Pop your cherry

When I first bought a DSLR, my attitude was that I could make anything look good if I framed and focused it right - and out of hundreds of photos I would get a few good ones. After a few years and many a photograph taken, I slowly came to realise that not everything looks good through the lens.


I rarely tolerate imperfection nowaday (incorrect point of focus, over exposure, noise, chopped off heads, four subjects, no subject of interest etc) - because of this, unless a great photo is staring me in the face I'm unlikely to get my camera out.


Its rare that I take photographs without premeditation. Usually if I'm in the middle of some other activity, or even just chilling with friends, I find it distracting and disruptive to take my camera out, set it up with the appropriate ISO, shutter speed and aperture, let alone the multiple shot attempts to get the lighting and composition perfect. It really requires focus.


If I was to simply point and click, the images might be good memories, but I will do nothing with them until I'm 70 and want to reminisce, even then I'd be more likely to look at the excellent photos than trawl through all the average ones.


It sounds negative, but it is reality. I am still a very active photographer, but it's something I battle with constantly.


Here are some thoughts about how one can overcome this:

1. Dedicate time
Often you will find an interesting location/subject to photograph (e.g. burned down house or children playing basketball in the street), but you are not quite sure how to make it look great. Often it just takes time to wander around and try different angles until you find something that looks good - sometimes this can take 50 snaps to get the right shot - but once you do you will never regret it.


2. Pick the right time
Although the middle of the day seems like the most beautiful time to do photography, it can be the most difficult. Between 11am and 2pm is brightest and you fight with under exposed shadows and over exposed surfaces. Go on your photo jam in the morning or afternoon. Also - cloudy days offer fantastic lighting, because shadows are less prominent.


3. Be inspired
This is a tough one but here are some suggestions:

• Pop your cherry (just start taking photos and see what happens)
• Go to new locations
• Practice taking technically good photographs of boring things (fiddle with composure lighting, you might just get inspired)
• Read photography magazines and look online - find inspiration/ideas in others work
• Do a photography course, often the course will set homework which forces you to go out and have mini photo shoots
• Choose a theme (e.g. transport, culture, laughter, love etc) and take photos to express this theme
• Get a muse / mentor / partner in crime - having another person involve naturally motivates
• Take drugs… Ok I am not really endorsing or suggesting this… but you can't argue that many artists (musicians, artists, writers) have historically leaned on mind altering substances to foster creativity

I find when I go out specifically to take photographs, the first snap always takes the longest to find. But once you pop your cherry for the day, the rest flow easily.

The following are a series of "cherry poppers" I've taken since being in the Philippines:

Kids about to jump on a Jeepney just outside of Subic

Kids hanging out in a shop drinking beer in Cebu. Dudes are dudes all over the world.

A friendly cop stopped me on a routine check, and let me go with no hassles after carefully scanning my international drivers license - just outside Angeles City

At a war memorial in Tarlac, where approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops ended their "Death March" led by the Japanese army in 1942. The march was later accounted as a Japanese war crime. For more information click this link: Bataan Death March

Beach dogs watching a beautiful sunset on Panglao Island

Men re-enacting Passion of Christ on Good Friday in Cebu

Dude riding the raddest bike I've ever seen - Makati, Manila

Flowers on Mactan Island, Cebu




Get out there and POP YOUR CHERRY!!!

The sun WILL come out tomorrow...

I arrived at the Airport at 6:30pm Friday, on a whim, hoping to hop onto the next flight to Cebu for the weekend. I had no flights, accommodation or plans… apart from renting a motorbike and two wheeling it around an island in search of paradise and a beer.

I was shit out of luck.

All flights were full, so I decided to book the early morning flight and spend the night at home.

I applied a bahala na attitude and decided to taxi back home, and return again in the morning. After waiting 30 minutes in a queue for an airport taxi I hopped in with a happy komosta ka (hello, how are you?). I said "Forrt Bonifaaceeo, Globaal Cety" in an unintentionally patronizing American accent. It turns out that the New Zealand accent just doesn't register here… and I can't manage to put on an American accent without feeling condescending

He muttered "PG… PG… bad traffic" shaking his head, and half stopped to decline my fare. I repeated my destination and he did the same thing. I assumed he was gearing up to ask me for an exorbitant fixed price, which was not uncommon, and it had started raining which usually makes traffic stop. I said I would tip him if the traffic is bad (in the same filthy accent). He lurched forth.

2 minutes later we entered an expressway and he repeated his original objection and pulled over. He pointed at his dashboard and I realized he was trying to tell me he didn't have enough LPG to sit in bad traffic all the way to Fort Bonifacio. I wish he'd told me sooner. He said "Sorry Sir, transfer… transfer different taxi".

There was no point arguing so I cut my losses and got out, not paying the flag fall of course because now I was left standing in the rain, on an expressway with no stopping areas and heavy traffic.

I waved. Nobody stopped. My arm grew sore so I started walking, hoping to get either some cover from the rain, or onto a road with better flowing traffic and more likelihood of scoring an empty taxi.

I had been having a rough time recently. The previous night I had been scammed by a guy I thought I could trust offering cheap broadband, my regular massage therapist stood me up for the 2nd time in a row, and my water had been cut off in the morning because I forgot to pay the bill. I had gone to work unclean that day, seething from my bad fortune. Personally I don't believe in luck and I had conceded that all of these circumstances were my own doing. But this… this just fucked me off.

What had I done to deserve this? Why was the universe punishing me? Was it because I carelessly littered my snickers wrapper in the office lift? Was it because I had a disgustingly untidy desk? Was it because I was a non god-botherer living in a predominantly Catholic country?

At that moment an empty Jeepney with a flaky Jesus painting on its side panel pulled over. I looked precariously at the driver, he looked at me. I didn't know where it was going, but it was certainly a much better option than standing in the rain like a drenched stray kitten.

I jumped in beside the driver and said loudly in my false American accent: "Forrt Bonifaaceeo" - expecting him to shake his head. He nodded. I repeated again to make sure he understood, and he pointed at the sign that said "Bonifacio".

Jeepney's are unique to the Philippines, and an absolute icon. After World War II American troops left millions of surplus jeeps which were given or sold to locals then stripped down and re-built to add more passenger space. It was a popular and creative way to re-establish inexpensive public transport which had been virtually destroyed during the war. Most were decorated with bright colours, religious imagery and bright chrome hood ornaments.

I have learnt that Jeepneys drive in a fixed circuit, but Jeepney stops are not always sign-posted and if you get on the wrong one, you can really go far out of your intended path.

Locals absolutely rely on them for daily transport, however the upper class tend to dislike them because they cause pollution, and can be inconsiderate drivers.

I asked how much and he said "7 pesos" (NZ 20 cents). I gave him 10 pesos because I wanted to tip him for saving me, he gave me 3 pesos back immediately without hesitation. Although he probably thought nothing of it, I was humbled by his honesty.

He drove for about 10 minutes while I smiled stupidly like I'd just lost my virginity. I was riding a Jeepney. It had taken 3 months of living here and I was 10 out of 10 stoked.

He slowed down at the entrance to another large motorway onramp and pointed out the door. He wanted me to get out… but I had no idea where. He said "Fort Bonifacio" as he pointed. I hopped out with uncertainty, fortunately it had stopped raining. I walked in the direction he pointed, hoping to see something that would indicate another place to catch a Jeepney, which is what I assumed he was telling me to do. If I was in New Zealand, this would definitely be a no walking zone. It was like spaghetti junction on LSD.

About 200m away, a man was waiting on the side of the motorway in the distance. He momentarily jumped on a Jeepney that stopped for only seconds. My heart lifted. I found a woman who directed me to the right place for the Fort Bonifacio Jeepney. I saw one loading up passengers and after confirming with a pedestrian it was the right one, I peered in the back.

It was full. I stalled, assessing if I could somehow squeeze but it seemed like I would have to crouch in the middle under a 4 foot high ceiling, or sit on the floor… should I catch the next one?

The passengers gazed at me for a moment as I stared in. It was obvious that Jeepneys don't usually piss around when they do their pick ups. One beckoned me in with an arm movement so I picked my balls off the floor and entered. A space magically appeared for me on the seat. I sat down and smiled at the other passengers with an "OMG isn't this so cool?!" look on my face. They looked away, then in my peripheral they all looked back to check out the uncommon white man on their very common transport vehicle.

A man sat beside the driver and was responsible for ushering people into seats and collecting payment. Every passenger passed their coins to the front of the bus trustingly. I asked him "how much is it to Forrt Bonifaaceeo?". He replied by saying "Where?", I replied with "Globaal Ceety"… he stared at me then continued collecting money from others. I asked him "how much?" again and he ignored me. I waited patiently albeit slightly alienated. Did he not understand where I was going? We continued driving.

After a few minutes he gruffly said "11 pesos" not making eye contact. I assumed this would be me and quickly passed him the correct change. This was probably the exact way he treated any passenger, I guess I was hoping he would realize I had never ridden a Jeepney and treat me like a 4 year old. Retrospectively I'm glad he didn't.

I sat back in my seat with my head touching the ceiling, and found myself grinning… again. I was comforted by the fact that this bus was going to my destination. Jeepneys weren't allowed to enter the small CBD, but to get a taxi home from close-by would be approximately 40 pesos. (NZ $1.30).

Since the rain had stopped, the heat had subsided, and a cool, exhaust scented breeze streamed through the open air vehicle. The driver stopped and started regularly to pick up and drop off passengers. The ride was enjoyably bumpy and the seat suitably uncomfortable that I won't forget it any time soon. This was definitely the way to get around if you didn't mind being a bit smelly upon arrival.

Through the windowless gaps high rise buildings started appearing. This was home. Global City here I come! A few stops later the money collector shoo'd me out of the Jeepney and to my joy I was at a close by shopping centre.

My lesson: don't sweat the small stuff the universe deals out, the long term game will often throw you some nice surprises and show you that you are on the right course. In my case - I was absolutely frustrated with this country, which immediately lifted once it showed me some adventure.



I am in love again.

Sheep Lovers

I was in an office lift with four middle aged Filipino men, they were all speaking to each other in their native tongue - Tagalog

As they were speaking, one person distinctly said "New Zealand" amongst other Tagalog words that I didn't understand.

My ears picked up...

Another repeated it, and said "Sheep". All of them laughed.

There was more speaking, and "New Zealand" was mentioned another 2 or 3 times, then somebody said "Nature lovers" and they all burst into laughter again.

I interjected with a cheeky grin on my face "Yes there are lots of sheep in New Zealand…"

They all laughed in embarrassment and one asked if I was a kiwi. Then went on to say how great New Zealand was… even better than Australia!
I knew the sheep joke was well known… but not that well known that middle aged Filipino bankers would crack jokes about it in the office lift. I felt a mixture of pride in my country, and embarrassment for the men that got caught joking about a country's world famous fetish for white woolly animals.

Bad Cops Bad Cops... Watcha gonna do?

He signalled at me with his right hand, in the same way that Hitler would heil and simultaneously pat a puppy's head. Only in Asia have I seen this hand signal and it distinctly means stop.

I stop with a naive smile on my face expecting he will see that I'm a potato and ignorant to whatever rule I had just broken... which was the complete truth.

I had no idea.

After pulling off my full face helmet that makes me feel like I look totally awesome, I greet him with a warm friendly smile... his automatic rifle smiled back at me. My only comfort was the over exposing 1pm sunlight and our busy location - a main street in Olangapo.

One thing to note - I was running late to get back to Angeles City by 3pm for the bus... I knew the ride was approximately 2 hours and I wasn't 100% sure exactly how to get there. I didn't have time for this.

Our dialogue played out as follows:

Me: Hello sir

Police Officer: You made a traffic violation

Me: I don't understand (curiously bemused look)

Police Officer: You failed to stop at the stop sign (points to stop sign on straight section of road - not even an intersection)

Me: Oh, I'm sorry i did not see the sign (trying to play the victim)

Police Officer: I need to write you a ticket

Me: How much for?

Police Officer: I don't know. I need to write it and you have to take it to the police station where you will pay the fine

Me: I don't know where the Police Station is though?

Police Officer: Its on the corner of blah blah street and blah blah street, or you could take it to the court house on blah blah street

Me: I don't know where that is? How will I find it? How much is the fine?

Police Officer: I don't know sir, I think 1500 pesos (NZD $50)

Me: Thats crazy!!! You can't be serious?! That is not correct, too much! (in exasperation - I knew this was way out of the ballpark, hence my reaction so he knew I wasn't going to easily be taken for a ride)

Police Officer: I don't know, you need to take the ticket to the police station

Me: Look I'm running late to catch a bus from Angeles, I don't have time to go anywhere else. Is there any other way we could do this? How about if I just paid you 200 pesos and we call it even?

Police Officer: I do not accept bribes sir. That is against the law. There is nothing you can do (spoken sternly - I actually believed him)

Me: Ok, no problem - please write me the ticket then (totally resolved to follow the legal process)

Police Officer: (begins writing ticket)

Me: (adjusts testicles... I'm a sweaty solo man on the open road)

Police Officer: Malfunction... its broken... malfunction (paces back and forth while making his walkie talkie bleep and muttering occasionally - curious behaviour)

Police Officer: I'm sorry sir, there is a problem with my radio, I cannot write you the ticket... I don't know...

Me: Ok... ummmm

Police Officer: Well.. you could just give me the fine, this time only

Me: 200 pesos?

Police Officer: Ok, but don't show anybody, wait... (walks away, continuing to bleep his walkie talkie and mutter "malfunction" repetitively)

Me: (I rifle through my wallet to get the cash, walk over to him and offer it to him)

Police Officer: No, sir I cannot accept your money. Soon, wait by your bike. Secret.

Me: (I indiscretely nod my head in an "i get it" kind of way - I walk back to my bike)

Police Officer: (after more time shaking his head and muttering "malfunction" he walks back. Seriously it was like he was auditioning for a daytime soap)

Police Officer: (hands my drivers license back in cover of the bag strapped to my bike)

Me: Thank you sir (I discretely hand him the cash with a cool, but telling smile on my face. I would make a terrible secret agent, even though that's my dream job)

Police Officer: There will be no trouble from this? You will not tell anybody?

Me: Ofcourse not

Please note: I would have been happy to follow the legal process, but in this case was given no choice. I do not support police corruption whatsoever because it is damaging to the legal system. Criminals with money do not adhere to the law and innocent people get extorted for cash.

In Asia I have seen two root causes of police corruption:

1. Low police salaries - forcing good cops to accept bribes to put food on their table
2. Top down cultural acceptance of corruption - if the Police Chief can do it, so can I.

After this transaction, the officer was extremely polite to me. He gave me very clear directions and told me to ride safely, warning me about the coming weather. He turned from a very formal officer of the law, to a friend of the citizen, or in this case - the potato.

The picture shown at the top of this post is not of the same corrupt police officer - he was the second officer that stopped me at a checkpoint outside of Angeles. He did not try to extort me for money, instead was very friendly and honest. While corruption is prevalent in many third world countries, I am optimistic that not every cop follows this devious code.

And a young Filipina waits...

I began to eavesdrop on the table next to me. It was a 40yo male Australian with two Filipino girls and a child. It was obvious that the Aussie was 'seeing' the girl that owns the child.

Based on what I can hear, the spare Filipino had a romance with the Aussie's best friend, I can only assume another Australian. His best friend is nowhere to be seen.

Her: "why didn't he come?"
Aussie: "he's been really busy, but he talked about you every single day for the last 3 months"
Her: "he is being really strange"
Aussie: "you just need to talk more, you should just have a really good talk, I'm sure that's all you need to do…"

I don't like to assume, but I'm going to let my imagination run a little wild here. My guess is that Aussie and his bestie were regular tourists in the Philippines. They are ex-navy and spent some time docked here in Subic Bay. Aussie knocked a girl up a few years back and comes back twice a year to see his daughter. Bestie has been back a few times but not as frequently. On their last trip, bestie fell in love with Aussies baby momma's bestie (confused?), and promised her the world… then disappeared from hers.

Typical.

I'm at a beach resort in Subic Bay. Its a very typical beach resort, tailored to Australians, I guess based on an "Aussie Tucker" section in the dinner menu. My room is adequate. I must have visited about 8 different (less adequate) resorts before I found this one. I had been driving my bike all day and decided to splash out on something nice, no expense spared - this is what I found for 3000 pesos (NZD $100)

- Block apartment with view onto sea… no balcony
- 90s fittings and furniture
- Mirrors in bedroom on walls and ceilings - I wouldn't be complaining, but I feel like this is wasted by the lack of non-working women to share it with. Who wants to stare at themselves while they masturbate...?

Back to sex tourism. Yes that is what we were talking about… again. I can't stop writing about this topic, its just so prevalent here and way too juicy.

Another three-set were seated at a nearby table. Male: Australian; Female: 2x Filipina. One of which is up the duff… maybe I should hit on the other one, or is an impregnated Filipina staring you in the face warning enough?

On Friday night I went out in Angeles. The official Sin City of the Philippines. As there was a lack of 'good' non prostitute bars (there were two, both of which were dead empty), I decided to spend my night girlie bar hopping. It proves to be less expensive because you don't build expectations that you will pay a girls bar fine, especially after she has spent hours trying to seduce you with no subtlety.

My strategy: one beer then leave.

A "bar fine" is the fee you pay to remove a girl from the girlie bar and do whatever you please with her for the remainder of the night. The fine is typically 1500 pesos up. Each girl wears a numbered tag colored differently depending on bar fine.

The Mama San is the pimp of the house, and somewhat annoying. I've tried all sorts of excuses, even that I'm gay, but that doesn't stop her barrage of offers - "what about her, she is very new here, and VERY young..?" I blush at the embarrassment of her seeing me inhumanely shake my head in rejection, like she is a smokey-eyed, not so fresh fish at the market.

It was at one of these bars I met Ida. Her english was very good and she wasn't too pushy in her advances, which was relieving, so I grilled her for information. She said she was 25, although she looked more 32. She was a single mother with a 10 year old son. She was sad because she had recently broken up with her English boyfriend who she had been with for 12 months. He sent her 10,000 pesos (approx. NZD #300) every month, but had recently stopped sending her money for no reason. He had told her he wasn't coming back on his planned holiday, but in fact he was currently there. In Angeles City. At another girlie bar. With another woman.

She said her rent was 7,000 pesos and the remainder of what he sent hardly covered the bills. He was controlling, suspicious and demanded that she not work in a girlie bar (where they originally met). She stopped working there, believing in their love and found a cafe job with long hours and paying a pittance.

When he stopped paying she was forced to go back to work in a girlie bar.

I can see it happening so clearly, and to any 'nice guy' that visits. You are a tourist on holiday. You meet a prostitute more beautiful than what you could get in your western country, and fall you in love with her. Anyway - if Richard Gere can do it, so can any old man… he he

Thus is life here. Since World War II this area (Angeles and Subic Bay) has been a popular rest and relaxation destination for service men, not to mention a battle ground, and strategic naval base. It is part of the culture here, part of the history.

I can't judge because each interaction and relationship is unique. I just can't help feel sorry for the women, and in some cases children, left here holding onto a false promise and not much else. This means a lot more to the young girls than it does to the older men looking for an opportunity to ejaculate, or even just a pretty girl to hold hands with..