Exotic ports of the Orient - cruise in southeastern Asia - includes tips on taking travel photographs

PSA Journal, Dec, 1995 by Grace Ertel, Donald Ertel

In the little fishing village of Peraska, you'll see water buffalo used to haul the fishing catch and many villagers drying and processing fish. The last stop is the busy town of Kauntan where there are many small shops. Malaysian batik items make popular souvenirs. Although most of the population are Muslim, there are also Chinese and Indians in this multi-cultured land. English is widely spoken and the people are friendly.

A pair of elephants meet the ship at Laem Chabang in Thailand. Elephants played a large part in the country's history helping fight wars, carrying nobles and transporting heavy loads of timber. Since a lot of the original forests have been cut, only one Kraal (herd of wild elephants) remains but we understand tours are available to see them at work.

The three-hour bus ride to Bangkok encounters much traffic. You'll see tapioca and rice paddy fields as well as interesting villages and towns. Bangkok itself is a thriving metropolis with more than its share of luxury hotels.

There are three ways to see the city depending upon your schedule: an air-conditioned bus tour; a private taxi (ask your hotel concierge to arrange this); or a tuk tuk (threewheeler motor cab) seen in abundance on city streets. Taxies and tuk tuks are privately run and the fares negotiable depending on distance and the traffic.

Shopping, the bargaining kind, is popular here as Thailand is a world producer of fabric and garments. You'll also want to see one of the wats of Bangkok. "What's a wat?" you ask. Anything with the word "wat" in front, we found, means a buddhist temple. The Wat Benchambophit known as the "Marble Temple" has an adjoining monastery where many young monks in saffron robes wander the grounds. This is very close to the residence of the present king.

You might think that exploring all these ports with differing cultures could seem rather exhausting. However, there are many "at sea" days when one can just relax in the sun. The briefings aboard ship before each landing we found most helpful with suggestions given about shopping and local customs. We can now say we've seen many of those "far away places with strange sounding names." But we did it the easy way.

RELATED ARTICLE: Photo Tips for Travel Shots

When traveling with a large group such as on a cruise ship, time and opportunity are vital. There's no waiting for the best time of day for photographing. One must use the best opportunity presented. And as for equipment, you take what you can carry on a dead run.

We found two cameras worked well: one with a 35 to 105mm zoom, self-focusing and with a built-in light and the other with two lenses--a 28 to 55, plus close-up lenses and a 70 to 210 zoom, essential for those distant shots. Many times the best shots won't wait for such things as changing lenses or adding a flash or even focusing. Our Canon Photura has served well for these occasions.

Forget about tripods when in these situations. There's usually no time to set up, and carrying anything extra becomes a chore. You can always brace yourself against a wall or even a partner if you both hold your breaths at the same time.