Wednesday, February 16, 2011

24/7 : the IBA Media House

Someone is always working in this house. While some sleep other continue tapping on those keys have glowing letters, numbers and symbols. And the house is never empty. Check it:

Foodland Pupukea

Between Kuhuku and Haleiwa there is only one big supermarket. And for that reason, Foodland is the place where rising stars, old legends and dreamers all come together in one happy and very expensive location. Check it:


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Video Blog Day 01

Each day I'll have a new video clip of me working in Hawaii. This is day one.

Rafting With The Canon 7D

There's two reasons why I have to post this video clip: 1) Of all the years I've been taking people to Indonesia, I've never had any one in my groups flip their raft completely over. That is until this trip. And since Facebook has denied my video posting, it's going here. And 2) The beauty of the 7D is evident.

As you all know by now, my surf adventure tours to Indo are always fun and very eventful. This private trip to Indo for a friend's bachelor party was full of madness... including our rafting tour. As I mentioned, I've never had a group flip over in the raft. I've had a few people fall out of the raft but never had the crew and guide all fall out. This clip shows the chaos.

On these rafting tours, I take my Canon 7D encased in a solid SPL Waterhousing and I snap as many photos as possible. I've been shooting photos with this set up since last February. I shoot photos with Cha Cha (that's the name of my water camera set up) about 97% of the time and will switch over to video for the other 3%. As you can see and hear from this video clip, it's very nice to have video available on the fly. I have yet to be disappointed by the beauty of this camera. Cha Cha did a great job. Check it:


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Super Surf Tour Guide

I wish I could say that I was the ultimate tour guide but I'm not. I can tell you though, they're out there. I'm currently in Indonesia with a crew of friends on a bachelor party slash surf trip that I put together for us and I witnessed the super surf tour guide in action.

As the boys were out in the middle of line up at one of the many unreal breaks, I swam near the take off zone with water housing in hand. And what I saw with my own two eyes was truly amazing and very subtle.

A group of Japanese surfers were in the pack in the line up and their local surf tour guide would sit deep and when the set wave would come, he would paddle for it and call to his customers to take off on his wave. And his customers would turn around get to ride a perfect wave without any hassling issues. Unbelievable! I forgot to mention, there were about 20 people out on this one peak. Don't get me wrong... it's not only the Japanese that hire wave escorts. I've seen Europeans with super surf tour guides as well.

I'm sure it happens all over the world but to see it go down in plain sight is kinda weird and unfortunately, the sign of the times. You want to ride epic waves when it's crowded? Do a search on Craigslist for: Super Surf Tour Guide.

No need for Super Surf Tour Guides when it's big.

A possible view of a Super Surf Tour Guide.