I had a “bad day” so I went camping on the beach to relieve my stress and anxiety and couldn’t have asked for a better first experience 🏝⛺️🙏🏽 As an American living in Asia you face strange dilemmas of the heart. I felt so at peace on the beach, disconnected from the awful circumstances going on back home, yet simultaneously guilty knowing so many don’t have that privilege. I felt worried over the safety of loved ones, but secure knowing I’m far away from the risk of getting punched in the face, choked, or urinated on (follow @asianfeed for actual cases of this 🤬). I felt like I was missing out on a critical moment in my identity as a Filipina-American, knowing that if we were back in NYC we would’ve been at the rallies to #StopAsianHate, crying out for AAPI rights for what feels like the first time in my life. But amidst all of this, I hope everyone remembers to take time for their mental health. This weekend allowed me to reconnect with nature and also gave me experiences that reminded me why I’m so proud to be Asian 💛 The beach where we camped is home to #OnKeeStore or #安記士多 which has been at #HamTinWan beach for over 3 generations. We befriended the owner Wan Sui Sang who we respectfully called sifu, as he is the master of the wok with the smoky stir fried udon being a favorite at this beachside institution 🍜 They could easily serve crappy food, being one of the only restaurants on this isolated beach that’s accessible only by hiking for a few hours or by one of the limited speedboats. Instead you’re met with delicious wok-fried delights to enjoy with cold beers and a relaxed beachside environment 🍻 Then there’s the anxiety-inducing yet thrilling task of crossing the plank bridge from the beach to the restaurant, a unique experience you largely only face when traveling to remote destinations like these. I’ll share more in another video as I’m super proud of my first time campfire cooking, which you got a preview of if you follow my stories. I hope everyone takes some time for themselves while still continuing to put in the work towards progress - I’ll continue to share resources as I find them on my story 💛