Hello August

Hi guys, it's August already(again!). Thought I would upload tons of travel photos of Europe that I took   from my holidays but I guess you always need to save the room for unexpected things.  So a quick review about my July:

Came back from Europe with severe jet lag, well, Australia is winter so from lots sun to a little bit sun was big difference to me. But the memory in Europe is too beautiful to regret. Je ne regrette rien. I regret nothing. Even I got horrible cold and stomach problem for 3 weeks. Still, no regret. Maybe I hate my productivity a little. Hahah

Panicked about lots things to organise. Wedding, future, visa and so on. But I have finally leant to choose my priorities in life. I am always greedy, and expect myself multitasking like so many people who I admire. Sometimes you just need to slap your face, both side and hard and then bloody wake up to the reality. It's actually not as hard as I thought it would be, making priority list helped heaps. So if you are like me, want to finish so many things at the same time but end up only achieve partially on each task, this is my suggestion, make a list and try to stick with it. Once you start to stroke out a couple tasks on the list, you will feel so much better and chasing the rest of tasks without procrastination will not be too hard. 

Had some thoughts about my life, good or bad, it's a certain path to grow up I think. Look at myself in the mirror and tell myself what I really want in life, be strong, be brave and have fun.

Highlight of the month would be my snowboarding weekend away, it included lots of pain and chill air and silver white snow, and I absolutely love it. I remember the first time that Andrew took me to the snow, which wasn't a very good snowy winter in Sydney, the snow was really icy and I had so much tears because I hurt myself a lot. I constantly question myself why I like snowboarding, it's so painful since I am still a beginner and my balance is awful and it took my learning curve not so smoothy. But every fall made me less scared about falling, I stand up and try again till I finally have a click. Every single time I finally achieve a turn or run then I am over the moon. It's that simple, and this trip, I finally can do the zigzaging without freaking out. And I slowly feel better about my fear against height. I am on top of the world:) 

So as usual, I made a desktop calendar to kickstart the new month. Download it by clicking the image and enjoy the new adventure. Live a little, Life is bloody beautiful.

Have a good weekend as well guys!

xxx Aka

{ On My Mind } Dive In

Original image found on Pinterest, edited by me

I had a quick diving trip during my visits in Taiwan a couple weeks ago and I was pretty lucky to witness some great surprises from the nature. There were substantial amount of corals among cliffs underwater and couldn't just forget about closing my mouth and gave a "wow" expression. I am not a very good swimmer and I seriously can't swim in the ocean if I have no goggles on. The fear against the depth still couldn't outweigh my love to scuba diving. Once I have my gear on, all I think is get me out of the surface and I jump with a big smile.

What I love about the ocean? It's the master who guide me out of the anxiety and it's the creator who show me the beauty. I love the haziness from the sun ray and floating sand, I love the excitements founding creatures unexpected, the uncertainness of fear to the depth and pressure, the self conversations embraced by the bubbles. Every thing underwater is that dreamy and peaceful even sometimes it does make you vulnerable and weak but you know that's part of the charm. I confess that I should definitely do it more often.

Diving is definitely something special to me and some of my friends as well, we share the vision together without languages , just forget about the worries for a few minutes and we loosen and listen then sink and see.

I recommended every one who wants to try something different to give diving a go. It's beautiful and exciting. You can try out the one off diving with any experienced instructor just to see what happens. And diving is good practise for being calm(so that your tank won't run out too quickly) and a great meditation for short escape too!!


Happy new week guys



xxx Aka

{ Little Talk } Hey! Stop bugging me!!!

Photo collage by me

Recently, somethings have been bugging me and I can't get rid of them from my head. One of them is actually quite silly and I just don't know why I just can't let it go. One of them even cause a major procrastination for past few days. Alright, here is the thing: last week I watched The Face Australia on television. Firstly, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Nicole Trunfio and then her outfit in the show. That's a black crop top and a  black skirt with pink draped strip on the side. Couple days later, I still can't remove that image out of my mind so I started to search it. Sadly I couldn't find it anywhere with a brand, a shop or the designer. I became really obsessed, and couldn't stop myself googling it with all the possible key words it might be when my hands are free. This frustration of finding nothing absolute bugged me like crazy. I don't necessary have to own it but I hate the feeling of not knowing the answers. Oh, dear, what should I do?

I also found it amazing that how people find a word which is completely not relevant and at the end of the day, that word is actually unbeatable to describe an abstract thing/ thought. Like this word, bug. I don't hate bugs, I am quite fascinated about how pretty the colours they can have sometimes. But some kind of them scared the hell out of me. Once they started making their own opera with that mechanic sound and fly, I would run and freak out with all my soul, seriously. Andrew once took me to a botanic garden in the mountain, and it became one darn nigntmare. To Andrew was my reactions ruined his romantic intentions, to me was I really couldn't handle that fear and I just wanted to cover my eyes and ears and,  of course, RUN.  Now, after height, there's another one on my horror list. Look at the bright side, I guess the silver lining is probably this collage I made today. I might have a series after this, even.


Anyways, there are still too many. So my friend, do you have something you jus't can't let go besides boys/girls? Or you have something not very huge but bugging you like me?


Hope you all can spray the fear/ worries, being bug free:)



xxxAka

{ Little Talk } Hear Us

Quote and graphic by me.

Beside the headlines of the missing Malaysian plane and the conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, there are some things happening in my homeland, Taiwan. Taiwan, is where I come from and its national identity is always lot of debates involved.

Firstly, I disgust to spoil my little space with this horrible matter, but gosh, I really hate Taiwanese politics and under this circumstance, things are getting a little bit too hot to handle. Last couple days, my friends went silence protest, and the tension was just off the grid. I won't say anything about the details of the protest and how government transforms the truth and slaughter people's right alive because I don't wish to mislead anyone.  But if you are a little bit curious about what's happening, please check on some news about Taiwan. I know Taiwan is a small island, most people don't even know it is one hour flight from Hong Kong, and South Korea, but it's a place you can find people with cultures, characters and respects. Sometimes I do act like a kid who doesn't give a damn and live my own life chasing fairies in my own world. I never really watch news and this just brought me tears. We Taiwanese have tried so hard to have a place to stand in the world and we never stop contributing to this world. It's real life not hanger games!!Maybe I am being a bit emotional but who doesn't want to live in a healthy society and work hard together to make the world better?

Secondly, I would love to address that hypocrite is hypocrite and there's no alternatives to change the fact. I can't believe that democracy now is democrazy and people's voice are being ignored in front of every one. If this ignorance is not crazy, what is? I am very proud of those civilians who have strong will to go on the streets and fight for the freedom. Wisdom includes the ability of distinguishing right and wrong, and there's big difference between riot and rebel. However, the government's response to people was just simply absurd. I feel in pain because my country is in pain, I know we are just the easiest prey in front of the giant. I know a country like us is hard to raise international attention worldwide and it is controversy. But hello world, we are humans and we live hard too, we definitely need your supports and notice! Don't look the other way because we are not so familiar/ far away to you, every little help helps.

Anyways, too much anger and sorrow in this post and I wish the situation will change very soon. Share you a few quotes that I found on Pinterest. I found them cheering and hopefully you can always stand for your right and what you fight for in life.



Related news you can check:
The fact of the conflicts here,
University and college professors offer supports here.
Protestors have been supported here.
Thank you for listening/ reading, and this is what we really need.

Enjoy your day

xxx Aka

{ Little Talk } Pain

Photo found Flickr, edited by me.

How's your weekend guys? Just like I mentioned before I went for a 30k ride last Sunday and I took so much muscle pain as souvenir!!! This unpleasant feeling also inspires me to post about "pain" today.

There are so many different kinds of pain around. Some hurt you, some changes you and made you a different/better person. It can be really petty and trivial and still made you rather hang yourself, like my big fat curly hair in traditional Asian eyes while I was a kid. It can be very heavy and tragic but you learnt so much about it and appreciate what you already have in life. Pain normally also comes along with un-acceptance which we human always dream for. but I leant to accept it. I always try to keep this in mind:" Without pain, there's nothing comparative happiness." And I want to taste this world, and I want to experience as much as I can, so I open my arms to it, with a shout ( with a smile would be a lie because I still hate the pain) and maybe I did swear a little bit.
But I am really proud of myself this morning when I woke up, then I sang the "happy" of Pharrell Williams with my moves. I feel like I am on the top of the world. That's the pain we want to embrace and that's the sensation we need.

I said that to myself in the gym today when I couldn't move my arms anymore. Also, todays is the Academy Award, Dallas Buyers Club is another good example about pain. It's not just as simple as no pain no gain. We have all kind of strength to do anything, it's more about commitment and determination. I still have a lot to learn but I will keep it in mind. Matthew Mcconaughey and Jared Leto have shared such inspiring story and mental strength and I believe that they definitely deserve to win.

Hope you all fight your pain with an awesome attitude


xxx Aka


p.s: Original photo from here.

{ Chit Chat } Tuesday Movie Night

Hi guys, how's your day been? Today I had a really busy but not so productive day due to my poor coding knowledge and a quick way to forget all about it is go to a cinema. Cinemas in Sydney normally offer pretty mad deal on Tuesdays and this great offer definitely help us pass many helpless Tuesdays. I wonder you guys normally go for the Tuesday deal or it's more a romantic event to you? Anyway, today we watched Dallas Buyers Club and it was inspiring with bit more than just bittersweet. It make you laugh and make you think, tick the boxes so go watch it. It's money well spent and I only paid 20bucks for two. What a bargain!! However, I am not sure how many of you have watched it and I despite spoilers so there's no review here. You have to watch it to find out. (wink! ) This is just a quick chit chat.

Lastly, the reason I am still up is I am trying not to overthink the designing process so I kinda force myself to make a piece of something, so here I am, very sleepy but still trying to make something. That's the image above, please be kind.

Hope you all still survive the weekdays with some joys!!

Speak soon,

xxxAka

p.s. I saw the trailer of  the director Wes Anderson's new work" the Grand Budapest Hotel " (click the name to see the intros )and I am far too excited!! I am such a fan of his movies, always fulfilled with rich retro colours, witty conversations and tons of surprises. I can't wait to see it finally shows in the cinema! LOve the poster too!!! (See below)
p.s.2 I made the buttons. Hooray!

{ Moody Moodboard } Bitter Sweet

Images// internet, design//me

I have been thinking about making a moodboard for a while, so I started to search around then I found blush is such a beautiful colour and the resources are easy to find. Most girls secretly or officially love this dreamy colour so might not be too hard to deal with since I have never done anything like this. Honestly, I struggled massively trying to put all the pieces together and make sure the gaps are consistent, heaps redos and undos and finally I got it done. The time I spent probably can let me make a tableful of feast if nothing goes wrong. It was really a challenge making things nicely together because the more I stared at the photos I wanted to use, the more urges come up to my head. Or just I am too messy? Unlike some of girls growing up as a scrapbooking expert( which I wish I could be one) I was the tv kid watching non-stop cartoons and I still am that kid today. Oops, that just leaked out..

Anyway, I believe it is a very good training to maintain a nice balance, leave the unnecessaries and stay simple. Another lesson from the mundane today.

Nearly weekend, hang on guys!!


xxxAka


p.s. If you like my image collections, why not check out my Pinterest, it could be on your moodboards as well!

{ Little talks } The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Original image// Unsplash, graphic//me

I know it's a bit late to talk about this move, I am sure that the related articles might be everywhere already but I still want to talk about this because my love to this move was crazy enough to make me dream about those quotes and images since I sat on the cinema chair with tons inspirations few weeks back. Not to mention the humongous screen dragged me into the ocean, the mountains and the air with Walter Mitty and his fear. I guess you might know what I actually want to talk about. I would like to talk about my own fear.

 I grew up in a small city packed with concrete jungles and horrible traffic and I viewed the world from the bottom of the well because that's what every one think around me. Then I firstly walked up to somewhere near top of  Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, the pathetic me firstly realised that I seriously am afraid of height and I was totally crushed. No matter how much Andrew was trying to comfort me, I felt injured like something smacked out my soul of me, no kidding. If I have not been to that lookout, I wouldn't know how scary it is but same if I've never been there then I wouldn't know my view of the world still very naive. I hate that feeling of thinking about how high it was and I did some research, the best ways to overcome this problem is go back and face it. Really?

The other fear of mine is I couldn't really focus on what I really want. I've always hoped that I can do something more true to myself and live to the fullest and I did make changes like trying to learn scuba diving or different languages. I did feel better when I am motivated to do something different and here comes those days I was stuck with heaps so-called inspirations and still achieved nothing. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking about maybe dreams are cursed when you open eyes and they only appear when you close your eyes. Or they are just very naughty? I guess It is not just about being bold and taking risks, for me, it's about not to overthink. That's one of the reasons to create this blog and I also believe this is a good way to connect my inner self with others.

 Anyways, these are my fears and how about you? Do you have any fear to overcome?

p.s. I played around some photos with the quote in the move'' To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw close, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life". I find it absolutely beautiful and the original photos you can find it from COFFEE IN THE MOUNTAINS and Unsplash.


xxx Aka