Impressions from Southeast Asia
In March 2019, I went to Southeast Asia. After two days in the traditional, culinary inspiring capital of Vietnam Hanoi, we took the sleeper bus to the northern Vietnamese province of Lao Cai, right on the Chinese border.
At this point, a short introduction to getting around Vietnam and Southeast Asia in general is a good idea. Comfortable photo trips by rental car are not possible due to the lack of rental car companies. Long and especially long distances, which are absolutely not uncommon in Asia, can be covered by train or sleeper bus. For flexibility, i.e. to reach photo spots at sunrise and sunset, I recommend getting around on a short distance by scooter or motorcycle. Regardless of the means of transport, it is important to always keep an eye on the photo equipment.
Arriving in the provincial capital Sa Pa, I immediately rented a scooter and explored the region. There is probably no better feeling than driving comfortably in the sunshine through the countless, imposing rice terraces of northern Vietnam. I enjoyed every second and was rewarded with great photo opportunities. It turned out to be very interesting to photograph landscapes with a focal length of 50mm. It is easy to place an object in the center of attention while merging with the environment at the same time. The photograph shows farmhouses standing in the middle of rice terraces. The first rays of sunshine are reflected by the freshly irrigated rice fields.
After several mostly rainy days in northern Vietnam, I continue my journey by motorcycle to central Vietnam, more precisely to Da Nang. As I crossed the beautiful Cloud Pass, also called Hai Van Pass, at sunset, traditional Vietnamese fishing boats caught my eye. I quickly dismounted and went into the water to photograph the boats. The result is a beautiful backlit shot.
When I arrived in Da Nang, I visited the Ba Na Hills, about 40 kilometers away. There, Vietnamese tradition meets European Neuschwanstein kitsch, because the highest amusement park in the world opened in the mountains. The main attraction is the Golden Bridge with the imposing hands protruding from the rocks, which seem to carry the entire bridge. I also captured these in the early hours of the morning. An amazing sight and in my opinion really recommendable.
Directly nearby is the city of Hoi An, famous for its historically preserved cityscape. During the night, the old town becomes an absolute highlight.
Whether long exposures of the buildings reflected in the water, characterful portrait shots or street photography in a very special light, every photographer gets his money's worth, especially with a fast lens. I especially liked the fantastic looking bokeh.
After a few more stops in South Vietnam, including the extremely crowded Ho Chi Minh City, I left Vietnam for Cambodia. The destination was the island of Koh Rong. Working and relaxing on a hammock on deserted, white beaches in paradise is incredibly good for you and it's about time! With the drone you could explore the island lying down.
Afterwards we went to the legendary Siem Reap with the ruins of Angkor. Full of anticipation, I rushed to Angkor Wat to experience the sunrise. It was probably one of the most impressive moments of my life. You feel so indescribably small as the sun rose from behind the huge towers of Angkor Wat. Incredible! Somewhat irritating: To share this feeling with thousands of other people who also admired the sunrise.
The last destination with Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was again: Overcrowded streets – traffic jams on every corner made it almost impossible to make rapid progress. All the more fantastic was the rare peace and quiet to enjoy a temple in the middle of the pulsating metropolis. I experienced a very intense sunset at the Buddhist temple Wat Arun "Temple of Twilight". A beautiful place that should not be missed on any trip through Bangkok.
To sum up, what impressed me most in Southeast Asia was the interplay between tradition and culture that goes back a long way, recognizable by numerous pagodas and temples, with modernity and the boom, characterized by the unmistakable flood of cars and mopeds. Photographically, there is a lot on offer for every type, whether landscape, street or portrait photographer.
Thanks to Yanneck Völker Schöneberg and SIGMA Germany for their support.
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