After months of grinding and putting in tons of hours, I was super stoked about my summer vacation to visit my family in Hong Kong, and a special week of a big family reunion in Indonesia. I packed up my watercolor and poster color supplies, a bunch of cute colorful pens, and a sketchbook I’d been saving just for this trip.
BUT...
You know how it goes—after working nonstop for so long, the moment you finally get a break… your body’s like, “Cool cool cool... now I’m shutting down.”
Week one of vacation? I basically sleep-ate my way through it. Barely out of bed. Literally horizontal for days.
Week two was the big family reunion in Indonesia. I figured, surely by then I’d feel recharged and human again. I even had plans - big plans! - to fill my sketchbook with memories!
I landed in Surabaya, Indonesia - and OMG, right at the airport, I bumped into relatives I hadn’t seen since we were little. We used to play together all the time, but over the years, life happened. People moved, scattered around the globe, and somehow we lost touch.
And then—just like that—time rewound. It was like we were kids again, swapping stories like no time had passed at all.
For many of us, including me, this was our first time visiting our ancestral hometown. Growing up, I always felt connected to my Indonesian roots through the stories my grandma and parents told me. But actually being there—walking the streets, standing in the homes where they grew up - made those stories come alive in a whole new way.
Every day was filled with warmth - gathering around food (so much food!), swapping stories, and sharing traditions and rituals passed down through generations. I even learned new family stories I’d never heard before - some sweet, some hilarious, and a few that made me go, “Wait… THAT happened?!” But honestly, the best part wasn’t the food. It was spending real, unrushed time together - laughing, talking, just being - and making new memories we’ll carry forward.
Even the quiet moments - just hanging out in the hotel room at night - felt special. My niece and I would sketch and play around on my iPad while my cousins and I cracked jokes, and chitchatted about everything and nothing. Honestly, it didn’t matter what we were doing. Just being together turned even the most low-key moments into something I’ll remember forever. 🧡
You might be wondering what Piglet was up to while I was away. Well, she had the time of her life at summer camp - with my friends! Her aunt even got her a cute new dress, and every day was packed with wild little adventures. She tried her first pup cup (life-changing), and ate all the stuff Mama usually says no to - burgers, pizza… and probably a few mystery snacks that neither Piglet nor my friends are willing to confess to.
And the grand finale? She got skunked! Because nothing says “iconic summer camp experience” like ending it with a skunk story!
You can’t have a perfect summer story without at least one wild adventure, right?
So a bunch of us decided, hey, why not watch the sunrise from a volcano? Obviously, that meant waking up at 1 a.m. (because vacations are for sleep deprivation, apparently). We drove to the base of the volcano, then hopped into a jeep to climb the mountain.
It’s pitch black. We’re halfway up. The jeep sputters... and dies.
My cousin and I try to stay calm while the driver fiddles with the engine. Miraculously, it roars back to life. Great! Crisis averted!
…Until it dies again. For real this time.
We ask the driver to call for help - but he only speaks Indonesian, and we’re totally lost. My cousin frantically pulls out Google Translate, but both sides are clearly hitting max frustration levels. That’s when a swarm of motorcycles suddenly shows up, circling us like we’re in some kind of off-grid Mario Kart.
They’re shouting offers to take us up the mountain. We have no idea what’s going on and are definitely not about to hop on a random bike in the dark.
I try calling our group for backup. And you know what? For all the times I’ve complained about Verizon’s overpriced plan - I take it back. Because in the middle of literal nowhere, it was the only signal that worked.
I managed to drop a pin before my data died, and somehow, that tiny window was enough. Our group found us, sent a guide, and the motorcycle guys? Totally legit mountain taxis. 🤪
So yeah… I rode a motorcycle for the first time. In the dark. No helmet. Surrounded by way-too-hyped tourists. I was mildly terrified. But the sunrise?
Absolutely, breathtakingly worth it. “We got to see a volcano fart!” — my little cousin’s words, not mine 😂
When the sun came out, we hiked up to the crater - then awkwardly bounced down on horses. Exhausted, hungry, butt slightly sore… but grinning like it was the best time we ever had.
Can’t believe how many tourists climbed over the fence and marched right up to the crater edge - just to nail that “I almost died but look cute” influencer shot. 😝
After a week full of hugs, beauty, and tradition, I flew back to Hong Kong for a much quieter week—hanging out with friends, spending time with my parents... and then came the weirdest father-daughter bonding experience ever at...
But that, my friends, is a story for another time...
Now I’m back in LA, slowly easing back into my everyday routine. After a much-needed three weeks of being 100% unplugged and tech detoxed, I’m finally ready to dive into the final editing phase of Monkey King, and gear up for illustrating two brand-new picture books.
Oh - and that sketchbook I lovingly packed for the trip?
Yeah… didn’t even open it.
But you know what? That’s okay. Sometimes, what we really need isn’t to fill pages—but to rest, recharge, and just be present with the people around us.
Wishing you all a lovely, wonderful summer! 💛
🎉 I'm thrilled to share that I’ll be speaking at San Diego Comic-Con this year on a special panel titled:
Follow Your Dreams: The Comic Artist’s Journey
🗓 Friday, July 25
🕒 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Room: Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
This panel is all about the creative journey behind making comics—how we chase inspiration, overcome roadblocks, and bring stories to life. I’ll be sharing the stage with some amazing fellow creators, and I’d love for you to be there!
And if you'd like to say hello in person...
✍️ Book Signing
🗓 Friday, July 25
🕔 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Sails Pavilion, Autograph Area AA06
I’ll be signing books, chatting with readers, and celebrating stories together—come by!
Whether you're attending the panel, stopping by the signing, or just cheering from afar, I’m so grateful for your support on this creative journey. 💛
Thanks for being part of my community—and I hope to see some of you at SDCC!
this was such an inspiring read, Alina. Just beautiful!
I loved hearing about your trip! And the trip to the volcano (Bromo?) is so epic and spot on. Glad you had time to just be.