Louise” not knowing that it went the OPPOSITE DIRECTION of where Lake Louise was.

A 3-hour, 6km hike in the wet marshes without hiking boots later… we were back to where we parked the car filled with as much regret as the amount of water that seeped through our shoes. Despite this blunder, we still ended up hiking the short but nice Fairview Lookout trail, where it gave a beautiful view of Lake Louise and the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Overall, ‘twas fun and rewarding visit to Banff National Park. Though the absence of snow may take away from the magical atmosphere of the Canadian Rockies, experiencing Banff in the Summer has its own unique charms filled with gorgeous sunsets and a plethora of fun and rewarding hikes.

Week 3: Chasing Summer

When Jenny had asked me a few months before my Alberta trip, whether I was interested in going to Chasing Summer, I didn’t even hesitate in my response. I simply said “Sure, I’m down” without even realizing what I was actually signing up for. Only after I got confirmation that tickets were bought and plans were being made, did I realize that I agreed to going to a 2-day EDM festival. Had I ever gone to rave before? Nope. Was I nervous about the experience? Not going to lie, yeah, I was a bit anxious. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. Would I do it all over again? Definitely.

Before the weekend of Chasing Summer, the rave crew got together to make kandi. Honestly, it was a fun night of making really unique and well-designed bracelets while also having the chance to get to know the people I would be raving with in a few days time. I really should’ve made more generic bracelets to actually give out since I swear, I put too much thought and effort that I felt obliged to keep most of the ones I made… the ‘SOJU’ one especially.

At this point, I was still a little nervous leading up to the weekend of the rave, but at least I knew who I would be going with… and knowing that they’re super chill and quite fun to be around, I felt quite at ease.

No blog is complete without some food pics. Here are some pictures of sushi taken from Ari Sushi the evening before the festival:

Day 1 of the festival arrives, and we all made our preparations. The theme of the day? Neon and black. After an hour or two of pre-drinking baijiu and vodka, we were ready to attend the festival.

The lineup for Day 1 included the likes of ARMNHMR, Gryffin, James Hype and Tiësto (the headliner). From when the sun was up to when it set, the atmosphere was electric. It really felt like how I imagined an EDM festival would be: people screaming, dancing, vibing to each and ever single beat and bass drop. The pre-drinking really did help as I don’t know if I would’ve felt the same vibes if I didn’t feel some sort of buzz. It definitely helped that we somehow ended up near the stage which made it all the more intense to be vibing while being blasted by the music in full force. I feel like the amount of cardio I achieved from one day of raving was equivalent to the amount I would normally get in a week… just pure jumping and dancing in sea of ravers who were looking for a good time. With the completion of Chasing Summer Day 1, I felt thrilled to do it all-over again the second day.

The theme for day 2 was Pastel and White. Compared to Day 1, I turned up my drinking game (since I opted out of doing weed or molly). In a 7-hour span, I left no opportunity to sober up as every chance I got, I chugged soju, Smirnoff Ice, or vodka, as if I was drinking water. It was probably smart not to chug the Baijiu since that thing burns you like any hard liquor would.

The second day was definitely a bigger blur for me given how particularly drunk and tipsy I was the entire time. Nonetheless, I know for sure that the vibes were at an all-time high with nobody slowing down even after an intense day 1. I probably can’t describe in words how amazing the experience was, but luckily the photos that were taken will hopefully suffice. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

To cap off a weekend of raving, we visited an alpaca farm before heading home!

What made this experience so incredibly memorable were the people I had the privilege of going with. To Jeremy, Amy, Josh, Jasmine, Johhny, Jenny, and Chuulie, thank you all for making my first-ever rave experience one that I’ll never forget. Feeding off all your energy and vibes, I had the time of my life dancing, screaming, and shouting to the electric lineup of ARMNHMR, Gryffin, Tiësto, and Zedd. Thank you for also being so kind and super fun. I know that I was simply a guy from Ontario who was ‘just visiting’ but you all made me feel included and for that, I’m eternally grateful. I hope that one day we can reunite, and you would allow me to join you guys again to dance and scream the night away at another rave/EDM festival. Miss you all <3

Week 4: Drumheller

The final week of my Alberta Adventures took me to Drumheller, the Dinosaur Capital of the World! Visiting the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Hoodoos, it was stunning to see how pretty the landscape was despite being considered an area where things scarcely grow.

As 2023 comes to a close and I reflect on the many great memories made this year (particularly during my trip to Alberta), I want to thank all the great friends that I was able to spend time with. To LJ, thank you for many sports talks and the one time we were able to play tennis… in the rain. To Jeremy and Amy, it was super nice to see you two again and thank you oh so much for the many fun memories! From being able to help out for the Delish Cup, to making kandi, to Chasing Summer and of course, the weeks of playing ultimate frisbee, a huge part of why my Alberta trip was amazing was because of you two! To Josh and Jasmine, thank you for being such kind-hearted souls and super fun people to be around! Playing ultimate frisbee and going to Chasing Summer will always be something I’ll cherish! To Johhny, thank you for your loveable energy and vibes and for making my first-ever rave experience one I’ll never forget (also thank you for keeping me alive when I was drunk out of my mind). Last but not least, to Jenny and Stephen, thank you so much for your amazing hospitality and the many great adventures we went on while I was in Alberta. Through all the good and sometimes not-so-good times, thank you for being such amazing amazing people. I hope to visit your new house one day!

With that, looking forward to what adventures await in 2024!

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musicisforthesoul · 2 years

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Berta Strong and Free (Part 4 of 4)

This is the final part of my four-part blog series on my adventures in Alberta. It was a wonderful journey from start to finish and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to come along on this journey, through my recollection of events and reflective moments.

Week 4: The Final Countdown

The final week of my time in Alberta was action-packed and chaotic… there was just so much to do with so little time. Let’s begin with the events of Monday. The first night of the week was a movie night out at the Scotiabank Theatre in West Edmonton Mall. The movie? Spiderman: No Way Home. Now, 3 of us (myself included) had previously watched it before, with one of our friends watching it for the first time. Though we knew what happens in the movie, it didn’t change the fact that we were bound to shed some tears (SPOILER ALERT: It is indeed an emotional mix of sadness, nostalgia, and sentimental feelings about the Spiderman franchise) ... In fact, it felt WAY MORE emotional after the second watch. Throughout the movie, you can hear sobbing and sniffling (from the three of us that previously watched the movie). If we turned around to look at each other, you can see a small glimpse of tears rolling down our faces. Honestly, I’m glad I was able to shed some tears and reminisce with friends over our love for Spiderman (and the movies + comics), despite how weird that may be… we shared a special moment hahahaha <3

Tuesday was a bit more chill with a trip to an outlet mall by the airport. Given how packed my luggage was getting, it took a lot of mental strength to resist the urge of going on a full-out shopping spree (thank you Jenny for being my moral compass). I did buy myself a cute little toque from a shop specializing in local brands and Alberta-based merch, which honestly is quite comfy. The night capped off with a visit to KFC and Jolibee with the goal of making some Japanese Chicken Rice (i.e., cooking rice with the chicken placed inside the rice cooker as the rice cooks). Words cannot describe how disappointed I was when I saw the KFC chicken…. It has been a disappointment to me for years now, but I was hopeful that perhaps Alberta had better-sized, better-tasting KFC chicken. Boy, I was foolish to think that. Sadly, the night’s disappointment did not even end there. I just want to put out a disclaimer out there that car washes are great… especially those automatic ones, where it is pre-programmed to clean your car without the need for manual labour. In Ontario, most of the automatic drive-thru washes have conveyor belts that when aligned correctly, will move your car through the car wash as you place your car in neutral. In Edmonton, THERE IS NO SUCH THING. YOU LITERALLY PUNCH IN THE CAR WASH CODE AND DRIVE INTO THE WASH AT WHATEVER PACE YOU WANT. FAST? SLOW? THEY DON’T EVEN TELL YOU HOW SLOW YOU NEED TO GO. IT LEAVES SO MUCH ROOM FOR HUMAN ERROR AND THUS, IT DOES NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEE A CLEAN WASH. T’was a tragedy when my dear housemate went through the car wash and apparently went too fast. The car soap was NOT applied evenly, and soap residue ended up being left behind after the final soak. I was appalled. Honestly, do better Edmonton car washes. Do better.

Wednesday was a trip to Filistix, a restaurant specializing in modern Filipino and South East Asian cuisine. Highly recommended by my Filipino friend/co-worker, they serve some great tasting food. Adobo wings as an appetizer, and ginger-scallion fried rice and lechon kawali sisig as the main course, the food leaves you quite satiated but not overly full to the point where you feel stuffed. The highlight of the meal was the dessert. Maja Blanca (or Filipino Coconut Pudding) was a delectable dessert with such refined sweetness and creaminess. Paired with blueberries, the natural sourness of the fruit was a nice contrast to the palm sugar drizzle and milky pudding; adding to the fact that it was fresh and warm on the plate, it was blissful.

On Thursday, we made plans to go skiing for a second time. This time around, I was a tad bit better at skiing (although not by a lot). The other thing that was different from the previous trip was that my other coworker (LJ) had decided tag along to try downhill skiing for the first time. Kudos to him for willing to try skiing because honestly, it is quite scary. I guess one thing to quickly point out is that cross-country skiing is DIFFERENT from alpine skiing in that the former relies on synchronized full-body movement to ‘propel’ yourself forward. The latter, on the other hand, relies more on the way you shift your weight and stance to start, stop and turn comfortably (and safely of course). Once again, I would like to thank my wonderful friends, Jenny and Stephen, for accompanying me to do some blue hill runs! T’was much more intense than the first time we went down the blue hills a couple weeks back, but it was still tons of fun… and I didn’t fall (up to that point)! Things were going quite well… until I tripped on my own skis on flat snow. I’d like to forget that ever happened because it was quite sad hahaha.

Friday was a bit more of a chill day as it was an opportunity for me to explore the city of Edmonton on my own. I still had a couple food places I needed to visit and so, I ventured off on a mini food adventure to try as many things as I could, based on how much my stomach could handle. To start, I decided to visit Yelo’d, a Filipino ice cream and dessert shop. The menu contains an assortment of unique (and yummy tasting) desserts and flavours of ice cream; for simplicity, I decided to get an ube swirl soft serve and a tub of ube cheesecake ice cream to-go. Next was a visit to a Vietnamese restaurant called Miss Saigon for a nice hot bowl of pho. Taste was decent overall, though the broth is less flavorful than the one at Pho Hoan Pasteur… but it still hit the spot. Finally, a visit to a nice cafe, La Bosco, for an early grey chiffon cake and London Fog Lavender Latte capped off the night’s food adventures.

The Weekend

The initial plan for the final week of my trip, before it even started, was to travel to Drumheller – the city famously known as the dinosaur capital of the world. However, after a conversation with my coworker’s friend, it occurred to us that perhaps visiting Drumheller during winter would not be as picturesque or fun as if we were to visit in the summer. At the same time, my coworker and I had hopes of one day visiting Moraine Lake in Banff in the winter, to see the frozen methane bubbles beneath the lake. As a result, one thing led to another, and we decided to plan a day trip to Abraham Lake in David Thompson country… because we were told that Abraham Lake is famous for the frozen methane bubbles in the winter. While were at it, we figured it would also be a nice opportunity to skate on the lake, given that the ice was thick enough to safely do so. Again, I would like to iterate that I was NOT a winter sports kind of person... but my adventurous spirit compelled me to try skating. I haven’t skated for years, let alone have skated on a lake with nothing to hold on to and nothing to restrict me from drifting too far… but hey, what’s an adventure without taking some risks? As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with super strong winds and the sight of cracked ice in several parts of the lake… not a good sign. As we continued to venture around various parts of the lake, we finally found an area where other people were walking/skating on… and so, our fun under the sun began. I want to set the record straight that it’s already hard enough to learn how to skate in an ice rink with clean and smooth ice, but trying to learn how to skate on a lake with very rough ice and with winds that can easily blow you westward… has its own set of challenges. It was personally the scariest moment of my entire trip, but it was definitely the most worth it. The views on the lake were stunning with a beautiful landscape of mountains and intricate patterns on the ice. While the methane bubbles were not easily visible, they were still there. More importantly, having the opportunity to take some incredible photos of myself and my friends made the entire experience all the more worth it. At the end of the day, you must be willing to step a bit out of your comfort zone to experience some once-in-a-lifetime moments.

The week ended off quite chill but still super fun. Sunday was dedicated to an afternoon of board games with some super fantastic people. Board games such as Poetry for Neanderthals, Deception, and Throw Throw Burrito, it was a mad time of thinking quickly and critically, and being hella good at persuasion. At the end of the day, having fun was what mattered, and no feelings were hurt (I think?) … but when you have a group of intelligent extroverts playing a game requiring an abundance of talking and witty comments, you’re in for a chaotic treat.

At the end of it all, it was a fun, adventure-filled trip with many new experiences, amazing views, great eats and sometimes questionable moments. Whether it be screaming over board games, basking in the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, or enjoying some great-tasting pho, it was an incredible month shared with some amazing people. With that, it’s time to write some heartfelt messages.

To LJ, thank you for all the great moments throughout this trip and the countless talks about sports, economics, politics, statistics, food… you name it. I know that sometimes (quite often actually….) our conversations end up sounding quite heated, I hope that you enjoyed them as much as I did and that I do appreciate and respect the intellectual points that you make. I hope that you were able to enjoy the many adventures these last few months, such as exploring Calgary, hiking and cross-country skiing in Jasper, and trying downhill skiing for the first time. T’was super fun playing tennis with you and thank you for all the great food recommendations such as Filistix and Yelo’d!

To Stephen, you’re one damn good teacher and I cannot thank you enough for your ability to teach me how to ski, cross-country ski, and skate during my trip. I do apologize for nearly running you over the first time I was trying to learn how to ski lol. It was super fun being able to enjoy all the hikes in Jasper and it was an even greater pleasure to have taken some amazing-looking shots of you and Jenny throughout our trips. Thank you friend for also the fun bouldering experience and the intense games of Throw Throw Burrito. I promise to stay safe and not do dumb shit (“Cream of the Crop”).

Lastly, to Jenny – my fantastic coworker, (temporary) housemate, and friend…. It’s really hard to capture in words how thankful and grateful I am for everything. A huge part of what made this trip truly memorable and downright sublime was the fact I had someone to enjoy the great moments with… good or bad. Even in the middle of stressful work days, I found comfort in the fact that we were one name shout away from being there for each other. From our trip to Banff, to our multiple trips to WEM, to experiencing new things in skiing and skating (and so much more), it was a total blast to share all these moments with you! I want to keep this short because I’d like to save my thoughts but thank you for being the amazing person you are <3 (I honestly feel so much separation anxiety knowing that I can’t randomly go up to your office and sit on the floor as we share our work pains… I miss you so much)

Thank you Alberta, it’s been fun! #BERTASTRONGANDFREE

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musicisforthesoul · 2 years

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Berta Strong and Free (Part 3 of 4)

Week 3: Jasper National Park

This is part 3 of my blog series on my adventures in Edmonton. Recollection of events might be a bit blurry, but to the readers out there that come across this, I hope you will enjoy reading some (somewhat) wholesome content.

The third week of my Edmonton trip started off quite hectic with work basically draining both my housemate and I mentally. For the sake of preventing the economy from exploding (not really), we both had to work our butts off to ensure that everything was smooth sailing (or at least as smooth as possible) for all 5 days of the work week.

[Aside]: The great thing about being able to work within close proximity of your coworker (especially if y’all know each other’s pains) is that you can share cries of stress and suffering in real-time, but you can also receive in-person moral support in real-time too! Jenny, if you ever read this, please know that I appreciated every single moment of us being able to work together in the same household. Being able to scream “JENNY” and having you there (and vice versa with you screaming my name) was honestly something I can’t take for granted since it really put my mind at ease when I was going through work-related struggles. Being able to ‘think out loud’ with someone else physically there and being able to support each other especially during such a busy time as the National Accounts was honestly such a blessing. Honestly, this is one of the many things I will miss from my time in Edmonton. So, thank you thank you thank you <3

Despite how busy work was during the week, we made subtle attempts to de-stress by going on some sort of food adventure almost every other day. A visit to West Edmonton Mall on Monday; Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles on Tuesday; a delicious bowl of pho and vermicelli on Wednesday; bubble tea on Thursday… food really does soothe the mind, body, and soul.

The third week of the trip was capped off with trip to Jasper National Park. Of course, due to work-related circumstances, our departure to Jasper from Edmonton was rather late and as a result, not much happened on the first day/night at Jasper… besides driving into the national park in darkness and imaging the surrounding mountains + stargazing while driving 100+ km/h. Days 2 and 3 on the other hand…

Jasper National Park: Day 2

Initially, the plan was to complete 3 hiking trails: Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls, and The Valley of the Five Lakes. Due to timing constraints, we cut the trails list to only the latter two. Athabasca Falls was a quick trail with some nice views (~1km). Of course, while I wanted photos of the scenery and myself, it was a great opportunity to be the photographer for my friends (insert shameless ‘Shot on an iPhone’ promotion here). While the waterfall itself was frozen, it served as a nice complementary piece to the mountains in the background.

The second and final trail was The Valley of the Five Lakes, a moderate 4.5km hike around 5 lakes. Given the current winter conditions in Jasper, it proved to be quite the slippery hike. Hence, it is highly recommended that spikes are used to add an extra sense of safety (via grip and traction) to reduce the chances of a mishap (my friends and I used spikes… since we are supposedly risk-adverse individuals… as economists). Also with a longer trail were more opportunities for some pretty nice photos. While it was quite tiring (due to the frequent inclines), the views were worth it, especially when we finished the hike as the sun was setting. Dinner at the Jasper Brewing Company was a nice conclusion to the day as they had quite the variety of great-tasting drinks and pretty decent food.

Jasper National Park: Day 3

Before heading back to Edmonton, the plan was to hike one last trail at Pyramid Lake. Upon arriving there, we were greeted with a stunning view of the Canadian Rockies on the lake… which sparked an idea… “why not try cross-country skiing?” For context, we all had little to no prior experience cross-country skiing, and it’s quite different from the typical skiing down the hill… but you only live once, right? (#YOLO)

We headed back to downtown Jasper and exchanged our spikes from the previous day with cross-country skiing equipment, and off we went onto the lake. What an experience it was. Learning how to cross-country ski with friends, including the occasional fall here and there was one I’ll never forget. Most notably, the best part of this excursion was the fateful race between LJ and I. As if it were a real-life reenactment of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, I tried going full speed with a considerable amount of confidence that I could easily win the race. Underestimating the amount of force I was trying to propel myself with, I ended up tripping on my own skis and falling… all while Stephen and Jenny were watching from a distance, monitoring the race (since they had both raced each other previously). Jenny couldn’t help but laugh at me to the point where she fell from laughing so hard. LJ, being very meticulous in his approach, simply took his time and slowly but surely finished the race ahead of me (while I frantically tried to get up and re-attach my skis). I guess the story does hold true… “SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.” (I honestly want a rematch damn it)

The rest of the time on the lake was full of photo-taking opportunities and an adventure around the lake. While it was not the wisest thing to venture out to the middle of the lake (since there were noticeable thin patches of ice in parts of the lake), it was a breathtaking, albeit cold and windy, experience… and hey, I’m still alive hahaha.

I could not have imagined my first trip to Jasper National Park to be such an extravagant, adventure-filled experience. As someone who loves the outdoors and spending time with others (because I’ve learned that I am quite extroverted lmao), it truly maximized my utility (#economics).

#jasper #alberta #canada #athabascafalls #thevalleyofthefivelakes #pyramidlake #hiking #crosscountryskiing #adventure #antennaboys #winter #cold #lake #friends #wholesome #allthefeels

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musicisforthesoul · 2 years

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Berta Strong and Free (Part 2 of 4)

This is part 2 of my blog series on my adventures in Edmonton. Recollection of events might be a bit blurry, but to the readers out there that come across this, I hope you will enjoy reading some (somewhat) wholesome content.

Week 2: New Experiences + The Largest Mall in North America

After quite an adventure-filled weekend in Calgary and Banff, the second week of my Edmonton experience focused on the chance to explore what Edmonton had to offer (its flatness and all). While most of the week was dedicated to working (since not every day can be a vacation), the latter half of the week was action-packed with many new and fun, yet sometimes fear-inducing, experiences.

Friday

One of the many reasons I decided to travel to Edmonton was to not only reunite with some of my colleagues, but to also learn how to ski. It’s kind of weird to think that of all places, Edmonton would be the place I learned to ski but hey, everything starts from somewhere (and I’d rather not throw myself down an actual mountain like the Canadian Rockies to ‘learn’ how to ski). For context, I am not a winter sports person, though I am trying to become one. The first time I did attempt to ski, I fell off the ski lift and was a hazard to everyone and everything… so my experience with skiing was not very great prior to Edmonton. With that in mind, I tried skiing once again in hopes of getting decent at it (which seemed like a very very unlikely thing). Quick shoutout to Stephen Tearoe, who was such an incredible teacher (Stephen, you if you ever read this, I am eternally grateful). First few attempts were, as expected, not so great as my ability to start and stop safely and effectively was…. Non-existent. However, over several runs (and bruises to my butt and tailbone), I was able to get the basics down and start, stop, and turn quite effectively (though I still am a beginner). From a gentle bunny hill, to a steeper one; to a green hill to a blue hill, I think I made pretty good progress on my quest to become (at least) a decent skier. It really does go to show that (a) sometimes you need to push yourself a little; (b) Persistent is NOT futile.

Thank you Jenny and Stephen for your guidance and support on my journey of becoming a skier <3 ... and Jenny, thank you for going on runs with me! T’was fun :)

Saturday

A new day, a new experience. This time, it was bouldering. Now, I have done the occasional climb up some rocks (when hiking) and I have gone rock climbing several times… so it’s not like I’m completely new to it, but I guess it was my first time going to a facility specific for bouldering. Nonetheless, it was quite exciting. It really do be a full-body exercise that takes arm + leg strength (plus mental strength to figure out a plan of action to reach the top). While I was only able to tackle the easiest walls, it felt good to successfully climb most of them… and perhaps it’d be nice to challenge more difficult walls in the future (of course with more practice and commitment). Again, shoutout to Mr. Stephen Tearoe for showing me the ropes (or rocks/boulders in this case).

After a fatigue-inducing bouldering session, my friends took me to a very interesting restaurant. A BBQ smokehouse called “MEAT” which was started up by… vegans. Now, isn’t It rather ironic that a couple of vegans decided to open a restaurant specializing in…. meat? But damn. They make some damn good meat; probably the best smokehouse I’ve ever been to. Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Cherry BBQ Aioli Pork Belly, Cherry Chili Ribs, Andouille Sausages… it was meat heaven. It so good yet so much food that the five of us (myself included) experienced ‘the itis’ and passed out from a food coma for the rest of the day.

Sunday

Sunday was quite the treat as it was the first (of many) trips to the renowned West Edmonton Mall. Growing up as a child who was fascinated by the most random facts, I’ve known West Edmonton Mall to be the largest mall in North America, so much so that my juvenile imagination pictured it as place of endless opportunities filled with an abundance of stores, an amusement park, water park, casino, hotel… you name it. To say that I was disappointed isn’t the right way to describe it but rather, reality hit me that the mall I dreamed of getting lost in was in fact, just like any other mall (except with more amenities of course). Like one of those ‘Expectation vs. Reality’ moments, I had not realized that perhaps my expectations were a bit too farfetched going in to this first visit…. Nonetheless, West Edmonton Mall is still a very beautiful mall with lots of things to see and do. While it isn’t the endless wonderland I had dreamed of when I was a child, it was still a memorable experience to browse the stores, view the amenities and even play a round of mini golf, all within the mall. All in all, a fantastic experience (especially when it’s enjoyed with others).

While the week may not have been as adventure-inducing as a trip to a National Park, it was nice to explore the city of Edmonton and experience what it had to offer. Moreover, it was nice to experience new things, such as downhill skiing and bouldering, while spending quality time with friends not too far from civilization.

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musicisforthesoul · 2 years

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Berta Strong and Free (Part 1 of 4)

“Time flies when you’re having fun.” I honestly cannot believe that one month has passed, just like that. It felt like yesterday when I just touched down in Edmonton, excited to reunite with my coworkers - my friends - whom I shared such a memorable (but honestly too short of a...) trip to Vancouver with late last year. This time however, I was in their city; their province. More time. More Opportunities. More Memories to be made. Looking back at my one one month in Alberta, it was quite the ride. Let’s start with week 1.

[Note]: A big thank you to my wonderful coworker and friend Xue Yao (Jenny) Li, whom without her, this trip could not have happened. Her hospitality, kindness and downright sense for adventure is what allowed this trip to be as amazing as it was. Thank you Jenny, you’re amazing <3 (more shoutouts in subsequent posts)

Week #1: Calgary + Banff

Second day into my trip, we were off to Calgary. I had never been to Calgary before but I would assume that it was like any major city in Canada... and spoiler alert: it kind of was like your typical Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver (of course, with its own unique culture). Not really related to the city itself but shout-out to #TheCasbah for some amazing Moroccan food. Perhaps it was the vibes of the restaurant, maybe it was also because there was such good company and it’s great to socialize over such a delicious meal but amazing place to try Moroccan food.

While Calgary was nice, Banff National Park the main highlight of the weekend. Banff is one of those ‘must-hit’ places on my to-do list in Alberta. Only a one-hour drive from Calgary, it was a scenic drive with views of the picturesque Canadian Rockies covered in snow. Along with some new friends made the previous night, we ventured off on a winter hike up Tunnel Mountain using spikes - the first time I had ever done a winter hike. While it is definitely colder and the terrain is a bit more iffy (i.e., slippery and icy), it was such a refreshing feeling to climb the mountain and be greeted with stunning views along the way, up to the summit. All the panting, gasps of air, and burn from exerting so much energy on the legs and thighs were all worth it.

To cap off the trip, an impromptu drive to Lake Louise was... surprisingly spooky. Who knew that when you drive to Lake Louise as the sun sets, it gets spookier and spookier until pitch darkness surrounds you and you can barely see anything. Honestly, stepping on a frozen Lake Louise with very little visibility and the potential risk of falling into the ice... is an experience.

(Somehow my magic camera skills was able to capture a glimpse of the surrounding mountains at Lake Louise before it turned into complete darkness - Picture #4)

#calgary #banff national park #winter #hike #snow #cold #adventure #newfriends #memories #darkness #pitchblack #canada

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musicisforthesoul · 2 years

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A Utility-Maximizing Adventure in Vancouver

“Every new friend is a new adventure… the start of more memories.” — Patrick Lindsay

It has been 2 years since the global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our everyday lives. A shutdown of the global economy, increased travel restrictions/bans, panic buying of toilet paper... it has really felt like we are living a nightmare straight from an apocalyptic horror movie... that we have yet to fully woken up from. For one, it still feels a little weird to me to be working my first ‘official’ job at the Bank of Canada (and what I mean by official is that it was the first full-time position I got after graduating with a university degree) without having stepped even a foot in the office since I started about 2 years ago.

To me, I had believed that my work relationships should always remain professional; this idea was only exacerbated during the pandemic, since I would only communicate with the people I worked (or have worked) with via email or MS Teams (or Skype during the days where MS Teams was non-existent). As someone who thrives on human interactions (even though I would consider myself quite introverted), it was really hard to really ‘open-up’ especially when you communicate solely behind a screen. Yet, so much can change from one weekend; a weekend that was also an opportunity that very rarely comes by especially in the times we live in right now.

Let me just say that going on a vacation with people you have never met in-person in your life, but you have communicated with for a considerable amount of time is... very fulfilling. The mere anticipation of seeing my friends from work in-person, for the first time had already made my vacation worthwhile before anything really happened; the subsequent adventures only made the experience exponentially more memorable.

From morning gym sessions (and me blurting “Ehe~” because I’m weak) to afternoon food adventures; going to UBC to walking the trails of Stanley Park... I could not be anymore happy for the opportunity to meet and re-unite with such amazing people. Although the time was short-lived, the memories are eternal. Wherever we are and wherever we will end up, we will always be connected as not only co-workers that worked on the same team, but also as friends that shared a great time exploring the city of Vancouver.

As the economics in me would say, utility has been maximized given our time constraint.

Thank you for the memories <3

#READunion #vancouver #UBC #stanleypark #westcoast #haidilaohotpot #RAreunion #VancouverSchoolofEconomics #meetup #maximizedutility #friendship #memories #vacation #personalwriting #covid virus

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musicisforthesoul · 5 years

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A Sendoff for 2018, Welcoming 2019 with (Somewhat) Open Arms

It’s that time of year again; a time of reflection, a time to spend the last few hours of 2018 with your loved ones, and/or a time to feel excited for 2019 by making New Years resolutions that we’re probably not gonna stick to... And here I am, less than 4 hours from the new year, sitting on my couch watching Ellen DeGeneres and writing this blog post. It’s been a while since I last wrote something meaningful... In fact, I think it was 1 year ago that I said goodbye to 2017 and welcomed 2018 with hopes that something great will come out of the new year. Now here we are... 2018 went by so fast and truth be told, it feels like your average Monday and not the typical celebratory occasion associated with the end of a year. That being said, I feel that it would be appropriate to end off the year with a reflection of the year — like I’ve done last year, and the year before that, and the year before that...

2018 had it all... the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. Going into the year, I was hyped with expectations that 2018 was gonna be a great year. I had just came back from my 2nd Co-op in Singapore where I met some Amazing people (shout out to the Singapore Squad, you guys are great people and I miss you guys!) and I really felt excited for new adventures ahead.

January to April 2018

The Winter Term was... wild. If there was a truly “Ugly” part of 2018 for me, it would definitely be the first 4 months of the year. Yes, there were good times that included meeting new friends (i.e., the birth of the “Cancer Club”) but much of it was overshadowed by weird (and honestly ridiculous) drama. From dealing with a crazy person who only thought about him/herself (gotta keep it anonymous, but if you know, you know), to someone who I thought was the right person for me but was in reality the complete opposite... it was a time that I really began my questioning myself as a person. Was it really worth the effort to continue being kind and helpful to others when in return, all you receive is mistreatment, hate, and hypocrisy? (Pretty strong words, but that’s what I truly felt). Obviously it would be rude (and uncivilized) of me to talk badly about the people who made this year a little bit harder for me to bare, so all I can do is thank them for the lessons learned, and move on (*cue THANK U, NEXT*). That being said the first few months of the year weren’t all too bad. Many great people helped me through my tough times and as a result, I’m very grateful for my friends and family who knew (or at least tried to understand) what I was going through (#CancerClub shout out).

May to August 2018

Summer of 2018 was definitely the most eventful time, with a co-op term filled with many food adventures, reunions, and get-togethers. Here’s a few of the things I tried (hit me up if you want recommendations):

The summer wasn’t complete without attending my best friend’s (under)graduation, being involved in our church’s Worship Night, going camping (gotta love those Instagram-worthy sunsets and action shots lol), a reunion with an old friend you last saw 8 years ago, attending food festivals, and spending time with the people you care about.

Summer was a good time in 2018 and I’m definitely thankful for everything that happened as well as the opportunity to work with a super fun, friendly, and helpful team of individuals at the Ontario Financing Authority; t’was a truly rewarding experience!

September 2018 to Now

The last 4 months of 2018 was filled with a lot of stress but memorable times too; was definitely ecstatic to see many close friends entering first-year university (but obviously I was most excited for my 2 Waterloo peeps) and to start my final year of undergrad. From joining many new groups such as TEDxUW and UW Economics Society, to running my first 2 races (RBC and CIBC), to attending the first DOXA Youth Retreat, there were many enjoyable times to end off the 2018 year. Through all the good times and bad times; the stress, blood, sweat and tears of school, new friendships were made and existing friendships were made stronger.

At first, I thought that 2018 would pale in comparison to 2017, given that the previous year set the bar pretty high (it’s hard to find something that’s as exciting as doing an international co-op and falling in love with every part of it). That being said, 2018 was truly blessed with many great memories and many valuable lessons learned. New people were met, friends were made, friends came and went (you know who you are, I miss you so much), but I guess that’s really part of life. It’s about 11 pm as I’m writing this and so we still have about an hour before we have to say Au Revoir to 2018. Thus, I’d like to conclude by thanking everyone for a Wonderful Year:

To DOXA, thank you for a Wonderful and Close-Knit family I can always come to and feel welcomed. I thank God for all of you! You guys are Amazing <3

To the Cancer Club, we’ve been through a ton together and honestly, from beginning to end, my 3rd and 4th year at UW would definitely not be the same without y’all. You guys are fantastic people.

To the Individual People that were there in my happy times and sad times, I can’t list every single one of you but I hope you guys know you are. From hangouts in Downtown Toronto, to having basketball sessions, to having Sunday Hangouts, to Food Adventures, trips to get Bubble Tea, times learning Economics, times we had deep talks together (in the church AV Room or wherever)... thank you all for your great friendships :)

Well that’s a wrap for me! Happy New Year! Wishing everyone an Amazing Year in 2019!

#reflection #newyear #2018 #2019 #church #irect #waterloo #uw #cancerclub #memorylane #good #bad #ugly #sad #happy #newyearseve #blessed #closefriends #foodadventures

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musicisforthesoul · 6 years

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Singaporeans really do love their Gong Cha 👌 . . . #gonchaback #singapore #singpost #grandopening #longqueue #worthit #pearlmilktea #hypetrain #revival #bubbletea #taiwanese #payalebar #bobalyfe #morningdrink #itsbackkkk (at SingPost Centre)

#singpost #grandopening #morningdrink #itsbackkkk #worthit #bubbletea #taiwanese #revival #payalebar #hypetrain #gonchaback #bobalyfe #longqueue #singapore #pearlmilktea

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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Interstellar ✨ . . . #space #lights #artscience #museum #FutureWorlds #marinabaysands #singapore #silhouette #colourful (at ArtScience Museum)

#futureworlds #marinabaysands #space #lights #singapore #artscience #museum #colourful #silhouette

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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Happy 150th Canada! ❤ 🍁 #canada150 #canada #throwback #TO #6ix #Toronto #RedandWhite #proudlycanadian #toronto #silhouette #artsy #red #nofilter #july1 #ohcanada #truenorthstrongandfree (at Nathan Phillips Square)

#nofilter #july1 #throwback #toronto #truenorthstrongandfree #silhouette #canada150 #artsy #ohcanada #proudlycanadian #canada #to #redandwhite #6ix #red

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD. ~Psalms 104:34 🌄 . . . #hiking #thecrack #killarney #rockclimbing #meditation #nature #canada #summer #PTL #godisgood #lokai #livelokai (at The Crack, Killarney Provincial Park)

#canada #summer #rockclimbing #ptl #hiking #nature #livelokai #godisgood #lokai #killarney #thecrack #meditation

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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Classic Salmon Poke Bowl 🍣 . . . #sushi #salmon #wasabi #carrots #corn #fisheggs #onions #kale #crispybits #mandarins #poke #bowl #rolltation #toronto #foodstagram #latergram #worthit #colourful (at Rolltation)

#crispybits #toronto #sushi #kale #bowl #corn #carrots #salmon #wasabi #fisheggs #colourful #poke #worthit #foodstagram #rolltation #onions #mandarins #latergram

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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New Year, New Adventures await ⭐ #tbt #notfromthisyear #killarney #camping #summer2016 #trees #ontarioparks #leavingforLondonsoon #missingsummer #aesthetics #nature #newyear #hiking #forest #gatorade #imagesofcanada #adventure (at Killarney Provincial Park)

#leavingforlondonsoon #hiking #aesthetics #camping #summer2016 #nature #missingsummer #adventure #tbt #trees #imagesofcanada #notfromthisyear #newyear #forest #killarney #ontarioparks #gatorade

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musicisforthesoul · 7 years

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Goodbye 2016.

It’’s been a while since I’ve last written a blog entry and many things have happened since. As 2016 comes to a close, it feels quite appropriate to write on last entry for the year, just to wrap things up nicely (or badly, however you perceive the emotions I convey in my writing).

The year 2016 wasn’t the greatest of years. People have come and gone, trends have died, memes vanquished from the minds of those who once thought they were “dank”. Likewise, my everyday life had its fair share of things that came and went. From the passing of loved ones, to the loss of friendships, it wasn’t the prettiest of times. But through suffering, we find hope. From hope, it builds persistence; from persistence, it builds character. Although it wasn’t the best year ever, I tried to make the most of what I had. And hey, there were some good times this year. Let’s walk down memory lane:

March 2016 - Received a lovely surprise from two of my best friends. I’ve had quite the streak of “depressing” birthdays in the past, but this year was the special exception. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the love and kindness of the people who made that day special and trust me, it’s something I won’t forget (P.S. if you’re both reading this, I love you both <3)

May 2016 - FIRST OFFICIAL CONCERT! (believe it or not) It was the first of many food adventures in the #6ix too! Man, Hillsong United is #blessed #empires.

Summer (May 2016 to August 2016) - Reconnected with nature. From hiking the mountains of Tennessee, to camping 3 times (and more hiking along the way), it was a peaceful way of stepping outside the busy world to appreciate how marvelous the world truly is.

(Killarney Provincial Park - August 2016)

So as much as 2016 kinda sucked, it wasn’t the absolute worst year (that title goes to 2015.... for now.) Many good things came out of the year, and I’m glad that 2016 can end on a good note (although I didn’t picture starting the new year alone, in my room, writing a blog post). With a new year, there are new beginnings, new chapters in all our lives. Each year is bound to have its flaws, but it’s what we make out of those imperfections that define how we perceive each year to be. Let’s hope 2017 is better for those who didn’t have such a great time in 2016 (like me!). For those who did enjoy it, keep the good times rolling into the new year!

Happy New Year!

#newyear #2016 #2017 #newyearseve #reflection #good #bad #memory #friends #hope #perseverance #persistence #character #love #dab #happy #blessed #hillsong #united #empires

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