#428 - On wanderlust and other pressing things.

Reading travel blogs has made me realise that I am consumed by wanderlust and a little tired from the lack of excitement in my life. Here's my travel bucket list in particular order:
- Guilin
- Jiuzhaigou
- Beijing
- Terracotta warriors

(Putting it out there, I'm feeling particularly nationalistic at the moment. China is a beautiful country with a rich cultural history. For the first time, I am proud to be Chinese regardless of the government's often dubious policies. Western countries often criticise other countries' political regimes but yet they themselves are hypocritical when they deny or refute arguments about their own governments' dastardly issues. *cough cough USA and the so-called "War on Terror" - violation of human rights much?* Moreover, there have been far more countless bombings in Middle Eastern countries carried out by Western armies than there have bombings in the UK and US carried out by extremist jihads but yet it is events like these in Western countries that receive widespread media coverage and the sympathy of many.)

 - Pompeii
- South America (Mayan Ruins - Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Edzna)
- New York, Los Angeles, California
- London
- Iceland (Northern Lights)
- Venice
- Switzerland
- Berlin
- Montenegro
- South Korea
- Great Barrier Reef

I'm so glad that this day is coming to an end - multiple assessments over and done with, end of the semester and a great Friday night spent at the movies with Robs and catching up yet again over colossal boxes of $5 sushi. I can't put my finger to it, but hanging out a Friday night always makes me happy and at peace with the world. I may be an easy film critic seeing as I enjoy most films that I see, but Star Trek: Into Darkness - holy shit, this was AMAZING. Amazing is actually an understatement - I just can't think of any more fantastical words to describe the film. I though IM3 was great, but Star Trek exceeds my expectations and is currently topping my list of must-watch films this year. I am totally digging science fiction and action blockbusters  and by golly, the special effects these days are absolutely freaking sublime in 2D. I feel like the universe is getting more awesome by the second. I just want to ponder the mysteries of the universe. NB: Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC Sherlock) is officially crowned the creepiest looking villain ever.

Also pleased to report that I am employed (hurray for my first proper job!) but will undergo training in a fortnight or so. I also caught up with an old primary school friend on the train on Monday morning and it was so nice to see her after 8.5 years! A random topic that Rob and I discussed tonight was social drinking amongst young adults. For others it's used to achieve a high and make you feel great / sad etc and is undeniably a great social tool but personally, I'm not the hugest fan of it when people don't drink in moderation and know their limits. I'm a prude. I find that losing control of your actions and thoughts is a frightening thing - some people change into completely different people and their actions may prove to be fatal or detrimental. I've heard first-hand stories about shy people my age losing all inhibitions once drunk and trying to get into the cabins of the opposite sex during camp. If sober people hadn't stopped them, a crime may have been committed. That's how scary people can become when they are drunk even though you have the happy drunks, the smiling drunks, the confident drunks and the spilling secrets drunk. Moreover, is getting so drunk really such a good thing when you wake up with a pounding aching hangover, spend a large proportion of the night with your head bent over the toilet seat, vomiting everything your body cannot handle and struggle to remember what happened last night? A physical high on life can be achieved through other means (skydiving, bungee jumping, whatever floats your boat and makes you feel elated) and a party can be fun without alcohol or people drinking in moderation (1-2 drinks). Just putting it out there: be safe.

It's been around five and half years. It sounds so long but boy, time sure flies quickly. I remember every memorable moment, be it sad, happy, depressing and any other emotion on the spectrum...
We all change, but distance only grows exponentially over time if we change in different directions and cannot stop. Deep down, I could sense the direction we were heading and for that reason, I fully accept the present as it is today. No particular regrets. People come, people go, but only a few will stay and pose a significant existence to you.
Where will we be in 5 years? Who will we hold dear? 
The future awaits.

PS. A very late congratulations to my dear sister for making it into the enrichment course for the National Art School! Love ya heaps. 加油！