Dancing in Daylight

Foreword

Two months ago, I had the most marvelous time with my best friend Katy in LA. It was a culmination of both a) an intensity in excitement from almost three years of long-distance friendship and b) an utter peace of being on the same wavelength when it pretty much came to our values, aspirations, and how we wanted to spend our time on our grad trip. Hike, read, write, rest, explore, and repeat. This trip of utter bliss was filled with unbelievable memories—from serendipitously encountering friends of friends, to meeting fascinating strangers, to immersing ourselves in the vibrancy of culture, and to experiencing the dynamic flora and fauna of the Californian landscape.

For me, this trip will be a cherished memory because it was defined by the things I love: spending time outdoors, challenging myself to try new things, and deepening my understanding of friendship. Striking a delicate balance between being astonished at the world yet so at home in it, Katy and I had brought our full selves to not only explore the infinite possibilities of experiences before us but also our willingness to seek and carve out a life for ourselves that signified a practical romance: the combination of pursuing what is strange, magical, and curious while grounding ourselves in the security of our own values.

Over the course of ten days, Katy and I did our best to capture all our emotions and experiences. It was hard to do so when we very much hoped to channel our attention into experiencing everything when it happened. I do know that I still find it hard to find the best words to capture what this trip was like. And strangely in some ways, I feel happy about that. As much as I want to bottle all of it up and share it with all of you, there is a sacredness to the human experience that always seems to be just out of grasp. The gap between what was and what is. The moment the past becomes past, some elements of it also can never be brought back or replicated exactly. So I hope Katy and I’s recollection of our trip can conjure up your own imagination, awe of this world, and appreciation for some magical moment you'll always cherish—but more importantly, to value the present fervently and passionately.

Chapter 1: Reuniting with Bestie — May 21

Cecilia: I left NYC in the early morning and began what would be an exciting excursion—primarily a long overdue reunion with Katy! Two years ago, we had planned to be in LA for Taylor’s Loverfest. It’s crazy to think how Katy and I spent more than half the duration of our friendship separated.

The Newark airport was quite crowded, which was to be expected. On the ride there, the rain was lightly pattering on the windows and ‘Because You Loved Me’ by Dion trickled into my inner dialogue as I pretended to be a woman in a movie leaving for the airport longingly looking out into the highway. Seriously though, my Uber driver had impeccable music taste. In the recent aftermath of graduation just a week prior, I took this time of silence to reflect on the sacrifices and love of my parents and what my recent graduation meant to me as a milestone. It was an important reflection to start my vacation with: that all I am and who I want to be is only possible with and because of my parents.

I spent most of the plane ride listening to music, trying to nap amidst other passengers’ incessant coughing, and watching non-chronologically ordered episodes of Succession. Rewatching La La Land in a bit of preparation to be back in LA, I was brought back to early 2017 with Betty, my childhood friend, who took me to watch it for the first time and later drove me to hotpot—a soothing and much-needed boost post-op and during recovery. I think often about the creators and the dreamers Emma Stone sings about in her character’s powerful audition ‘The Audition.’

She smiled

Leapt, without looking
And tumbled into the Seine
The water was freezing
She spent a month sneezing
But said she would do it again

Here's to the ones who dream
Foolish as they may seem
Here's to the hearts that ache
Here's to the mess we make

Katy and I are both creatives and artistic. We talked about this concept, which is captured so beautifully in this song. A theme we would continue to talk about and return to throughout the trip.
————

Hours later, I landed. Checking into our Airbnb, I bought some essentials and eat a bento because I was so hungry! Later that afternoon after settling in, FTing my mom and sister, and trying to nap (really just re-watching “A Perfect Pairing,”) Katy arrived!

We gave each other a big hug and started chatting. Given that we kept up monthly FTs during the pandemic, it felt somehow like we had seen each other recently. It was honestly quite surreal. This was happening!

We got ready to have our reunion dinner at Gracias Madre (a vegan Mexican place). The nachos and quesadillas were so good. There were also so many cute pastel lanterns strung across their outdoor patio with small fairy lights and we had little candles as table centrepieces. We both got a drink to celebrate and some churros too. Mostly, we focused on catching up on the ups and downs of the past few months. We talked about navigating our ambitions while balancing that with love and relationships amidst an ever-changing and sometimes frightening world.

Chapter 2: Hiking to Hollywood — May 22

Cecilia: We started off our day with an early breakfast at Chaumont Bakery, which has a vegan counterpart and the loveliest outdoor patio seating! Katy and I grabbed some pastries. I succumbed to avocado toast. We talked for what seemed like hours but because we had been up since 7, it was only 10. We walked over to Whole Foods, got some groceries, and then walked back to our Airbnb. For me, grocery shopping when growing up was such a special time with my family. Though I didn’t see it when I was younger, I now look back at those times with appreciation and nostalgia for that somewhat sacred routine of planning out the ingredients necessary to make meals together. It was so fun to grocery shop with Katy and I found it very peaceful and familiar. We ordered some soup dumplings and fried rice for lunch before getting ready for our hike to the Hollywood sign. We decided to start from Griffith and take some photos of the sign behind us before starting our journey.

**Katy:** Hikes are such powerful metaphors for life. We initially set out to hike from the Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood Sign, but there were so many forks in the road that we ended up getting lost. Even so, we ended up meeting so many fellow, equally-lost hikers along the way and appreciating the views wherever our path took us. It made me think about how so many people come to Los Angeles to become stars, yet so few make it to their “big breaks”, their metaphorical Hollywood Signs. But in the end, it’s not fame or fortune, but the experiences and the people we meet along the way who make the journey of life so special.

Photo: Katy Ho

Cecilia: To be quite honest, I had downloaded PDF instructions but was planning on figuring out the route along the way when we started hiking [reminder: never do this]. I usually do not make such a mistake when hiking as this can end terribly but under some strange assumption, I had thought that because it was so highly touristy and trafficked that there would be one obvious path. I was very wrong. Luckily, there were some folks walking in the same direction as we started for the beginning of the trailhead. After striking up a convo with our newfound firneds, we came upon the realization that we were all Canadians. Our friends were from BCG (well, we first found out they were from Toronto and Montreal and were on a work bonding trip). A pretty crazy moment as I realized these BCG’ers had mutuals and knew some of my friends who worked there or went to similar unis (s/o Amy, Leila, and David).

The hike was hot and easy to intermediate but it seemed a lot better because of the panoramic views of LA and the convos of getting to know our newfound friends better.

Playing Taylor Swift in the background as we hiked powered us through. When we got to the first viewpoint, a fellow park ranger pointed out that we had taken the longer path to get to the sign. Our friends had to leave and turn around but Katy and I thought, let’s try and do it. As we embarked on this journey under the beating sun, we met some really kind hikers who gave us more detailed instructions and a hiking map. Katy and I followed some dead ends. We also spent some time on a sketchier trail and we both agreed that it was more than okay to turn around and head back. While we got pretty close to the sign but never there, both of us felt that the journey and the whole day had been so enjoyable in and of itself.
We talked about what we learned about this metaphorical process of our hike. Sometimes it’s more than okay to let go of certain goals in light of the situation. And more than sometimes, the people that are along for the ride of life make the process so much more meaningful and important than the end destination.

Perfect timing. We got back to Griffith and the ‘End of the Universe Cafe’ just before it closed. It quickly started getting cold so our initial plan to watch the stars like the scene in La La Land did not happen. We got back home, showered, and eat some ramen while watching ‘Inventing Anna’ instead. An episode a day, keeps the naiveté at bay?

Chapter 3: Seeing Santa Monica — May 23

Cecilia: Katy and I had spent a couple of months planning this trip and we both know each other and ourselves well. Thank goodness! It was such a good choice to alternate days of hiking with more relaxing and less strenuous activities. Today would be our day visiting the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach. I had been to LA before, a decade ago. It was our first family vacation and my sister and me really just wanted to go to Disney Land. All I remember is listening to the Fearless album non-stop on that trip. White Horse playing as I walked down Hollywood Boulevard staring at the flashing lights within special balloons. Fearless playing on our car ride to San Diego for Sea World. I do digress…

Back to LA today, the day a bit overcast and grey but Taylor is still singing and setting the backdrop for my second LA trip. We put on extra layers and tucked our beach blankets into our bags. Walking to the Santa Monica Pier, I saw Bubba Shrimp Co (which for my fellow Forrest Gump fans out there may understand that this was a special moment; thanks Mom and Dad for watching this when they were dating and passing their love for it to me? Kinda?) All I could think was my father’s voice trying to get the imitation right: “life’s a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” Both Katy and I laughed as I tried my best impression.

For lunch, we were on a beautiful patio next to the quieter parts of the beach. There was someone even playing the ukulele with classics such as ‘Yesterday’ and the food was pretty incredible. Katy and I got to chatting again about friendships: losing and gaining the weight of them as well as nurturing them and letting them go; and relationships: what we wanted in contrast to what we might need. As my childhood bestie Eric would say, the “vibes were truly immaculate.”

With time at our disposal, Katy and I talked and talked. We strolled along the beach, set up camp on the beach, listened to music, journal, and napped. An understated joy emanating through a foggy, seemingly gloomy backdrop.

On Venice Beach, it was what I had been waiting for. This moment of yearning anticipation for the salt air finally culminated in breathing it all in. Standing where the waves caress the shore, my toes were finally fulfilled—seemingly breathing in relief as the foam crept across the wet sand. The squishiness of the sand and the cascading sounds and rolling mist not only reminding me of home but also of my French Riveria trip almost three years ago. I always feel small when I stand beside the ocean and it truly is the most liberating feeling to recognize how minuscule I am and my worries.

Both Katy and I have tackled a lot of moving parts in the past months and have much to still navigate after our trip but the fact that we could come… and be here is so precious and special. To find stillness and calm amidst the craziness of life.

Cecilia: We also had a quick moment of exploring Rodeo!

Katy: Rodeo Drive is a perfect representation of the materialistic side of Los Angeles - towering palm trees planted in perfectly-manicured rows, rich dudes driving around in their shiny convertibles, luxury fashion boutiques lining the faux-European streets.

Chapter 4: Passing through Paradise at Paseo Mirama — May 24

Katy: Paseo Miramar had us revelling in the peace and quiet of the road less travelled, with a gentle serenity as if the place had been lifted from the pages of a Conde Nast magazine. The scurrying lizards, the distinctly-Californian desert vegetation, the cloud-covered mountaintops… it was all living proof of Earth’s beauty.

Cecilia: We started the day off early as we had a hike planned and were also going to see James Corden at the Late Late Show (which when it’s being recorded, is actually early)! Thank you to the Conde Naste Traveller, which provided actually really good hiking recommendations. We were long on our way and left around 9. We reached the trail that was near Malibu around 10 and right off the bat, the views were spectacular. It was slightly overcast but even from where we were standing, we could see the extended curves of the shoreline in both directions north and south. We seriously couldn’t stop taking photos. Speaking of which, Katy inspired me to look into buying a Sony camera!

We were again pumped with the help of Taylor and our trek was mostly us singing along word for word to the song. That feeling though when you can sing a song word for word but with your best friend and do it for the next song, and the next song and so forth. It’s like such a fun, light feeling, that I need to come up with a word for it. I’ll get back to you on that! The hike wasn’t too challenging though it had a moderate incline. Mostly, it was fascinating to see the flora and fauna change as we went up on our ascent.

We were literally above the clouds as they shifted and swept over us. At the summit, we could no longer see the coastline but the feeling was surreal. To see the clouds roll through the lush greens and walk through them ourselves like the curtains of Earth opening towards us… was mesmerizing. We saw various lizards camouflaging and basking in the sun. It was like just us and the world.

The hike became another great opportunity to talk about a variety of things such as our childhoods and growing up (especially, important lessons our parents passed along to us). “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, life’s hard.” Truly, I thank Katy for sharing that piece of wisdom her mother passed down to her. I also thought about the tensions between creating good or meaningful art and making a living. At some point, some artists have to sell and so, how do you maintain your artistic integrity and values of creativity without primarily pursuing money and success instead? Not an either-or situation but more so a priority situation?

Getting back home, we showered, took a quick bite, and then we were on our way to the Late Late Show!!! We saw the street with the CBS logo on the building and knew this was where all the iconic crosswalk concerts had happened. Pretty uncanny!

Katy: It was fascinating to see the inner workings of a live television talk show. Prior to attending, we were given an extensive list of rules to follow: smart casual dress code, no red or white clothing, and cell phones off. Before the show started, a stand-up comedian warmed up the audience and “trained” us on how to applaud, cheer, and laugh at the appropriate moments.

My favourite moment was during one of the breaks, where James let the audience ask him any questions we wanted to. While other audience members asked more lighthearted questions, like “what’s your favourite Harry Styles song” (Daylight) and “who was your favourite person to carpool karaoke with” (Adele/Jennifer Hudson), I think everybody was most impressed by Cecilia’s question: “what would your childhood self be the most proud of your today self for?” James had to take a moment to think before he answered, “Being a good friend and a good dad. We come into work every day and we do all of this amazing stuff, but at the end of the day, it’s your friends and your family who matter the most.”

Chapter 5: Memories in Malibu — May 25

Cecilia: We hopped off a plane in LAX…haha joking, I’m not going to start singing. We hopped on an Uber early in the morning for our day in Malibu. Thanks to my friend Christina’s suggestions because they all came through! First, we started our day off at the Getty Villa. It was first a little confusing to get there but luckily our driver was able to figure it out.

The place was a palace! So many beautiful smells and architecture.

Katy: A little slice of Ancient Rome nestled in the hills of Malibu - walking among the bubbling fountains, marbled statues, and polished gardens felt like entering a picturesque time warp.

Cecilia: We got to immerse ourselves in exhibits about ancient Greece, Rome, and Iran. It was very fascinating to be there as I remember doing a project on ancient Greek and Roman architecture in Gr.7. To see things in real life was both nostalgic and memorable. Katy and I walked through all the indoor exhibits before heading outside as we knew we would be distracted (saving the best for last?) The place reminded me of Boston’s Gardina museum with its courtyard and France’s pink villa in Jean Cap de Ferrat?

The interesting part is about to begin!

Photography: Alexis Solano (@alexissolano__)

Katy: You can’t tell by looking at them, but we’d just been rescued from Uber purgatory in these photos… It’s more difficult to get rides out in Malibu, but as our favourite artist says, “nothing safe is worth the drive.” After a long wait at the Getty Villa, we finally got picked up in a bold red Tesla Model III. Our driver sported a pair of polarized wraparound sunglasses and oozed California cool. We found out that he was also a photographer, and he ended up taking these very special friendship photos for us when we arrived at the Malibu Pier.

Cecilia: Yes, so our initial Uber driver who was picking us up to drive us to Malibu cancelled on us. We waited a bit and luckily a driver in Red Tesla (yes, you read that right) accepted our request to come to pick us up. After waiting 15 minutes we got in! Our driver was so kind and we noticed he had a sign on the back that said he did photography as well. Katy and I looked at each other and were unsure of how to proceed. But after sharing with us his portfolio (which is incredible by the way), Katy and I knew that this photography session was not only affordable but also going to be memorable. So we did it, and yay! We got to our destination at the Malibu Farm Restaurant and Alex (our driver) quickly directed us and started snapping photos. Within ten minutes, he had gotten fifty shots and Air dropped them to us. He didn’t even edit these! I’m no model but I gotta say, I’m very impressed. Honestly, it was so fun! I’m so grateful for this serendipitous moment because Katy and I were able to get some photos together that we’ll always cherish.

We eat some super delicious food. I honestly cannot stress enough how much I love the Malibu Farm Restaurant. I got ‘build my own fish tacos’ and I also got a matcha fluffy cheesecake and some coconut tea. Katy got a coconut ceviche. And because we’re in Malibu, we gotta get some strawberry ice cream (if you know, you know)!

Katy: It’s easy to see why Malibu is such a highly sought-after area. It has such a sense of comfort and wonders to it, with the seaside homes wrapping around the coastline, the lively beaches frequented by surfers and locals, and the vast Pacific Ocean stretching out before the hills. We enjoyed the al fresco dining at the Malibu Farm Restaurant (locally-sourced ingredients and delicious vegan options) so much that we returned at dinnertime for round two.

Cecilia: We then spent the next hours just talking. Katy asked me about: why political science and how I got interested in my research. I won’t bore you with all the details here but I shared with her the impact Iris Marion Young has had on me as well as all my other UBC political science professors and we had a really great conversation about social justice, societal musings, and how we connect our own life dots to make meaning of our experiences and propel ourselves forward. We then spent the later afternoon at Surfrider’s Beach. Right next to the Malibu Pier, it was the perfect place for an afternoon nap. Well, sort of. I couldn’t help but watch the surfers glide across the waves and perform tricks. They made it look effortless. I tried my best to decipher the technique in prep for our imminent surfing lesson on Friday (which by the way, will be both of our first times!)

I put my earphones in and took a walk along the Malibu shore listening to ‘Malibu’ and ‘When I Look At You’ by Cyrus. It just felt like a good moment to listen to those songs. There’s something soothing about when the foam of the waves caresses your toes and the cool of the water provides relief from the beating sun.

Then we were off to Point Dume!

**Katy:** A quiet, peaceful spot tucked away at the Western edge of Malibu. A sneaky coyote accompanied us on the trail, and as we gazed over the ocean we could see a small group of daring surfers riding the unpatrolled waves, and two orcas peeking their heads out of the water as they migrated.
Photo: Katy Ho

Chapter 6: Lounging Around LACMA — May 26

Katy: Visiting LACMA gave me a whole new appreciation for art. Everything was so well curated, and it was quite surreal to see famous pieces by artists like Picasso, Degas, and Magritte in person, along with more modern works by the likes of Barbara Kruger (my favourite exhibit). While many of the “classics” upheld the racist and misogynistic views of old European patriarchies, as we made our way through the rest of the gallery I was pleased to see women and minority artists taking centre stage to subvert those old-fashioned notions. Cecilia and I spent hours afterwards discussing and digesting our perspectives on art and society, which have forever shifted after LACMA.

Cecilia: Today really was our chill day, or so we thought! After working out of a coffee shop and grabbing lunch, we headed off to LACMA to spend our afternoon. There was a mix of modern and contemporary pieces and the layout was great. There was an interesting exhibit by Barabara Kruger. Her work employed red with B/W prints. She challenges wealth and hedonism—offering a reflective and damning critique of what society values. Her work spanned videos, short texts, and the use of rooms with text. It was a disturbing and evocative exhibition that’s for sure. One video of her’s culminated with depressing questions that I sometimes think about (our ‘me’ obsessed culture’ or our belief in a perhaps wrong or warped idea of progress). The questions were worded with thought—I couldn't help but snap multiple photos of her commentary.

On our way home, the conversations we had spanned many hours. We talked about what art we like and why. I discussed that I liked the ability to interpret and have imaginary nuance with art, which is why text-based art is less fun for me. I think that’s the beauty in art; that our positionality determines and shapes the lens with which we perceive and immerse ourselves in the art and the world.

We also talked about some pieces by Picasso. An affair with a woman resulted in a portrait that the mistress felt inaccurately portrayed or represented her. She said something about how Picasso fell in love with women, consumed them, chewed them up and spat them out via his art. Though graphic it discusses sometimes the toxic-ness of the muse-creator relationship. It can seem romantic—the idea of being someone’s muse because you’re their world…yet in some ways being fetishized and placed on a pedestal. I talked about how I struggle with that being someone idealistic. It’s easy to love someone by seeing their potential ( an ideal) yet in loving someone for who they can or should be rather than who they really are is not all that great or perhaps, even healthy. Katy also shared with me how much she related. And I think it was an incredibly vulnerable moment that I felt really deepened our friendship—flourishing our mutual trust and understanding for another especially when she shared with me a poem, where she had similarly thought about this topic. It was sacred to read something that refracted what I couldn’t voice but thought about. And in the presence of Katy and our dialogue, the explanatory power unfolded for the both of us.

I could go on and on about all the insights and learning I gained not only about Katy or myself, but also our friendship, friendships in general, and life as a whole (that is, what type of life we want and how do we live according to our values when the ground seems to shift constantly). Our trip has had so many unbelievable moments but that moment for me was a great one. Those conversations were electric. They taught me how to navigate more vulnerable conversations with so much respect and understanding for another person. They also revealed to me how lucky I was to grow in a relationship that was mutually cared for by another.

Later that evening, we had our fancier evening at Margot! I went to the washroom a few times because there was Aesop soap (I know, major cringe or trend setter?) I give it 10/10 for the company and perhaps 7/10 as it’s a cute rooftop with very fun drinks (gave me Lover Taylor era vibes haha).

Chapter 7: Salvaging Dignity after Surfing — May 27

Katy: Terrifying, thrilling, transformative… these are all words that would accurately describe our experience learning to surf for the first time. We were nervously anticipating this day for our entire trip, half-excited and half-ready to cancel our lesson. But I’m certainly glad we didn’t - that feeling of standing up on a surfboard for the very first time, of letting go of fear and simply being one with the waves… now I truly know what harmony feels like. We left the beach feeling tired and sore, with salt water stuck in our throats, but most of all we left feeling prepared to face the torrents of life, no matter how frightening or uncertain.

Cecilia: Today was the day! The day we went surfing for the first time. High key, I was scared. But if I’m not scared sometimes then I know I’m not growing. So both Katy and I took the plunge. Well, I took many plunges that’s for sure. Our surf instructor Nick taught us all the tricks on land first. Being very tall, I had an extra step but I had to be very quick. When we got onto the water, it was very intimidating. The waves hit hard and the taste of salt was very strong. I fell like 20 times and only on my last try did I stand up for like 2 seconds. Triumphant but then lost balance and the waves rolled mercilessly over me.

It was sort of demoralizing, not going to lie. I had a terrible migraine because every time you get wiped out, the waves crash right on your head. The weight of the water hurt especially if you’re not in control of how you enter the water. Anyhow, anytime Nick was like “Are you ready?” I was like “no…” inside my head but I had to smile and say “yes.” But regardless just as life waits for no one, I had no choice but to get right back at it and keep trying. I felt pretty rushed on the board because you have to pop up quite quickly. Because of that franticness, I kept forgetting the surfer pose or some small part of the technique. But just like the small things impact the big things, something so small like being slightly off with your weight, will throw you entirely off balance and off course.

It felt like forever before we were finally done. Katy was so good. She was able to ride some waves. Go queen!

The whole experience was very informative. In fact, for what it revealed to me about myself and life was more valuable than just the surfing itself. You see, I so very wanted to get up on the board. To me, that’s what success looked like. So I got very much in my head and wanted it so bad that I began thinking too hard about all the steps I needed to do.

Nick, our instructor, could tell that I was too in my head. Life lesson number one: I needed to chill! Sometimes during the lesson as I was heading out to the waves, I had to stop myself and just breathe. Breathe it all in. This gorgeous landscape ahead of and behind me. I see that about myself, the vice of tunnel vision is that it can be more detrimental. The other lesson learned was that there wasn’t always time to get ready. The waves kept coming and whether you were ready or not, they were going to pass. A very good reminder that life continues to happen regardless of whether you wait it out on the sand or on the waves. You just gotta brace yourself best for the ride.

And of course, there’s the aspect that I got up more times than I got knocked down. So cheesy, I know.

Okay, moving on I need to work on my upper body strength more! That’s also another lesson haha. We then decided to go to Huntington Gardens. Good idea we did it after surfing because I would realize much later that the aftermath of muscle pain would hit in, hard. All I can say was that it felt like we teleported all across the world as we navigated ourselves through all the gardens. And geese!!! A family of geese!

Katy: The moment we stepped foot onto the Huntington grounds, we wished we had allocated more time to spend there. Being lovers of art, nature, and literature, the Huntington was heaven on earth to us. An art gallery, expansive gardens, and a library… I could stay there forever.

Chapter 8: Arriving at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park — May 28

Katy: We almost didn’t end up going to Abalone Cove because it was so far away, and even our Uber driver seemed a bit worried that we wouldn’t find a ride back to our AirBNB in Beverly Hills. But we decided to risk it anyways, and it was so worth it - this hidden gem was such a magical place. Being a marine nature preserve, life thrived here, with tide pools crawling with tiny crabs and sea anemones, a seal sunbathing on the rocks, and whales peeking their heads above the waves in the distance.

Cecilia: The days of recovery are beginning for surfing. Today is day one. Gladly, Katy and I had a chill morning and found a cute brunch spot to chat and eat slowly because our arms also still hurt. I love my breakfast and brunch. Yum, yum, yum in my tum, tum, tum. Funny Cecilia aside, we thought we might try to go to the Abalone Cove State Park to do some ‘light’ hikes. It was a lucky shot of requesting Ubers as it was quite far out. But we did it and we made it! It was very hot but the views were worth it. We walked across the beach and some rocks and some trails to a small tidal pool filled with many treasures: small crabs, sea anemones, and all sorts of wildlife. On our last leg of the hike, we saw a super cool cave and people who pointed out for us a seal lounging in the sun! There were barely any people around. It was just us, the ocean, and the protected wildlife in this protected park. We could, if we peered hard enough, we could see Santa Monica island (an island we had initially planned on hiking and camping at).

Surrounded by the lapping of waves and the seal periodically yawning and then stretching out its back, I didn’t want to leave. With the sun setting and the air cooling though, we knew we would have to make our trek back soon.

Katy: Even though it wasn’t on our original itinerary, we decided to make a quick stop by after our hike at Abalone Cove. On the way there, our Uber driver regaled us with tales of his memories as a Hollywood actor who appeared in works like Captain America, Scandal, and Grey’s Anatomy.

in typical Cecilia fashion (messy hair covered by crooked hat)

**Cecilia:** I got to meet the VP under President Mellie Grant’s term! I follow him and he follows me. It’s insane to believe but it’s true ahhhhh, Black Panther to Marvel to Grey’s to Scandal… I’m out! Seriously. I have no more words. Garfield was so kind! Plus Katy and I manifested our third Tesla. Like how does that happen? Well, our Uber driver to Albacore Cove technically told us the trick (which is so genius, you can rent Tesla’s at a discounted rate if you drive part-time for Uber, even if it’s a couple of hours a week, thank you for that gem).

Katy: With more locals than tourists, Manhattan Beach felt so vibrant yet comforting. We had dinner and drinks at one of the beachfront patios, and later walked along the beach as the waves tumbled and the sunset in vibrant, cinematic technicolour. We had the perfect ending to the perfect night when our Uber driver let us play our music, and we peacefully hummed along the California coast to our favourite summer Taylor Swift songs as day faded to night.

Cecilia: I rent a place on [Amsterdam] street, I say casually in the car. Yes, this is true somewhat. I may have forced the Swift pun here but I had to do it. It felt like a movie ending perfectly. Our driver seemingly reading our minds and asking if we wanted to play anything. We did. As we drove along the LA coast with the colours of the sky blending from pink to magenta to indigo, Katy and I’s favourite songs blasted on the car speakers—invoking our own recollections of what the songs meant to us personally and what the songs meant to us in the context of our friendship. I didn’t even have to say anything when I looked over at Katy in the last remnants of golden glow, our friendship golden, like the daylight…we were both thinking: “remember this moment…in the back of my mind.”

Katy: We used the word “serendipity” often during our trip, and indeed, there had been many beautiful serendipitous moments, but none more so than that last evening together at Manhattan Beach.

Chapter 9: Bittersweet Byes/ Bustling through the Broad and Marching through the Market — May 29

The Broad

**Katy:** The modern artwork featured at the Broad had a bit too much commercialist influence for my taste - nonetheless, a very interesting gallery for modern art lovers (or critics). A highlight was definitely getting to see Andy Warhol’s original works hanging right there in front of me.

Grand Central Market

**Cecilia:** All I can say is that I’m still recovering from surfing. Really. Everything hurts! Except my mind, it is alive :) but I am very tired so I will say that surveying the broad exhibition and walking through the market was a good call. I wanted to eat everything. So many smells and laughter and different specialties of cuisine. Surfing wasn’t only my first! Vegan ramen was too (another major yummy in my tummy)!

And that my friends is the story of us! Or more accurately, the story of one of the most magical trips I’ve been on with my friend :) Next chapter?

Prologue

For my 24th birthday, I want to lift up the work of CPAWS and CPAWS-BC; witnessing the work the incredible staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters have made possible, I know that the organization is filled with and lifted up by people committed to conservation, sustainability, justice, and equity. For the month of July, I hope you can join me in supporting CPAWS and CPAWS-BC’s work towards protecting wildlife and protecting land through a lens of decolonization. The national chapter of CPAWS is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of our public land, ocean, and freshwater and ensuring that our parks are managed to protect the nature within them. In the past 50+ years, they’ve played a lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometres. Their hope is that future generations can experience Canada’s irreplaceable wilderness. To learn more, visit CPAWS - BC and to donate, check out my Facebook fundraiser.

As my best friend Robert Adragna says: “Environmentalism isn’t just about an “ought to” that should become a moral responsibility. It’s a lot more than that. It’s an extension of our lives, our existence. The beauty of nature is a collective gift to humanity. Fundamentally, it’s a part of who we are, our human condition. The ability to interact with nature is a privilege.”

*P.S. For donations above 30$, I will be handwriting thank you cards enclosed with stickers of BC wildlife that CPAWS-BC protects. These stickers are drawn, designed, and printed by my incredibly talented younger sister Esther! And for donations above 100$, I’ll slip in a handwritten poem about Mother Nature written by yours truly and painted with a watercolour flower too! [Expected shipping dates to Canada/US: mid to late August].

And ending on a hopeful note with historian and author Howard Zinn:

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvellous victory."

24 Memories for 24

Chasing the Sun