15 days | Aug 2019 | Aerial view of Cappadocia, Turkey from a hot air balloon.

Quick Thoughts

The first time I visited Turkey it was focused solely on Istanbul. This time I had the opportunity to explore the country and seaside terrains with two close friends in tow. The trip began on my own in Cappadocia with the obligatory hot air balloon experience, followed by a roadtrip with friends along the southwestern coast of Turkey, and ended with a solo venture into the town of Van to - no joke - hang out with their epic cats. The perfect ingredients to create a memorable trip.

Key Highlights

Link to my collection of Instagram Stories from the trip!
Hot air balloons over Cappadocia - As mentioned it’s basically obligatory, but trust me the views are worth it.
Rooftops of Cappadocia - Just as obligatory is to catch sunrise/sunset or hot air balloon views from the countless rooftops.
Seaside town of Kas - Amazing resort-style place to relax and enjoy the stunning coastal views.
Thermal pools in Pamukkale - I’m a sucker for surrealism, and seeing this thermal snowy-white landscape did it for me.
Van Cats - I love photographing animal eyes, so when I discovered a town known for cats with heterochromia, I booked the flight immediately.
Akdamar Island - I enjoyed spending a day exploring this island on Van Lake. Most surprising thing was the number of strangers who asked for selfies with me. I don’t think many Asians visit Van.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Things to Know

I purchased my travel visa through www.ivisa.com.
Book your hot air balloon ride in advance. I don’t think it matters which agency you use, but just make sure to book the earliest morning batch of flights so you don’t miss the sunrise.
Places I stayed: Azure Cave Suites, Kookaburra Pension, Villa Hotel Tamara, Pamukkale Ninova Thermal Spa & Hotel, Mavi Panorama.

My Gear

My Prints

Bird’s Eye View

Aug 1, 2019 - Aug 15, 2019

Trip by the Photos

7 days | Jun 2019 | Drone shot of Sanctuary of Christ the King overlooking Lisbon, Portugal.

Quick Thoughts

2020 sucks.

Sorry had to get that off my chest..

Portugal though?? Amazing to say the least. I spent seven days with a close friend roadtripping across the country, constantly in a state of amazement at the surrounding wonders. We started in Lisbon, drove inland to the Serra da Estrela mountains, stopped in the vibrant city of Porto, then pivoted south along the coastline to the magical town of Sintra before capping it off back in Lisbon. Each destination has its own color and vibes which deserves undivided attention to fully appreciate it.

Best way to sum it up? If roadtripping through Portugal turned out to be the cure to a global pandemic, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Key Highlights

Link to my collection of Instagram Stories from the trip!
Porto - My biggest regret was only having a day to spend here. I’d love to spend an endless period of time exploring this city.
A child’s bliss - Being reminded that children have an amazing superpower: the ability to enjoy the little things in life, like chasing after bubbles without a care in the world.
Sintra & Azenhas do Mar - Sintra is this magical town built on an absurdly steep mountainside along the coastline. I still have residual nightmares of driving up the impossibly narrow mountain roads without smashing into everything. Yet here I am, wishing I could live there, the views are that stunning.
Lisbon’s colorful architecture.
Praça do Comércio - I enjoy taking long exposure shots, standing patiently in one place allowing time to smooth away the chaos, leaving behind motionless serenity. Trying to apply this perspective to 2020..
Sunrise shot @ Vasco da Gama Bridge - Funny enough, I was upset with myself because I forgot my main camera gear for this shoot. But it led to a much-needed revelation. I’d become overly consumed with taking the “perfect shot” that I almost forgot to enjoy the moment as it passed me by. Definitely something I’ll take to heart going forward on my future travel endeavors.
LxFactory - My favorite place to explore in Lisbon was this hipster art district.
Pastéis de Belém - The OG of egg custard cakes. Go here. Just do it.

Things to Know

Spend more time in Porto!
In Lisbon, try out the Lime scooters to get around. Cheap and quite the thrill.
Places I stayed: Porto Spot Hostel, Nice Way Sintra Palace, Lisbon Marriott Hotel, Sant Jordi Hostels Lisbon.

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