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. 20 <strong>NZPhotographer</strong>
AORAKI NZ F4, 25s, ISO4000 <strong>December</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 21
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