I’m not sure if I can list the following as my real hobbies. But I do find myself indulging in these during my leisure time. So here goes:

• Cooking: If you had asked me a few years ago, this would’ve never even made it to the ballpark. However, these days, I often find myself spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Both as a necessity as food bought outside in Taiwan though tasty tends to leave your throat feeling dry (too much Ajinomoto, perhaps). Also I’ve come to appreciate home-made simple meals far more than gourmet stuff served on white warm plates. Besides, there’s something really soothing about making something nice and tasty from a few totally unrelated items.
• Reading: This has always been one of my hobbies. However, over the last few years, the life that I was leading left me with little time to pursue it seriously. Often leaving me frustrated for my commitments were controlling my life and not the other way. Anyway, it’s finally great to spend at least half an hour a day to read a book that’s totally unrelated to your profession/career!
• Photography: Another hobby that has been left on the wayside because of my lifestyle. I’m yet to fully kickstart it again, but hope to do so pretty soon. I do need to assemble a decent gear, but perhaps not an SLR again. It’s too bulky and more importantly the investment it requires is not justified by the attention that I can shower it with. It’s time to give in to technology and leave puritanism to, well, purists. That’s right, I’m switching camps!