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 10/1/17 Laura Chang 10/1/17

Alley Art Arun

Tucked away in alleyways, art work graffiti and Arun.

Tucked away in alleyways are art and Arun. The grunginess reminded me of the streets of New York City, 5 Pointz and Queens. Check out just a few of the spots hidden around this gem in Los Angeles.

Heartthrob over here...ladies, he's single.

Altogether, there are three main alleys. Also known as the "Animal Alley," the easiest way to find them is by starting at the Gabba Gallery: 3126 Beverly Blvd.

And shoutout to Arun aka Astoic Sound. Check out his music! See more pics under the PEOPLE section ARUN.

xo,
Laura

Laura Chang 9/10/17 Laura Chang 9/10/17

SoCal Summers in September

Once a muse, always a muse! When these two Rams moved out West, the photoshoots didn't stop. Reunited with my Brazilian Beauty and the pictures say the rest! Here's to SoCal summers in September.

Check out the Nastassia page for more pics and the entire album!

Xoxo,
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 4/6/17 Laura Chang 4/6/17

Ello, Poppy!

Everything I've ever learned in grade school about the four seasons and the months that correspond have gone out the window since I moved to SoCal. This past year, I've skipped summer humidity and mosquito season, bypassed winter, and felt like this entire time has been one really long Fall or Spring cycle.

Not once did I have to wear a peacoat, puffy parka or snow boots. No shoveling or avoiding ice. The unusual amount of rainfall, though, is the only surprise, which I partially blame myself for because I have a history of bringing rain wherever I go. I am just kidding, but not really.

The bright side? More flower fields! The rain was exceptional for relieving the LA drought and the flower enthusiast that I am will gladly accept Visa, AMEX and Superbloom flowers!

So, without further ado-- In My Visions: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.