Tag: nature

Travel

Oregon Trail

“In humanity’s trails, it is ultimately landscapes which direct our journey. While some look to our footpaths, the greatest imprints will always be found in nature.”

When it comes to Oregon, it’s one of the few places I remember more for its residents than I do for its landscapes.

While most trips I sojourn alone, Oregon is a destination in which I visit family, with both my brothers living there.

What I witnessed from visiting Oregon three times in the past six years is that where you live affects the person you become. An obvious distinction, right?

But nowhere has this been more evident than Oregon, as I saw how my brothers have transformed to living in rural America, far from the metropolis that is Los Angeles. In a way, I was able to understand Trump supporters more from seeing the changes I saw in my own brothers, as they went from city liberals in their 20s to conservative hillbillies in their 30s and beyond.

Oregon averages over 40,000 incoming Californians per year, with a whopping 57% of its residents migrants from other states. So what’s driving the boom?

The state is famous for its nonexistent sales tax, 4 seasons, laidback style, and its bevy of more than 200 breweries and nature trails. It’s kind of how I imagine California would have been a century ago, before Hollywood took over its culture.

So what are Oregon’s highlights?

Topping the list has to be Crater Lake, which is famous for its deep blue waters and clarity. At near 2000 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in all of America and is featured on America’s quarter as an emblem for the state.

In the city of Bend, are several nearby geographical features that give it its moniker of being an outdoor sports gateway for fishing, hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing.

With so many scenic spots and an affordable standard of living, Men’s Journal ranked Bend as one of “The Top 10 Places to Live Now” in 2015.

Though I could imagine living here for a few months, it’s hard to imagine doing so permanently, as my middle brother appears destined. With less than 100,o00 residents, the city feels more like a town and there’s not much to get into at night.

While its craft beer scene is fulsome, I just might drive myself mad from the silence.

But that’s what gives Bend its character. The town isn’t one for those who strive for Hollywood glamour, it’s meant for those who prefer comfort with who they are.

In the bottom-right of the above image, you can make out the tracings of my figure. In a way, this scene encapsulates life in Bend — and that of greater Oregon. At center stage, it is Oregon’s natural beauty that takes precedence, while humanity sifts to the outskirts of her trails and powerful rivers.

I wonder, “How would living in such tranquil bliss have affected my upbringing?” Perhaps it is something my nephew and niece could inform me upon in 20 years.

As it is now, my travels must continue — for there are many more destinations that beckon my arrival. As a proper guest, I must not keep them waiting…

Tags backpacker, craterlake, hiking, journal, nature, nomad, oregon, photography

Travel

Uzi Island

“It’s probably a name you’ve never heard of or a place you imagined existing.”

I’ve traveled to several remote locations in my life, and Uzi Island is memorable because the natural elements still reign supreme, as the locals adjust their lifestyle accordingly. To picture Uzi Island is to get a glimpse of how Zanzibar Island was like centuries ago, without all its recent development.

Regarding its locals, there is about 6000 people living here, mainly as fishermen or farmers.

Yet, there is not a single bar, restaurant or hotel in sight, revealing how seldom tourists travel here. There is a school in the area, but that’s about it in terms of landmarks.

Located in the south of Zanzibar, Uzi Island can only be reached by boat or by vehicle during low tide.

Either way, you cross its dense mangrove forests, which is a memorable excursion in of itself.

While Zanzibar is a tourist mecca for those traveling to East Africa, less than 1% probably traverse this far south. The northeast and northwest are the hotbeds for tourism here.

Spending my days in locations like Uzi Island is hypnotic in the sense that nothing changes from day-to-day but the weather. There is no urge to turn its scenic locations into hotels, build its economy, or to make the most of its resources. With so much of human desire driven by exploitation of our environment, it feels comforting to know places like Uzi Island exist where that drive remains muted.

On a personal level, this creates a sort of tension within myself. As I’m reaching middle age, I know I need material accumulation for myself to have a successful future, yet I feel an aversion to it, as I see how people live in remote locations in such peace with their environment. Though poverty is prevalent, the drive to suicide or depression is nonexistent in these locales.

So what should I do? Spend the next twenty years accumulating as much capital as I can, or return to the city realizing that so much of what occupies our mind is a façade? I don’t know the answer to these questions, and I think it’s up to each individual to make that decision themselves.

The only recommendation I can give is that I hope young individuals get the opportunity to travel to such remote locations on their own so they can re-tune their rhythms to nature rather than the market.

The lives here are as worthy as our own, and I’m thankful for such experiences as they’ve widened my understanding regarding the breadth of human experience.

This world is big. Locations like Uzi Island abound everywhere; it’s on us to decide are such locations meant for development or should we leave them as is?

Tags africa, backpacker, culture, island, nature, nomad, photography, travel, zanzibar

Travel

Scuba, Sun, & Sipidan

“While we look to the stars to gleam our future, it is the depths of the oceans that unveil our past. For it is in these channels, we gain an inkling of our current selves.”

Having spent much of my travels trekking across various terrain, I began to feel an inkling for something different. While the beauty of landscapes and cityscapes leaves one in awe, what lies below is a bit of a mystery. It is from the cajoling of scuba enthusiasts that I decided to give it a go and googled, “Best diving spots in the world.”

What immediately captured my attention was Sipidan Island, purely because of the sheer number of aquatic life I saw from its images. Located in the heart of the Indo-Pacific Basin, Sipidan has one of the most robust marine ecosystems in the world, with over 3000 species of fish.

But how does one go about learning how to scuba dive? It can’t be too difficult to find an operator, right? So it is on a whim I bought a plane ticket to Borneo to figure it out. When I plan my trips, all I do is purchase the plane ticket. Where I stay, who I meet, I leave up to serendipity and my intuition to guide me. This makes my arrivals at airports a thrilling experience because I have no idea how my trip will unfold, or even where I’m going to sleep for the night.

This also allows me to negotiate better deals, especially in developing countries where prices are rarely fixed, unlike the rates advertised online. Naturally, guides and operators are much more willing to offer steep discounts in-person. The only suggestion I’ll give is to speak to the owners or management directly, as employees will usually not have the interest or authority to negotiate rates. Mom-and-pop shops will give you the best deals, especially at boutique hotels where they’ll be willing to throw in upgrades to suites since travelers often don’t rent them.

To keep the coral reefs pristine, Sipidan does not allow people to stay past 3PM on the island, though they have increased their permit allotment to 176 divers per day (as of 2019). No overnight accommodations exist. Instead, we stay at Mabul Island which is about 14 kilometers away. And it is here where you learn how to dive for beginners.

The process to get a license was far more expedient and lax than I had imagined. The first day of training is spent in the resort pool practicing, while the next two days are spent diving Mabul Island which offers some unique sights as well.

My stay happened to coincide with a turtle-tagging excursion, which I had the fortune to be invited to. The speed of the divers was impressive as they ensnared turtles and roped them. The team of professionals keeps track of turtle population figures, migration patterns, and growth rates.

Then it was off to Sipidan…

The most popular dive site surrounding Sipidan is Barracuda Point (which is considered a top-10 dive site in the world), while the most unique one is Turtle Tomb because you get the opportunity to go cave diving. Turtle Tomb got its moniker from the unfortunate skeletal remains observed of sea turtles who didn’t manage to find their way out. Plunging into these depths and entering the various caverns feels otherworldly, like you’re living a movie scene.

But my most indelible memory is seeing all the jack tuna and barracudas, as thousands will swarm around you. Though it’s completely sensible — but not something you think much about as a land dweller — what immediately struck me when I was underwater is the sheer speed at which schools of fish travel. They envelop you like a hurricane and, as some of the fastest species of fish in the world, tuna and barracudas will dart at upwards of 40 mph as they zip right past you.

You realize how out of your element you are underwater. The currents are strong in several of the dive spots in Sipidan, however, so it feels like you’re flying through the ocean at times. It all makes for quite the experience.

Looks like one massive aquarium:

Diving all day is taxing. And after your 4^th dive, you’re ready to call it a day and happy to head back to land. But, after a week spent orangutan trekking, I had the itch to return to Sipidan to give it a go one last time for a third day of diving its various drop points.

Though nothing compares quite like your first experience trying something new, I enjoyed my return — as I foresaw it as unlikely I will ever return to this fascinating destination.

Tags backpacker, borneo, diving, fish, marine, nature, nomad, ocean, photography, scuba, sipidan, travel

Travel

Landscapes

“Landscapes are like people. The more unique they are, the greater the impression they’ll leave.”

What fascinates me most about traveling is to experience unique landscapes, from plains to deserts, rainforests to jungles, glaciers to mountains, coasts to cliffs. Seeing nature at its most natural leaves a sense of wonder at the sheer spectacle of how vast this planet is, and how much of it still remains sparsely populated by humans.

What’s also unique about landscapes is how they shape their inhabitants, affecting the perspectives and viewpoints of local culture, from Saharan nomads in the desert to Mongolian nomads in the steppes.

Island cultures are also fascinating, as they live at such a leisurely pace compared to the mainland, be it Zanzibar Island in comparison to Tanzania or Jeju Island to that of the Korean peninsula.

All I know is that the less people there are, the more chill and down-to-earth individuals become. So, if you ever need to decompress and are afforded the time and funds, I recommend tuning out, logging off, and heading to unpopulated landscapes.

When you’re back in the city, close your eyes, and feel that serenity once again whenever you wish to relive it.

There’s no one to impress in the desert, no brand awareness in the jungles, and no keeping up with the Jones’ in the rainforests.

Nature doesn’t judge. It lives.

Tags backpacker, landscapes, nature, nomad, photography, travel

Travel

Wildlife Photography

“There is no feeling greater than to have pride in one’s company.”
At Noble Ventures, our aim is to continue climbing new heights as we expand our boundaries. To the bold goes a life well-lived.

As someone who is a travel enthusiast but has an aversion for fully documenting their experiences, I made the decision to buy a zoom lens before I traveled to Tanzania at the beginning of this year. I purchased a Sigma 100-400MM lens, which I attached to my Panasonic GH4 (with Metabones Speed Booster Adapter). Simply put, the Sigma lens is one of the most affordable options out there for zoom lenses.

And then it was off to the Serengeti, N’gorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. Lake Manyara is also a popular destination to fit in when one visits Northern Tanzania, but essential bucket list excursions are only the first two destinations in my opinion.

The Serengeti is wondrous due to the sheer number of wildlife existing in the region (with over 2 million wildebeests and zebras roaming), while the N’gorongoro Crater is memorable because of its unique topography (having been formed as a result of a large volcanic eruption in which its cone collapsed inward 2.5 million years ago).

But, of course, why someone goes on an African safari is to see the lions. And with over 3,000 in the Serengeti alone, the park likely has the largest concentration of the species in the world.

The N’gorongoro Crater is famous for its rhino population as well, which has doubled since the 1970s due to anti-poaching efforts. Meanwhile, the Serengeti also boasts a large contingent of giraffes, hippos, and 4 of the Big 5 (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos).

Usually solitary creatures, here are several rhinos posing for a group photo.

When I travel, my natural instinct is to live in the moment rather than document the experience. A blessing of spending 8-hour days in a Land Cruiser, however, is there’s not much option to do anything else but to take photos, including those of the over 500 species of birds that inhabit this region.

With smartphones getting yearly upgrades in their camera department, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to purchase a camera for shooting videos or photos. As an amateur, my Iphone did a commendable job. I’m making it a personal goal of mine to improve documenting my future trips, however, so I look forward to improving my photography skills. And what better place is there to practice than in what’s considered by many the greatest wildlife park in the world?

Whether a nomadic vagabond or high-end tourist, one recommendation I can give is to document your experiences. As years pass, you’ll forget most of what has happened. Seeing a single photo has the power to evoke so many memories. So keep shooting! And make sure to include yourself every now and then.

Tags backpacker, nature, nomad, photography, serengeti, wildlife