I WEAR: Brand New Summer 'Do

Spring is finally here in New York City! More often that not lately, the weather has been perfect- sunny without being uncomfortably muggy. I don't do well with extreme heats (strange since I grew up in Southeast Asia, I know) so I've been trying to soak up all the outside time I can before summer rolls in. Which has proven quite difficult, because it's currently exam season and I've been cooped up cramming for my law school exams. 

That said, I sneaked in the time to get a new haircut at Bumble & Bumble's downtown location. You've probably heard all about their products, but if you're looking for a cut, there's really nowhere better. I lopped off about 6 inches! I don't handle hair changes very well, so I was a bit worried at first. But thanks to Nicole and her haircutting prowess, I'm in love with my new cut! My hair feels healthier and refreshingly lighter. Perfect for coping with a New York summer.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump, and wish me luck for my exams!

I GO: Route 66 (in Video)

Ok, so I lied. This is actually the last Route 66-related post! When I was trying to decide on the soundtrack for this vlog, the choice was pretty clear. Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" has been one of my favorite love songs for years. I try to keep the relationship talk out of this blog as much as possible, but as this vlog is quite a cheesefest (you've been warned!), I thought it required a bit of an introductory note.

L and I have been dating for over four years and had been in some strange space between best friendship and more for over two years prior. When you're only 22, that's a superbly long time to have devoted yourself to one person. Looking back at all the successes I've achieved, most wouldn't have happened without more than a little help from him. He's always been there pushing me along, keeping me grounded, driving me across the country because I, having lived in large cities without the need for a car, have never learned to drive. The pain in my rhetorical ass at times, but always, the one who I've decided is one of my kind.

Enjoy the video!

I GO: Santa Monica Beach (Route 66 Day 11)

And here we are! The last Route 66-dedicated blog post, published a month after the end of the trip itself. I know, quite the delay, but law school exams are rearing their ugly head so it's better I share these lovely memories than my everyday routine. Not sure pictures of me shuffling around my apartment in pajamas, inhaling whole pints of ice cream, and regularly staging emotional breakdowns are quite what you readers would like to see. 

Route 66 snakes all the way from Chicago, Illinois and ends in Los Angeles, California. Specifically, it ends in Santa Monica. L and I arrived in LA the night before with just enough time to meet up with a couple of old friends for a drive-in movie and shisha in Brentwood, so this morning we woke up bright and early to head to Santa Monica Beach before our flight back to New York. Santa Monica is home to a significant chunk of my most cherished memories- of childhood summer vacations, of bestie reunions, and now of the end of the roadtrip of a lifetime. To all of you that have followed along, thank you so much for letting me share my memories with you and for all your lovely comments. I've been fortunate enough to have traveled extensively in my 22 years of life, and after finally checking Route 66 off my bucket list, I'm only more inspired to see (and of course share) more. Until then, may you all stay hungry, stay foolish.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump!

I GO: Bottle Tree Ranch (Route 66 Day 10)

After diverging from Route 66 to visit some national parks in northern Arizona and southern Utah and Las Vegas, we finally re-joined Route 66 in California for the last leg of our roadtripping adventure. We were eager to arrive in Los Angeles, but there was one last strange Route 66 attraction we had to drop by: Bottle Tree Ranch.

As you can probably tell by the name, Bottle Tree Ranch is composed of "bottle trees", large metal rods boasting metal branches, each of which were crowned by colorful glass bottles. The Ranch is also home to an assortment of other strange knick-knacks, such as rusty typewriters, gas pumps, and scales. Lovably random, just like most of the other stops you've been reading about have been. L and I had amassed quite the array of bottles after drinking our way through our recently-acquired collection of vintage soda pop, but we couldn't find any free branches to hang them on. So we settled for burying one bottle in a random corner of Bottle Tree Ranch. If you ever stop by, let me know if you can find it.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump!

I GO: Quick Pitstop in Vegas (Route 66 Day 9)

After a week of roadtripping, L and I were in much need for a night of relaxation. We pulled into Las Vegas in the early afternoon and whiled the day away wandering, eating, and banging away at slot machines. Growing up Las Vegas was a family vacation staple for me, so I feel strangely at home every time I visit the Strip. The perfect place to "take a vacation away from our vacation". In quotations because that phrase reads as ridiculous as it sounds.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump!

I GO: Hiking in Zion National Park (Route 66 Day 8)

Sandy but nature-infatuated (yes, that's a thing), we arrived in Zion National Park in time for a quick hike. After all the desert landscapes we'd been exploring (Monument Valley and Antelope Slot Canyon), L and I were eager for new sights. What we weren't expecting was Fern Gully. 

If you're ever in Zion National Park and can't decide on a hike, I highly recommend the Emerald Pools Trail. Even though spring hadn't fully arrived, and so the lush greenery hadn't fully blossomed, the views were incredible. Prior to this trip, the only national park I'd been to was the Grand Canyon. And while my lovely Singapore is verdant as can be, it's relatively flat. So Zion's craggy mountains, glimmering pools, and towering trees presented novel, awe-inspiring views. Needless to say, I'm hooked and already planning my next visit. There have been talks of a camping trip. Dun dun dun.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump!

I GO: Antelope Slot Canyon (Route 66 Day 8)

The morning after our horseback tour of Monument Valley, L and I started driving bright and early to make it in time for our tour of Antelope Slot Canyon, aka photographer's heaven. A slot canyon is basically a passageway carved, by water erosion, into a sandstone wall. Because of the irregularity of the erosion process, the walls of the passageway are curved and smooth, allowing for photography magic.

Light darts into the canyon, falling upon the walls and bringing them to life. The walls' uneven surface allows for varying levels of illumination, so that even as a flat image the scene is endlessly dynamic. Add the fact that sand continually floats into the canyon, forming wispy clouds that hang long enough to be photographed. The result is that even an amateur photographer can walk out with a handful of amazing souvenir photos. I booked my tour with this operator, and I highly recommend it! Our guide was incredibly informative, even taking the initiative to help us snap some postcard-worthy shots.

Enjoy the pictures after the jump! This set is composed of some of the favorite photographs I've ever taken!