Hong Kong ● China

Hong Kong was nowhere to be found on my itinerary until about one week ago. But when my friend Steven so kindly offered to host me, booking a ticket was the obvious thing to do.

I've been a sucker for skylines as long as I can remember, so my second day in Hong Kong I took the tram to Victoria Peak for the highest point in the city. The architects of this city were genius urban planners. The skyscrapers were literally built into the hillside of a small island, producing the amazing skyline that won over my heart. The following night, when I met up with my friend Matt (who also happened to be in the city... Small world, right?) and we took a harbor cruise during the nightly Symphony of Lights (the buildings light up from 8:00-8:20 p.m. to synchronized music), the view was even more incredible. Photos definitely didn't do it justice.

Although it was a quick 4-day/3-night trip, I jam-packed my days to hit all the main spots, like the IFC Mall and Man Mo Temple in Central Hong Kong, and the Jade Market and the Ladies' Market across the water in Kowloon. And I made sure to get my fill of Hong Kong's famous dumplings and noodles, which absolutely lived up to the hype.

By the way, if you ever need a hotel I highly recommend the Harbour Grand Kowloon. I stayed there my last night, and with a waterfront view and a killer rooftop pool, it's hard to beat.

Thanks for the great memories, Hong Kong.

Halong Bay ● Vietnam

When our overnight train rolled into Hanoi at 6 a.m., we had zero plans for our last day. Three hours later, however, we were in a car on our way to Halong Bay for a whirlwind trip.

Once we arrived and realized we literally "missed the boat" for all of the small cruise lines for group tours, we were at a loss. In a last-ditch effort, we agreed to pay $35 per person for what we assumed was a tour on a tiny boat. Turned out, what we actually paid for was a 4-hour sailing excursion with a captain and two crew members aboard a two-story party boat reserved solely for us. Call it serendipity, call it luck, call it language barrier -- whatever. We just called it unbelievable.

Previously, I blogged about moments in life that are so impactful you can never actually forget the exact scene. I can probably count on one hand all of these moments in my life. No surprise, most have occurred while traveling. Sailing on Halong Bay, surrounded by nothing but natural limestone masterpieces, I felt peace I hadn't felt in a really long time. 

(Insert sentimental disclaimer...) My year of post-grad life taught me one of the most valuable, yet hardest, lessons. If you begin to accept a lifestyle you don't want (your job isn't what you dreamed, the place you live doesn't mesh with your personality, etc.) it's easy to fall into a rut in which happiness doesn't come naturally. I was afraid this was happening to me, which led me to book my ticket and head halfway around the world.

As silly as it sounds, Halong Bay restored my faith in uninhibited bliss -- in having a moment in which nothing else matters, and you're just truly, actually happy. There is obviously a reason Halong Bay is one of the seven modern wonders of the world. You just have to discover why for yourself.