Laura Chang 11/22/17 Laura Chang 11/22/17

"The One" and Only Me

I used to romanticize the idea of traveling. At the old age of 6, I believed that the only way I could travel and see far away places was if I went with loved ones or eventually a husband. That when I reached double-digits, I'll be an adult. Then in my twenties, I'll truly grow up, meet my lover, my partner, my soulmate and travel the world with him.

Clearly my definition of travel and love was skewed. And if you know me now, that's not how I operate. :)

I blame Papa Chang in the most endearing way though because he made me believe that traveling was a romantic activity only. Why, you ask? I grew up envious that my parents took my brother to both Disney World and Hawaii long before I was born. As a kid flipping through photo albums, I'd see pictures of the bro with Mickey and Magic Castle in the background, pictures of the bro with a lei, pictures of me in hula skirt-- no wait that's toddler brother in a hula skirt! Where was Laura during these family vacations? Why don't I have photos like that? I was not yet born, merely stardust, and just a dream not yet reality. At age 12, I stopped holding a grudge when we finally went to Disney World as a family. It was a dream come true, but on that trip was when father said I'd have to save Hawaii for my husband because he won't be able to afford a family trip there anytime soon. So save Hawaii I did for all those years, only to realize...wait, so I have to wait to find a guy, so I can marry him and THEN travel??

It's safe to say that I learned quickly that waiting for "the one" just to travel is silly and I'd never see this world if I had listened. All the love I need is right here already. I am "the one" and only me and I can take myself there! My life has been decided that I will travel whenever, wherever, with whoever I want. I most definitely don't need a man just to wander this earth. I've got amazing friends for that, too! But, I also had another dream and that was to move out West. I paused and I panicked that I wouldn't be able to pull both off-- travel and start over as a full fledged adult in a new city.

I knew the person I was in NY, but wanted to meet the person I would become in LA. I knew that the only way I could grow was to step outside my comfort zone and figure it out sans a romantic lead in my life to lean on. When I decided to move, I made it my goal to spend my entire first year discovering myself and focusing on friendships rather than romantic relationships. I got a little worried that I wouldn't be able to travel the way I imagined and the way that I fortunately was able to when I lived back home under my parents' roof. That rent money you save is real people. Enjoy that luxury for as long as you can! I even did a 10-day Euro Trip in between NY and the official LA move because I thought it'd be my last hurrah. Bills and rent all weren't things I thought about before. Plus, vacation days were now used to fly back home during the holidays. Again, something I didn't have to do living local. I wondered, will I have enough days off to fly home and visit new cities?

Fast forward a year and a half later...and as I anticipate my next trip tomorrow headed to Cuba, I've thought about the places I've been able to see since I've moved out West. I am so lucky! So far, I've flown to Iceland, the city of Seattle and Savannah, all for the first time-- in addition to the five trips back to NYC for some personal commitments. I plan on flying home as often as I can, but even I admit that I was not expecting 5 times this first round, so I don't anticipate it being as many times in the coming years. (But who knows!) With the help of budgeting, travel deals and my Chase Sapphire Reserve points, I continue my travel dreams, and now believe that I can still do both just fine. I am practical and try to save up whenever I can, but spending money to see places for a worthwhile deal will never bring me buyer's remorse. This is an activity that I will never come out of regretting I spent money on, especially when I get to see loved ones, too.

Traveling is a commitment I take seriously, and will always be a goal. I want to see as many new places this world has to offer in this lifetime. I want to meet people from all walks of life and eventually explore the depths of the ocean, too. So with the help of timing, opportunities and kick-ass friends who decide to travel with me, I found it easier and easier to just do it alone. Most of the time I'm not alone because I'll fly there solo, but meet up with friends on location. And the most exciting part is when you make unexpected friendships abroad. New friends in a new city.

Although I'm sure traveling with my husband would bring an entirely different meaning to these trips, but trips you take with friends and yourself should be equally as important. So all that pressure we put on ourselves to meet someone is really just pressure we need to try to ignore. I'm guilty of thinking about it from time to time, especially when Grandma is asking if I've made any friends out here-- specifically a boyfriend. I felt as though I was letting the OG down when I had no romantic update for her. And do yourself a favor! Don't get your fortune read because no one should tell you what lies ahead in your future. Sometimes it's just better left unknown. So after a few pinches and slaps, I'll snap back to reality and remember the whole purpose of moving out and finding myself.

That husband, that soulmate, that lover that I imagined at single-digit age is out there somewhere right now living his dream and traveling the world, too, I am sure. So let life play out as it is meant to play and enjoy all that free time you get in your 20s to just become the person you're meant to become. I think that's what I'd tell my younger self now. This world is filled with a lot of great people, and I never had to wait for someone else to take me anywhere, or fill the role as travel companion because I found ways to fill it up myself. And for that reason alone, all my trips have been rewarding.

I also just realized that I actually still haven't been to Hawaii yet, but not intentionally! I've attempted to try to fly there twice already, but timing just wasn't there. It's on my list and perhaps life is secretly reserving that Hawaiian vacation for my next serious relationship. Who knows? I've got some other countries up top that I'd like to see first, so c'est la vie. I'll see it when I see it!

So there you have it! My deepest thoughts this past year alone. 2017-- we're almost at the end and I can't believe how quickly time flies. I've been living my transplant Angelino life for 1.5 years now, and some days I still feel like I'm just a traveler visiting this city for an extended period of time. It's been an awesome year that will end wonderfully and I know that I will explore the heck out of 2018! But, I've never been more excited for what's to come than ever before.

"Do all that you can and all you thought you could not." I thought I couldn't move out and travel at the same time, but I can and I will. This life is an adventure, and you'll always find a way to do what you love. Just remember your priorities and believe that you can accomplish what you truly desire. Life is the experience, the encounters-- everything in between destinations-- and traveling just takes you there. I can do it myself and so can you! I can travel anytime with "the one" and only me.

With Love to this Universe,
Laura

Laura Chang 7/28/17 Laura Chang 7/28/17

Feeling Blue: "Chasing Coral" & "Mission Blue"

Every now and then, I feel inspired to bang out an entry like this one today. How random, right? Yes, it's been awhile since I last posted anything, but I've had a lot of time to reflect on what's important in my life these last couple of weeks-- one of which is obviously the upkeep of this site. I told myself that I will not neglect this passion project as I have this last year, just like how I should not neglect aspects of my life that keep it healthy and well-balanced! Not only has posting on this website been an escape for me in the past, but it has always been my journal of thoughts, interests and photography growth. Aside from my joy in snapping photos, I also like to geek out on climate change. Keeping Up with the Klimate is pretty hard at times, but I like to watch the latest documentaries that explain continuing problems and slap my face with a reminder that I need to be greener and better to mother earth.

Hello In My Visions,

I wish I was paid to write all of this up, but this isn't an Ad! I watched Chasing Coral on Netflix, which came out earlier this month, and was reminded again of how important our ocean health is to us. But, before I dive deeper into that discussion (pun intended), I still remember the last Netflix documentary I watched about ocean life back in 2014 called Mission Blue. The film follows badass oceanographer, conservationist, marine biologist, Sylvia Earle (& she's a grandma), who at age 81, still dives into our water and swims the depths of our sea to study and protect "Hope Spots." What are these Hope Spots? Find out here. She drew attention to our dying coral reefs, and showed us critical areas in this world that we need to protect because they are crucial to the health of our ocean. Global warming is real and our planet is suffering. There is irreversible damage, and about half of our coral reefs have died the last 30 years alone.

We can look back at that, gasp and sob, but we also need to look at the big picture of global warming. I have dreams to see the Great Barrier Reef, but I'm also aware that at the rate humankind is going, if I don't go soon or in this lifetime, there will be no Great Barrier Reef to visit ever again. I can't change the world in a drastic way alone, but I know I can control my carbon footprint, and try to be a little greener everyday. Sylvia inspires me all the time and in another life, I will learn to scuba dive at an earlier age, become a mermaid and fight to protect our ocean health.

Now, back to Chasing Coral.

Chasing Coral focuses on the diminishing coral health and follows some very passionate people trying to find out what's causing our reefs to disappear. Richard Vevers quit his 10 years working in advertisement because he wanted to do something with more meaning in his life after he realized his favorite weedy seadragon is endangered and wanted to find out what more in our ocean life is disappearing and thus the birth of this film with producer/director Jeff Orlowski. Zackery Rago grew his own coral aquarium and learned all about coral taxonomy, joining the team to create extraordinary underwater camera devices that can shoot time-lapse video of the reefs, and ultimately dived into the ocean to manually track daily coral activity in the Great Barrier Reef for several months. This is all to say that these people really put a lot into this documentary, and I have so much RESPECT!

Of course there are more people involved, and everyone played an important role, but you just have to watch the documentary yourself! I learned that a particular marine species known as the parrotfish eats corals and poops out sand. Therefore the sand we walk on at beaches are fecal matter produced by the parrotfish, but all fun jokes aside, I also gained more knowledge about coral bleaching (see image below), which is the first sign of a dying coral community. The documentary was quality storytelling and the before and afters of healthy, colorful coral communities turning white only months apart were visually alerting. There are scientists, divers, coral lovers out there trying to save ocean life, and I am just at home watching those people actually making a difference in the world.

American-Samoa  © XL Catlin Seaview Survey - The Ocean Agency - Richard Vevers — American-Samoa © XL Catlin Seaview Survey - The Ocean Agency - Richard Vevers

So in summary, whether I am watching Mission Blue in 2014 or Chasing Coral in 2017, there is no doubt that our ocean continues to get warmer. 2016 was ranked the warmest year in the Global Climate Report. So, this is me telling myself to remember to be greener. Remember to fight for a cleaner environment, healthier ocean, better world because I'd like to see change in this lifetime.

Sometimes it's not just rising temperatures destroying coral life, but also us obnoxious human beings who snorkel during our vacation and damage the reefs with our sunblock. Chasing Coral taught me that when swimming in the ocean, do not use sunscreen with active ingredient: OXYBENZONE, a chemical that damages coral reefs. So be aware! Be human and kind to our ocean life when visiting/snorkeling/swimming/minding our own business around these beauties. I've been using Neutrogena for years and just noticed that it contains 6% Oxybenzone. I'm tossing that out and switching to one of these Oxybenzone-free sunblocks.

Visiting the Great Barrier Reefs remains on my bucketlist, and I know that I have to go soon because it's changing with each passing day. First, I really need to learn how to scuba dive if I plan to visit seriously. I'm decades behind Sylvia, and if she can still do it in her 80s, I sure as heck can pick this up before I reach my 30s.

Goals (Some Before I Turn 30, But Really Should Just Maintain In Lifetime):

Learn to scuba dive and operate heavy machinery underwater without harming coral reefs
See the Great Barrier Reef
Use Oxybenzone-free sunscreen
Continue to scuba dive at age 80 like Sylvia Earle
Be Greener Always
Walk on parrotfish poop as often as possible

Love,
Laura

Laura Chang 2/23/16 Laura Chang 2/23/16

In My Visions: Two Years Later

IN MY VISIONS is two years old! Here's my place and personal space.
When I have words to say, but no one to say them to...except to myself, I share it here.
In this two-part blog post, I reflect on this website and on the self.

Two Years Old

Two years ago, I sought after my own space online to share the pictures, the visions, the memories, the thoughts and the journey of my growth with photography. Now, I can't believe In My Visions is two years old! I used to think that it would be hard to maintain a site because I didn't know how frequently I would be able to post. Then I realized that timing didn't matter because there is no deadline with something like this. It was all about when I felt like sharing my inspirations, thoughts and moods. No pressure, just pleasure.

With this new year, I already have a great feeling about my visions to come. I know I will continue to travel. Above all, I look back at everything I've done with this website and I see how much it has in turn helped me grow. For those of you who have followed me since I first began this website, thank you for your undying support. And, for the newcomers along the way...I always welcome your visits! Whether you check this website at random, or hardly at all, I hope that those glimpses still allow you to see this space as a reflection of me and find peace, feel comfort, and see beauty in color and nature.

In My Visions brings me joy, excitement and pride.

If you've ever read "The Alchemist," you'll understand that I've learned part of my personal legend. This website is a part of that legend. There is so much beauty in this world and I want to see it my own way. In My Visions will take me to those places. As will my curiosity, wonder and empathy.

Love,
Laura

PS: New year, new logo!

Fun fact: I scribbled that down on a post-it note nearly half a year ago and only recently found it in my notebook. Now I brought it to life, and i'm digging it...so far!

Until next time. Thanks for reading all the way through!

Laura Chang 12/18/15 Laura Chang 12/18/15

Connecting the Dots

Somewhere between the ages of 4-7, I was playing connect-the-dots without a ruler and with bright colored markers. I didn't connect them in numerical order, as I should have because what did I really know about numbers? It's not like I grew up a typical Asian and already learned that ahead of pre-K...oh wait. Well, what was meant to look like a cow jumping over the moon turned into ET on a psychedelic trip in another dimension. Lines were drawn off the pages, on to tables and even the walls. I connected them the way I felt like doing so, and didn't let numbers tell me what to do!

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

— Steve Jobs

Somewhere between the ages of 4-7, I was playing connect-the-dots without a ruler and with bright colored markers. I didn't connect them in numerical order as I should have because what did I really know about numbers? It's not like I grew up a typical Asian and already learned that ahead of pre-K...oh wait. Well, what was meant to look like a cow jumping over the moon turned into ET on a psychedelic trip in another dimension. Lines were drawn off the pages, on to tables and even the walls. I connected them the way I felt like doing so, and didn't let numbers tell me what to do!

I also loved the idea of stars and space. When a pack of glow-in-the-dark stars were gifted to me, I scattered them across my room, on my ceiling, all corners of the walls and directly overhead so that every night I'd stare at them until I'd fall asleep. I was mentally connecting those stars, too.

Then, there were those "beauty" marks appearing all over my body and on my face that wouldn't wash away with soap. At one point, I imagined what design I could create if I connected them. No, I didn't draw on myself, but I almost did...with a pen. I was 20. Just kidding, these are all anecdotes of toddler Chang.

As I got older, the concept of connecting the dots became a lot more figurative than literal-- as all things in life do. The memories of my past have become nothing but a dream. But, I look back and I reflect often. Every stage in my life, every painful memory, every year that goes by, I wonder why something or someone resonates. And it is only by looking back at certain moments, whether joyous or tearful, that I've learned from my mistakes and realized how far I've come, and how to prepare for the future.

The catch is...what exactly am I preparing for when I don't even know what the future holds? How do you prepare for something that is unknown? There really is no preventative measure to take. As I stand on my current dot, I guess let's call it dot 25--a dot for each year-- I realize that I really can't connect to 26. I can imagine myself using that bright marker and drawing lines out of order, but it isn't really in my control. I do just have to believe that some way, somehow it'll all connect until eventually the future is right now all over again at dot 30 and dot 40, or dot 80 if I ever make it there.

I live a little terrified every day, but it's just a matter of how much terror I reveal. Some days are more exciting than others. Some days are a little more quiet than others. All I can do is live it one day at a time. But, at dot 25, I no longer have glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to my ceiling and walls. I just look up to the sky and search for the brightest in this light polluted city I live in.

<3,
Laura

Laura Chang 12/10/15 Laura Chang 12/10/15

What Fall Leaves Behind

I took these photos almost two months ago and had this post sitting in the draft section for about the same amount of time. Sometimes I just have photographs in my mind, and I ponder what words should accompany the post. It isn't that I think a photograph is not enough to say those thousands of words you want people to see, but more so that I want to be thoughtful about where the photograph came from or maybe why I took that photo. It's also more for my own reference, but I guess I don't always need words to fill a page. That's the whole point of a photograph, right? Well, I've been at a loss of words lately. No matter where I walk, what I read, I'll zone out into time and space. I look back at my past a lot, while trying to move forward. But, here I am in the present. And, this is really all the precious time I get. This time now, and this time presently.