Sleeping on the shores of the Italian Amalfi Coast.

I classify my hobbies as things that I like to do that don’t fall under the categories of music or sports.  Basically, the odds and ends of me :)

Photography:

As evident by my pictures section, I really love photography.  I started having an interest in it in grade 10 and never looked back (partly because back then I still used film).  I also enjoy using black and white photography.

Chess:

I play both international chess and Chinese (Xiang4 Qi2) chess.  And actually, any sort of other chess game, such as Go, 5-point chess, etc.  I wouldn’t classify myself as good enough to win tournaments or beat people in the park for money, but I’m good enough to carry out a strong game.

Random Tricks:

If you give me a baseball or a softball, I will do this thing where I pop it up in the air using the inside of my elbow repeatedly, sometimes catching or incorporating it into my three-ball juggling.  I also know a few random card tricks that I practice using business cards when I’m bored or waiting for something (or on the toilet, though after one particular incident, I’ve significantly reduced this practice).  I also like to do coin tricks, mainly to fool kids and to entertain myself.

Collections:

I collect badges from countries that I have traveled to, and then I sew them onto my travel backpack.  This is so that my backpack looks prettier and that I have more street cred when I walk into a hostel.  I also collect metal pins, which I then put onto a travel hat that I no longer wear because my head is too big…

Reading:

Like most people, I enjoy reading as a pastime.  I enjoy most fiction that deals with real-world settings, though exceptions do exist (Harry Potter).  I read in Traditional Chinese and English, though I read English about 10 times faster than I do Chinese.  I also like to read non-fiction books that talk about things I’m interested in, like business, traveling, or stories of famous people that have endured adversity.  My favourite book so far is The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay.