Once again, summer is upon us. After a long journey studying, this is the time students look forward to in order to unwind and do things they’ve been wanting to do but never had the time to do. However, do you just end up doing the same thing every summer holiday? Waking up late, scrolling away through social media, eating junk food, maybe going out with friends or family for a few hours, staying up late, and then the cycle repeats again. This will go on until the end of August and then your parents take you shopping for back-to-school supplies, leaving you wondering where your holiday went.
That was me when I was a teenager.
Before you dive into this cycle, let me remind you that when it comes to entertainment, Macau has got your back! And if you’re a broke teen like I was, maybe you could learn a thing or two from me.
First of all, there’s a reason why Macau is popular with tourists and it’s more than just frittering your money away on shopping and slot machines. This city’s structures were designed by talented architects who built our iconic landmarks. This summer, visit those places and look at the intricacy of the design of each landmark. If you love art, try doing on-site sketching with a little sketchbook and a black pen. You can go even further by filling in that sketch with watercolours. You may even see some talented urban sketchers drawing away! When we go about our day-to-day life, we often forget how beautiful our city is as we are always on-the-go. If you take the time to stop and look at these places in detail, you will have a relaxing experience and may even take up a new hobby.
Secondly, you can create a book goal for the summer and read your holiday away. Macau has some bookshops that offer a lot of great reads. And if being frugal is your thing, visit some libraries and grab a book there. Besides, Macau has made its public libraries comfortable and easy to access for everyone. If you prefer a more scenic reading atmosphere, go to a park, sit on its highest point, and read away. There’s something about reading a book outside as the breeze caresses your face on a sunny day.
Lastly, if the two activities remind you too much of school, have a picnic! You may take some food from home or buy some snacks, then invite your friends or family to a blissful relaxation in nature. The best part about this is that it’s not going to be a one-time activity as the experience will vary depending on the location you choose. For instance, having a picnic at Hac-Sa Beach will probably encourage you to wiggle your toes in the sand and dip them in the water. Before you know it, you’re already swimming with your friends. On the other hand, if you decide to have a picnic in a park, it’s going to be more peaceful, and you can even try cloud gazing! Having a picnic will turn your meal into a memorable part of your summer holiday.
If I could go back to my teen years, I would definitely advise myself to do these things. Unfortunately, I spent a lot of my summer holidays doing things that did not create any good memories in my life. Thankfully, these activities are applicable to me now and I will still be able to create lasting memories with my friends and family.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
