In our latest travel series, we journey the world with some of our favourite frequent fliers — from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, Changi to Heathrow — to find out what they’re like on the go.
Warning: travel envy ensues.
Name: Thomas Fung / @thomas_fung
Profession: Photographer
Passport: Hong Kong
Countries Visited: 20+
Where was your last destination?
California and the outskirts surrounding it. I was there to catch up with old friends. We went on a road trip through one of the state parks and sand dunes. We also spent nights on airstreams — we were glamping. Some of these were new experiences for me.
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What was the best and worst thing about it?
I’ve always had a strong desire for freedom. Our road trip to the outskirts of California and Arizona was pretty last minute, and the whole idea was to jump behind the wheel and leave all cares behind. It was the feeling of being wild and free — living on the open road — that fuelled my excitement and gave me that sense of completeness. Staying in a vintage airstream up on the mountains turned out to be the highlight, too. With all the impressive retro designs I felt like I was travelling back in time. Hopefully, I can share all of that in my upcoming posts.
The worst thing was that I nearly missed my flight back to Hong Kong. I was stuck in really bad weeknight traffic in Los Angeles on my last day and arrived at the airport front desk just on time. I was lucky enough to meet some helpful staff and understanding passengers as I boarded the plane super last minute.
What do you never travel without?
Hats, and preferably Panama style. They are perfect for lazy hair days and are always timelessly stylish. I like taking photos with hats and it’s become something of a signature look. I think the choice of hat speaks a lot about your personality and also conveys a visual message about your state of mind.
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What’s your favourite travel ensemble?
Apart from hats, I like the idea of tone-on-tone while working on photoshoot projects and taking portraits. It simply means dressing in the same colour spectrum as the background. Of course, it’s impossible to carry a whole wardrobe with you while travelling. So, I think wearing all white goes well with other colours and stands out elegantly.
Where is your favourite hotel?
The Ace Hotels. And if I were to choose one — the one in Downtown Los Angeles. Their lofts go along the chic vintage line, with polished concrete walls, exposed ceilings and industrial-styled decors. Nothing luxurious but certainly down to earth. Make sure you spend some time at the lobby, take some snaps using their vintage photo booth and chat with the staff there. Lastly make sure you try the pancakes from Lucky Girl. They are delicious!
Who do you normally travel with?
My good friends usually. And if I travel alone I always spend time meeting up with local photographers I meet on Instagram. Sometimes we go to an Instagram spot and take photos for each other. It is inspiring to see how photos can be addressed in different perspectives.
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What’s your favourite airline and why?
Cathay Pacific will always have a special place in my heart. Why? Well it is based in Hong Kong — where I was born and raised, relatively reliable and provides numerous direct flight destinations. And I still find that it’s in-flight entertainment the most diverse, by far.
Show us your favourite travel photo!
Muralla Roja (meaning red wall in Spanish) is located along the Spanish coast just opposite to the well-known Ibiza. I first came across it in a magazine and was instantly attracted by the geometric designs and exuberant colours. The clever interplay of changing colour tones and shadowing creates special optical and spatial effects, and the same shot at different times of the day can appear differently. If you fancy a visit, do remember that it’s residential.
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Share your top travel tip(s) with us.
- For long haul flights, I usually choose to arrive at the destination in the morning or afternoon, so as to combat jet lag better.
- Take vitamins daily. Work trips, chasing schedules, and busy days can be physically draining, and it’s worse when you’re in a different time zone as your body clock still needs to adjust. Vitamins help with your body’s metabolism and boosts your immunity.
- To take nice travel photographs, avoid peak seasons if possible. Then refer to photos online to decide what the best time to go is.
Where are you off to next?
Bali, hopefully! It’s my all-time favourite destination for a long weekend getaway. It has everything you need for a chilled beach break, and plenty of exciting activities to keep you entertained — plus the clubs there are quality.
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