My Scholarship entry - Giving back on the road

pilgrimage — Sun, 8 Apr 2012 13:23:46 GMT

After pondering which of these topics I was going to explore, I came to the conclusion that my truly memorable travel experiences are an amalgamation of them all- so forgive me if I cross some lines in this story.
I will try to stick to giving back on the road. By this I don’t mean buying souvenirs or supporting the local economy, but the giving that can only come when you truly commit your heart and soul to making a positive change to a world other than your own. This brings me to my most recent adventure in Vietnam.
Saigon: a bustling epicentre of vendors, lights, floral displays and scooters piled with everything from children to buffalo all tooting their horns in anticipation of the Year of the Dragon. I had arrived in a group and our purpose was to head to a tiny village in the mountains and help out a local orphanage.
We reached our destination and it was not what I had expected. Instead of huts, jungle and farm animals, there were mobile phone shops, restaurants and tailors. Vietnam was a place where things were not turning out as they seemed.
The orphanage was run by Catholic nuns that provided food, shelter and comfort for young mothers throughout pregnancy and delivery. After birth, mothers leave and the nuns and other expecting girls become caretakers.
It was a lot nicer than expected. The children had a large, fenced in play area and clean, comfortable beds.
After wandering around for a while, I decided to use my initiative. I began to take washing down from clothes lines filled with tiny shirts, shorts and ao dai’s. As if on cue, the other members of my troupe joined in and we spent the next 5 hours cleaning, washing, feeding and gardening- not to mention the occasional nappy change and quick hug.
At the end of the day the sisters thanked us from their hearts; and as we got on the bus and waved goodbye, a sense of peace came over me. Today I had made someone else’s world easier, and perhaps, a little brighter. And you can’t give more than that.

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

pilgrimage — Mon, 6 Sep 2010 21:13:00 GMT

My photos are an amalgamation of my experiences in the Northern Territory, Australia. These pictures take place from the first moon rising at Uluru, all the way to the Larapinta Trail, documenting some of the finest moments I have ever experienced. I am an old hand at travelling and find I am at my best when on the road with my camera ( a simple Panasonic Lumix fz28). I'd like to think I have a keen eye for seeing truth and beauty in natural surroundings, and none is easier to steal than the outback of Australia. I chose to submit these pictures as I believe I have tried to capture not only the stunning landscape but the spirituality of the place- not an easy task in itself as it's majesty is often excluded from still images, and usually only truly experienced first hand. As for myself, I am a 31 year old primary school teacher in Melbourne that was long ago bitten by the travel bug and remained infected. It has been over 2 years since I have really travelled abroad- and whenever I do, my amazing Lumix comes with me. I am desperate to travel again and am trying in all my power to go on a new journey that has a greater purpose and learning involved. Travel photography is the perfect adventure for me as well as a sort of therapy that allows me to gain different perspectives on the places I visit. I have spent most of my life travelling for the simple discovery of it, and would now like to be able to contribute something to and from my journeys. It is important for me in my life now to acknowledge my nomadic spirit and attach it to a greater purpose in this life- education and awareness- which is most impacting via a visual medium such as photography.

Desert Adventures

My Scholarship entry - Giving back on the road

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry