Solo @ Seoraksan, Korea 2018

A travel blog!

If you are like me, you would’ve probably done some research before heading to Mt Seorak. And came across some guides or travel advice dated back to 2014 and beyond. Well, I just came back from the beautiful mountain and here are my thoughts that I think will benefit solo travelers.

1. Getting to Mt Seorak directly from Incheon Airport!

That’s right. If you just got your passport entry stamped and the only thing on your mind is Seoraksan (san= mountain), there is no need to detour yourself to Dong Seoul like most websites suggest (Dong = East. So, sometimes you see Dong Seoul Station being referred as East Seoul Station). Unless of course, you are coming in from Seoul.

Head out to the bus area of Terminal 1. I believe it’s ground floor, I didn’t check. It’s intuitive you won’t miss it. Go to any bus ticket counters, they are integrated so don’t worry about approaching the ‘right’ counter, and get a ticket to Sokcho (30,000 W). Boarding from platform 13A-1.

Based on my research, I found out that there were only 3 trips to Sokcho daily and I was worried that I won’t be able to get on any of it. That isn’t true. They had increased the frequency and availability. The ride from ICN to Sokcho is definitely available at normal hours, more or less 1 hour interval. The journey takes 3 hours plus, with only one toilet break. So do get down and stretch and answer nature’s call, even if you feel like you prefer to sleep.

 

Once you reach Sokcho City, getting to Seoraksan is pretty much the same.

Before I forget, download the app ‘Naver Map’. Must. Thank me later.

Exit the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (btw there are 2 different bus terminals in Sokcho city). You should be able to see a Tourist Info Booth on your left. The local bus stop is on your right. In case you are wondering, do not cross the road – wrong direction.

Wait for bus 7 / 7-1. They come very often. Tmoney and Cashbee cards are accepted. I highly recommend the use of Tmoney/Cashbee for commuting in Korea, it’s cheaper than paying cash, and it saves you the embarrassment of digging out money from your pocket to pay for the ride while holding up the queue behind you. Oh yes… the bus driver will drive off immediately even when people are not settled yet. I’ve seen many ahjummas and ahjussis jolted and trying to balance themselves. And oh yes… unless you are in the ahjumma/ahjussi category, do offer them your seats.

Seoraksan National Park entrance is the last stop. 45mins up to 1 hour bus ride.

The road heading to the national park could be very congested. 10 or 11 am onwards, depending on the season you visit (I did mine autumn), the cars and buses crawl towards the entrance. You would also notice throngs of people prefer to walk the final 1km or so.

Entrance fee 3500W. Cash only. Daily basis only.

 

2. Where to stay?

Sokcho city has much to offer. If you are not hardcore on hiking Seoraksan and prefer a more happening night time and city sightseeing in the morning, stay in the city.

If your mission is solely Seoraksan, for goodness’ sake, stay near the national park.

I caught a red eye flight and reached Seoul about 6am. Got on a 7.30am bus heading to Sokcho, reached Seoraksan about noon. My plan was to do some leisure hiking in the afternoon, go to bed early and the next day start another hike at wee hours. So I picked to stay at a guesthouse only 3 stops away from the park entrance.

If you are riding the local bus, how do you know when to get off? The announcements are done in Korean and English, but how to anticipate how many more stops/minutes so you don’t have to panic, grab your bag and jump off the bus? or worse, missed your intended stop? The ‘Naver Map’ app. The bus driver doesn’t stop at every stops by default. You need to press the buzzer to inform him. That’s right, foreigner, that’s what you need to do yourself if no one else is alighting at your stop.

 

3. The Seoraksan Cable Car. Yay or Nay?

What the other websites warned about how tough it is to buy a cable car ticket is true. They are not exaggerating.

The cable car ride is about 5 minutes one way, and hike an easy 10 minutes you will unlock Gwongeumseong Fortress ! This trail is one of the quickest and easiest trail, a favourite family spot for the Koreans.

The cable car isn’t compulsory, you can still get to Ulsanbawi and Biseondae and everywhere else without it. So, for a solo traveler, yay or nay? Considering it’s 10,000W for return ride.

I decided to try my luck. At 1.28pm , duly noted from the screen that the next available ticket is 5.20pm. There isn’t a queue anymore!

Surprise, surprise. The lady asked me “One person? 1.35pm ok?” I looked at my watch and stared at her. “Deh… deh…. now. Ok?” The perks of travelling alone, you are a filler. Haha! I took it and went upstairs for immediate boarding. I was very hungry, to be honest, but lunch gotta wait.

If cost isn’t an issue for you, it’s a YAY. The bird eye view is stunning. And the Gwongeumseong Fortress? Suffice to say, I keep hearing koreans muttering… “Daebak! Daebak !!”

After to and fro the Cable Car, I grabbed lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon hiking to Biseondae.

4. Food at Seoraksan

At 3pm, most restaurants sold out. Bring snacks and water.

There are many restaurants and fast food places at the park. You just need to beat the crowd or be willing to wait 40 minutes at peak hours for them to prepare the food.

Price? Expensive, of course. We are talking about 20,000W for a warm cooked dish. 6000W for a cuppacino.

5. Be the early bird

The next morning, I reached the entrance of the national park at 630am. I walked from my hotel to the park and witnessed the dawn of a new day, and saw the street lamps flickered off.

I didn’t intend to walk and waste my stamina on that 2km+ route, plus the road was really dark. It was 5.30am when I reached the bus stop. My mistake here, I should’ve consulted the Naver Map first. The first local bus 7/7-1 will pass me at 615am. My options? Walk or wait. If I walk,I figured I would reach the park entrance about the same time that the bus would. I kinda decided to turn back to the hotel and come back out later to catch the bus. But a solo figure with a backpack (like me) appeared, walked purposefully in the dark towards the park. Okay, what the heck, walk la. And I followed behind him. Must be a Caucasian, long legs and big strides. I swear I walked fast, but I lost him soon. His destiny in my life is to trigger me to walk out 2km at 5.30am in the morning, and then disappeared. Haha.

Okay anyway. I reached the park 6.30am. Duly noted the first local bus arrived too, dropping a few other early hikers. The ticket counter is open. The actual opening hours is elusive. Some website suggested that the entrance ticket booth opens 2 hours before sunrise, some says if you arrive at the weirdest hours and see no one, just walk into the park. It isn’t gated.

Cold autumn morning. Compared to yesterday, this park is deserted? There’s no one at the Bear Statue! No one queuing at the toilet. It feels like I own the park, I own the trail and I own the day! Fantastic.

Ulsanbawi – my goal for the morning.

I started my hike and it was wonderful. Go at your own pace. No congestion at bridges. I can stop anywhere to take a sip, adjust my earphones, take a picture or do up my neckwarmer without holding back a line. I don’t have to worry about overtaking people too. Totally your own pace.

The hike up, I crossed path with maybe about 30 people. On my way down, (8.30am, mind you) I think I easily saw 300+ people on the same trail. People are queuing at the swaying rock by 9am. And thousands at the park ground and restaurants area. The queue for the Seoraksan Cable Car at 9.30am? Beyond the building itself and snaked out (refer photo above). So, go early. Really.

6. Alone doesn’t mean Lonely

Reaching Heundeulbawi Rock at 730am, the world had just started to wake up. A lady was sweeping fallen leaves near the temple hermitage. She greeted softly from the top “Anyeong haseyo.”

That famous Heundeulbawi Rock is said to sway when people give it a push but it never fall or roll off the cliff. It is a must-do photo to pose a push, and there is always a long line for it. Not me, not at this hour.

Onwards to Ulsanbawi. The trail from Heundeulbawi to Ulsanbawi is marked red and labelled as ‘advanced’ because of the steep and seemingly unlimited bitchy stairs. My gym instructor gonna be smirking if i tell him that all the squats he made me do, paid off. Hike with mental power too. I told myself that my hot coffee is waiting up there and after all, it’s just going down later.

The altitude changes drastically here, and the topography changes from trees to mostly rocks.

A Caucasian was making his way down. By this time, I realized Korean hikers are pretty reserved. They avoid eye contacts and rarely initiate a hello. I smiled at him. He said “Anyeong haseyo.” “Hello,” I replied. “Oh, you’re not Korean??” This is the guy (French) that walked in the dark in front of me earlier that morning! A lil chat and we parted ways.

Ulsanbawi… takes my breath away. Figuratively and literally. Every step was bloody worth it. When I approached the top, there were tears in my eyes in admiration of the beautiful creation of God.

I sat there, soaked it all in for almost 30 minutes. I sipped hot coffee and thought about life. Reaching at 8am, which means it took me 1 and half hour one way. Pretty good!

An 67 years old ahjussi chats with me, and speaks good English, 5^th time at Seoraksan. I sincerely complimented his country.

“15-20 years ago, people may not have heard of Samsung but now it’s in every house. And K-pop sweep over the world like a wave. South Korea is so well developed!”

“Not developed enough…” says the ol man.

“You’re 67. Are you still working or retired?” I asked.

“I need to work, I have no money. What about you, do you have a lot of money?”

“Haha no… I work, then I play. And I work, and I play.”

He paused for a while, and surprised me by saying “YOLO!”

 

7. Leaving Seoraksan and Sokcho

With my luggage, I boarded the local bus 7/7-1 to get to Sokcho Bus Terminal. Seats were all taken, so I stood with my luggage near one ahjumma. I tried to be friendly and communicated with smiles and hand signals. She responded in Korean, of course we didn’t get very far.

The funniest thing is, I kinda got kicked out from the bus. Remember there are 2 bus terminals in Sokcho city? They aren’t too near each other but both can get me to Seoul. Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal is the last stop of the bus 7/7-1 which was where I came from the day before, and where I intended to alight later.

The bus was about to reach Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, when ahjumma suddenly exclaimed “Seoul?? Seoul??” I said, “Deh…. Dong Seoul.” She frantically indicated that I need to get down ASAP. I tried to indicate that I want to go to the other terminal, to no avail. She asked fellow passengers in the bus, and the chorus of ahjummas and ahjussi anxiously gave me the look that I should get down, like poor lost foreigner, doesn’t even know where to get off! (And remember the bus drivers aren’t exactly the patient kind.)

They were so warm and helpful that I felt helpless and that I must get off to make them feel better! I laughed it away, and pulled my luggage off the bus with me at one stop past Sokcho Express Bus Terminal. I saw 2 other Asian foreigners in the bus, mixed amusement at my predicament but probably secretly wondered if they should get down too. Ah~ a little change to the plan, no problemo . Til now, I do not know which route is better or cheaper or more frequent. Sokcho Intercity -> Dong Seoul; or Sokcho Express -> Dong Seoul. Go figure!

After stepping off the bus, breathed in a different air. A young Korean family indicated that I should follow them and how nice of them to lead me to the entrance of the Express terminal. Kamsahamnida~

The rest was easy. 16,700W from Sokcho Express Terminal to Dong Seoul. Look out for the platform that says ‘East Seoul’. 3-4 hours’ ride, one break. We met traffic congestion, so it took longer.

Eeyore kinda Birthday

“True friend remembers your birthday, but not your age.” Hahaha, exactly the variable everyone is kind enough not to ask me. Blessed I am, indeed. Towards the end of September, I feel eeyorish about my birthday. Like, no big deal. Like, I don’t want any hoo-ha or celebrations or attempt of surprises that failed to surprise me but I still need to act surprised so that the organizers don’t feel so bad. Like, please… I don’t want any regular cakes (yes, I’ve developed a taste for more exotic ones now) or worse, leftover mooncakes. And I’ve disabled notifications on Facebook about my birthday and disabled posts on my wall. Not because I expect to be a somebody and being bombarded by wishes, no… but because honestly, it doesn’t really matter. Does it?

Yesh, I am 30++ !

As a respond to most well wishes, I sent this thanks.

It is classically me and that’s how I feel. Head bowed from the heavy weight of a little butterfly, and a smile on my face.

Friends ordered a special cake. Really special because the homebaker only bakes it once in a blue moon when she has the mood and inspiration. Turns out to be a real gourmet, with certain refrigeration techniques and rules before eating it. Don’t bother to put it online because 90% chances, you can’t reorder it. The other superb product of another homebaker was a mooncake ice-cream. White color so you’d think it’s vanilla. But once I put a spoonful into my mouth, the flavour burst forth like fireworks. Smooth and aromatic green tea… WITH salted egg yolk! What an interesting fusion of taste.

Before this, the least expectations I have is towards my church friends. Because (I thought) they are simpletons, and because year in year out, we are running out of surprises. I rather they keep their time and effort to do something else more worthwhile. But this year, they pulled off the biggest plan ever. With so many potential factors for failures, they managed to touch my heartstrings. Through delicate planning and time coordination, by hiding their cars and shoes, wiping the wet shoemarks on the floor, by inviting other friends to play along, by blowing up balloons and arranging deco lights… wow. I almost thought that was a proposal surprise.

Then mom bought the earliest flight back to prepare a meal at home. My best buddy took time off from work to cook longevity noodles and made sure I had the Chinese traditional red egg.

My staff bought me a chocolate bouquet. Alamak! And countless of kind greetings over the phone. My ex housemates made me laughed early in the morning with their high tech nonsense!

I know I told myself that it doesn’t matter at all, that I don’t need any special treatment on this day to know that I am secure just the way I am. But God reminded me otherwise, that I am blessed, that I have family and friends who cares. And human being memang fanzin. I caught myself mentally checking off greetings from people I care about. Buddy A – ok done. Buddy B – ok done. Relative C – ok done. Contradictory woman, I know.

So I acutely took notice of people (that I cared about) that didn’t take notice. Ooops, bummer. Here I am, devoting a paragraph for that 1 or 2 person that forgot/ignored. Many that didn’t say hello didn’t bother me, but how come some did? Subconsciously expecting a message HB or something from them. Then I realize that if I care to be cared by those individuals, it actually matters. One was totally quiet, perhaps it’s a one sided care on my part. A close colleague didn’t send me any greeting, neither did a local friend and many others, they forgot but it didn’t affect me one bit, not a dent! One texted me and talked about other stuff and I suppose she totally forgot that it’s my birthday… and it hurts me tad a little bit. And then she reacted (click Like) to a FB status of mine, and still didn’t acknowledge my day, I came to a sad conclusion that she just doesn’t care. Not at the level that I do, for her. Or him. Just don’t revive whatever is dying, Lord. It’s quite tough to die over and over again. Damn. One paragraph that spoils it all.

So how’s my day? No lah, people of the previous paragraph didn’t spoil my day. Most people I love did shower me with appreciation and greetings. That pushes the day score say… 50 to 80, then to 90, 98. If those one or two fella sent me a HB, that would be perfect. But then again, 98% is pretty good and I am very grateful for those comprising the 98% !

This blogpost sounded narcissistic? Far be it from me, the intention of this is to remind myself somewhere down the road of life, that I am surrounded by friends and family who cares for me. Like Eeyore, not that we wanna be in the limelight, but when people are nice to us, we thank them for noticing us with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Jesus, thank You for this life of mine. Thank you, even when I see myself as a candle that can be snuffed out anytime, You see me as precious.

Memek

It’s been planned since a few months ago. Days are inching closer to the red circles on the calendar. We’re taking mom and dad for a vacation!! Hokaiddo, Japan!! Wohoo.

I was on the phone with Amelia discussing about work schedules, before we ended the call she asked “How are you going to Hokaiddo now?”

“Huh? AirAsia loh.”

“A bad earthquake hit that area.  I just saw the news like 6.6 Richter scale.”

Natural disasters… I sincerely hope the Japaneses recover from the loss, the pain and destructions. But then I must face the question. 3 days before the planned vacation, an earthquake hit your destination. Do you go on or plan for plan B? Dilemma. How do i even calculate the risk? I need to warn mom.

“Mom, have you heard?” I asked.

“The airport is closed?!?” Came the immediate respond with serious expressions.

I told her about the quake, which she already knew about it.

“Shall we proceed?” I probed.

“Proceed la. It’s Japan we are talking about. They can fix everything and they can complete it quickly. “

“No mom, I mean aren’t you afraid of the danger? There could be more tremors while we are there. “

“Halo I grew up in Taiwan. What’s some tremor?”

“What if there’s tsunami and stuff and we die?”

And her reply came easy, so simple yet so profound, so straight up but still so deep and hidden.

“Hah! If I can just daktungchiang like that, that’ll be nice.”

Enroute to Hokaiddo, we transit at KL and decided to drop by Tampin. Today is a Sunday, I’ll wanna worship God. So I arranged to join aunt Florence to church. And during breakfast, I just casually asked if mom wanna come along. Surprisingly she said ok (dad said ok but later changed his mind).

Mom sat beside me at church. And it dawned on me, how blessed it is to have mom coming to church with me today. How precious she is to me but I must have forgotten. She is the one who mom all of us and she can absolutely take care of herself, but who is showing her extra care or make her feel special for once?

While worshipping the Lord, I was touched and tears were pooling. Mom noticed that I was wiping away tears and she reached for my hand, smiled at me.

She has very warm and comforting hands. Good to travel to cold countries.

I’m typical Asian. I love my folks and I suppose they know it when I do things like… taking them for a holiday and spend time with them? Suppose some words unspoken won’t make a lot of difference?

Anyhow I plucked up my courage, and told mom “Memek, i love you. ” for the first time in a very long time.

With one hand she held mine firmly and I noticed she wiped her eyes with the other.

God bless my mom

Temporary

I came across a very interesting article today.

Why God brings you closer to some people, and then takes them away.

 

The notion of people coming and people going isn’t too foreign to me. I get that.

Sometimes you meet a new friend that clicks so well with you like everything makes sense, words of encouragement hits the spot bingo, there is motivation to get out there and be a better person. Soon the relationship developed to be unexpectedly rather beautiful and well polished and near perfection , that you are hoping and wishing and praying that nothing will disturb the balanced dynamics.

 

Come to think of it, good friends that I had ((and still keep in touch with (I suck at this) even once a blue moon, it counts) most aren’t playing an active part in my life now. But I couldn’t deny they had at least, at one point – past tense, inspired me, kicked my ass, healed me, laughed and cried with me, hugged me and left footprints all over my heart.

 

And usually, these different ones come one at a time. One at every pivotal season… God knows exactly the person you need right at that very moment of time, and when the season passed… God… removed them. The dynamic tips. When that someone matters to you, you can be sure it cracks and breaks cardiac.

 

Then I am being reminded, the active involvement of a person in my life, or vice versa, is probably meant to be temporary. They are like angels… here to teach us something or help us through one particular stage of life, and once that is done, they fly away.

They are supposed to.

Maybe They are needed elsewhere.

Garden of Roses

Nobody promised a garden of roses, eh?

To that, my friend Selena replied,

“That is exactly what I thought life is, a garden of roses… because of both the pretty flowers, and the sharp thorns it offers.”

True that.

There is Goodness

We made the payment and were on our way out of Servay Penampang. My mom, Ry’s family and a friend called Patty. Suddenly, Ry and Patty lunged forward as if they saw gold for grabs on the floor.

Nah.

Just an old man, with his right hand holding a big bag of groceries and his left, attempting to hold a few plastic box containers stacked together with their covers dangling dangerously waiting for an avalanche at the slightest trigger of imbalance. Of course, the container boxes dropped on the floor.

He stood where he was, and did not (or perhaps could not, or probably would not) bend down to pick up the containers, something quite impossible to do with only one free hand. Ry and Patty dashed to him, picked up what he dropped. Not only was he physically not too responsive, his face showed lack of expression too. Specifically, lack of acknowledgement.

“Just here.” Pointing to where he wanted Ry to place the boxes.

That done, the uncle stood beside the boxes with hard eyes and unsmiling face. Ry went the extra mile to get a plastic bag with the intention to tie the boxes+covers together to ease the transportation process later. As Ry bent low the second time for the uncle, about to touch uncle’s boxes, uncle held out a palm and said “Nevermind.”

And we left him. It all happened in less than a minute. For a habitually helpful guy like Ry, he probably didn’t think too much of it. But it bothers me to see such an unfriendly demeanour and at the end of the brief encounter, not even any gesture or words of gratitude.

I told Patty as we were walking towards our vehicle. “The uncle seems to take this very suspiciously.” The mistrusting eyes, the defensive stance, unwillingness to connect, etc. “Really?” Oh, apparently she didn’t think too much of this too.

Later that night, Patty asked me “Remember why I wanna participate in mission trips?” She did tell me before but too embarrassed to admit that I forgot, I replied “Tell me again.”

“It is like the uncle just now. I hope people get to know that… there is kindness and goodness in this world. And if I can, I want to be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.”

 

Not Defeated

Almost 6 months of preparation.

With the mind and body set to do it.

Only to be denied.

“How’s the peak?”

“The peak…? She was crying and refused to see anybody…”

Aki Nabalu we love and respect.

Dejected and defeated. I texted a friend.

 

 

No…. came the reply.

You are not defeated,

You haven’t got the chance to conquer.

Tainted Mirror – just musing

Of late, God placed a (another) sister in my life. Unlike the one 6 months ago, this is younger. Both impacted my life, because both made me brave. For now, let’s talk about this lil sister in Christ. She had the maturity that we can talk like peers, and the free spirit to make me feel like I am in my 20s when I spent time with her.

I treasure this friend of mine, I do. The scary thing is… God puts people in my life to tell me about myself. We are very different, but many times in the unlikeliest manner, she showed me my own reflection in a tainted, stained and cracked mirror.

Recently my lil sister confided in me that she is lonely.

That was a very courageous admission of weakness and I didn’t respond immediately. I let the statement sink in… and then I started to kick into the role of a big sister. Abothen what am I supposed to do? There goes a session of gently barraging her with words of affirmation, wisdom and encouragement… some of which are not easy to hear, but truth that needed to be spoken and was spoken with love, like a bitter medicine. Some includes having faith and trust in the perfect timing of the Lord ! The Lord will provide!

….. now where’s the mirror again?

aL, do you believe for yourself, what you had just said about Me?

My lil sister might be (or maybe not at all), wondering if I am lonely. Wondering if I am even the correct person to ask for such advice. Ah-ah… damn sure you will get advice that are out-of-this-world if you ask me. The world is overflowing with Hollywood ideas, those are not even wisdom! Mine shall come from the Holy Word! Authoritative so. If I can help it.

There I go again, talk like a wise woman of God. Then I of little faith will pray.

Oh God, You better let Your promise come true in (lil sis)’ life, because I sorta told her about how faithful and good You are, plus Your promises… this and that. So, let her first. Her doors open first. Hers must come true, bless her first. Mine whatever. Your will be done.

Haha… what kind of prayer is this? But God, You know what I mean la, right. Just being honest.

In this process, I have no interest in any fake people, so God help me to be a true person myself. And a true Christian, not living a lie. A friend texted me after I cut off my long hair (the 509 victory) “Thumbs up, woman of your word.” Yea, that’s what I wanna be, true and trustworthy. Even to myself.

1 Thes 4.

Dear God, bless this lil sister of mine, whom I love. And the other one. And the one always. And the one who had given up hope… these real people whom I love, who made my life NOT lonely.

 

A Reason to Come Home

This week’s appointment is overbooked. The sudden influx of patients are people with their Identity Card postcoded 90000. Many took a few days of leave and made the pilgrimage for a reason. Tomorrow is 509.

Some came in from Kota Kinabalu, some from Kuala Lumpur. One came all the way from Australia. “I transit at Kuala Lumpur and flew direct to Sydney. Tiring journey, but it need to be done!”

I think that’s love in action. A Malaysian who still loves Malaysia.

Better yet, that is HOPE in action.

Truthfully, after the results were announced 5 years ago, it seems that hope against hope was lost. There was a palpable nationwide mourning atmosphere the next day, something died. Democracy. And people (at least I did) wondered, why do we give a damn anymore. The country is a gone case. Send your kids and young people to another country, where they will have a fair and better future. Where their hard work and talent will be recognized. Where their loyalty will be rewarded. Where their taxes will be channeled back to the betterment of their lives (instead of handbags, rings and watches of one particular individual?)

Come 509. I asked another client, who flew in from Taiwan, “Just curious… why come back for this?”

She didn’t answer immediately. She was thinking.

Then she said “A token of hope.” Seeing these Malaysians really sparked hope. Too many had gone away with a half a foot and half an identity as citizen of another country. Malaysia is no longer a home.

“I’ve been living in Taiwan. I still hope there is a reason for me to come home.”

What’s gonna happen tomorrow? It seems to me this is a battle of a nation VS one man. Instead of guessing, in 24 hours it will be made clear to the whole world. I will do my part and get my finger inked tomorrow. In God we trust, change we must.

Tiada yang Mustahil !

I received a very interesting gift today.

A Bucket List book ?!

We have heard of bucket list at some point of our lives. According to Google, bucket list is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. 

When I first learnt the term, I mentally set a few things in my mind, achieved some, haven’t achieved some and forgot the rest.

But with a tangible book… oh gosh, this could be a different story lor.

By merely flipping through the empty pages, I caught myself thinking… What is my dream? Which places on earth do I wanna see? What crazy thing do I wanna do next? Or not-so-crazy stuff that I would like to learn or try. And that was pretty exciting,tho just a thought. Everything starts with a seed of thought.

So when was the last time you did something for the first time? Nothing is impossible.

_________________

Oh by the way. The giver of the book. We’ve come a long long way. Thanks, Lina.