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Travel

Kyoto Unique

Eikan-do

Contrast makes life vivid.”

Kyoto is a city of contrasts, in which the traditional collides with the present, roads bustle near serene gardens, colorful kimonos dot the streets amidst a sea of grey and green, and geishas scurry to teahouses in the evening while businessmen stumble home from whiskey houses in the morning.  

As more businessman than geisha, I found myself stumbling to my hotel on several late nights, forgetting its location as I was in a daze from swirling too much Suntory and Nikka whiskey. Though most bars close by 2AM, the smaller, local joints stay open till much later if patrons are still seated. When I picture Japan, I think of polite society — and nothing is more polite than allowing a patron to enjoy his bottle till it’s finished.

Though Kyotolites speak little English and my Japanese abilities are nonexistent, the conversations were pleasant and many of the bars were family-run which always adds to the ambience and distinctness to a neighborhood.

The Japanese are bounded by a sense of mutual trust and duty, which is evident in how very few bikes have locks attached to them at night. They trust that no one would steal them, for who would do such a thing?

For visitors, Kyoto is frequently rated as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Asia due to the sheer number of local bikers and its relatively flat landscape with grid-like design making it easy to navigate.

But what would biking be without interesting destinations to visit?

Kinkaku-ji
Ryoanji Rock Garden

And what makes Kyoto one of my favorite cities is its uniqueness; there’s nothing quite like it and I have no idea what other city I can compare it to, from its origins as the birthplace of kaiseki cuisine (in which 6-15 dishes are served) to its historic temples and rock gardens.

Taking a 2-3 hour stroll through Fushimi Inari as you glance at locals making crafts, or taking a shorter walk through the Philosopher’s Path to enjoy the view of Cherry Trees, is as quaint and peaceful as life gets — all of which makes it understandable why Kyoto has the 4th longest life expectancy out of Japan’s 47 prefectures (at 84.38 years).

Fushimi Inari

Kyoto is often considered the cultural heart of Japan and what’s beautiful is that, for a modern city, its traditions are still living, from the attire of its locals to the architecture of its temples — a sense of the past is ever-pervading and it’s not too difficult to imagine how life was like here centuries ago, something that is incredibly rare for a contemporary city to maintain.

Old & New

Categories
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…

Sipidan From Above
Its Dive Sites

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 4th 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.    

Categories
Travel

Cityscapes

Los Angeles

“To the city goes excess: where our primordial drives have full reign to unveil their carnal selves.”

Far removed from nature as we conceptualize it, lies cityscapes which show humanity’s ingenuity to redefine and design landscapes to serve purposes we see as fit for human society, be it the sprawling concrete jungles of Asia or the historical centres of Europe.

Saigon
Athens

Just like landscapes, cityscapes have two personalities: the day and night, which serve as a marked contrast in terms of what creatures come out and what role the environment plays. For most of us, we labor in the day to enjoy our leisure in the evening.

Medellin

Like human personalities, the city in the daytime reveals its persona, the view it tries to craft of itself; in the night, all the other elements come to play — and it is at night you can really get to know a city and its people in terms of what they eat, how much they drink, and what is the next spot we’re heading to?

Dubai

Some cities turn eerily quiet at night, like a Zurich or a Venice, while others are bustling like a Cairo or Istanbul, where noise pollution has been linked to multiple deaths.

Zurich, Vienna, and Oslo have the distinction of being the quietest major cities in the world, while at the opposite end Guangzhou, Delhi, and Cairo are the loudest.

Cairo

In the evening, East Asia is infamous for its elaborate room salons and high-end lounges residing underneath corporate basements while America and Europe are more renown for their rooftop digs.

Porto

Hotel-wise, Bangkok offers some of the most stunning views from its contemporary pool decks and sky lounges.

Bangkok

Though I enjoy marveling at the tranquil views of a city in the day, it is at night where the memories are made and humanity’s chaos is at its finest.    

Seoul

So cheers to the night!

Categories
Travel

Landscapes

Himalayas

“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.

Rwanda and America

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.

Mongolia

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.

Zanzibar

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.

Tunisia

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

China

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.  

Switzerland

Nature doesn’t judge. It lives.

Categories
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.

N’gorongoro Crater Backdrop
Serengeti

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.
Meanwhile, in the Serengeti…
A leopard with a midday yawn.

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.