Gist of the Book:

Fascinated by her grandfather’s seafaring life on a freighter and triggered by her own turbulent arrival to Iceland one winter, Crystal Kwan ends up buying a one-way ticket to Paris where her outbound life unfolds.

Under the influence of great artists, architects and writers who travelled far both physically and creatively, she is tempted to do the same: to record serendipitous, at times overwhelming moments through writing, sketching and photography. Four themes of “souvenirs”, each a result of a particular type of travel, portray different ways of seeing as she comes face to face with the world. Be it creative or contemplative, memorable or regrettable, the greatest souvenir harnessed throughout all journeys is the transformative power of travel.

About the Author：

Crystal Kwan：Hong Kong-born millennial. Architect by profession. After graduating from the University, Crystal dedicated her formative years in academia and rural community projects in China. In 2015, she went to Paris for a complete change in life, where she participated in major urban and building projects including the Olympic Village for Paris 2024. She relocated to Beijing in 2019 and pursued her architectural career there for two years. She served as a Hong Kong Young Ambassador between 2002-2004. While she has so far set foot on forty countries around the world, she also has a passion for photography and writing. In 2020, she held her first photography solo-exhibition in Zarah, a café-gallery in Beijing.

One of her favourite quotes is from John Berger:

“Shyness is a strange thing. It’s not quite the same as being timid. Because there’s an element of curiosity in shyness… It’s to do with daring… It’s the adventurous who are shy.＂ (Understanding a Photograph, 2013)

She currently resides in Hong Kong.