ansel zeng

Personal Blog

One Thought Per Year 📝

A collection of thoughts, experiences, and reflections from my journey through life

About This Blog

Why I Write

Writing has become one of my most cherished forms of self-expression and reflection. Each post captures a moment in time, a thought, or an experience that has shaped my perspective on life. From travel adventures to personal milestones, these posts represent my journey of growth, discovery, and understanding of the world around me.

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Self Reflection

Reflecting on experiences and lessons learned along the way.

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Travel Stories

Sharing adventures and discoveries from around the world.

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Life Moments

Capturing meaningful experiences and personal milestones.

Recent Thoughts

A collection of my personal reflections, travel experiences, and moments of inspiration.

Ansel Zeng

Nov 14, 2025

Starting a New Chapter

It's 11:56 am, Friday, November 14, 2025. This morning I went out for a nice walk around the neighbourhood, through the forest and past the train tracks to grab a cup of coffee from Timmies. Going on walks has become more routine lately, since it feels like I'm just counting down the days, sitting at home aimlessly, in a way that weirdly reminds me of quarantine five years ago. Each walk feels like downtime for my eyes and brain after spending nearly every waking minute staring at my monitor, which pretty much sums up my day-to-day.

4 min read

Ansel Zeng

Feb 6, 2025

Five Days in Harbin

It's 4:07 pm, Thursday, February 6, 2025. I just returned home with my Grandpa after joining him on his daily walk. As I listened to his numerous travels and adventures, I felt inspired to write down my recent solo trip to the chilly city of Harbin. Located in China's northernmost and easternmost province, Heilongjiang, the area is notoriously known for its bitterly cold winters. When I stepped off the high-speed rail, I was greeted by what felt like a cool breeze.

5 min read

Ansel Zeng

Jun 26, 2024

A Night on Everest

It's 3:09 pm, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. I'm sitting with my Dad on our flight from Lhasa to Chengdu and eventually back home to Beijing. Today marks the end of our 10-day journey in Tibet. This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable trips I've ever taken. From the 40-hour train ride that took us from sea level to an altitude of over 3,000 m, to visiting Buddhist monasteries and learning about the history of this beautiful religion, there's one event that's etched into my memory the most: spending a night on Mount Everest Base Camp.

5 min read

Ansel Zeng

Jul 27, 2022

From Crown to Caliber

It's 8:09 am, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. I'm currently taking the train to work in person in downtown Toronto. Unlike previous business casual fits, hidden underneath my left sleeve today is a special piece of accessory. Here's the story of my first mechanical watch. An unspoken rule in the watch industry is that you can, and must only, purchase a timepiece on a special occasion or hitting a particular milestone.

2 min read

Ansel Zeng

Feb 12, 2021

Blackpink In Your Area

It's 10:24 pm, Friday, February 12, 2021. Laying on the living room couch, I got the fireplace turned on and have finally decided to write my second blog post. Now a lot has happened since the first, which was written nine days before my first day of university. Fast forward to today, which happens to be Chinese New Year, I've just finished midterms and it's the beginning of our second reading week.

3 min read

Ansel Zeng

Aug 31, 2020

Castle in the Sky

It's 4:45 pm, Monday, August 31, 2020. I'm sitting by the cottage docks outlooking Muskoka Lakes, attempting to write down some of my thoughts for the first time. It is now T-minus nine days before the first day of university. As I prepare for the next chapter in my life, stress and pressure begin to sink in. Since the beginning of quarantine, it's been tough to find comfort. Every day felt miserable, useless, being stuck in an endless cycle of boredom and solitude.

2 min read

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