"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." — Chris McCandless
No matter backpacking across Thailand alone, or scrambling in the Canadian Rockies, or even going to a small Mexican restaurant in Harlem, these events have become my shaping impulse. Each time, I put my fingers on a higher rock, or try food that I have never heard of, or just talk to people that shared with me nothing but smile, I am learning and I am enjoying. To me, adventure is the predominance of danger and excitement over the love of ease, is the constant demanding for exploring new and rediscovering old, and is also the predominance of courage over timidity.
This is me, travelling across Thailand on a motorbike. Honestly, I didn’t even have a license. It was the first time I went out of the country and I decided to rent a motorbike just like everyone else in Thailand did. Although I never operated any moving machines, I manged to ride on it in 3 hours. The next thing I knew, I was enjoying everything about this country: people, culture and food. It is still among my best experiences. Growing up in a traditional Chinese family, I was never given the chance to even talk to people outside my culture. But I figured nothing could be worse than the Chinese College Entrance Exam, then I should have nothing to be fear of. I am glad I moved my first step, because I now have a growing appetite for more adventures.
I moved to Canada in 2005. From West Coast Trail to lakes in North Bay, I seized the unsurpassed beauty of what the world can best provide. I did some really crazy things including this one in the photo: I was hiking under -40C in January. It was worth it. I see the mountains nobody else could every possibly imagine. I had the best meal in the world: a hot bowl of Ramen noddle soup and a cup of piping hot jasmin tea.
My trip to West Coast Trail is probably the most unforgettable one. 7 days and 75km of sand, roots, mud, blisters and of course bliss. How many places on earth can people camp on beach in front of waterfalls? I have taken so much from this place. I asked myself what I could give to it. I saw lots of rotten trails posing potential hazards to other hikers and tons of garbage on the beach. It pains me. So I decided to publish a photography book about this place and donate half of the profit to Park Canada to preserve the rapidly disappearing wilderness.
“Never stop exploring”. I will never stop my adventures. Because it is the only way I can live. Here is my ultimate adventure list:
| Adventure | Schedule | Status | Note |
| Mt. Everst | 2016 | Not yet | Highest summit on this planet(8848m) |
| Mt. Denali | 2014 | Not yet | Highest summit in North America(6198m) |
| Mt. Kilimanjaro | 2013 | Not yet | Highest summit in Africa(5893m) |
| Egypt | 2013 | Not yet | |
| Mt. Aconcagua | 2012 | Not yet | Highest summit in America continent(6962m) |
| Mt. Eiger | 2012 | Not yet | One of the 6 great North Face peaks(3970m) |
| Mt. Yamnuska (rock climbing) | 2011 | Not yet | Rock climbing(2240m) |
| West Coast Trail | 2010 | Done | 75km, 7 days trail in Pacific Rim. One of the most scenic trails on earth |
| Mt. Emei | 2009 | Done | One of the 4 great mountains in China(3099m) |
| NYC | 2007 | Done | |
| Mt. Qincheng | 2006 | Done | Famous Taoism mountain |
| Thailand | 2005 | Done | Toured across half of Thailand on motorbike |