After lusting over Hong Kong for years, I finally made the trip there last summer. It was everything I thought it would be and more. For me, Hong Kong was such a livable city and offered so many options for dining, entertainment, and scenery. I was still thinking about Hong Kong when I reached out to Tracy Wong, my namesake and a photographer who's returned to Hong Kong after over a decade spent away, for a feature on her beautiful hometown. I absolutely love these images that Tracy's send to me for the feature. I hope these inspire you as much as it did me.  

Hong Kong is a city with many paradoxes. It is one of the densest urban areas in the world, yet one can find lovely pieces of nature minutes from city center. Its past as a British colony brings western influences to its traditional Chinese culture. And have you seen another concrete jungle with so many vibrant colors?

Having left Hong Kong for over 14 years to study and work in California, I’ve rediscovered my home city when I moved back in 2014. Before, as a child and as a visitor, I had my routine places to visit for shopping, food, and entertainment, but now I appreciate seeking the extraordinary, even in familiar areas. Of course it’s part of my job too, as a lifestyle photographer I am on the constant lookout for new locations for my photoshoots.

These days my daily routine brings me through the smells of dried seafood in Sheung Wan, and the mix of industrial and glassy office buildings in Quarry Bay. But on my free time it’s great to explore one of the many outlying islands, sit above the noise on the roof of a skyscraper, or relax on a pier to watch the sun go down.

If you’re making a visit to Hong Kong, I’d suggest that you check out any neighborhood outdoor market to experience the chaos, get on a tram to take in the city on a slower pace (we locals call it the “ding-ding”), remember to look up when walking amongst skyscrapers, and take a hike on a mountain for some great views. The density in this city can be overwhelming, but when you know where to look, there are so many gems to appreciate.


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Living in the Upper West Side, Brooklyn is a bit of a trek for me. But when I do get out to Brooklyn, I make sure to get everything I can out of the trip. First, know that both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge connect New York to Brooklyn. Although the Brooklyn bridge is far more famous, I think both bridges are worth seeing and both offer stunning views. For me, I like to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn on the Brooklyn Bridge, and then come back to Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge.

Once in Brooklyn, you’ve got plenty of neighborhoods and sights to choose from. My favorite is Dumbo, industrial warehouse district turned home to some unique art galleries and tech startups. After you check out the art galleries and cool shops in the area, head down to Brooklyn Bridge Park where you can relax in the cool vibe of the waterfront.



Heading back to Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge, take your time to take in the view and keep an eye out for the holes in the fences where photographers before you have made makeshift viewpoints for easy photography. The Manhattan Bridge drops you off in Chinatown, where you have plenty of great restaurant choices. Pell Street is one of the most photographed streets in Chinatown and home to numerous barbershops. Another street worth visiting in Doyers Street, home to Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the first tea parlor in Chinatown (where I once spotted Alan Cumming).

Finally, after two days of jaunts in the Upper West Side and around midtown, today, head downtown for some iconic New York experiences.

As with all the other New York neighborhoods, there are plenty of things to do downtown. Start your day at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. This historic institution honors the victims of 9/11 and examines its continued global significance. Afterward, see the new World Trade Center. The observation deck just opened up last summer and you can see miles from the top.

The iconic view of downtown Manhattan can be scenes from the Staten Island ferry. Take it from South Ferry Terminal, the thirty-minute ride is free and offers a splendid view of Manhattan. The ferry ride also offers a great view of Brooklyn and the Statute of Liberty.


After your return from Staten Island, stroll wall street. Jostle the other tourists for a picture with the Bull statute, and make sure to walk by the New York Stock Exchange. By now, you’ve probably had enough of the business scene downtown. For something different head to Soho to get a taste of beautiful facades of classic artist lofts, not to mention all the shopping you can handle.

An afternoon worth of shopping, rest your legs at a cafe in the West Village. There’s no better place for food and drinks than the Village. Local favorite restaurants include the Spotted Pig and Buvette.

Ah, midtown, the heart of the city, feel the hustle and bustle of the workweek crowd while dodging heavy street traffic all around you. After your first encounter with New York via homely Upper West Side, you're now ready for the grit of Manhattan. New Yorkers know to avoid midtown unless they are obligated to indulge in the busiest part of the city. But for many locals, the attractions of midtown are the reason for their visit.

Your day starts at Grand Central; this historic attraction is still one of the busiest train stations in the world. The decor is intricate and the main concourse has been the location setting for many movies and TV shows. After Grand Central, head over to the New York Public Library. I don’t know if many public libraries are worth a visit but do check out the neo-classical space of the New York Public Library on 6th Avenue. Behind the library is Bryant Park - a local's favorite park. At this time of the year, the park comes to life with the Bank of America Winter Village, featuring many local shops and eateries, and an ice rink. Make a quick stop here for a bite to eat or a cup of joe.


Head a few blocks north to the Museum of Modern Art - home to some extraordinary exhibits and is a great place for creativity. I love to pop into MOMA whenever I’m in the area just to soak up a little bit of inspiration. This is yet another museum that warrants a good half-day visit, so make sure to plan accordingly.

While you’re in the area, the Rockefeller Center is near by. Visitors may want to head up for a great view of the city and check out the ice-skate rink below. From the observation deck, you can see the Empire State Building and all of downtown to your south, and the large area of Central Park greenery to the north. Opposite the Rockefeller is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, this was the first church I visited on my first trip to New York in 2010 (before I became a full-time resident of the city). The towering neb-gothic church stands in magnificent contrast to the office buildings and storefronts nearby.



After a busy day of walking - and dodging pedestrians, taxis, and not to mention double deck bus ticket sellers - end your day at Time Square. I have to admit, Time Square is pretty much the bane of any New Yorker’s existence. And no, we don’t come here to see the ball drop on New Years Eve. But for visitors, a mention of New York probably evokes the flashing billboard of Time Square. The best time to see Time Square is at night when you’ll find yourself surrounded by endless flashing lights.

I’ve loaded up on ingredients for stuffing and sides, which means Thanksgiving is just days away. While most New Yorkers are heading out of town and back home for the holidays, I know a lot of people are also taking the opportunity to visit New York over Thanksgiving. For those coming to town, I am creating a three-day itinerary on Just-in-Time, which means I’ll be sharing a guide to a different NYC neighborhood every day for the next four days - right up to Thanksgiving.

Start your holiday trip in the Upper West Side, my own neighborhood. It’s home to many iconic New York attractions, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that draw many people to this part of town.

Start your day at the Museum of Natural History with its vast showcase of natural wonders. This is the perfect spot if you’re coming with kids, and if you have the time, definitely don’t miss the planetarium. Afterwards, pop by Shake Shack, a classic NYC establishment and a great burger in the area.

Stroll through Central Park and enjoy the last of the fall foliage in the area before crossing over to the east side where you can continue your museum strolls to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MET is an enormous museum and one of the most visited art museums in the world. Thorough museum-goers will need the whole day - if not two - to see everything.

For those who may want to limit their daily museum consumption to one, head south in central park (instead of east) until you hit Columbus Circle and get a head start on your holiday shopping at the luxury shops inside Columbus Circle.

Macy’s Day Parade: If you plan to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this Thanksgiving, a good stretch to view the parade is at Central Park West at 75th street. The public can watch from the west side and Central Park side is closed for invite-only seats. Savvy parade goers know to layer up and line up early (read - as early as 6:00AM)

Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep.

I spend hours awake in bed repeating this over and over in my head. Like millions of Americans, I can’t sleep. For me, sleeplessness comes in waves (3-4 weeks) every 4 or 5 months and manifests in the form of not being able to fall asleep for hours. The frustrating part is that I do everything right to set myself up for proper sleep: I go to bed at roughly the same time every day, I exercise 6 times a week - never close to my bedtime, and I only drink 1 cup of coffee a day (if any at all). Despite all of this, I still experience temporal insomnia. No wonder that insufficient sleep has become a national health problem.

Sometimes, I’m able to pinpoint the cause exactly, whether that’s stress from working and going to school at the same time, or just my hectic travel schedules, like in September when I was flying from NYC to California for 2 days at a time. Last month, I fought and hacked my way out of a long and worrisome bout of sleeplessness that lasted 6 weeks. Feeling every so charged and ready to tackle my sleep problem, I hacked and tweaked my way to a better sleep.

1. Take a warm (not hot) shower 
Although I typically shower in the mornings after my workout, I’ve found that a hot shower or (even better) bath has been able to help me relax and fall asleep easier on at least a handful of occasions. For me, one oddity is that I can't take hot showers before bed - something about the hot water then makes me too hot when I do get into bed and makes me agitated - so I'm particular about the temperature of the water to be just a tad warm.



2. Flux your screen
Bright screens before bed is bad news for falling asleep. If you find yourself needing to continue working and looking at a screen until bedtime, use Flux which adjusts the color of your computer’s display to the time of day - so that your screen gives off a warm tone at night and doesn’t affect your ability to fall asleep after. I have been a long-time user of Flux (3.5 years) and it’s helped my sleep (and my eyes) a lot.

3. Keep a notebook 
More often than not, I find myself laying in bed running through all the things I have to do the next day, the next week, or just eventually. The list gets long when work is busy, I get behind on taking care of this travel blog, or when grad school demands all hit me at once. The first time I had my bout of temporal sleeplessness was in high school, when I found myself still awake at 3 in the morning, thinking about all these things I had to do over and over again. Now I keep a notebook by my bed and make myself write everything down - whether it’s a new creative idea for Just-in-Time, or a handful of action items I forgot to get to that day, jotting things down means I no longer have to hold it all in my head, and gives me permission to release them back into the world.


4. Breathe the 4-7-8
I learned this breathing exercise over the summer and it helped a lot the first week I tried it. The 4-7-8 breathing exercise regulates your breathing and bring a sense of calm. You inhale for 4 counts, hold your breath for 7, and exhale for 8. The long exhale, I find, helps slow your heartbeat and bring you into a state of relaxation.

5. Invest in a mattress
I was hesitant to get a new mattress since there was nothing wrong with my memory foam and I certainly slept fine on it during the nights that I am able to get a proper sleep. Plus, good mattresses are pricey. But Casper has a generous return policy, not to mention the convenient same-day delivery option in NYC, so Alex convinced me to give them a try. To my surprise, Casper feels firmer and has more support than my previous memory foam mattress. I’m typically suspicious of firm mattress since firm often = stiff, but the Casper also retains a comfortable amount of bounce. I no longer wake up with a sore shoulder on the odd night, and on a few mornings, I’ve even noticed that I wake up now in almost the same position that I fell asleep in.

6. Cool your room
This trick helped me combat sleeplessness during this past east coast winter. When you can't fall asleep, every little thing start to bother you, including being too hot under the blanket. Although some people find a warm and cozy room is the best for sleep, I need a cool room to feel at east and just right under the weight of my blanket.

7. Wear earplugs 
On a few occasions, I found myself reaching for my earplugs to block out the noise in my on-campus grad school apartment building (read: a very old NYC building with thin walls). I must've gotten used to wearing earplugs when I go to sleep because I found that keeping earplugs in helped me fall asleep on a few nights even when there weren't any noise that needed to be blocked out.

In the blink of an eye, it’s almost December. With the holidays around the corner, I’m building the ultimate gift guide for the travel-loving friend or family member in your life. I had a blast putting together this gift guide and hunting for fun items on the internet. Hope you enjoy theses.

Maps: Any serial traveler needs a map to document his/her travels. Get a functional but also decorative map, try these:

• scratch map from Luckies or London
• cork push pin travel map

Prints: There's no better way to inspire travels than from photographs of the world.

• South American from Mr and Mrs. Globetrotter
• Crisp images by Sivan Askayo from her jaunts around Europe. 
• If you should fancy, take a look at my own print shop that features beautiful North America

For the photographer who wants to showcase their own travel images, a gift card to Artifact Uprising is sure to please. Artifact Uprising offers high quality prints, as well as calendars and photo books.

Books: Whether it’s books that inspire me to visit a place, or background research to understand a destination before I visit, I’m addicted to travel reads. Not only do they make great travel inspiration, they also make the perfect companion for long flights and train-rides. My must-read travel books are:

• Letters from Hawaii by Mark Twain
• On the Road by Jack Kerouac
• Pompeii by Robert Harris
• The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux

Surprise: I’ve thrown in an easter egg into this gift guide because every gift guide needs an element of surprise. Lately I’ve been seeing a surge of subscription box services that bring a piece of the world to your world-step. Imagine getting an annual subscription for someone and the surprise on their face to receive it every month! The boxes that have caught my eye include:

• Escape Monthly: themed-goods from destinations around the world 
• Try the World: discovering the world through food one gourmet box from a new country at a time
• Japan Crate: Japanese snacks, the best kind of subscription box!  

New York or Los Angeles? That seems like the evergreen question that creeps into most of the conversations with friends. Although I love Manhattan and I’m not nearly ready to leave this city any time soon, I admit that the draw of sunny California is hard to deny. Here’s your weekend guide to a splendid time in LA.

Day 1: Explore the city

Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign: start your day here and take the hike to the Hollywood sign. It’s about 5 miles and you’ll want to start your hike early to avoid being caught under the sun for too long. The hike should take under 2 hours, and once at the top, you’re rewarded with a stunning view of LA on a clear day. The observatory itself is also recently renovated and looks gorgeous and clean. Checkout the museum if you get the chance.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): This is a world class art museum with some stunning exhibits. There is a main location on the Grand and a smaller building (the Geffen) in Little Tokyo. Admission is for both so museum lovers can take advantage of both. Pro tip: admission is free on Thursdays after 5pm.

Grand Central Market: The Grand Central Market is almost 100 years old, AND it’s got so much charm to show for it. There has been a new wave of vendors coming to the market and your appetite can thank them all. Make sure to try: Sticky Rice (thai street food), Egg Slut (for egg dishes), and Horse Thief (Texas bbq).

LA Art District: With a full belly, head over to the Art District - home to old warehouses and the vibrant creative scene. Check out the stylish art galleries in the area and the boutique stores. While you’re at it, soak in the the neighborhood’s handsome coffeeshops.

Day 2: Unwind on the beach

Venice Boardwalk & Venice Beach: When you think of LA, the beach comes to mind. Stroll down the beach and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk. The famous boardwalk is home to many vendors, street performers, and artists. You can easily spend a few hours here enjoying all the odds and ends the boardwalk has to offer.

Santa Monica Pier: You can spot the Ferris wheel and the roll coaster from miles away. This 100-year old landmark is not only home to the Pacific Park amusement park, it’s also the center for tons of pubs, restaurants, and, of course, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. With something for everyone, it is the perfect place to unwind after the long day yesterday.

Malibu beaches: End your day here, home to the fine estates of millionaire and some incredible surfing. There are tons of great beaches in Malibu, but the most popular ones are Point Dume State beach and El Matador. Point Dume features trails and bluff viewpoints, overlooking rocky coves and sand dunes, while El Matador is a collection of small cliff-foot beaches with beautiful rock arches and rock formations scattered along the water.

Before moving to New York, I had seen pool-party TVs scenes set in the Hamptons - (what I only understood as) a mysterious luxury beachfront vacation spot. As far as gorgeous beaches go, I’ve lived in coastal cities for a huge portion of my life, and have seen the sands of Bali and the Mediterranean. Simultaneously, I didn’t understand the point of leaving the city just to go to a fancy house with a nice pool; it seemed that there would much more adventurous locations to go to outside of New York.

I didn’t understand the appeal of the Hamptons. This skepticism stayed with me through my first night in the South Hamptons, on a autumn weekend retreat.

The cooled weather of autumn had bid farewell to all the tourists in the area, leaving locals to go about their business. In November, Hamptons Bay seemed like any other beachtown, outfitted with their “best clam chowder” restaurants and liquor stores with oversized bottles. Friendly locals greeted us at every encounter.

On day two, I’d found my way to the beach. Ponqugue Beach was only a 20 minute walk across the bridge from our retreat house. On a cool Saturday morning, a dozen surfers pulled up to the beach and set their sights on the ocean. A very wise man once told me that your career is like surfing, a lot of waves come and go, but all you are looking for is the one to carry you back to shore. Sometime when the morning turned into afternoon, as I surfers wrestled the waves as they came crashing into shore, I clued in to the charm of the Hamptons - a nestled beach getaway within reach of the bustling concrete city of New York. While I may not be organizing mansion pool parties anytime soon, I savored the fine sand of the beach, lush and cool against my bare feet.