Laos: A travel back in time

Laos is a country as yet untouched by the modern demands.

Its beauty lies in the Lao people, history, culture, nature and the simplicity of a laid back lifestyle.

Arc de Triomphe - Vientiane, Laos. Grand Legacy of Former French Colonization.

Two weeks ago, I was fortunate to have the chance to visit Laos for a few days. Although I was travelling with colleagues and couldn't take as many photos as I would have liked, it was an all-expense-paid trip, so I'm not complaining! Despite the limited opportunities to shoot, I was still able to capture some of the beauty of Laos on the go. Here are a few of the photos I managed to snap during the trip.



Note:I only brought one camera with me during this trip, the Fuji X100. 

Freshly cooked fish from the Mekong River

A good spot beside the Mekong river to enjoy some sumptuous dinner.

Ho Phra Keo

Laos is mostly a Buddhist country.

Pha Tat Luang. A temple at the heart of Vientiane. 

Hanging out beside the great Mekong river.

The capital city of Laos, Vientiane, presents a unique glimpse of an emerging city at its early stage of development. The city's architecture and infrastructure remind me of what my home country looked like 15 to 20 years ago. Vientiane is located at the side of the Mekong River, which also serves as the border with Thailand.

During my trip, I had the opportunity to visit Nam Ngum Lake, which is approximately 90 kilometers from Vientiane. This scenic and vast artificial lake was created when the Ngum River was dammed for hydroelectricity. The lake boasts many small islands, making it an excellent spot for recreational activities like boating and fishing. Below are some photos I took during my visit to Nam Ngum Lake.

Nam Ngum Lake

Nam Ngum Lake

Our lunch was served on a lake cruise. Cool isn't it?

Our next stop was at the town of Vang Vieng, located about four hour bus ride from the capital. 

The town lies at the bank of the Nam Song river, a scenic scene surrounded with Karst hills.

This scene made me feel nostalgic.

Hanging bridge leading to the hills.

Nam Song river                                                                                                                                                              

Beautiful hills at the background

View at the top of a small hill.

Nam Song river

Nam song river

I was absolutely captivated by the natural beauty of Vang Vieng during my recent trip to Laos. I only had a limited amount of time to explore, but I was struck by the stunning scenery and felt a deep connection to the simple, laid-back lifestyle of the locals.

Although I couldn't stay as long as I would have liked, I'm already dreaming of returning to Vang Vieng and experiencing even more of its charm. This trip was just a glimpse of a beautiful country that seems to be frozen in time, a refreshing change from the hectic, stressful pace of city life.

Overall, my trip to Laos was a much-needed break and a reminder to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. Cheers to more adventures like this one!

Alex

#12 Baby Gian

He`s cute and sweet and so much fun.

This little prince is turning one!

Last week, I was asked to photograph baby Gian for his first birthday celebration.

I always enjoy photographing kids, as much as they are challenging to photograph they are also lots of fun to work with. 

You'll sure be missing a lot of shots and accurate focus and you can also forget about setting up poses and lighting, but it's fun and a breath of fresh air to what I'm used to.


Happy birthday little one.


Cheers!


Alex

Thai food overload

Last week, I had a photoshoot that involved something everyone loves: food.

In the days leading up to the shoot, I had mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty. It's always thrilling to be paid for something you enjoy doing, but this was my first time photographing food for commercial use. While I've always been interested in food photography, it's not something that necessarily captivates me. When I see food, I think "eat" rather than "shoot."

It wasn't in my area of expertise, so the thought of potentially messing it up was scary. I didn't want to end up with the same type of photos that people take on Instagram right before they devour their sushi.

However, the good news is that I was also able to devour the food that I photographed. Who doesn't love a win-win situation?

Here are some glimpses from the shoot:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Crispy pork in delicious Thai sauce with rice and egg toppings

Mouth watering aren't they?

I know you want to taste it!

Crispy Thai crackers

Finger foods

Enticing!

Doesn't really look healthy. But oh well, try to resist these.

Hypertension, Thai style.

I bet you're feeling hungry now. Thai food is renowned for being incredibly flavorful, although some dishes can be quite spicy and may cause an upset stomach...

Thai cuisine is among the most diverse in the world, offering a vast array of dishes with unique combinations of herbs, spices, and ingredients.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Thailand, I highly recommend it to fully experience the sights, smells, and tastes of authentic Thai food. Don't settle for the imitations in your own country marketed as Thai restaurants - they are often far from the real thing.

Adding Thailand to your bucket list is a must, not just for the food, but also for the country's rich culture and stunning landscapes.

De Talat Phlu

I would like to thank De Talat Phlu restaurant for trusting me on this one.

And their food are delicious and surprisingly lighter on the pocket.

De Talat Phlu restaurant is located at the 4th floor of Siam Square One bldg.(Across Siam Paragon), Bangkok.

Delicious Thai food at its best. Don't forget to visit the place.


Cheers!

Alex

Of scents and some sense...

After the trip from Philippines, I haven't got much chance to take some new photographs.

Lots of new stuff going on at work and what not.

(In fact, I think I'm just lazy to think of some new projects for now.)

Fortunately,  I got some small things to do at the side keeping my photographic energy alive.

My wife and her friend got into a small hobby of making home-made perfumes for friends and relatives.

I was assigned to take photos of the products.

My task was to make a small DIY (Do-it-youself) studio at home and be a little creative in presenting the products.

Not bad as a challenge.

Home-made perfumes for gift purposes only. 

Home-made perfumes for gift purposes only.

Perfume for gift purposes only

These home-made oil-based perfumes really smells good, last a long time and cheaper to make.

Although I love to do outdoors sessions, this small project at least woke me up from my laziness.

Or did it?

I had a realization, a vision.

Spent some of my weekends shooting outdoors.

Spent nights reading about photography and lighting.

I love what I'm doing. (Except for sitting in front of the PC editing photos)

But I am not a photographer.

I consider photography as just one of my skills.

Something that I still want to improve more.

A  hobby (and some small income) I am enjoying.

No more, no less.

I also have other dreams and goals I want to pursue.

Who knows? Everything is possible in this universe of endless possibility. (Say what?)

My love for photography hasn't faded, it's just that I have other things I decided to prioritize.

I will still accept and do some photography projects from time to time.

Just a little bit less active.

I hope that make sense.



Cheers.


Alex

"A sister is a friend forever"

The bond between sisters is truly special and unique. Just like these two beautiful flowers, Angelyn and Angelica share a close sisterly bond that is filled with love, laughter, and endless support.

There's something truly special about the bond between sisters. They're not just family, they're friends who have been with us through every stage of life - from childhood memories to grown-up dreams. As someone with two sisters of my own, I can attest to the fact that there's no better friend than a sister.

This is a beautiful sentiment that we should all take to heart. Our loved ones are truly precious, and it's important to cherish every moment we have with them. Whether it's through spending quality time together, sharing a meal, or simply expressing our love and gratitude, let's make an effort to show our appreciation for those who mean the most to us. Life is short, and we never know when our time with our loved ones will come to an end. So let's make the most of every opportunity we have to create memories and strengthen our relationships. Cheers to treasuring those special people in our lives!

Alex

PS: I love to do family portraits like this, please do contact me if you ever need one. 

Portrait #11 Angelica

I was able to take portraits of my teenage niece Angelica,older sister of Angelyn.

We made some quick snapshots of her in the middle of a dry rice paddy and around some grasses.

My hometown have a lot of very nice location for portraits.

This one is taken a few meters from our home. 

She changed into a black dress and we moved into a new location.

I enjoyed taking photos of the two sisters.

Just some of the few photos I was able to take.

I was hoping to take a lot of photos of my friends and family.

Unfortunately, my schedule didn't allow me.

I hope you enjoyed the few ones Iv'e got. 

Cheers.

Alex

#10 Angelyn

I am still ongoing with my personal project of collecting portraits of friends and family.

Lately, I visited my home country Philippines.

My niece Angelyn is my model number 10.

Next portrait will be of her older sister.

I'm halfway to my 20 portraits target.

Cheers.


Alex

Memoirs of last summer

I am Summer, came to lure you away from your computers (and smartphones)... come dance on my fresh grass, dig your toes into my beaches. ~Ora Greenian

Bamboo Island, Thailand

Spring flew by swiftly, and now we welcome the warm embrace of summer.

A time to shed not only the layers of clothing, but also the weight of stress and tension.

Gather all those you hold dear, call upon your closest companions.

Let us venture to the nearest shore and create everlasting memories under the sun.

Allow me to tempt you with the sweet allure of summer's bliss.

Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's surrounded by 100-meter high cliffs on three sides. Inside the bay there are several beaches. The main one is around 200 meters long with silky soft white sand, underwater colorful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water.

Maya Bay has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since "The Beach" was filmed here in 1999. It was always very popular before the film but now people around the world who haven't even heard of Phi Phi have certainly heard of Maya Bay.

Bamboo Island, Thailand

Bamboo island is remote and less famous than the beach of Maya Bay. But as always in Phi Phi, and especially during the peak season from December to March, it's crowded.

A small island with stunning white sand and crystal clear water. 

Pang Nga Bay, Thailand

Pang Nga , Thailand

Phang Nga is a province equally renowned for its beautiful land, spectacular bay, and amazing islands. Most famous is Phang Nga Bay National Park, a wonderful place filled with islets, sunken caverns, and amazing rock formations rising vertically out of the sea.

James Bond Island, Thailand

James Bond Island is a famous landmark in Phang Nga Bay. It first found its way onto the international tourist map through its appearance in the James Bond movie "The Man with the Golden Gun".

 

Enjoying our long tail boat ride

Summer's fleeting, so let's seize the day and make it last.

Let's swim in the ocean, ride the waves, hike in the mountains, climb the rocks, dive into the sea, fly a kite, dance under the sun, and sing with our friends.

Let our hearts guide us to new experiences.

Let's make memories that will last a lifetime.

For who knows when summer will come again?

Kayaking at Pang Nga

While we’re young and beautiful, living free and easy. Here without a worry, dancing in our bare feet because when the summer’s done we might not be so young and beautiful. - Unknown

Vacations doesn't need to be in beautiful places though, what matters most is that you spend it with the people that matters to you the most.

I hope you enjoyed our photos.

If you did, please let us know in the comment section below.

Cheers!

Alex