i always go back

I'm sitting here for 5 minutes now just scrolling back and forth at these photos and wondering what to say. It's not that I don't have something to say ― I just don't know how to say them because things always lose their sense when I try to take them out of my head. You've heard me say this a million times.

What I'm basically trying to do here is do a throwback of this travel in Cambodia just like how I did last year. It will be two years, 14 days from now, and every time I think of it I always consider my photos from Cambodia as the best photos I have ever taken in my short time of documenting life. I deem them as the best not because of the technicalities it bring to photography like composition, proper exposure, etc., but because when I look at them, they consistently bring me pure, peaceful memories and sensory.

The perfect combination of cool breeze and warm light.
Rich, clay-pot–colored soil covered by a carpet of dry leaves that crackle as you walk on.
Striking rays of light and patches of patterned shades.
Hearing distant conversations in languages I'll never decipher.

So happy that I've convinced myself it's okay to take a selfie (s/o to the man at the end of ramp whoever, wherever you are)

Please ignore my poor sense in fashion.

I have not taken out my Superheadz UWS after using it in this travel because the rubbery finish has turned sticky already. No thanks to my poor storage and maintenance (or lack thereof). Anyone has the same laziness as I do who could give me a tip on how to wipe it off completely?

You can view my previous posts about Cambodia here.

cambodia: bantay srei

I think I've let these photos age enough not to share the magnificence of this place. Definitely my favorite ones among the bunch of films I took home from Cambodia last year, I almost just wanted to keep them to myself.

~

And by the way, here are the winners of my giveaway :)

Congratulations to Carmela (winner of Holga 120N) and Pratiksha (winner of the film set)! :) Please email me your contact name and address at grewlegsmail@gmail.com (Pratiksha, I think I have yours already hehe). Happy shooting!

a year ago in cambodia

I got to browse my Cambodia stash again because it has been exactly a year ago today. The thought brings me both happiness and longing, to which I willingly succumb to. I spent this trip, walking in Siem Reap soil with my then-newly-acquired Pentax KX camera, loaded with black and white film, a form that I have never shot with before.

There are times that I just want to shoot exclusively with black and white film. This is one of those.

WIRED

Yes, I am still sharing photos from my Cambodia trip, and no, this is not yet the end of it. Haha! Believe me, my favorite photos still remain untouched, that means, there's more to come. 

(You have no idea, but I am secretly wiring your brain to book your trip as well through my posts, sshh :p)

I STILL SHOOT FILM

ETA: Decided to take an August Break and a little bit of a challenge through my Instagram :)

KIDS OF TONLE SAP LAKE

THE ROAD TO TONLE SAP LAKE

 

After visiting Beng Mealea, it was time for an hour drive to the largest fishwater lake in Southeast Asia. The road to the great Tonle Sap Lake and Floating Village is a journey in itself. The path is slightly narrow, almost enough for a two-way ride, but side-by-side, it houses the local Cambodian life. We even passed by a traditional wedding :)

From time to time, we are served with wide area of green fields, something that reminds me of the fields here in the Philippines. The only distinction, and a very noticeable one, is the red soil :) Even the plants and parts of the houses are red too because of the dust coming from the vehicles passing by.

When we arrived to our destination, we hopped on to our boat and listened to the engine roar. I sat, curious on a new community that lies ahead of us.