Journey through 10,000 photos (Part I)

**I'm re-editing and updating a past entry as I haven't been able to work on this project until now. I've started working on this again and hope to update in a few parts as I finish editing and reflecting on my photos.
 
As many of you know, I quit my job at the investment bank in 2013 to move on to other things. When I quit my job, my company surprisingly gave me a small amount of "retirement cash"; a mere $600 for my exhaustive work I've done for them for the past 6 years. Though I was not entirely happy, I thought I would make a good investment on it. So, I bought a SONY NEX-5R. I did not get a DSLR, or I should say I couldn't because the  "cash" was not enough to get one!  But since I know I would be traveling, this was light and high function enough it was suffice. 

Over the next year I lived in 4 countries, traveled to over 25 cities, and ultimately ended up taking 10,000 photos from July 2013~Aug 2014. To have this extraordinary journey I've been taking since I've quit my job and to have that captured on film and to be able to see them again has been amazing. Memories and emotions flowed through I went through them and I thought I had to share.

 I can't share all of them but I thought I'd put up a few of my best and favorites mainly for my personal reflection.

The photos are not picked based on the quality or rarity but based on the story that went behind the photos. Each photo has a unique and memorable story behind it so that's what I wanted to share. To those who are having a bad day or not feeling satisfied with their lives, I hope this brings some light whether it is to give you inspiration to quit your job or travel or makes you forget about it for a few seconds as you look through them. Maybe this will bring you some ideas as we write up our new years resolution of 2016!

Have a wonderful day and last day(s) of 2015 everyone and hope you enjoy! 

Mt. Fuji, Japan (July 2013) -The climb was as part of a company event, one of the last major activities with my coworkers that I worked with for over 6 years so it was really emotional for me in many ways. Climbing Mt Fuji is actually really hard, harder than a marathon in my opinion, but when I saw this view on top, it was all worth it. But as beautiful as it was, I knew in my heart it was definitely time to move on from Japan  

Siem Reap, Cambodia (Oct, 2013) It's quite unknown that each year many villages in Cambodia get washed out by the rain during monsoon reason. The organization I worked for frequently goes out to these villages to provide food and assistance to the local people. This girl is probably around 6 but she looks to be around 4 years old due to malnutrition. But she had the most strongest and gentle eyes. She is a beautiful representation of Cambodia, the country I love and miss dearly

Wat Damnak, Siem Reap (Oct, 2013) - Working at a temple for was absolutely incredible but actually the best part of it was listening to monks tell stories. You think that they give arcane, philosophical, and relgiousl stories but in fact many of them were just ridiculous and the entire point of the story was to have a good laugh. The monks were the embodiment of happiness for sure. I miss listening to them while have a can of red bull and coke.

Chinatown SF, USA (Jan 2014) - One of the things I like to do when I'm back at home in SF is to wander around Chinatown. I came here a lot when I was growing up to do groceries, have meals, or hang out with friends so it has a nostalgic feeling. Some of the alleyways really look like you're in China in the 1950s and it feels like you're lost in time.

Tonsap Lake, Cambodia (Oct, 2013) - There isn't much exciting things to do in Cambodia but the one great thing is that they have lots of festivals. The Water festival held every autumn is among the biggest. Some of our students took us out here where many locals come out to the lake to enjoy watching boat races and eat at food stands. 

Meiji Shrine, Japan (Jan, 2014) - Something about weddings at Meiji Shrine always seem to bring me some spiritual heightening and good luck. At this time I was at the shrine to pay my respects and bring me luck for 2014. And it certainly did in many ways.

Bangkok, Thailand (Jan 2014) - There are some trips that go well and others that go horribly. This one was the such the case. My plans fell through and I was horribly sick.  I was on a deck of a random B&B, sipping on beer and reading a book as I slowly saw the sun hide behind the Wat Arun. It's these little things that make bad trips into epic ones.

Wat Damnak, Siem Reap (Feb 2014) - At one of  the ceremonies for the temple, one of the younger monks glanced over at me as I shot a quick picture. It almost looks like as if time stood still, and the expression of the monk is beautiful; almost Buddha-like

(Tokyo, Japan 2013) - With a lot of attention sushi has been getting the past decade, sushi shops are popping up all over the world. I never liked any of them. I'm happy with my 15 piece lunch time sushi at a place not too far from Tsukiji Market (but just so far enough that tourists don't come here), all for a price of about $15. Now this is the real sushi that I miss

Siem Reap, Cambodia (Dec 2013) - These are the girls I taught English for the first 3 months I was there. All the girls came to Siem Reap from poorer villages to become seamstresses. By now they have finished their studies and moved on to work at factories and tailor shops. Whether they have become mothers, wives, business women, workers and wherever they are now, I'm sure that they're strong will and positive attitude has been guiding them. Afterall, Khmer women are one of the strongest people I know.