Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
500km Hands Across the Water Thailand bike ride
What it’s like riding 500km through Thailand, in April. One HOT week (or five days).
One day close to Christmas I get a message from my cousin.. ‘today is the last day to sign up’. She is talking about a charity bike ride through Thailand with her business mentoring group. I had expressed interest earlier but was undecided. But this email made something click inside me. I did a few checks to see if I could organise getting my children looked after on those dates and signed up. Eek. I wasn’t sure what I’d just signed up for - but I knew I’d be riding a bike 500km through Thailand. And that I’d be needing to raise $5000 plus pay my $2000 odd fee (not including flights and accommodations before and after the trip) for the privilege.
Guess I’d better dust off my bike then. She had sat in my carport for a few years without being ridden. I checked if it still worked and all but a flat tyre, she was good to go. For the next four months, I’d be getting friendly with my bike. We would spend anywhere from an hour to three with each other at least three times a week. We’d travel the coast, we’d cruise down to Willunga, and we’d push up to Old Reynella on the Shiraz Trail. And when I couldn’t get outside, I’d pop her into a trainer and spin for an hour or so inside once the kids had gone to bed, YouTube running.
Now, it's Anzac Day, and I’ve just finished up my 500km ride through Thailand. I arrived home today, took one look at her then kept walking. I don’t mind not seeing my bike for a little while. It’s not that I don’t like her, it’s just that I’m sick of riding. I’m not a cyclist.
One of our pitstops between legs. A great chance to meet the locals in the rural areas.
I’ll get to the ride in a second but here’s what I learnt in the last few months in the saddle (yep, that's what the seat is called).
1. Padded bike shorts are your best friend.
2. So is bum cream.
3. Drafting helps get you further with much less effort.
4. Good conversation goes a long way to making legs (a term for a component of a bike ride) feel shorter.
5. When cycling all day in 40-degree plus heat, you can never have too much water and ice.
So… to the ride.
The hardest part. The heat.
I am not sure I can describe what it feels like to ride 7am until 5pm in 45-degree heat. The sweat pours off. The headache is near constant. Bags of ice melt in minutes. The hot wind does nothing to make me feel better. Waiting to push off, sweat dribbles from my neck bandana of ice down my back. Sweat pools behind the knees and dribbles into my shoes. Sloshing water over our head that has had everyone's hands in it is welcomed. Icy water being tipped over me only startles me for a second or two before it warms up and melds with the sweat.
The physical.
Riding 135km in one day in this heat is something I still can't comprehend how we completed. I think it is just a matter of pushing the pedals round and round like the song 'the wheels on the bus go round and round' but for a bike.
Taking it one leg at a time. Cruising while having a chat or pushing myself to keep pace - knowing that by getting to the next rest stop, I’d have time to sit in the shade and recoup. Attempt to cool me down, rehydrate and prep for the next leg. After all, it was only an hour or so in the sun at the one time.
With a buddy to rely on, and a buddy relying on me, we push on. Looking ahead, eyes up. Heck, sometimes we’d even have a chuckle. People fall. People pull out. People slow. People power on. Everyone suffers, or are pushed through, at a different level. Even the fittest of cyclist, the seasoned Thailand riders, struggle at times. People grow quiet, then silent. We all cope in our own way. The jokers quieten. We all agree, it isn’t the physical nature of the ride taking its toll on us, it is the heat.
Seriously, at home, we’d be cooped inside with air-conditioning blasting, not out wandering around in this heat. We wouldn’t even dream of exercising in it for just an hour - and here we are now riding all day in it. Crazy. But crazy with a cause.
The landscape.
From highway to dirt. We rode them all.
Each day is different. Some days we have undulations. Some days are flat. Some days are 75km, and we finish before lunch. One day is 145km, and at dusk, we are still riding. It is decided we have to cut 10km off our ride this day, to avoid riding in the dark. Safety first. Haha. That sounds funny… we can’t ride in the dark, but we can ride all day in this heat.
Early morning to late afternoon, we rode. I loved the legs before lunch before the heat set in.
There is a lot of farmland, burnt out paddocks and shanty towns. Flat (ish) plains turn into mountains, dirt roads and leafy sided roads. Highways thin to concrete single width country lanes to pot-holed dirt tracks. At one stage we have to dismount and walk our bikes through a section of road being resurfaced. The sand sinking our wheels as soon as we hit it.
Sometimes things were unexpected. Like re-building a road once the reccie had been done. No worries.
The riders.
Riders are from all over Australia and New Zealand, and one lady coming from the USA. We are used to all different temperatures. And our fitness levels are just as varied, as are our ages. Our youngest is 16 and the oldest is Dale’s dad in his 60s (from memory - eek). But one thing we have in common is our reason for doing it - to help the kids. And we all possess the mental can-do attitude that helps push us through our dark moments. We have one girl that does zero training through to our every week cyclists.
How do I go?
Good conversations make the km’s fly past.
Physically - I am fine. Well, apart from tingly toes and one pulled muscle in my left leg which voids that leg of doing any pushing up hills. It's nearly a week since I have finished riding and I still have tingles in my right foot.
Heat - so-so. I get heat exhaustion on day three and think I’m going to have a hospital visit. I spend the night barely unable to lift my head from the bed. I am trying to hydrate as much as I can but clearly not enough. After this night on my bed and head in a toilet I ensure I always have water within reach. I enlist a second bottle to stick in my back pocket while riding. That way I don’t have to ration. It helps. And when I get a headache, I drink even more, rather than thinking it’s normal. Obviously, there is no such thing as too much water on this ride. And I also eat more. More fruit, peanut brittle, chips and sweets. The first few days I was only stocking up on fruit during breaks - having more substance makes me feel better for the second half of the ride.
Riding into the Kanchanaburi orphanage on the last day completes the ride in many ways. Not only are we physically finishing it, but we are also seeing the reason why we have gone through all the pain right before us. Bright, smiling kids that are being given a chance of choice because of us are waving us in to the song of 'We are the Champions'.
The money we have raised through doing this ride will fund Kanchanaburi orphanage for a year. This orphanage that has given life back to over 50 kids that have, in one way or another, have no family to give them life. Spending a few hours with these amazing children is the best reward I can receive. And dancing with these energetic, happy souls in the evening is the icing on top.
Here is some video from 'in the saddle' of the trip... plus the wonderful night of celebration with the kids. Non, the child I was 'riding' for (when needing mental support on the ride we thought about a child we were helping) is a cheeky, small 12-year-old with an infectious smile. I loved meeting him and will remember his beaming face always.
SA Regional Tours... 2019 dates.
I’m heading to regional South Australia to get photos for businesses. No travel fees. Want in?
Image for Regional Council of Goyder on previous tour.
The time has come again... I'm going to get my tunes (or Podcasts) plugged in and hit the road. I'm always so excited to do these trips, I love meeting new people, helping businesses with great photographs and spending time in our beautiful state.
Outback/Flinders - May 2019 *BOOKINGS REQUIRED ASAP
Of course, I'll be offering a full range of photography including my popular $450 Editorial Package. You can check them out here. For a tailored photography package just call or email me. We can work out something that suits you perfectly.
https://www.heidiwho.com/popular-packages/
If you have any suggestions for pics 'on spec' or for me to take as 'stock', please let me know. I'm always keen to help where I can and get the photographs that are missing. On spec means no obligation - you don't pay for me to photograph them, I get them if I can in my time frame.
"One picture is worth a thousand words."
"Put your best foot forward."
Sayings that have been around for years and are still critical to your success.
Part of the foundation of a great marketing plan is awesome, professional photographs. Without them, your online (well, any marketing) presence fails. And let's face it, the world is going online. Customers and guests first impression of you is very likely to be online. Make it a good one. Create the connection. Show them how great you are.
Get in touch ASAP to take advantage of these tours. All shoots on tour have the added benefit of no travel fees.
Image for Flinders Bush Retreats on previous tour.
What’s with the rubbish in Bali?
Wondering where all the rubbish comes from, I stumble across amazing people making a difference.
I’ve wandered down to Berawa beach for a late afternoon stroll. I love the beach, and I especially love it in the late afternoon when locals come down to cool off after work — watching people surf, kids splash, princesses tiptoe down to the water and burnt tourists sleeping on their sun lounger with Bintang beside them. But today I’m distracted. The beach is lined with driftwood and in between it all… tonnes of rubbish. Literally. For as far as my eye can see.
I start to take photos of it, intrigued (and horrified) as to how much there is. I wonder where it had all come from. I’d heard that the current at this time of year brings it here from around the world, but I do wonder. So many lolly wrappers, straws and small toiletry containers. And lots of thongs.
As I wander further, I notice people with gloves and big white bags. They are picking up rubbish and sorting it into recyclables and not recyclables. The rubbish then goes to Suwung landfill in their hired truck. The driver sends his location and photos as evidence.
I start chatting and learn that most of them are expats that are volunteering to keep the beach clean. They come down every Sunday. The beach clean is organised by Ocean Mimic - two scuba divers, Emma and Chelsea. I go up to talk to Emma, and find myself asking for a bag and glove. I wander the beach, picking up rubbish and chatting with the others for over half an hour. There is so much, I could stay all night, but have plans.
I love what they are doing and hope it replicates along more beaches. For the environment, for the beauty and the health of our animals. It would also mean not surfing in plastic while in Bali - a bonus for me.
If you are heading over to Bali, go check it out (more details below). Do your part. Meet at the steps by Finns Beach Club 5 pm every Sunday.
Also find them on Facebook here.
"Ocean Mimic is run by two scuba divers - Emma and Chelsea. We pursued this dream because we felt compelled to protect the ocean we both fell in love with. We met on an island in Malaysia in 2017 and saw first hand the trash wash up onto the usually spotless beaches. We created Ocean Mimic because we had no choice but to act.
We started out on this journey because we felt an urgent need to protect our oceans and our planet. We accepted that as individuals we have power. We took a leap of faith to take responsibility to do everything possible to inspire others and lead courageously by example. Mimic was our answer. A platform to inspire the public to act.
Our story is only just beginning … we need your support to make this a reality!
It all starts with you!
Thanks to everyone who joins us.
Emma & Chelsea"
CLIENT: Sealink
On tour with Sealink for two days.
CLIENT: Sealink
BRIEF: A variety of images to be used in the promotion of the 2 Day Food, Wine and Natural Wonders of Kangaroo Island Tour.
SHOOT: Join a tour with guests, bloggers and journalists. Two days. Capture moments as they happen. Minimal production, more ‘capture the moment’.
TALENT: Guests, bloggers, journalists and staff
RETOUCH: Natural
Here are a few of the final images…
CLIENT: Lush Pastures
A one hour Editorial photo shoot at Lush Pastures. The results…
Ever wondered what you get for a one hour Editorial style photo shoot? Here’s a recent shoot with Lush Pastures… great results for their Instagram and social media feed.
Escaping for a relaxing night at Lush Pastures
A relaxing weekend away… close to home. Eat, drink, sleep. And a wander.
Ever since I photographed Lush Pastures a few years back, I knew I wanted to come here for a night (or more). Now, I'm here. And not for work. And I'm excited.
The experience, for me, all starts with the drive down. Lush Pastures is just outside of Yankalilla, so I get to drive along one of my favourite roads away from Adelaide. The winding curves, the big bosom hills (that are looking so lush after winter) on one side and sparkling ocean on the other. I feel like I am a race car driver, scooting around the hillsides - even though I'm sitting on a speed that is similar to Granny driving (well, that's what I'll tell my Mum and Dad anyway).
When the road turns to dirt and we venture upwards, I know we are getting close. Surrounded by green paddocks, trees arching over the road and the odd farmhouse... Mother Nature's design of countryside, hills and valleys, I have no choice but to breathe deep and soak it in. Relaxation begins.
Cheryl and Andy greet us as we are getting out of the car, and show us around the property. The views from the pavilions are beautiful - especially with the blue sky and green winter grass. We look out over the hills to the ocean.
It's mid-afternoon, I have grand ideas of tramping around the paddocks but instead, find ourselves sitting with a bottle of wine and cheese board in the huge chairs that look out of Romeo, our pavilion. It's like a painting, the panoramic window framing the hills, ocean and sky perfectly. Chatting away, sipping wine and nibbling Fleurieu cheese, figs and gourmet crackers, it's hard to move. So we don't. Until dinner. When we have to wander a few metres over to the Lodge for more wine and three-course meal with Andy and Cheryl.
Blue cheese and fig creme brulee, spanakopita and dill pancake rolls with smoked salmon start us off. Beef short ribs, potato crisp and bok choy fill the tummy even more. Homemade vanilla ice cream with red desert lime marmalade, chilli plums and chocolate brownie nearly make me burst. All washed down with local K1 by Geoff Hardy wine.
The conversation goes from personal stories, the theatrics of a soccer game, sports stars, hilarious Australian humour to wine. Cheryl and Andy are great to chat to - but by 10 pm I'm ready to collapse into a food-induced coma. I waddle back to Romeo.
Waking up with no blinds, I love watching the sun change the shape and tone of the hills from under the covers. Gemma comes to the door for a pat before breakfast - and probably to tell us breakfast is ready, which (in the gentlest way) finally forces me out of bed. It is 9 am after all.
Breakfast is waiting for us in the Lodge. Luckily, I had a good nights sleep to rest my tummy after yesterdays food because this is a big, yummy feed of cereal, fruit, eggs, toast, yoghurt and endless coffee.
Now is definitely a great time for that walk. We wander through the paddocks to the dams - with Bella and Gemma in tow. Or, more so, leading the way. And then it's time to leave.
Driving back to Adelaide, we stop off to walk Normanville to Carrickalinga beach. My body is craving movement. I wonder why? Food coma, lots of wine and a good dose of relaxation... I feel like a different person.
Inkwell Wines and Hotel California... stolen a piece of my heart.
Inkwell Wines and Hotel California is in McLaren Vale. I went to photograph it for Fleurieu Living Magazine recently. Made from shipping containers, my camera (and I) love all the architectural design and vineyard views, snapping away in the cellar door and on the viewing deck above.
But, it’s when I go down to the micro hotel of ‘Hotel California’ that I’m audibly going ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’. The baths hook me. Deep, freestanding and open to the views of the vineyard. There are only 3 suites, so the likelihood of someone seeing you taking a dip is, well, lower. And hey, all part of the fun?
Inkwell releases single vineyard wines which express the "fingerprint of place" from its iconic Mclaren Vale vineyard winery. By fermenting without additions, we produce age-worthy wines that retain natural freshness and intensity. We are the only winery in McLaren Vale to produce estate-only wines in this way. But, we keep things simple: one tractor, one de-stemmer, one press, small fermenters and one dog. We've removed as much of the “man-made” from Inkwell’s sustainable wine-growing and wine-making as we sensibly can so you can share in the fruit of our special site and labor for years to come.
Leonards Mill with Fleurieu Living Magazine
Leonards Mill… in the (Second) valley down south. Worth the drive. You can stay overnight too.
That one time when on a shoot, I got adventurous. And ate pigs head. (It’s the crumbed balls and actually tasted ok).
A great place to eat while on a day trip down at the Fleurieu Peninsula. Just make sure you book first. I went down with Fleurieu Living Magazine and photographed staff, food and venue. Here are some of the pics…
Touring with Barossa Unique Tours
Touring the Barossa on trike and Mustang… in the rain. Loved it!
I recently attended Australian Tourism Exchange which was held in Adelaide.
On a wet Sunday, a bunch of us went out touring... and may I say, even in the rain, it was still fun.
Barossa Unique Tours did a wonderful job of entertaining, wining and dining us. They took us driving (and riding) through the rain, sipping wine at Artisans of Barossa, eating seriously good grub at Fermentasian and wine tasting at Whistler and Kalleske.
Here is a little video I did along with some photos... I'll let them tell the story.
Hollick Wines, Coonawarra
A photo shoot (and adventure) in the Coonawarra for Hollick Wines.
Coonawarra anyone? I can not believe it myself - I’ve never ventured down here. I wish I had more time to spend here, even a night so that I can explore. But I don’t.
Deb and I drive down in the morning, photograph for the afternoon, sleep, photograph from sunrise til near lunch, then drive back to Adelaide. Mighty effort. We are here to do a shoot for Hollick Wines. Everything from bridal shots to the restaurant to vineyard workings. I love it because I get to see and learn so much. That’s the beauty of my work - always learning different things about many different industries.
The Coonawarra is four to five hours drive from Adelaide.
A great pitstop is Keith and the excellent cafe, Henry and Rose, for coffee. If you have kids, the playground here is worth the stop. Kids scream their way along the metal monorail ride - it often has lineups.
On this trip, I also see the silo artwork at Coonalpyn. Wow. The tones and shadings leave me wondering how many times the artists had to clamber up and down the ladder to step back and see the progress.
But, getting back to the Coonawarra. Like any wine region, there are vines lined for miles. There are plenty of cellar doors. And a supply of accommodation. Smart move. Hollick Wines have just opened up their accommodation, just a few steps (literally) from their cellar door and restaurant, Upstairs. Handy. It’s a big house, well suited for a group of friends or a few families, but tonight, it’s just Deb and I. Sitting at the table on our laptops, we certainly don’t make use of the two living rooms, big farm kitchen and fireplace. It’s comfortable, and the best part? Breakfast, wine, beer, juice and bits and pieces are sitting in the fridge waiting for us to try. Complimentary. It’s the small things.
Just a few minutes away is the town of Penola. This town is Heritage listed with streets of old buildings. We take a drive down Petticoat Lane, dedicated to Mary MacKillop. It’s early morning, so nothing is open, but it’s great to see how well preserved it is, and how the town integrates around this history.
So, anyone wants to come to the Coonawarra for fun next time? A night or two?
