Dear Oregon (A Christmas Adventure)
I was going to spend the Christmas week alone where I live, but my friend Gabe Kidman offered me something different. It's to spend a week in Portland, Oregon. I was hesitant at first because I am very emotionally... well... not there, and I really don't know what it would do to me. But he gave me a good thought to think about: be sad alone for Christmas, or be sad with people in Christmas. Made it easy for me, so, I ventured forth! (Also, I was gonna go to either Washington or Oregon this Summer anyway to look for future places to live. So win-win.)
Also it was an opportunity for me to get life captured.
When I'm not trying to experience it. (*See "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty")
Sleeping was hard, I was in a foreign place, and it hasn't been a very long time since I did something like this. But it has its moments.
Also, the air made me settle in well.
I also got to go to places that they thought it would be lovely to go for a first timer.
It was cold, but not as cold as where I live right now. I kinda like it actually. Even though it's gray and wet... reminds me of UK. Or Hong Kong.
Got to eat my first Voodoo Donuts
I've never really been to Landscape Photography. But Gabe's dad showed us his awesome mission pictures from Hong Kong, and it kinda changed my views around it. So I think I'm gonna try. I'm not really confident with it, but I'm definitely going to try to learn how to do landscape photography. Here's a very gloomy bridge as a start:
Tried hiking too.
Keyword on the *tried*
It's cool to see Christmas traditions. I was very honoured to be able to participate in one this year. Definitely a good change of spending it alone last Christmas.
Of course before I left, I got to go to some more places near Portland. We were going to go to the beach, but it was raining, so we decided on a more covered (sorta) area. Gabe gave me a good idea to do panoramas.
We also went to this Vista House, which Gabe expected to be full, but it wasn't! Didn't got to get a sticker, but the views: 10/10.
The overcast weather made it cool to look at too.
I am very thankful that I got to go to Oregon. It's beautiful. Most importantly, I'm very grateful to God that I was able to share beautiful experiences with people that sheltered me in one of my life's hardest times. I learned so much, and I know it only goes up from here.
I hope I can hold on to this hope I found.
Thank you for reading. :)