Travel

1. Have you been to all the countries / places you have reviewed?

Yes, I am not in the habit of doing cold research (via Internet / guidebooks) for travel. All pictures posted here are owned by me unless otherwise mentioned.

2. How do you plan for a trip and how long does it take you?

It depends whether I have been to that destination before and also, how long I’ll be in that country for.

I am somewhat a research monster who needs to know everything about the country. For my 2015 Sydney-Melbourne trip which I planned entirely, it took me about 4-5 months of planning with perhaps 2-3 hours of research each week. I usually start off with travel guide books, plot a Google Map and book a few hotels with free cancellations.

By the end of the planning, I would have a complete itinerary from getting on the plane to end to departing the destination.

I think this is why my friends like to travel with me, it’s like having a walking encyclopedia.

3. Are you a rigid traveller?

Not in the least. Because I’d have swallowed the travel book in its entirety, I am perfectly flexible to cancel plans and be spontaneous.

4. How do you afford such frequent travel?

Easy peasy – I am financially stable and I don’t spend beyond my means. I don’t crave luxurious items / branded products and I don’t eat meals above $30 on most occasions.

When I’m traveling, I usually skimp on accommodation and stay in hostels because I am comfortable with communal living. I eat frequent but small meals, usually street side food or local restaurants.

 

Equipment and Photography

1. What camera(s) do you use?

If my friend, Roger shoots for me, he uses mostly DSLRs.

If I shoot, I use a point & shoot camera. I started out using a Sony Cybershot and now I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60. If I don’t have a camera on me, I use my iPhone 5S.

2. What do you use to edit your photos?

I use mostly PhotoScape for better clarity. Roger uses AfterLight.