While in New Zealand, we decided to explore the geysers- hot springs that erupt due to the pressure of gases below. We explored both the geysers at Rotorua and at Taupo and they were both magnificent!
First, at Rotorua, we visited Te Puia, which also housed the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and a Kiwi Conservatory. We started off by getting to see the bubbling mud, which is known for having medicinal properties. After that, we headed to the Kiwi Conservatory. The conservatory was kept dark and quiet, as kiwis are sensitive to light and noise. We weren’t allowed to take photos, but it was definitely a unique experience, as kiwis only live in New Zealand. Then, we saw the geysers, the main one being the Pōhutu geyser. Finally, we concluded with a performance of the traditional Māori war dance, which was really cool to see!
After this, we went to Lake Taupo. The lake is unique as the whole area was formed by a series of explosions. The explosions formed a crater, which was filled by water, forming the lake. The lake itself is quite large, roughly the same size as Singapore. We took a floatplane, a small plane that takes off and lands in water, from this lake to another geyser- the Orakei Korako Cave & Geothermal Park. The park was lush, full of tropical foliage, and geysers ranging from big to small. It was a great experience!
While in New Zealand, one of the places we went to was the Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves- caves famous for their glow worms.
The glow worms are the larvae of fungus gnats and them glowing is how they signal when they’re hungry. The light attracts smaller insects like moths and flies and as they fly closer, they’re caught in the glowworms’ sticky threads and eaten. Eventually, the glowworms form pupa and turn into the fungus gnats. However, these gnats are born without a mouth and a digestive system, clearly not born to survive. They live for around a week or two.
The first cave we visited was the most famous- the Waitomo cave. In these caves, we explored the vast caverns and got to go on a boat ride to view the glowworms from all angles. They didn’t allow pictures, but the experience was legendary and will always be a part of me.
Secondly, we visited the Ruakuri cave, where we were able to take pictures! Other than the glowworms, the cave also had a ton of gorgeous stalagmites and stalagtites, as well as fossils from years past!
It’s already been a month into the New Year! Here are my top books for January.
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan This was a reread, but as always, I love diving back into the world of Percy Jackson and his adventures! This time, to get into college, Percy needs 3 recommendation letters- each from different gods as he completes their quests. His first quest is from Ganymede, the cup bearer of the gods. Percy is forced to deal with trial after trial in this sequel to the Percy Jackson series! It was really fun to read and had all of the classic humor!
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender This was such an amazing book! Set in a world where anyone can do alchemy, we meet three amazing characters- Ash, Callum, and Ramsay. Together, they’re trying to find the legendary ‘Book of Source’ to destroy it, but Ash’s father is against them, tracking their every movement. It was incredibly fun to read and I loved all the characters and the plot!
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han I’ve watched the movie before, so I was eager to read the book! I loved seeing more of Lara Jean, especially as she tries to figure out where exactly she fits into the world of high school and boys and family life. Seeing the movie moments in the book added a lot more context and were really fun to read! I loved reading this book as well as all the characters!
The Umbrella Man and Other Stories by Roald Dahl As a kid, I loved Dahl’s children books and so, I was incredibly curious about his other works! These short stories were a perfect mix of silly and scary and were really fun to read! Dahl’s writing style is very clear and very interesting to read, so I had a lot of fun revisiting one of my childhood authors.
Recently, for my English class, we wrote a poem based on “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon and based on Holden Caulfield, the main character of “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. I hope you enjoy my poem!
I am from boarding schools from cigarette smoke and rain I am from fencing competitions (loud, angry, everyone’s disappointment as sharp as the swords) I am from the vastness of DB’s room compared to the smallness of Phoebe’s the unable-to-be-placed smell of home whose indecisiveness I remember as if I was standing there right now
I’m from phony steak and odd hats from Allie and Phoebe I’m the not-good-enoughs and the geniuses-of-our-time from try harder and life is a game I’m from Grace be with you all with friends that make you feel warm and fuzzy and essays about your brother’s baseball glove
I’m from touchy fathers and nervous mothers malted milk and a swiss cheese sandwich. From the cancer that spread through my brother’s small body, the words and phrases that are piled onto my sister’s pages. At the back of my brain lie my memories hidden from both the world and myself a handful of stars whose light has been forced to dull. I am from those shattered shards of time broken before I was even born distancing myself from the person I was and the person I am meant to be.
This year, for winter break, I traveled to New Zealand. It’s a beautiful country, full of rolling hills and gorgeous forests. One of my favorite parts of this trip has been getting to visit “Hobbiton”, the set of the beginning and end of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies.
Firstly, you arrive at “The Shire”, a small area with a cafe and gift shop, where you wait to board a bus that’ll take you to the main attraction. Onboard this bus, a short clip is played, explaining the history of the location and its significance. Hobbiton is actually part of the Alexander farms, a family farm that was chosen because of one specific tree, their lake, and the overall quaint vibe of it. After the initial filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the director had agreed to dismantle the entire set. 12 years later, however, when plans for the Hobbit movie were underway, the Alexander farms agreed to let the buildings stay permanently.
Today, the Alexander farm is still running, so as you drive from the Shire to Hobbiton, you’ll pass sheep and cows idly grazing. Inside the set, however, is a whole new world. Hobbiton is an incredibly idyllic set, where it’s possible to believe that magic is real. Real and carefully cultivated gardens are housed behind fences, bees buzz gaily to their next flower, and miniscule scenes are frozen in time. Each Hobbit house, no matter its size or importance, tells a story- in one house, fish are being roasted next to a fishing rod, clearly a fishmonger’s house. In another, bread and honey are being sold outside, while peeping in through a window, you can see an oven filled with dough, indicating a baker’s house.
While most of the houses were unfurnished, simply left as spaces for the actors or artists to leave supplies, two were fully done, remodeled only last year. The same concept artist of the actual movies was the one hired to plan out the interior, therefore ensuring that the same vibe was carried throughout. The inside of the house was adorable, complete with a scrabble set, crocheted dolls, a “mushroom guide” (of which were poisonous and which were not), and so many more details.
Finally, we were taken to the “Green Dragon Inn”, where we were able to sip ginger beer and relax with the views of Hobbiton (and swans) in the background.
Overall, Hobbiton was such a beautiful and breath-taking experience! I loved exploring the set of such influential movies and I might even be inspired to watch the movies :).
Happy 2025! I thought I’d do a small lookback as a way to sum up my 2024 and start the new year. I hope you enjoy!
January
We started the year with a New Year’s dinner at Verandah, an incredible restaurant. While January was pretty calm, there were some memorable moments- such as meeting one of my middle school friends, going to see our school’s winter play, and getting a new vinyl!
february
The main event of February was my dance school’s Kinkinni (annual recital!) I participated in two dances and gained lots of experiences and memories from each. Additionally this month, I went to watch an Odissi performance and unexpectedly ran into a friend from middle school! Overall, it was an incredibly fun month.
march
March was an incredible month! To begin with, we went to the Rodeo, a Texan classic, where I won a big plush as well as a few smaller ones. Later that month, we went to a farmer’s market, as part of a school project, though I enjoyed the trip a lot. After that, I got to see Beetlejuice: The Musical, which was super fun and entertaining. Last, but certainly not least, we went to Muscat, Oman. It was such an breath-taking experience, as we explored the desert, the ocean, and everything in between.
april
To begin the month, we went to Dallas to see an arangetram, a performance that shows the dancer’s talent and knowledge. This month was also the month of the eclipse, which was very cool! Our school also gave us a day off, so I got to go to a park, which led to a lot of relaxation. Finally, the best part of April was getting to go to a concert- Miku Expo! I had an amazing time there and truly loved the atmosphere.
may
In May, I got to visit Illinois! In Chicago, I toured two colleges- Northwestern and University of Chicago. Additionally, me and my dance group performed once again for our school’s annual recital. We also performed at the temple with an item we learned in a workshop which was another great experience! Finally, I got to see another musical- Newsies.
June
June started with another musical- Hairspray! This was followed by a Mohiniattam recital- one of the few times I’ve performed the dance form. I also got to perform with a live orchestra! After this, I was able to meet a friend from middle school and then I traveled to India for the summer. In India, I watched my aunt’s arangetram which was amazing to watch!
july
In India, I was able to watch a lot of dance performances- these were helpful to see how I can improve my dance, as well as understand more about stage presence and lighting, all which’ll definitely help me in my future. Additionally, we took a small trip to Pondicherry which was a great way to relax.
august
August marked the beginning of my school! I started sophomore year, or 10th grade, this year and faced a new set of teachers and a lot more work! It’s definitely a new experience, but I’m learning a lot and having a good time.
september
September started off with a dance performance for an item we learned within a week! It was incredibly fun to learn and perform, and overall, I think it was a great experience. After that, to celebrate my 15th birthday, I got tickets to a concert from my favorite artist- Mitski. Going to her concert was such a fun experience and I’m so glad I was able to go and see her songs live. After this, we went to another musical- Dear Evan Hansen. Overall, September was a great month with a lot of fun performances and viewings.
october
October was another nice, calm month! Overall, I didn’t do much, but I did get more dance performance opportunities! We also got to see Peter Pan, which, while being a more kiddy musical, was still well-done and enjoyable!
november
In November, for Thanksgiving Break, we went to Madrid, Spain! I gained lots of new experiences and got to witness a totally new culture, which I really enjoyed. I learned a lot and got to see some beautiful places. Additionally, we say Shucked: The Musical, a musical about corn! It was really fun to watch and I thought the sets were really interesting!
December
December started off with getting to see the Texas Winter Lights! A hotel had set up multiple light sculptures, all photo-ready and very pretty! I also went to a claw machine arcade, where I won two plushies- a Pikachu and a Kuromi! Finally, to end the year, we went to New Zealand, which is definitely one of the prettiest places I’ve visited. I loved exploring the Hobbit homes, the geysers, and the glowworm caves. All in all, it was a great experience.
As you can see, my year was action packed and super fun! How was your 2024?
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater This was such an interesting and well-written book! Blue has been told from her first days that if she kisses her true love, he will die. So, she’s made a point to stay away from all boys. But when her path collide with the “Raven Boys”, a group of boys who go to the private school nearby, she finds herself drawn into their improbable plan. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Cats of the World by Hannah Shaw This was an incredibly cute book with pictures of cats from all over the world! Cats and their lifestyles from countries worldwide are detailed, with an important message intertwined throughout the book. It’s beautiful and really shows the resilience of cats as they thrive in lands you’d have never thought they’d live in. I really loved reading this book and looking at the beautiful pictures!
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka This was an interesting short story about what it means to feel trapped. Gregor is a traveling salesman, the breadwinner for his family, when one day, he wakes up as a giant cockroach. He soon becomes a burden, something others, even his own family, are scared of. It was an incredible read and enthralled me from start to finish.
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas This was a creepy and exciting read from start to finish! Ines wants to start a new life at Catherine House- that’s how it works for everyone, after all. But everyday turns out to be the same…until she gets a visit from the headmistress. Ever since then, her life turned upside down, new and strange happenings changing her perception of this school. It’s a really interesting book!
While on our trip to Madrid, we also visited two neighboring cities- Avila and Segovia. Both were gorgeous places and amazing experiences!
Avila is famous for its walls. The city is surrounded by medieval style walls which can be climbed and walked-on. Additionally, it’s known for being the birthplace of St. Theresa. In Avila, we explored the church of St. Theresa, which was opulent and gorgeous, decorated with realistic sculptures and paintings. It was a treat to see the beauty of the church and to get to hear the story of St. Theresa. After visiting the church, we got to see a traditional Avilan home, complete with a courtyard and gorgeous tiled walls. Finally, we went to a church, famous for its walls made out of “blood stone”. Its stained glass work was astonishing and it was beautifully gilded.
After Avila, we drove to Segovia, a city famed for its Roman aqueducts. After viewing these architectural marvels, we also visited their castle, named the Alcazar de Segovia. It was artfully decorated, with stunning ceilings and breathtaking views.
Overall, I really enjoyed my two day trips! They made me love Spain even more.
This year for Thanksgiving Break, we went to Madrid, the capital of Spain. There was so much history and so many gorgeous sights and wonderful architecture there, but most of all, there was a lot of delicious food. Our first day in Spain, we got to experience the city through a food tour, where they took us to original tapas places. I really enjoyed the tour and here are some of my experiences!
Tapas mean “small plates” and are similar to more hearty snacks that vary based on the region in Spain where they’re served. All the places we went to were original, having been in one family for multiple generations- where they’ve perfected a recipe/recipes. We went on the Devour Tour for Madrid.
Firstly, we went to Taberna Real, a restaurant famous for their jamon iberico (Iberian ham) where we also tried olives, almonds, and pan con tomate (bread with tomato). The ham was delicious, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a taste that wasn’t incredibly meaty. The bread was also perfect and overall, I really enjoyed it.
Second, we went to Meson del Champinon, which was known for their stuffed mushrooms. The mushrooms were made with butter, garlic, and chorizo and were delightful. I really enjoyed them, as well as their other popular dishes- tuna + red bell pepper and piquillo peppers.
Finally, we reached La Casa del Abuelo, a place famous for their revolutionary recipe- Gambas al Ajillo or shrimps in garlic. The shrimps were brought to us in bubbling dishes, still being cooked. Once they finished boiling, we dug in with relish, also tasting the sauce with the bread given. It was such a delicious meal and other “gambas al ajillo” that we had didn’t measure up at all.
Overall, I really enjoy Madrid’s food and getting to experience all of it!
This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone This was such a beautiful and well-written book! Red and Blue are on opposite sides of the “Time War”. But when they start leaving notes for each other, something changes. The prose was beautiful in this book and I absolutely loved the story and its ending. I totally recommend this book to you!
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee This was such a good book! Monty has one last summer with his best friend and his sister before all three of them are forced into futures they don’t want. He’s determined to make the most of it, but that’s derailed when he steals something he shouldn’t have and bandits chase after him. This was such a beautiful book and I loved the character growth!
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes This was such a well-written book! Yamilet is at a new school and that means a new start for her and her brother. But as struggles build up at home, she feels hopeless, finding solace only in a friend named Bo. I really enjoyed this story and it was great to read!
Liar’s Beach by Katie Cotugno This is a really cool book, inspired by Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I loved the story and the mystery, as well as all the different characters and side plots we got to see. It was a really interesting read and I can’t wait to read the second book!
