Tag: travel

Don’t Just Photograph What You See

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

Standing in the middle of the forest in the dark, looking up at a towering Tualang tree, I suddenly felt lost.

I had prepared for this. I had a long checklist in my head of what to photograph, what to look for and which moments I should focus on. I had imagined the pictures long before I arrived. But standing there at 3 a.m., everything looked and felt different. Nothing was happening the way I had pictured it back home.

I was the only photographer among the team. There was no one beside me to ask, “Did you get this?” or “Don’t forget to photograph that.” There was just the tree, the harvesters, the bees and a whole lot of darkness.

And everything was moving.

Someone was preparing the ladders. Someone else was handling the rope. The harvesters were moving from one place to another. The bees were somewhere above us, invisible in the darkness. Voices, footsteps and movement filled the forest.

What should I photograph?

Should I photograph the Tualang tree? Focus on the harvester preparing the ladder? Follow the team handling the rope? Or wait for the moment when the actual harvesting begins?

I stood there with my camera, trying to make a decision before the moment disappeared.

And then I realised something.

Taking still photographs in a situation like this is very different from shooting video. With video, you can let the camera keep rolling and allow the story to unfold. With a still camera, you have to decide.

What deserves to be captured?

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Hiking to Telety Pass, Kyrgyzstan

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

I went hiking with a group of kindred spirits in Kyrgyzstan in late August, when the weather was at its best … not too cold, not too hot, just the perfect balance for long, soul-stretching days on the trail.

Kyrgyzstan is, quite frankly, Mother Nature showing off. A land of dramatic mountain ranges, glacial rivers, and endless valleys that make you stop every few minutes just to take it all in. And the best way to truly experience it? Step right into the mountains.

For those with a good level of fitness (and lungs ready for high altitude), a multi-day trek across the breathtaking Telety Pass in the Terskey Ala-Too range is a must. The trail links Karakol Valley and Jeti-Oguz Valley in the Issyk-Kul region. A journey filled with postcard-perfect rivers, sweeping alpine meadows, and encounters with nomads herding their livestock.

It feels like walking through a living landscape painting … except this one comes with fresh air, curious cows and sheep, and a pair of painfully sore leg muscles to remind you it’s all gloriously real

  • Location: Telety Pass, Terskey Ala-Too range, Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan (3800m)
  • How to go: Drive to Issyk-Kul Lake. You can start the trail either from Karakol or Jeti-Oguz valleys.
  • Attraction: Stunning natural landscape of the Terskey Ala-Tau range
  • Stay: Jeti Oguz- Kok Jaiyk Camp- Telety Camp- Karakol Gorge Camp
  • Difficulty: Hard/ Challenging
  • Distance out and back: Total distance 50km
  • Time spent: 4 days, 3 nights
  • Caution: Unpredictable weather change/ High altitude trekking. Bring your thermals, it’s a must
  • Tips: Hire a local guide to be safe.
  • Leech level: N/A
  • Entrance Fee: N/A
  • Require Permit: N/A
  • Local Guide: Zahariz Khuzaimah (+6010 2269806) (Zahariz@gmail.com)
  • Hiking date: start 29.08.2025/ end 01.10.2025
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Horse Riding to Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Matsuda Mashimaru1 Comment

This is my second time in Central Asia.

My first journey took me to Mongolia years ago, and now, I find myself in Kyrgyzstan, the land of the Celestial Mountains, often called the Switzerland of Central Asia.

It’s easy to see why.

Nearly 90% of the country is covered by mountains, from the mighty Tien Shan to the rugged Pamir range. In a place like this, anyone who travels here must surely come for the mountains.

The moment I stepped onto its soil, I felt a quiet stillness in the air.

Song Kol Lake during sunset

From afar, the mountain range stretched endlessly beneath the soft light, and in that instant, I knew that there was no rush here. The people of Kyrgyzstan seem to move at the same gentle rhythm as the land itself; calm, unhurried, and deeply connected to nature. I reminded myself to do the same here. To move slower, to listen deeper, and to simply be present in this moment.

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Hiking Gunung Pulai, Baling

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

Okay, let’s be real … this time, we weren’t hiking, but we were rock climbing. There, I said it out loud. Gunung Pulai may look small from afar, but trust me, this mountain is about 95% rock, basically a giant chunk of stone sitting proudly next to another chunk of stone called Gunung Baling in the middle of Baling town. And yeah, climbing it? Way tougher than it looks.

If you’re like me, the kind who’s always craving a panoramic view of the town framed by the sea of Butterworth and the Penang Strait, then you have to do Gunung Pulai for the sunset view. I know, I know, it sounds a bit odd to climb in the afternoon, but curiosity got the best of me. I just had to see the sunset from the Butterworth-Penang side.

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Hiking Gunung Alai, Gerik

Matsuda MashimaruLeave a comment

Craving a fairy-tale kind of view from high up in the mountains?

Don’t worry, peeps, we have our own Malaysia dreamy landscape here from the top of Gunung Alai, located in Gerik, Perak. Trust me, the view from up here is wow. If you’re wondering how to truly soak in its beauty, I’d suggest hiking up for sunset, camping overnight to catch the Milky Way, and waking up early for a stunning sunrise.

View chaser … this is the spot you don’t want to miss.

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