NZPhotographer Issue 26, December 2019

WHERE ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO
TAKE PHOTOS IN THE PHILIPPINES?
Cultural landscapes of the Philippine are
very diverse, a treasure trove for nature and
adventure lovers, and the reason why I am proud
of where I came from.
When I last visited home, one of the places
I loved photographing was Boracay Island. This
small island in the central Philippines is known for
its beach resorts and diverse marine life, and of
course, it is a prominent place for sunsets.
For a more distinct landscape, I love the place
called ‘The Chocolate Hills”, a geological
formation in the central Visayas region of the
country that has been dubbed the “8th Wonder
of the World”. During the dry season, the grasscovered
hills dry up and turn chocolate brown.
This transforms the area into seemingly endless
rows of “chocolate kisses”.
For more cultural and artistic photo possibilities,
Ilocos Region is the place to go. It’s known for
its historic sites and the well-preserved Spanish
colonial city. It holds a special place in my own
heart as it’s the birthplace of my late Father.
From time to time, I visit my Mother’s birthplace,
Pangasinan which is located in the Northern
Philippines. This is where the infamous “Hundred
Islands” can be found. The distinct mushroomshaped
islands (caused by years of ocean waves
and eroding action) are believed to be over two
million years old, very interesting to photograph.
HOW ABOUT A FAVOURITE PLACE IN NZ
FOR PHOTOS?
I love going to the South Island, specifically
Aoraki National Park which I only discovered
recently. Notable for its mountains, lakes,
and glaciers, there are endless photography
opportunities due to the sheer natural
landscapes with so many trails to explore so
many great things to experience.
On our visit, we took a caravan and drove around
the Aoraki. We hiked the Sealy Tarns track which
is called the “Stairway to Heaven” and traversed
the Tasman lake. I have a very sentimental
connection and memory with Aoraki, it being the
highest mountain in NZ but also the first mountain
in NZ that I hiked during the time I was depressed.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON OVER-
TOURISM AND INSTA-WORTHY IMAGES?
Over-tourism has been an issue for several years
now and while social media does play a role
in contributing to the problem, it cannot be
held solely responsible as humans, by nature,
can become destructive, ignorant, and trash
the environment. Social media and the culture
of taking a selfie at a specific location has just
magnified these consequences to different
levels.
Most people choose their travel destinations
based on what they see on social media and
try to be “cool” by visiting what is trending
now. Once they reach the destination, they
try to recreate the image that they saw, and if
they fail, they feel frustrated. They forget that
the experience of just being there is more than
enough. In this case, I think social media has
become a tool to feed the ego – the inclination
to show the world that they live a perfect life by
collecting photos for their Instagram feed instead
of collecting moments and experiences.
At the end of the day, it is up to each
individual to decide whether they want to be
a responsible traveller or not. We can choose
to have a positive impact on the places we
visit and similarly choose to share enriching and
informative content on social media. This can be
in the form of a story, or a local interaction or a
personal experience. This, in turn, will influence
people to experience rather than search for
“insta-worthy” destinations around the globe.
Social media is just a tool, and like any tool, it
can be misused by people.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRIP TO CHILE AND
YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH TRAVOLUTION
TRAVEL…
When I was planning my trip to Chile, I was
looking to have an authentic and communitybased
experience. I stumbled upon Travolution
Travel and read about their mission and goal
which instantly appealed to me – They work to
promote locally-led projects and communities
by giving visitors the chance to meet local
people and experience authentic cultural
exchange. It’s about supporting local products
and homestays that have a direct benefit for the
local community, as well as travellers.
On arriving in the Atacama Region of Chile
through Travolution, we had the opportunity
of staying with a family in the tiny little village
of Coyo. It is here that many of the indigenous
people known as the “Lickan Antay” live. From
experiencing the Ancestral Llama Caravan, to
learning about the crops grown locally and trying
out several local dishes, the activities proved to
be a wholesome experience as we were able
to connect with the local culture on a different
level.
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NZPhotographer