Inheritance

IN the West, inheritance almost always involves monetary and real property value.  It has always been focused on the material and physical items parents leave behind for their children when they pass on. Having been born and having lived in the Philippines all my life, I grew up indoctrinated by parents saying the most important…

Amansara

From the moment your plane lands, the Amansara touch is invariably felt. The VVIP treatment begins at the immigration. A designated person approaches you, takes your passport and processes it.  All you will do is sit and wait.  Don’t worry,  it does not take forever to complete the procedure.  Outside, a vintage Mercedes-Benz limousine awaits for…

Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor

Perhaps the “Grand Dame” of old-world luxury accommodation in Siem Reap, the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor epitomizes the quality of travellers in the early days of the 20th century. Built only a few years after Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, it has afforded guests comfort and ease that was thought of as implausible at…

La Residence D’Angkor

  Among Siem Reap’s upscale hotels, a unique property stands out.  If you want to experience an authentic Khmer accommodation, head on to La Résidence d’Angkor by Orient-Express located on River road near the city center. Utilizing natural wood, the hotel was designed according to the traditional Khmer style of architecture.  The foyer opens to…

Heritage Suites Hotel

One of the few luxury independent-run boutique hotels in town, Heritage Suites Hotel is located in the inner belly of Siem Reap. The isolated, and expectedly, quiet neighbourhood provides the guests a very restful stay indeed. Built only a few years ago, it adopted the French Colonial architecture reminiscent of European-style village inns.  Nestled amid…

Shinta Manila

Modern Heritage is the phrase that best defines this swanky boutique style hotel; a fusion of both old and new in a contemporary setting. No less than the acclaimed American architect Bill Bensley, named as one of the Top 100 Architects and Designers by Architectural Digest, was tasked to build this ultra-modern yet distinctly Angkorian…

Summer Beauty

Summer has always been a time I look forward to. The light is remarkably different. The golden hours even more enhanced by the summer sun. Photographers like me, or at least those who have deep appreciation for natural light photography,  find the process inspiring, as well as, engaging. So one afternoon, I trooped to a…

Maternity Portrait I Sarah BA

I remember that rainy Sunday in December. We were scheduled to have the shoot at 4:00PM, the start of the Golden Hour but as the gloomy morning progressed to a pouring afternoon, I only prayed the overcast weather would do the portraits justice. Alas, not even that was possible as traffic was at standstill and…

The Missing Link

“It’s not the sword, it’s the swordsman.” I must have read/heard this phrase gazillion times over a period of three years, just about the time I was getting into the hobby of photography. It confused me, to say the least. If it’s the swordsman, how come professionals can only be seen with  top of the…

Pixel Stories Photography: The Brand

As I have promised in my introductory blog entry, a rundown of my particular brand of photography is in order. I am fully aware that there are a dime a dozen shops offering the exact same services as I do.  Hence, the challenge presents itself to discover and present  a distinct visual flavor that will…