Capture the Colour 2013

Colourful Island of Burano, Italy
The colourful homes on Burano, Italy.

This year marks the second year the Capture the Colour Photo Contest is running and I’m excited to be participating this time! Bloggers have been challenged to showcase five travel photos that best represent the colours of these five categories: red, blue, green, yellow, and white. Of course these categories can be interpreted in any way or form and some of the photos coming in are really creative.

The hardest part of this challenge was picking just one photo for each category. I poured over thousands of images spanning over 7 years of travel. The result was a trip down memory lane as each photo represents more than just a colour but a personal travel story. Read more “Capture the Colour 2013”

Video: 8-Month Backpacking Trip Montage

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Checking out Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand, nearing the end of our trip.

Everyone loves a good montage video, myself included. But when it came time to put my own together, I was confronted with the amount of footage I had to work with. Over the course of an 8-month backpacking trip that saw Tristan and I travel through China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, we had shot a total of 1862 video clips, amounting to 201.18GB of data.

Just last week, Tristan and I celebrated our 1-year return-aversary. As the months, weeks, and days grew closer to that milestone, I found myself feeling more and more anxious. I couldn’t believe how fast the time was flying and I so desperately wanted to hold on to the incredible memories from our time on the road. There hasn’t been a day since we returned that I haven’t thought about that trip. I knew I owed it to ourselves to put something together that could encapsulate those months. The pressure was on. Read more “Video: 8-Month Backpacking Trip Montage”

Photo Essay: Travel Patterns

What to see and do in Malaysia.
Part of the exterior of Masjid Negara (the National Mosque of Malaysia). Kuala Lumpur.

It’s easy to get caught up in the sweeping landscapes, stunning architecture, and colourful cultures when we’re traveling. I know, I do it all the time! But sometimes the beauty of a destination lies in the details. It’s not until we stop and take a moment to really look at a place that the character of a destination can shine through. Over the past couple of years, I made a point to focus on and photograph the smaller aspects of travel and the results have been amazing. Below are some of my favourite abstract shots (if you will) of my time backpacking through Southeast Asia. Read more “Photo Essay: Travel Patterns”

The Art of Travel Videography, an Interview With Mike Corey

Travel Videography with Mike CoreyIt’s the second installment of my interview series and I’m so excited to be talking all things “video” with one of the most talented and inspiring travel videographers out there right now, Mike Corey from Kick The Grind. Mike is one of those guys who proves that passion and serious dedication mean a heck of a lot more than training in a classroom. Combining his education in biology, love for travel, and the motivation to teach himself how to shoot and produce videos, has resulted in some incredible travel videography. Seriously, this guy inspires me to step up my game after every video he produces.

I was very excited to be able to talk travel and, more importantly, pick his brain about travel videography.  Read more “The Art of Travel Videography, an Interview With Mike Corey”

How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Southeast Asia?

How much does it cost to travel through Southeast Asia?Southeast Asia is an incredible region to explore with postcard perfect beaches, ancient temple ruins, street food to delight the taste buds, and some seriously stunning scenery. And with its amazing affordability and well-trodden route, it’s a backpacker’s dream.

So how affordable is it really? How much would it cost to backpack through Southeast Asia for say 5 or 6 months? The answer might just blow you away.

From October 2011 to February 2012, Tristan and I backpacked through the region for 5 months, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It was part of a larger 8-month trip that had us starting off in China and wrapping up in Australia and New Zealand.

During our trip, I kept a very detailed account of how much and what we were spending our money on. At the time, it was our way of staying on budget, to know at any given time how much we had already spent and how much we had left to play with. Now, it’s become a phenomenal resource to reference. Read more “How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Southeast Asia?”