A WEEKEND IN THE EASTERN SIERRAS

With Covid cases continue to rise in the country, road tripping (while social distancing, of course) has become the new normal. Since our last successful trip at Yosemite, we’ve been itching for another one. Before we agreed on visiting the Eastern Sierras, we all got tested and shared our results due to social responsibility.

DAY 1

Friday afternoon, my friend Nick, who graciously let me join his carpool, his girlfriend Tianna and I headed off to Mammoth Lakes, California. Since it would be a ~6-hour drive, we would make it to Hot Creek just in time for the sunset. As soon as I stepped out the car, I was greeted with a wide open view of a curvy hot creek leading to the mountains. We could see steam evaporating into the air as the sun began to set. We immediately took our cameras out to shoot. At around 11pm, we set up our tripods in preparation of the Milky Way. Other friends from SoCal soon joined and we reunited once again–though we could barely see each other’s faces in complete dark. This night was special to me because it was my first time witnessing an actual Milky Way, let alone capturing it. Still baffles me how our naked eyes could only see the hazy light but our cameras could capture the Milky Way with such depth. We car camped for the night and did not go to sleep until 3am.

DAY 2

At around 7am, we woke up to sun shining through our car. We got up and headed towards Wild Wiley’s Hot Springs. This place was well built, from the parking lot lies a long platform that guides you towards the two hot springs. We walked towards the bigger one and emerged ourselves in the warm, steamy water. Everyone was practicing social distancing by staying away from the middle area. This is a perfect place for those who want to escape the mundane city life and relax in a pool of soothing springs from what feels like the middle of nowhere. We took the rest of the day easy by grabbing breakfast at Stellar Brew and recharged at June Lake. For sunset, we drove to a completely empty road that is surrounded by gorgeous mountains. We ran up and down the road, took a drone group photo and overall had a great bonding time. It was a blissful moment–no cars, no noise, just us surrounded by the unbelievable views.

DAY 3

Because we did not get much sleep from the night before, we decided to sleep in and recharge before our big hike on Sunday. The hike to Minaraet Lake was dreaded since Day 2 because it would be a 13.4-mile hike out & back with a 2.9k elevation up. I was glad we decided to push the hike to Day 3 since our energy level was rather low after car camping. By 1pm, we packed everything and headed to the Inyo National Forest. We followed the John Muir Trail. To be honest, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it up. Though there was an overcast and slight thunderstorm in the afternoon, the sun was still beaming on us while mosquitos were eating us alive no matter how much bug repellent we sprayed. The higher we hiked, the louder the thunderstorm was. I was a bit paranoid. However, there was no going back.

3.5 hours later we were greeted with a GORGEOUS lake! At the edge of the lake laid a patch a wildflowers. Purple, red, orange, white… you name it. This place felt like a paradise. There were only two groups of people who were camping there, so it seemed like we had the whole place to ourselves. After some rest, we started shooting the beautiful scenery. Nick and Derek even took a dive into the freezing cold lake! Then, things got even better. A orange, pink sunset started to appear through the gloomy sky. We did not expect to see such a burn that evening! We quickly took photos before the golden hour went away.

Now the most exciting part is here: we had to hike 7 miles down in complete dark. 3 miles in I already wanted to raise the white flag. My legs felt like someone was to cut them open. Though I am a tiny gal, I powered through, Naruto-style, and followed our leader Young Min down. That night, we had the best sleep of our lives.

Would I do the Minaret Lake hike again? Yes. But certainly not hiking back on the same day.

DAY 4

Monday was MAJOR rest day. It was a quiet Monday morning where everyone worked from the Airbnb. We spent the day working while also reviewing all the photos that we’ve taken over the weekend. Nick, Tianna and I headed home after work and that concluded our yet again, amazing trip.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Being in quarantine has certainly contributed to my lack of motivation. My camera was basically collecting dust since I wasn’t able to go out and capture any photos (I also don’t have a car). This trip was much needed. Being around like-minded creatives who I call friends definitely uplifted my overall mood. I’m grateful to have met this group of people who always motivate each other and act as each other’s cheerleader on social media whenever someone posts new content.

And the views… did I talk about this views? I would’ve never imagined places like Mammoth Lakes exist. I have so much more to explore in California alone and I look forward to more local trips like this soon!

Hi, I’M MINA!

I am a San Francisco based photographer and lifestyle + travel blogger. Born and raised in Hong Kong, I’m proud to say I came from a diverse background. I speak fluent Cantonese! Follow my social media to see what I’ve been up to.

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OTHER BLOG POSTS

FIRST TIME AT YOSEMITE

Recently I took a road-trip to Yosemite for the first time with a group of California-based photographers. The original intent of the trip was for the phenomenal Firefall. This phenomenon, in short, is when “burning hot embers were spilled from the top of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park to the valley 3,000 feet below. From a distance it appeared as a glowing waterfall. ” (source: Wikipedia). However, 2 weeks prior to the trip we learned that Firefall would not happen due to the lack of water this year. Nonetheless, we visited Yosemite with the mindset of having a good bonding time.

When I arrived in Mariposa for the Airbnb, it was already 10pm on a Friday night. Our group decided to capture the sunrise together so my anticipation of driving into Yosemite at the crack of dawn was high. Though waking up at 4am was rough, we gathered everyone and headed off to Tunnel View, just in time to see the sunrise. At Tunnel View, I saw El Capital and Half Dome for the first time. It was a surreal moment as I’ve only seen pictures of them from an Apple Macbook. That morning was rainy and gloomy. Though we did not see much of a sunrise “burn”, we spent merely 3 hours “modeling” for each other and captured a group photo to document our trip.

photo credits: Nick @relativebrand

Next, we went to a spot near Cathedral Beach to view the Three Brothers. It was then the sun came out from the clouds and shined through Yosemite. I was very much in awe with the scenic views: bright blue sky, calming water and the glowing Three Brothers.

Weather was one hell of a rollercoaster on Saturday. Soon after the Three Brothers, it started to downpour again. We stayed dry in the car for a few hours mid afternoon until it stopped. Our last stop, and my personal highlight of the day, was surprisingly on a random road. What was meant for just a “regroup” spot for us turned out to be a fun bonding time, taking turn taking photos in the middle of the street while trying not to get run over by vehicles. We ended the day at Valley View. The views were quite grey and dull until a rainbow suddenly appeared. By default, every photographer whipped out their cameras to capture it before it was gone. Sunset was beautiful soon after; sky was filled with orange and pink hues. We ended the night by making some homemade Pho (thanks to Chrystal), celebrating Young Min’s birthday and having a face mask party. It was the most wholesome way to end the night.

Everyone slept in the next morning as expected. We packed our bags, cleaned up the Airbnb and headed off the Yosemite one last time. I thought I was in semi good shape but the hike (more like a rock climb) up to “The Couch” told me otherwise. Boy, was I out of breath. We were greeted by the most amazing view, overlooking the National Park. After we soaked in the views, we parted ways and headed home.

photo credits: Nathan @nathan.tung

Saying yes to new adventures has always led me to the most amazing time. Keep in mind I’ve only met most of the people on this trip ~2 months ago in the Bay. Big thanks to Grace for introducing me to the group! I learned a lot from each of them in just a span of two days. These are some of the most inspiring creators, whether it be wedding photographers, event photographers or film-makers, they are extremely passionate. Thank you for making my first time there so memorable. I’m itching to go back in a few months for the dreamy Autumn leaves.

Till next time, Yosemite. 

photo credits: Makito @makeetz (www.makitoumekita.com)

MY 2019 RECAP

If there was a theme to my 2019, it would be “#DoingThings”—the motto of one of my favorite brands, Outdoor Voices. #DoingThings to them means “moving your body and having fun with friends” and my 2019 was the epitome of that. This year was filled with weekend getaways. I was on the plane for quite a few times traveling across the country. Ever since moving to the West Coast I have had the opportunities to travel to nearby states, creating memories and #DoingThings with friends. Here are some highlights from a fulfilling year:

SPOTIFY WRAPPED

What’s a recap without posting my Spotify Wrapped of 2019? My Top Artist of 2019 is ODESZA and Artist of the Decade is The 1975. *pretends to be shocked*

LOS ANGELES

My coworker Anna and I took a week off to travel to LA. It was my first time in SoCal! Despite the unfortunate rain the whole time we were there, I had a great time checking out some iconic LA touristy spots and catching up with 2 of my college friends.

SANTA CRUZ

In April, I visited Santa Cruz for the first time for a weekend getaway. I soaked up some California sun while witnessing one of the most mesmerizing sunsets. This is now my go-to weekend getaway town.

I turned 23!

To celebrate my Jordan Year, I took a weekend road trip down to Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur with two of my closest friends Julia and Joe. If only words could describe how magnificent the Pacific Ocean is… The feeling driving along the curvy mountains with windows down and our favorite tracks blasting from the radio along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) is indescribable. Shout out to my lovely coworkers who decorated my desk inspired by The Office, you know me too well.

Sf trolley party

My lovely friend/coworker Rishika hosted her birthday bash on a trolley back in June! I’ve always wanted to do this while I still live in SF. All of us were singing our hearts out along the Golden Gate Bridge during sunset. It was a day to remember.

LAKE TAHOE

I took a weekend trip to Lake Tahoe back in January, however I did not partake in skiing or outdoor sports. This time around it was summer. Joe and I, along with 2 others, drove up to Lake Tahoe to celebrate July 4. I lived up to the #DoingThings motto: moving your body and having fun with friends. The photos below speak for themselves.

SOLO TRIP TO SEATTLE

See https://www.minakwong.com/blog/solo-in-seattle.

ODESZA

To be honest, I was not particularly a huge fan of EDM music in college. Yes, I listened to EDM here and there but I didn’t pay much attention to the scene. Though ever since moving to the Bay Area, I’ve grown to love ODESZA and many other EDM artists. ODESZA’s music gives me euphoric and magical feelings–always putting me in a happy mood. Seeing their act live in LA back in July was without a doubt one of the highs of this year.

PHOENIX

Second time around in Arizona to visit my dear friends Marlon and Alnay! August in Phoenix was unbelievably HOT. But we were out and about #DoingThings in places such as Slide Rock State Park, Superstition Mountains and Old Town. Can’t wait to be back already!

VISTA LAS VEGAS

Celebrated my friend Katie’s 23rd birthday in Vegas! It was my first time in LV and boy did I have a great time. It was a cherry on top when my triplet best friends were also in town. Checked Kygo off my bucket list!

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Happy to check off Outside Lands and Austin City Limits from my festival checklist. I saw the god himself Hozier and Childish Gambino at OSL. In September I flew out to Austin to visit my best friend Julia and also to attend ACL. We somehow got backstage access to see Fisher’s set! We also saw LIZZO, Mumford and Sons and other amazing acts. I was freezing cold during OSL but dripping sweat at ACL. Weather is weird.

GETTING FEATURED ON IG

As an aspiring photographer, being recognized and featured from well-known Instagram accounts means a lot to me as it grows my confidence. Below are some posts that I have been featured in 2019. Many thanks to them!

I RAN A 5K!

Running a 5k may not seem much to some people but it was a huge accomplishment for me. I signed up one day on a whim and did not regret one bit. That was the most I’ve ran consistently. Running a little over 3 miles wasn’t too bad when the Golden Gate Bridge was my view! Shout out to Josh for waking up with me at the crack of dawn just to support me :) My goal is to attempt a 10k next year.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

Josh and I drove down to the Monterey area for a mini Holiday getaway. We lucked out with the weather, as it was absolutely beautiful along Pacific Coast Highway. The first day we visited Pebble Beach to see the 18th hole, saw a lot of cute pups and did the 17 mile drive. The second day we saw some adorable sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and hiked Point Lobos. The last day we enjoyed a fancy lunch at La Bicyclette. A great way to end the year :)

In retrospect, 2019 was good to me. I’ve grown a lot personally. I’ve traveled to states that I never imagined I would visit. I’ve built stronger relationships with friends who I care deeply about. And lastly, I’ve met someone special who I look forward to creating new memories with. Here’s to hoping 2020 to be just as great as this year by #Doing(more)Things.

20 DAYS IN ASIA

15 hours, 3 movies, and a sore back later, I arrived in Hong Kong. 

Before I devote the rest of my life requesting paid time-offs, I decided to visit my motherland for one more time. During our vacation in Hong Kong, my mom and I also travelled to Shenzhen, China and Taipei, Taiwan. 

Let's talk about Hong Kong, aka the Pearl of East. One of the best things about Hong Kong is that it is the Asian version of "The City that Never Sleeps"; you are bound to be in a sea of crowds even when the clock hits midnight. Within the 20 days that I stayed, I ate out almost everyday. It's hard not to; this city has the best places to get endless cuisine options—Japanese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, etc. Let's not talk about how much weight I've gained. Aside from food, this city is a shopping heaven. I bought new clothes and skincare products that I hope to share in another post. Hong Kong is also the perfect place for photography. The architecture there is absurd, as you already saw from my Instagram posts. Within 10 steps you can see old architecture blending with the new ones. I was excited to see Zaha Hadid's building at Polytech University. 

My relatives and I took a little trip to Shenzhen for 2 days. It’s rather easy to get to China from Hong Kong but the security process has become more serious. Subway stations in Shenzhen is a mini airport where people have to put their belongings down for security checks. I vaguely remember how this city was when I last visited but this time it was eyeopening. It has transformed so much with new shopping centers wherever you go. I tried several amazing and affordable Chinese cuisines and drank the best kind of bubble tea from this place called HEYTEA (110% recommend). Bubble tea places are EVERYWHERE. Shenzhen has transformed into one of the best cities for shopping and leisure. Highly recommend anyone to visit while in China.

Now onto Taiwan. My mom and I travelled to Taipei for 4 days. This city is also a food heaven itself. Taiwanese, I noticed, love to offer food samples wherever you go. Their hospitality is impeccable. Taiwanese are super friendly! We stayed at a hot springs hotel in Yilan for the first night; the hotel provides private hot springs in the bathrooms. Yilan is a rural area, but it still has night markets for locals and tourists to try authentic Taiwan street food. For other days we stayed in Taipei. We went to places such as Shifen Waterfall and Ximenting. While at Shifen, my mom and I got to release a lantern, sending it off with our blessings. Ximenting is a popular youth outdoor shopping district. Needless to say I bought a few pairs of shoes, clothes and beauty products. Overall I had a great time in Taiwan learning about its culture while trying different traditional food. 

Though 20 days aren’t that long, I feel like I traveled for a month in Asia. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat you probably remember I had my last dinner at an All-You-Can-Eat Japanese restaurant back in Hong Kong. My favorite fish to get at a Japanese place is raw salmon. Having unlimited salmon that night was the best way to end my Asia trip. Stay tuned for more photos from this trip on my Instagram. Till next time, Asia! 

KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD

My post-grad life has been nothing but being exposed to the sun everyday. That's mainly because I ran away to Austin, Texas for a few days as a mini "treat-yo-self" vacation with my buddy Conor. We picked Austin because we wanted to explore the southern part and heard this city has a rich art culture. 

As a East Coaster, I had no expectation coming into Texas. As it turned out, Texans are ridiculously friendly. Too friendly to the point where I wish East Coasters could do a whole lot better. My favorite reward of the trip was not my "Don't Mess With Texas" shirt but rather the southern hospitality. Everyone we met has a southern charm. Everyone genuinely cares about other's well being. 

As you imagined, we did all the possible touristy things—bar hopping on Dirty 6th (bars/clubs on 6th Street), Barton Springs, bat watching (which they never appeared. #disappointing), eating barbecue and shopping at South Congress. Barton Springs pool was closed on Thursday due to weekly cleaning. However, we were able to go to the other side to swim and enjoy the sun for free. This place is very scenic—a place you would see in a Nicholas Sparks movie. It was 90 degrees everyday while we were there; swimming at the Springs was a good way to cool off. Did I mention people brought dogs?! Austin is a very pet friendly city. Additionally, if you're into street arts and graffitis, HOPE Outdoor Gallery is a must-go. 

No one travels to Texas without trying its barbecue. Conor and I tried smoked briskets at both Rudy's Bar-B-Q and Terry Black's. Rudy's is a chain while Terry Black's isn't. I'm not a BBQ expert but both places had amazing food and services in my opinion. If you're a first-timer, employees will let you try samples of meats before you choose the ones you like. And may I add: CREAM CORN IS DELICIOUS. Wide selections of beer and Mexican sodas are some of the beverages you can enjoy along with your meal. 

Other days we went shopping at South Congress, a higher end shopping district. We also tried to go bat watching but unfortunately the bats never appeared. One of the highlights of my trip was reuniting with my friend Aimee who I interned with last summer. We spent some time getting happy hour at Irene's (A+ for aesthetic), delicious breakfast tacos at Flat Track, and cute plants at a local succulent garden. Through Aimee's recommendation, Conor and I visited a bar called Parlor and Yard. There, we met two guys who we clicked immediately. One of them happened to live in San Francisco! They both also have their own ad agencies. I love meeting new people; I believe meeting those who share the same interest with you makes any trip even more memorable. David & James, if you happen to read this, thank you for your hospitality, please stay in touch! 

Conor and I made a reservation at a speakeasy called Midnight Cowboy. The entrance is nothing but a worn out door, but inside is magnificent. The ambiance has a old London look. Fun fact: this place used to be a brothel prior to 2011. After you make a reservation they send you instructions on where to find the place and how to properly request to enter—pretty interesting. We spent our last night in Austin on Dirty 6th. I discovered my favorite shot at Buckshot—Dirty Girl Scout. It's basically drinking a thin mint milkshake; highly recommend that bar. Bachelorette parties and graduation celebrations made 6th Street even more lively while we were there. The street reminds me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, except it's cleaner and wider. 

4 days went by quick when we were having fun. As Conor said, Austin is a certainly a city we see ourselves returning back. Austin has a slogan called "Keep Austin Weird", which is to encourage others to promote small businesses. On South Congress there are several dozens stores that sell local art, t-shirts, socks... you name it. Austin is a city made for artists. I can't wait to see how this city will expand in the near future. In the meantime, keep being weird, Austin. 

THE GOLDEN STATE

"If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..."

It's been 11 years since I last stepped foot in the Golden State. I was fortunate enough to visit San Francisco with my dad when I was 10 for his business trip. Pieces of memory from that trip still come back to me once a while. Now, as a student who will soon devote her whole life working full time, I knew I had to travel somewhere. Thus, the nostalgic memories of the warm air in California brought me and my mom back to San Francisco. 

It's a blessing to have family members live across the country—even the world. I stayed with my great uncle and aunt while I was there. As I walked out of the house the afternoon after I landed, I was welcomed by a beautiful breeze under a 60 degrees weather. For a second I thought summer came early. I absolutely despise the cold on the East Coast during winter. I could move to California just for the sake of the weather. 

The whole purpose of the trip was to visit my relatives; however, it wouldn't be a successful trip if I didn't visit a place on my bucket list: the Golden Gate Bridge. After an hour drive, a postcard-looking scenery was presented in front of me. As I imagined, that place was filled with tourists. The blue sky made a beautiful contrast from the red bridge. The weather could not have been more perfect that day. It was an eye-opening experience overall. Crossing this off my bucket list. 

Now, would it be a trip to California without trying THE famous In-N-Out burger for the first time? Fortunately there was one around the corner from where I stayed. I made a trip there when they just opened at 10:30am (never too early for a good burger). My verdict? It was definitely worth the hype and Instagram worthy; however, nothing beats Mickie D's fries in my opinion. 

For the remaining part of the trip, I caught up with some other family members that I had yet to meet. We went shopping in several places including Santana Row, an outdoor shopping area filled with gorgeous Christmas lights. We also went to "Christmas in a Park" in downtown San Jose, which is equivalent to the Christmas Village in Philly. On another note:  I was blessed to have a great uncle who knows how to cook—my mom and I enjoyed great meals every single day. 

As I am writing this, I am buried under my blankets in the horrendous blizzard. I'm already missing the warm winter in California. My trip was undoubtedly an enjoyable experience. Until my future visit to Los Angeles, I'm back to the brutal cold.