When things go wrong while travelling.
I've travelled a lot in my life - with and without kids. And I will continue to travel for as long as I can, as much as I can.
We always remember the good times, even though they aren't all good. Now it's time to crack open the treasure chest and let a few rip...
In this series, I will tell the tales of when things go wrong. It can be near disaster to mild discomfort. Embrace it. If you travel, you will chance upon some not so positive times. Learn from the experience of others, realise you are not the only one. It's all part of the journey. Without fear, new adventures and mild despair, there is no learning, excitement and wonder. Lean into the fear. If you feel uncomfortable, that is where life is changing.
Some of the lessons I'm probably yet to learn, but here are my experiences.
#1 Most Dramatic. The tsunami.
Ok, so before I go much further, let me explain. A tsunami didn't eventuate, but for about five hours we thought a disaster was on its way.
We were strolling through the gardens of our resort, back to our beachfront villa, when another Aussie guest came zooming past on a golf cart yelling 'a tsunami is coming, quick, a tsunami is coming'. Hubby and I, strollers holding our two sleeping children in front of us, look at each other confused, then decide to turn back to the reception area where we had just come from to check what is happening.
A leisurely stroll through the tropical gardens after checking flight details turns to a speedy workout pushing strollers up the nearest mountain.
'Yes, there is a tsunami warning. We are recommending all guests head up to the roof of the hotel.'
'Um, ok'. We turn to where she is pointing, my heart is pounding, and wonder how we are going to lug both strollers up the five flights (plus) of stairs. Something catches my eye as we look. It's the staff carpark - what seems like every staff member of the hotel is jumping on their bike and zooming off. I get even more concerned. Me always being inquisitive, I ask the doorman where they are going. 'Up the hill or to their home', he replies.
'Where would you go?' I ask. He points through the carpark and says there is a big hill right there that goes straight up. We make our decision, thank him and start running.
He is right; the hill starts just the other side of the road from where the car park sits. About a third of the way up I decide we need to buy as much water as we can - since we could be stuck up there for god knows how long. I beeline it into a closed restaurant and ask for water. She only has four bottles left, so I buy them all. We then continue our ascent.
We must look tired, or the locals are ultra friendly. A couple of times a friendly local comes and picks up our strollers and carries them up the hill for us. On one location, the local insists we are high enough, that the water won't make it this high, but I can see more hill and more altitude, so we push on. Sweat is pouring down our foreheads and backs, it's amazing the energy you have with adrenalin pumping fierce through every body part.
Half way up the hill. Lots of locals felt comfortable stopping here to wait in the shade but I kept thinking 'there is more hill, more safety'. So we kept hiking up.
Finally, we make it nearly to the top. We are high, and I am satisfied that no wave will reach us here. My heart is still pumping at dizzying speed. Now my mind is asking a million questions.
How will I feed Ashton, who is bottle fed, with only one bottle of formula?
What if Belle gets hungry?
Oh no, I've lost all my photos of the trip?
I've lost my computer, and my work?
How will we get to the airport?
I don't want to go to the airport; it's at sea level.
It's going to be crazy, and dirty, and still life-threatening when this ends.
How long will we be stranded in Phuket for?
We rested here until the lovely local came and asked us back to her home around the corner.
A beautiful local on her scooter potters past and asks us back to her home. She is asking all the families back to her home for food and to sleep. We take her up on the offer. It's only 50m or so further up the hill, and it means the kids will be out of the sun.
Another Australian family from the resort we are staying at comes to the house also. Belle plays with the little boy while Ashton sleeps - oblivious as to why we are up a hill in the middle of nowhere. Our friendly locals feed them colourful sugar treats, packets of chips and, as night falls, cooks us all up eggs, vegetables and rice.
During the hours we spend with them, they are watching the news on tv and trying to translate what is being reported.
We hear -
Indonesia is wiped out
Hundreds have already been killed
The wave will hit Phuket about 9 pm
There are three 8m waves
Belle had no idea what was happening. She was happy to get to watch stuff on a new friends iPad.
Meanwhile, Ashton was getting hungry. With only a couple of mineral waters and one formula bottle, I had help trying to entertain and distract him.
So you can understand we are trembling with fear while trying to remain calm. I ask the Australian mum of a little boy Ashton's age if she can breastfeed Ashton if needed. I also ask them if I can borrow their phone to call home. I phone my Dad, the only number I can remember, and tell him what is happening - then to pass the information on to the rest of the family. I don't know if I can ever explain the feeling of telling your dad that you are in a life-threatening situation, thousands of kilometres away, but 'should' be ok. 'I love you' seems so much stronger than any other time.
Ben also starts asking a few questions -
Shall I go down and get the formula
What if we go halfway down and find out what is happening
Should I go down and get a bag full of stuff - it's not meant to be here in the next hour
Of course, I say no, it's not worth risking his life over. The wave could hit at any time - we only hear very roughly translated news reports.
Everyone helped to entertain the kids as the hours ticked on.
Or maybe the kids entertained the tourists?
And new friendships kindled. Apparently Belle invited him to her birthday party a few months later. He lives in a different city.
At 9.30pm, after our local family had offered us, and ten others, their precious 3x3m tiled lounge floor to sleep on, we cautiously (and me very scared) inch back down the mountain. Lights around the town. There are few people moving around the streets. I am scared and don't want to go back to our beachfront resort. I convince Ben to see if we can get a room in a hotel on the hill somewhere. We try the first one we see but it seems nobody is there. The second one is full. Then we see a tourist family walking towards us. We ask what is happening. They say 'we think it is all called off'. Not the most reassuring, but it does make me feel slightly better.
There is nothing else between our hotel and us so we dash to the reception. They confirm the tsunami is called off, and we can return to our rooms. But I'm not convinced. We are in a beachfront room and I can't shake my tension. I ask for a high floor room and am told all are full. Shattered, I ask if we can move resorts. But after a couple of calls, we are not having much luck. They offer to test our room alarm for us, which goes off in a tsunami warning. I agree.
Finally, at midnight, I sleep lightly while Ben is awake watching tv and catching up on tea. Our daypacks are packed, ready to run, sitting near the doorway tonight. Later, when I notice Ben has turned the light off, I sleep even lighter, listening to every noise. To say I had a bad sleep was an understatement - I couldn't wait to leave in a few days time. But, that wasn't to be the end of it.
Just before dawn the next morning, our alarm goes off. I am up and out of bed, daypack on back and putting both kids in the strollers before Ben could even turn the light on. I didn't care I was in my summer pyjamas and that everyone would see. I commented I could smell smoke when we opened the door then ran. Not many others were up, but I didn't care. We made it to Reception in record time and were surprised only to see a few people there. I would have thought if a tsunami was coming, everyone would be hasty.
But not everyone was there because there was no tsunami coming. It was a false alarm, the alarm going off by accident. I would normally have been furious, but I was too exhausted. We had only managed a few hours sleep, the kids eyes were goggling with tiredness, and now we were up for the day.
Ben and I commented that day, if it weren't for our flight leaving the next day, we would be making arrangements to go home early. There is only so much you can take in one holiday, and this experience, on top of Ashton cutting a tooth and running fevers for the first seven days, was just too much.
I think we got high enough. Even if three eight-metre waves had been on their way.
FYI, the movement that happened underwater that set off the tsunami warnings ended up being peaceful. The tectonic plates moved horizontally instead of vertically causing a minor ripple. Apparently, with the movement, if they had moved horizontally, this story would have had a very different ending. A tsunami bigger than the Boxing Day one would have been on its way. So we are told.
Note to self.
Try to listen to people with better English.
Keep my phone usable but just disabled.
Learn an escape route on arrival at the holiday destination.
What have you learned from something going wrong on holiday?
Photographers and travel. What do they take?
The time when I go 'oops'. What is the most wanted thing for a photographer to pack when travelling?
Q. What do you think would be the first thing a photographer packs when travelling?
A. Their camera.
Yes, that is correct. And you would expect they would never forget it. As an extension of their body - it goes everywhere.
Well, guess what I did recently?
I love using the Tilt Shift feature in Instagram for adding more interest to an otherwise 'flat' image.
I forgot my camera. On a trip to Queensland. To the Sunshine Coast.
I stressed for about two hours or so, trying to figure out what to do. Hubby suggested getting it expressed up (bless him). I briefly thought of hiring. Then I settled on using my iPhone. That's what most people do - isn't it?
And for the most part, it worked fine. Yes, I haven't looked at the photos enlarged yet - so disappointment hasn't settled - but I feel comfortable. I look at it as great practical training for my Better Pics for Business eCourse research.
Everyone photoraphs the giraffes. I wanted to try something different. These reeds looked all fluffy and cute.
I tried playing with Apps but ended up using the standard camera most of the time. I used the swipe function on the screen for force increasing/decreasing exposure and selecting focus area. I also did a few panoramics. When uploading to Instagram, I used some filters.
I loved not being burdened by the weight of my DSLR. I loved looking like a normal tourist with a phone camera rather than someone taking a 'proper photo'.
Street shots were the hardest subject to photograph with my iPhone. I don't like using the zoom and sometimes standing in the middle of the road to get the photo wasn't the best idea.
I didn't like that I couldn't do everything I was used to. Some exposures didn't work out. I couldn't work as quick. I don't like the fact that if I have a 'wow' photo, I can't use it for much else than online. I know I'm not going to enjoy looking at the sensor latitude. There will be highlight blowouts or dark and deep shadows.
My final thoughts - I would like to try a mirrorless. A Fujifilm or similar. Something small but high quality. Something I can add to a carry-on bag with clothing instead of carrying an extra bag. Any personal recommendations?
Leading lines through photography
I just love to follow a line - with my eyes, along a path, while writing, dancing.
In photography, it is accepted that the eye follows lines into a photograph, so you should aim to place your point of interest where the line ends.
I'm talking about just this, this week in Better Pics for Business. I looked through my images and found some of my faves that demonstrate it.
Take a look at some of your fave pics and see if they have leading lines. I bet some of them do. Whether it is virtual, with light or with colour.
The set of waves rolling in makes me want to look deeper along the coast.
The patterns in the sand draw the eye through from bottom to top.
The doors lead the eye in the room. The lines of the floor boards and rug lead them in further.
The hands lead the eye in to the focus of this image, the wine glasses.
10 'meh' places I've traveled to...
Places that didn't get me going 'oh yeah!' Do you have any?
By 'meh' I mean places that didn't grab me, I didn't enjoy, didn't live up to expectations... If I went again, I might think differently. My experience, my story - not factual.
I wanted to come up with 10, but couldn't. I am appreciative of all the places that I have been, and can always find some positives, but here goes.
1. Karon, Phuket - found the staff at the hotel and restaurants to be not very helpful, got stuck up a mountain for five hours with a baby and toddler due to a tsunami warning (absolutely not Phuket's fault), itchy sea water, not much shopping but concrete city feel. Wouldn't rush back - but rather go to the outer lying areas of Phuket or a different part of Thailand.
2. Tuban, Bali - grey sand, right near the airport... you get the idea.
3. Venice - WHAT? You say. Well, the experience I had there of dark and grey waterways left me somewhat 'is that all?' I also got lost one day and had to walk a very long way back to the cruise liner I worked on. We also picked a lousy restaurant to eat at. I'd give Venice another go, though.
4. Nadi, Fiji - I'd stay a night if I have to, to get to where I want to go. Although I did find the market interesting to meet locals, there wasn't much else here for me. Let me know if I missed something.
5. Kuta/Legian, Bali - seems like I'm dogging down on Bali, but I'm not. Just getting fussy. I call this area concrete city with bogans. Lots of hawkers (that I can handle), tourists walking around with a beer in hand first thing in the morning, tourists being crude, tourists being rude...
6. Cruise ship ports - although I've never been a tourist on a cruise ship, I have worked on one. It sounds dreamy, cruising the Greek Islands through Croatia from Venice. But, the reality of being in port with thousands of others for a short amount of time is far from idyllic. If I got off the ship, I would always head in the complete opposite direction to the guests. I like to discover the different things and not be in a crowd of tourists.
7. Surfers Paradise, Australia - ok, so I have never stayed here, but I did venture through here while holidaying a few suburbs south. It's too built up, too commercialised for me.
Where is your 'meh' place?
10 places I must see in my life
Having kids doesn't stop the travel - perception and effort does. It's time to work on bucket list destinations - kids or no kids.
I have lived in Greece, and would love to travel back. But get scared that it won't live up to my expectations and memories. I want to be let down by my memories of my time there about ten years go. Do you ever feel the same?
1. Cuba - the old world, the cars, the dancing, the music, the colour.
2. Hawaii - the beaches, the surfing, the countryside, the little unknown places on the islands.
3. Northern Lights - magic. I'd love to stay in one of the igloo hotels and watch the lights dance from bed.
4. US - a road trip from the skyscrapers of New York to the trams of San Francisco. And everything in between. Not too much to ask?
5. Mexico - Spanish, mexican food, the west coast, maybe a bit of touristy stuff. Really would love to hang out here.
6. Northeast, Brazil. I've already been, but I have to do it again. The beaches, the architecture, the culture... the caipirinhas and batidas. Yum.
7. Antarctica. I hate the cold, but this would be worth it. Little penguins, grand icescapes - a completely foreign environment.
8. Necker Island - of course, complete with Richard Branson. I have the opportunity to go next year but don't have the $$$. One day. Why not?
9. White Christmas in Europe. I'm not sure exactly where, but somewhere that is a little more 'snowy and white' than the London white Christmas sprinkle I had back in 2003.
10. Australian road trip. This is something that may be scheduled on the calendar very soon. I want to go all around. Perhaps not in the one trip, maybe a few. One up the East Coast. The second over to the west and down the guts of Aussie. And then another for Tassie and the Great Ocean Road again (third time).
What have I missed? I'm sure there are some places where later I'll think 'ahh, that is a top ten'.
Where does your ultimate travel list take you to? Please comment below. Maybe I can add it to mine. :)
Want to get more action in your social media feed?
Sick of ugly and boring photos? Do something about it. Better Pics for Business starts March 1st.
Better Pics for Business is opening its doors on Tuesday, March 1st. Only a few more days to register. Have you jumped onboard?
Do you want a better social media feed?
Do you want a better e-shopfront?
Do you want more clients?
Sick of taking photos that aren't how you thought they would turn out?
Tried to be smart - but ended up with blurry pics?
Not quite sure how to get your subject of focus looking its best?
You know the best bet is to hire a professional photographer, but sometimes you don't have time or the money. Yes, you will hire a pro for major stuff, but what about your social media? You try to do it yourself. But it just doesn't work out the same - nowhere near. Well, how about learning some easy tips and tricks easily that will turn your photos from blah to wow?
In 8 weeks, Better Pics for Business will get your photo feed looking more inviting, attractive, interesting and... just a bit more wow.
What is it?
Online course/mentoring run by me, Heidi, of heidi who photos. I have over ten years experience in location photography.
What does this experience mean for your learning? You won't need all the bells and whistles to get great looking photos. You don't need to spend a fortune on a camera and all the bits. I know cheat tips, how to work quickly, natural light, making people comfortable in front of the camera - everything you will need to get good looking pics yourself.
It's part course, part mentoring. No point learning it, then doing nothing with it. Each week you will have homework to practice what you are learning. There's also a community to learn and share with. Help each other, and learn from each other.
We will be focusing on the story and helpful tips rather than the geeky numbers and stats. Yes, there is a bit of geek, but it's more about how to use any camera to get a "Like' worthy photo or two.
Photography goes a long way in gaining interest from potential clients. Don't turn them away with a dodgy looking online presence. Don't let yourself down.
And, as a subscriber of heidi who travels, you get it at the awesome price of $149 instead of $295 using this (ugly) link...
https://www.sentrylogin.com/sentry/member_signup.asp?Site_ID=17777&Ppl_ID=21862&tk=
If you need to know a bit more, you can find out all about the course at www.heidiwho.com/betterpicsforbusiness .
If you can't do the course now, it will be run again later in the year, or you can join anytime and do it at your own pace. However the discount won't last. It's only until March 1st.
Where am I going?
Where I'm going in the near future. Contact me if you need anything.
Assignment? Stock photos? Article? Coffee? Wine?
Find out where I am, and we can do business :)
Suggestions, ideas or commissions welcome.
August 2016 - Melbourne, Victoria
October 2016 - Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, Sydney
October/November 2016 - Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Clare Valley, Barossa, Limestone Coast, Yorke Peninsula. Road trips. *Enquire about my new $400 Editorial Package I am offering on these trips.
Early 2017 - Tasmania, Victoria
If you are interested to know more about dates, email me at heidi@heidiwho.com.
*this list will be updated in Blog when required. Please subscribe to keep up to date.
Top 10 travels so far...
My fave places so far on my life travels... Share yours with me.
In no particular order...
Tell me where your favourite places are. I love to add to my 'where to go next' list. :)
I'm on a roll, just wait until the 10 'meh' places and the 10 must see in my life places...
2016 - want to learn?
Who wants to learn how to get better photos? MENTORING ECOURSE STARTS ON MARCH 1ST - COME JOIN US!
And welcome to 2016! I hope this year is a year full of fun, excitement, adventure and love for you. In all areas of your life - personal, career and family.
I read something from a good friend of mine today, about setting your intentions on progress rather than goals. I love it. So often we are disappointed when we don't reach our lofty goals. Setting the bar high can be good, so long as you don't beat yourself up if you don't achieve exactly what you set out to do. What is that saying about reaching the stars? I forget. I guess that is also why many business plans are set out with many smaller tasks and activities scheduled to achieve the one big goal. Like a ladder - step by step.
This year, that is what I am doing. Taking things one step at a time. To have my intentions but not dwell on achieving them. I'm going to look more at my little steps. From small things big things grow. For me, it's new beginnings. I'm continuing with my location photography but also introducing a stock photography library, developing my blog and an app, and something else rather special...
So, with that. I'd like to announce the first round of my eCourse 'Better Pics for Business' (check out promo link at end of this). It's all about learning how to get better photos for your social media, newsletters and general business stuff. Of course, there is always going to be a place for a pro photographer (can I suggest myself :) ) but sometimes you just need to get some pics. We all know how important visuals are, especially with so much competing for attention in the online world. We need to stand out and be personal and unique - and grab attention to get more attention.
Instead of talking all tech and geeking out on you, we are going to go through the storytelling aspect of the photo, talk about things to think about when aiming up your camera. AND, it's not just for fancy DSLR users, you can learn with any camera or device that takes a photo. It will be fun.
Members will get homework and feedback - to make sure you learn what is taught rather than finishing up with fuzzies still going around in your head. I guess it's a bit like a mentoring group.
I realise that you can do any number of online courses, in-person worksops or learn for free via YouTube - but the thing that is missing is the feedback on your photos, unique learnings and techniques that you need. With the Better Pics for Business course, you have the opportunity to tailor what you need and get the answers.
Check it out at www.heidiwho.com/betterpicsforbusiness. Starts Tuesday 1st March. AND... as a reader of heidiwhotravels you will receive the course at nearly 50% off! To get your discounted rate make sure you use the link below - this is the only place you will find the discounted rate.DON'T FOLLOW THE LINKS IN THE SHOP PAGE - UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FULL PRICE. :)
Feel free to email or phone me if you have any q's - I'd love to chat.
When to hire a photographer.
Why should you invest in a professional photographer? Can you get away with not using one?
'I'll just take the photo on my iPhone. I don't need to waste that sort of money to get someone to come and get the photo for me.'
'I can't afford a photographer. Plus, my son has a big camera with lens thingy, so I'll just use that.'
'I'll just grab some images off the net. They will do.'
A photograph I took recently for Adelaide Shores of their new pool area. On shoot, I interacted with 'mum and dad' plus the two children to get the look we were after. Three different families, none had ever met each other before. None with modeling experience. I think they did well. In retouching, I had to add blue sky, lighten bodies, remove distractions etc along with all the usual adjustments ensuring colour, contrast and horizon line are all correct.
I've heard all of these statements, plus more, in my life. These can be modified for different circumstances (i.e., weddings or portraits), but essentially, mean the same. It's a lack of knowledge and power on the consumer. Perhaps they are time poor and don't do the research. Or, if they do know how important photography is, it's a lack of commitment - of leaning into the 'fear' of spending money on a photographer. After all, you can't see the product you are buying before it's taken. It's risky - or at least, you think it is. You have to commit, and then wait to see the results.
So, are these statements incorrect? Some would scream and rant 'absolutely!' But I believe there is some truth in them.
Yes, photographers can be expensive. And with anything worthwhile, you get what you pay for.
Yes, it takes an effort to hire a photographer. The right photographer.
Yes, sometimes you can stuff up and hire the wrong photographer or get the wrong results.
Yes, you can take the photos for yourself - but do you know what you are doing?
Yes, microstock is a damn lot cheaper than hiring a photographer. You could get 100 photos for the price you would pay a photographer to take a couple of you.
BUT...
Photographers have studied the craft of design, light, composition and working with people in uncomfortable (not many of us actually like sitting in front of a lens) situations. This takes years of study, application and dedication. Photography for the photographer can be a lifestyle - all consuming.
Photographers know how to get the best results. They know how to shoot into the sun and still get detail. They know how to compose for interest. They know how to look at the light. They know how to pose subjects. They know how to tell a story in a single frame. They know their camera settings and how to work their camera to its limits. 'P' on a camera doesn't stand for 'Professional'.
If you hire through a recommendation or search an organisation like AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) to find a photographer, the risk is monumentally minimised. If you get organised with ideas, what you need out of the shoot, sample images, shot list - and communicate it all with the photographer - you will (I would expect) be on the same page and get the results you want and need.
Stock photography has its place. But in the world we live in, everything is becoming more personalised. Even (or especially) online. Your customer wants to know about you. When a picture tells a thousand words, and attention span is limited, a photograph is a perfect answer.
Stock photography can't help with the 'About Us' page, events, specific items you sell or create, or tell a story of 'behind the scenes'.
Commissioning a photographer will get you these things. Yes, you invest more money but it will make your marketing dollar go further. Photography is the investment in your marketing. It is the foundation. We all know what happens when a house is built on a sloppy foundation. You don't need an earthquake to see it quickly crumble, crack and fall. The same is true with your advertisements and promotion.
Again, a bunch of people that had to act like friends for this shot for YHA Port Lincoln. I needed to know my camera limits for this shot so I could expose for outside, inside and movement. Retouching also included selective lightening and darkening of areas plus spot colour correction.
So, when to hire a photographer...
ALWAYS!!! We love our job and want to help. I want to help show off the world to the world in as many ways as possible. So feel free to contact me whenever you need.
But seriously.
For social media updates or smaller in-house projects where there is no budget or time for a photographer, perhaps you could study a short course. That way, you know the basics to get yourself out of trouble and get the best possible photograph. There is no point in putting up a photograph on social media that doesn't tell a story, is blurry, or looks ugly - nobody will pay attention.
My eCourse and mentoring program Better Pics for Business is starting in March. It's a great way of learning the basics of photography in a hands-on, personal way. Join us.
For website and print imagery, advertisements and campaigns - always speak with a photographer. They will get you the results you need to gain attention in the marketplace.
If in doubt, contact a photographer - you will soon work out what you can do. We are here to help you.
