21 Days and a Rewired Brain: My Angkor Photo Workshop Experience

Finally, I’m home after 21 days that completely reshaped my perspective. Who would have thought that a single experience, specifically the Angkor Photo Workshops, could rewire my brain in just three weeks? Looking back, it’s hard to believe everything that happened this past February.

It all started with a simple shift: waking up at 8 AM, no alarm needed. My internal clock was saying, “Go, work!” This was the beginning of a period of intense immersion.

The core of this transformation was the 10 days I spent with 15 incredibly talented photographers from across the region. We watched each other grow daily, learning and pushing each other to new heights. Our daily lives were surprisingly simple: $1 fried rice and mango shakes became our staple, proving that delicious and fulfilling doesn’t have to be extravagant.

The creative challenges were significant. I struggled to unlearn old habits and relearn how to translate emotions into compelling images. This process was both frustrating and incredibly rewarding. Beyond the photography, I gained three new brothers—a Nepali, an Indian, and a Thai—bonding over late-night camera experiments and shared passion.

Logistically, things were a bit chaotic. Juggling Philippine Pesos, Thai Baht, Cambodian Riel, US Dollars, and Vietnamese Dong was a daily puzzle, often resulting in a jumbled mess on Splitwise. But amidst the chaos, there was adventure. I walked at least 4 kilometers every day, rented a motorcycle to explore unknown roads in a foreign country, and even tried “happy pizza,” resulting in a rather unique experience.

There were also deeply emotional moments. I cried in a convenience store, witnessing a stranger’s tender care for their sick baby. I enjoyed a beautiful sunset with grandparents and their kite-loving grandson, sharing lok lak by the Siem Reap highway. And then there was the incredible moment of tracking my wife’s flight as she traveled for over a day to witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat with me.

The journey wasn’t without its challenges. I navigated sleeper buses and other transportation with the help of kind, non-English-speaking people. My phone even decided to blow smoke while charging, forcing me to troubleshoot on the fly.

Perhaps one of the most significant takeaways was realizing that the people I had long admired had become my peers. Returning to Manila, I saw them not as distant figures, but as fellow creators and friends.

All these experiences happened for a reason. They pushed me to grow and evolve. Now, I look back at the photos I took, not just as images, but as reminders of how I learned to shoot not with my eyes, but with my heart. This trip was a profound reminder that growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the unexpected.