In this episode, my Lamma friend Sarah joined me and we talked about how she uses the design philosophy of permaculture to navigate life. She learned that the only way to cope is to set hyper-organised systems before she lets her mind wander. I’m humbled by this incredible human being who tries her best to show up every day.

We cut the episode short due to time constraints, but stay tuned for part 2.

Does this episode resonate with you, too?

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Wellness Q&A with Sarah

The most conversation-sparking object in your home?

My sofa, bc I insist telling people about how it seats 7, that I got it for free, and that I made the slip cover.

A scent that brings you joy?

Wet earth.

Your favourite city and the first thing you do there?

New Orleans.. I walk down the street and talk to a stranger.

A work of art that left a lasting impression?

Jim Goldberg, Rich & Poor series (first off the top of my head)

Something you collect, intentionally or not?

Seeds.. They end up in small bowls everywhere, in altars, and eventually back in the soil.

The most valuable thing you’ve ever let go of?

Proximity to loved ones

The last good cause you supported?

Environmental Defense Fund

A place you go when you want to feel creatively recharged?

My friend’s roof, to make art together

A small daily ritual that grounds or delights you?

Cat tummy raspberries

Something that makes you nostalgic?

Seeing anyone from my Baltimore days

Something you learned late in life?

Follow-through

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Over the years, I kept telling people that Lamma saved me, my friend and my relationship. Does it sound too good to be true? What’s so special about this island anyway? I remember sharing with our rose-coloured glasses group how I love the fact that there are at least 40 languages spoken here; that during Covid, we could escape to the trails and beaches, momentarily forgetting about masks and regulations; that I can walk to my friends’ houses within 15 minutes; that the community makes me feel like I matter.

It’s been six years since we moved here - and I’ve never looked back. Sure, there were moments of inconveniences when I missed the ferry at midnight and had to wait for an hour for the next one when all I could think about was my bed. Sure, there are lots of insects and reptiles that either annoy or scare the shit out of you. Sure, sometimes you just want to be left alone without people greeting you. But this isn’t a post about how I found my lovely life on Lamma - this is a post about fantasies of our “ideal island”. Will our search ever end? Why do we still get FOMO even when we’ve found something that works?

Humans often yearn for the opposite of modern life. The simplicity of a neighbour’s smile in the morning. The reassuring touch of your vegetable lady’s hand on yours when she passes your change. The soothing sound of waves oscillating between the ocean and shore. The idleness of a humid, hot afternoon, ants crawling on your window ledges looking for food. The hypnotic symphony of cicadas permeating your lazy days and lazier nights in the background. The feeling that I am enough simply by existing.

There is an intense craving for a slower pace of life, a desire to march to our own beat. Lamma has worked wonders in my life, but I still technically live in the context of “Hong Kong metropolis”, meaning I get on the 9am ferry to go to work and catch the 11.30pm ferry back if I’m indulging in cultural events in the city. It’s not actually that slow.

Maybe it’s the human condition. Maybe it’s arrogance. Maybe it’s just our insatiable curiosity. Ironically, we keep looking. We keep changing. We keep convincing ourselves that we need an “ideal” to keep us on our toes, in case we slack and stop improving for the better.

So I keep looking. For my fantasy island.

Especially in my imagination, my dreams. My sleepless nights looking out at the moon from my balcony.

Even after I’ve scribbled in my gratitude journal, highlighting how much I love my actual island - I keep looking. For my fantasy island.

Wellness Q&A with Janaki

The wellness ritual you can’t live without?

Mental hygiene, regular check-ins with myself about my life, where I want to go, how I’m doing. Doing the same thing with my husband as well.

The most conversation-sparking object in your home?

My photo album. Love to keep a physical album of my life in the home and constantly update it.

A scent that brings you joy?

The smell of fresh osmanthus flowers in the evening.

Your favourite city and the first thing you do there?

Hong Kong. It’s the best city in the world. Spending time with friends camping/hiking.

An item you never travel without?

Ear plugs, blackout eye mask and when I’m flying long-haul, my AirFly. Absolute game changer for watching movies on flights with noise cancelling AirPods.

On your bathroom counter?

Everything skincare. Sunscreen is a must.

Always in your bag?

Headphones for music.

The one item in your kitchen that you couldn’t live without?

My spices.

Your favourite restaurant and go-to order?

Senryo. Seared Salmon Roll with Mentaiko and the Mirin Grilled Dried Fish Fillet.

Your favourite yoga accessory?

Don’t use accessories, just a nice thick squishy mat so my knees are cosy.

The book you wish you could read for the first time again?

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini. An absolutely heartbreaking but beautifully written book that had me in tears.

A work of art that left a lasting impression?

Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona. I cried. Yes I cry a lot.

Something you collect, intentionally or not?

Always building my plant observations list from around the world on iNaturalist.

The most valuable thing you’ve ever let go of?

Can’t say I’ve ever let go of anything that valuable to me, I always keep the most important things in my life close to my heart.

The height of luxury for you?

Staying indoors with my husband in the beautiful home that we’re building. Love staying home these days.

The last good cause you supported?

Saving turtles in Bali.

A place you go when you want to feel creatively recharged?

Anywhere isolated usually in the mountains for extended periods of time without internet.

The last time you felt truly surprised (in a good way)?

My wedding!

A hill you’re willing to die on, however ridiculous?

Choosing kindness and understanding over judgement and ego.

The thing you secretly judge people for?

You can tell a lot about a person by observing the way they treat/acknowledge people who are providing them a service. (e.g. waiters, clerks, receptionists, taxi drivers, shopkeepers, hairdressers etc. The whole lot).

Also when people are confronted with a problem - if they choose to find more problems or if they look for solutions. Their choice says a lot about who they are.

Your most indulgent purchase … and any regrets?

Very, very large TV. And no regrets at all.

A small daily ritual that grounds or delights you?

Getting a bit of sunshine on my face.

Something that makes you nostalgic?

Taking the star ferry to TST and sauntering down the waterfront in autumn/winter. There’s something about the wind, the temperature, the perfect weather and the cosy jackets that takes me right back to my childhood. Best feeling ever.

Something you learned late in life?

I always knew this, but it took me a while to accept: not all people have good intentions. Some people have the capacity to do truly abhorrent things. Even well-intentioned people can cause a lot of harm through their actions, often without truly understanding their impact. Let these truths sharpen your focus, rather than push you down the path of bitterness, expecting the worst of people and nihilism.

Describe your perfect day

Slightly breezy, cool and dry, clear sky, sun in shining. With my family, husband and friends, spending time in nature.

Your go-to healthy and yummy dish

Bean wrap. Couscous salad.

Wellness Q&A with Maggie

The wellness ritual you can’t live without?

Every time I step onto my yoga mat, usually every other day for an hour, it's a reconnection with my mind-body, and on good days, a spiritual experience.

The most conversation-sparking object in your home?

My De'Longhi espresso machine. Or my vinyl desk.

A scent that brings you joy?

Anything jasmine.

Your favourite city and the first thing you do there?

Paris. Eat a croissant and slowly savour my cafe au lait while people watching on the street. Closely followed by Istanbul, watching the sunset by Bosphorus, with a fish burger and chai.

An item you never travel without?

Lip balm.

On your bathroom counter?

I'm currently slathering my Three sunscreen daily. It's my favourite skincare and cosmetics company from Japan.

Always in your bag?

Spare change of yoga clothes. I've been using Classpass for the past 2 years so I can quickly pop by my favourite studios in HK before or after work, like Ikigai, Yoga Movement and Sora.

The one item in your kitchen that you couldn’t live without?

My amazing Japanese knife. And probably pepper, can't live without pepper.

Your favourite restaurant and go-to order?

Mora, lobster soy milk noodles.

Your favourite yoga accessory?

Blocks! They're so underrated.

The book you wish you could read for the first time again?

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

A work of art that left a lasting impression?

It's actually a trippy film by the Argentinian director Gaspar Noe called Enter The Void.

Something you collect, intentionally or not?

Incense sticks, candles, books and magazines.

The most valuable thing you’ve ever let go of?

A lover of mine haha

The height of luxury for you?

Playing video games during a workday.

The last good cause you supported?

My friend's Hyrox campaign for domestic helpers in HK.

A place you go when you want to feel creatively recharged?

Not necessarily a place, but more like a space... Just give me a day to wander around freely without any obligations.

The last time you felt truly surprised (in a good way)?

When I ate my lunch a few months ago without touching my phone or reading a book. Really just paying attention and enjoying my food - it's 10x better!

A hill you’re willing to die on, however ridiculous?

Not wearing shoes indoors!

The thing you secretly judge people for?

Bad breath.

Your most indulgent purchase … and any regrets?

My projector and none!

A small daily ritual that grounds or delights you?

My morning espresso, looking outside my windows at banana trees.

Something that makes you nostalgic?

Stephen Chow movies and Jay Chow's noughties songs.

Something you learned late in life?

Some drugs are actually good! Especially for opening your mind, boom.

Describe your perfect day

Flow yoga to start the day, grabbing brunch with friends, hiking somewhere followed by a swim, aperitivo at a cool bar and then dancing all night.

Your go-to healthy and yummy dish

Bun chay (Vietnamese cold vermicelli with tofu) any day.

Drop your comments below on how you approach your energy management 👇👇 😍😍

Energy takers could take the form of inconsistent sleep, sedentary time, overworking, junk food, too much screen time and alcohol … but I also observed that when I overthink and overplan, focus on the past, resentment and negativity, my energy levels also dropped despite eating and sleeping well …

Over time, I realised my ENERGY is the most valuable currency I have.

Time is important but how I approach an activity ultimately determines my relationship with not only the task at hand but also myself. And this is something that I experientially know through practicing yoga and meditation - my life savers over the past few years really - we start experiencing shifts in the quality of our energy when we practice regularly. It's like every moment feels a little more savourable - because we are truly present.

So how could I increase my energy levels to live my day to day not only in terms of short term productivity, but in a sustainable way that helps me live in the moment over time?

I started to observe what made me feel good, what gave me energy. I already mentioned the basic energy takers - by reducing them, I could have more energy. And on top of that, I proactively started incorporating energy giving activities in my day to day, such as rest, movement, being in nature, creative projects, whether that’s playing the piano, painting or writing, eating nourishing food, striking the balance between spending time alone and with friends…

Do you know what you value? For me, it’s helping others, feeling connected, loved, inspired…

Start paying attention to the QUALITY of your energy. More on that later…

It all started when I fell into a state of depression in late 2018, feeling totally lost in life and finding zero meaning in anything. I was blessed to find a yoga practice around that time, finding a sense of grounding and centering that I desperately needed. Gradually, I began studying yoga philosophy and mindfulness/meditation – and realised it’s a huge rabbit hole that never ends!

In 2022, I received my yoga teacher training certificate in India and I’ve been teaching mainly hatha and vinyasa yoga on Lamma Island since August 2022. I also gave pro-bono classes at the South China Morning Post where I worked as a production editor from December 2022 to December 2023.

Then in 2024, I began to pivot towards holistic wellness, organising retreats on Lamma Island where my partner and I have been living since 2019, using a mix of yoga and meditation, plant-based foods and handpan music to inspire others to take charge of their own wellbeing and those around them. I founded Lamma Holistic Retreats (LHR) as a platform and community to explore different avenues for a collective return to wholeness, always from a place full of curiosity and gratitude, as my return is also ever-evolving…

LHR Studios is created with the intention to hold space for dialogue on wellbeing beyond personal optimisation plans. From heart-to-heart podcast episodes to the On Living Well video series, we attempt to traverse the complicated landscape of not only individual, but also planetary wellbeing.

Can we really be well if our fellow brothers and sisters are suffering and our Spaceship Earth is being destroyed? How do we start conversations around the disconnection between our mind and body along with the rest of our environment? For a long time, I felt apathetic towards what’s happening around the world – the constant negative news cycles, a capitalistic society that’s turning everyone into a commodity – I thought I just had to focus on my tiny little life and make that better.

But as time goes by, I realised that “As above, so below”… yes we begin with looking after ourselves – and here, our inner cosmos is as vast as the universe. It’s one that will mirror what’s happening outside us, which is why it’s such a crucial piece of the puzzle. With consistent effort, the daily acts of care are shared with our immediate friends and families, positively impacting them, too. This circle then extends to our wider communities, which can then create a ripple effect outwards to our countries and planet.

Yes, a girl can dream. A girl can believe. And together, we can co-create this reality.

Stay tuned if this resonates with you :)

Love and light,
Maggie

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