The Grand Trans-Siberian Express Experience Part 1: Moscow to Yekaterinburg

August 12, 2017 in Travel, Video, Best of the Blog

INTRODUCTION

THE GRAND TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS is the premium version* of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway journey. The GTSE is an all-inclusive "cruise on rails" using a private charter train, with luxury accommodations and fine dining from start to finish onboard the train and at designated stops along the way. Our chosen route took us from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia**, over the course of 12 days, with guided day trips in between long hours in transit on the train.

I had the good fortune of joining this trip thanks to Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The GTSE also generously upgraded us to their premium, $12,000++ Deluxe Gold Cabins.

The video above is a 7-part anthology of short films that capture my experience onboard, a highlight reel of memorable experiences onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express, taken during the summer of 2017.

This is the first in a six-part series of blog posts about my experience onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express. To read the other parts, click here:

Part 2: Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk

Part 3: Irkutsk

Part 4: Lake Baikal

Part 5: Ulan-Ude and Tarbagatay

Part 6: Ulaanbaatar and Terelj National Park, Mongolia

PART 1: Moscow to Yekaterinburg

Hyperlapsing around Manila

January 03, 2017 in Travel, Video, Photography

Here's "Manilapse," my first piece for 2017! Teaching myself to hyperlapse on a day around Manila last year. Turns out it's hard work to shoot and even harder to edit cleanly. Practice, practice!

Locations:

0:00-0:12 Rizal Park

0:15-0:25 Quiapo

0:26-End Around Manila Bay

All shot on a Sony A7RII with a Canon EF 24-105 L IS on a Metabones adapter and a Sony FE 24-240 f3.5-6.3.

Back to Heaven

December 28, 2016 in Video, Travel

A time-lapse micro short exploring the idea of how it feels to go home, put together using footage I had been saving but never got to add to. Warming up for a longer piece in 2017. Shot by Taal Lake, Batangas, Philippines.

(At time of posting, for some reason the 4K option isn't appearing, but 2K is still available.)

Stars over Pike's Peak and the Garden of the Gods, with a spotlight falling on (I think) the Kissing Camels rock formation

Siamese Twins, a Gathering Storm, and the Stars

October 18, 2016 in Photo Diaries, Photography, Travel

Part 4 of 4 of my Photo Diary of a visit to Colorado Springs in August 2016. For part 3, where I ride the Pike's Peak Cog Railway on a snowy day, click here.

On my last full day in Colorado Springs before flying to San Francisco, I decided to take advantage of the good weather to have another hike around the Garden of the Gods.

My agenda was to hike my way to the dramatic Siamese Twins rock formation and catch a photo of the famous Pike's Peak through a "natural window" at the Twins.

I am now a starving artist living in a desert of possibility. Kidding, I live in Manila!

Two Years After "Mini-Retirement:" 5 Things I've Learned

October 13, 2016 in On My Mind, Travel

I originally had another post planned for today, but Facebook happened to remind me that today, two years ago, is when I posted by first big blog hit, "Mini-Retirement in your 20s." I thought it would be good to take stock on everything that's happened since then, and whether or not that decision was as worth it as I thought it would be.

Totally socked in... But it made for unique visuals!

Colorado Springs Photo Diary Part 3: A Snowy Ride on the Pike's Peak Cog Railway

October 12, 2016 in Photo Diaries, Travel

Part 3 of 4 of my Photo Diary of a visit to Colorado Springs in August 2016. For part 2, where I visit the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, click here.

Going up the summit of Pike's Peak, the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America at 14,115 feet, was high on my list of priorities for visiting Colorado Springs. While I originally wanted to climb it via the Barr Trail, with its 8000 feet of elevation gain over just 13 miles, there wasn't enough time, so I opted to take the Pike's Peak Cog Railway. Given the way the weather was, it turned out to be the right decision!

The Garden of the Gods, one of America's best National Parks, and in the distance, 14,000-ft Pike's Peak

Colorado Springs Photo Diary Part 1: First Look at The Garden of the Gods

October 09, 2016 in Travel, Photography, Photo Diaries

Part 1 of 4 of my Photo Diary of a visit to Colorado Springs in August 2016

I was pretty stoked to be visiting Colorado for the very first time, even though I was just there for barely a week. While I regularly visit the US, I usually stay on the coasts (California, mostly), and it was my first time to go inside, as it were. Being a lover of looking at big mountains, Colorado was the perfect first destination --- specifically, Colorado Springs.

A JOURNEY OF 200,00 MILES BEGINS WITH... getting your Platinum card

That Time I Won 200,000 Air Miles With a Photo

September 27, 2016 in On My Mind, Photography, Travel, News, Best of the Blog, Air Travel

For those of you who haven't heard this story yet, it's actually simple and soon-stated. Upon the prodding of my frequent-flying mentor --- who prodding has led to many of the questionable and exciting things I've done with my life --- I joined the Air France KLM Flying View Photo Competition last June. With no entry fee, there was nothing to lose, so I submitted what I thought would be a strong entry, and promptly forgot about it. I've joined a good number of contests, and lost every one of them, because I suck, just kidding, but maybe I do? Anyway...

Ambon-Ambon Falls, part of Panguil River Eco-Park

Photo Diary: Laguna Waterfall Circuit with Trail Adventours, Part 2: Ambon-Ambon Falls

September 24, 2016 in Photo Diaries, Photography, Travel

Part 2 of my Photo Diary of the Trail Adventours Waterfall Circuit daytrip! (For Part 1, click here.)

After hiking back from Buntot-Palos Falls to the jumpoff point, we hopped on our van and proceeded, after a heavy lunch, to the Panguil River Eco-Park a short drive away.

The majestic Buntot-Palos Falls in Pangil, Laguna

Photo Diary: Laguna Waterfall Circuit with Trail Adventours, Part 1: Buntot-Palos Falls

September 21, 2016 in Photo Diaries, Travel, Photography

Back with another entry in my Photo Diaries series! Trail Adventours sent me to shoot photos of this twin-destination dayhike at Pangil, Laguna. These cover two separate waterfalls along the Panguil River, Buntot-Palos Falls and Ambon-Ambon Falls. This post covers the hike to Buntot-Palos Falls.