A very special someone who's traveling through the eastern part of Peru sent me a message on Thursday night.

When they later messaged which I saw the next day
they shared the name of the township they were at

Just came back from traveling all around Tāmaki Makaurau.
A treasure trove of a place!
 
& As it's the new Gregorian year,
Rather than having rubbish resolutions, 
i think i’d rather carry over existing good practice from before and maintain them this year:

1. would be  -
   continually modify my own reactions / behaviours:
   I am a very intuitive as well as quickly judgemental person (re: vibes & appearance).
   There are a lot of people who i just get what they’re all about in a short amount of time.
   The ones that are clearly pompous, self-centred / selfish are the ones that repel me the most.
   I genuinely dislike them and nothing can change my mind.
   This often ends up with me feeling annoyed or bugged by their daily words/actions.
   But truthfully, I know what works:
   If I don’t like them, why piss myself off about them?
   No response is the best response.
   Indifference is gold.
   Ignore and walk away, mildly smile when confronted even if I don’t mean it at all.
   
   
2. i always keep my words,
   unless situations literally cannot allow me to.
   This is Al’s good old wisdom,
   It is what it is, unless it’s not. 😀
   
   
3. Keep learning those languages,
   however slow it may progress. Keep learning.
   Because English is so low-key not-cool.
   Whereas others are so rich & colorful.
   
   
4. & Stuff working out!
   ​Walking around while traveling in Japan is the best healthy activity.

It took us 12 min to drive to Grey Lynn to finally visit this vegan cafe called Tart Bakery.
I had to see what the hype was all about on my last full day in Auckland.
​
Can't say that it was a disappointment, 
because the pies were awesome!
But this highly recommended vegan cafe 
doesn't give out any plates or cutleries or cups for you to dine in at.
It's all just paper plates, paper bag, and paper cup.

I have my own coffee mug and travel cutleries,
but I had to grab a dog with a thick blanket, + a camera bag.
I didn't have the chance to go get the mug when ordering the drink.
I expected to be given a porcelain mug when I was going to eat in.
​But nope~

It felt very informal and it was actually quite cold & windy that day.
Having only paper containers while sitting outside didn't make the experience any better despite the healthy good food.

I can understand that they may not want to deal with washing dishes.
But, not offering any cups or plates in any shape of form ... I cannot say I enjoyed that.
Although, now that I know, I just make sure to take my own plates and mugs with me next time!