Blog No. 351 - A Photo Journal of Chile and the Falkland Islands Part 1 - April 9th 2026

 Photography is a passion for me. I may not be the greatest, but I feel as though I can express things so much better through a photograph. These blogs I will write from my own perspective, apart from John’s own blogs. It will serve as a way to share the countless photos I took on the trip to Chile and Falkland Islands. A trip I will always remember. I hope you enjoy these. 

__

It is hard to deny that internal feeling you get the few days to hours before a trip somewhere else gives you. A slight buzz within your chest, a once in a while sudden smile as you get ahead of yourself and imagine already being there. Something that I think really exists as a common ground across all of us is the excitement of discovery. Darwin felt it… I felt it.

The days my trip with John to The Falkland Islands were riddled with mixed emotions. I was moving out, and it just so happened that the day I would move everything from one place to the other was one day before our flight. It was both a blessing and a curse. Saying goodbye to my parents was undeniably hard. Rather than a buzz of excitement, it was a clench on my chest and throat. My tears welled up. All in life is a lesson I always tell myself, even when it seems like those lessons are very harshly taught. 

28th of January 2026. The view from the plane as we took off from Sydney. This is looking towards the northern beaches. The beach closest to us is Manly Beach. It's an absolutely stunning beach, and the photo does not make it justice. 

–

The plane ride was comfortable enough. Movies played the whole 12 hours, and the food was surprisingly tasty. I think airlines seem to make sure that you do not revolt as a result of being in economy (cattle-class, as John calls it) by keeping you very well fed. It was an added bonus that I chose seats that had no one in the middle seat, it really makes a difference.

We arrived in Santiago around midday, the 28th of January. The airport was massive, a lot bigger than expected. After a slightly stressful journey through customs, we reached our hotel. Before heading to a place that was unlikely to be the peak of comfort, I thought it would be nice to stay somewhere that still offered this. The W Santiago was excellent, it was comfortable, the food was exceptional, and the service met expectations. I recommend anybody going to Santiago to stay here. It is in a safer area too, Las Condes, which is primarily a business area. It is close to Centro Costanera which is a massive shopping mall housing the tallest building in South America. Here are some photos of the view from there.

A ground view of the Centro Costanera. The blue coloured windows blend immaculately with the sky itself. It complements it, rather than being like any other building poking like a sore thumb.

This is the view westwards from the tower. 

The view eastwards towards what I think is Cerro La Cruz. They are shrouded in thick smog from pollution. Yet, you can still feel their grand nature towering over you. This is what they call La Precordillera or pre mountain range. There are far taller mountains behind this one, but because of the smog, you cannot see them. If you squinted your eyes, you would've been able to see the snow capped peaks of Andes in the far back. 

From up high you could see the red seats of the National Stadium. These days it is used for what it is intended: Games and concerts. Yet it has a dark history. Following the 1973 military coup, Augusto Pinochet’s regime used Santiago's National Stadium as a massive, temporary detention and torture center. From September to November 1973, thousands of political opponents were imprisoned, interrogated, tortured, and executed there, often hidden from international view beneath the stands while the soccer field was used for other purposes.

The architecture of the building was very interesting. This is looking straight upwards. 

I like to play around with colours. Or lack of.

John looks over the window in the cafe. He was very happy here. He had accomplished something he didn’t know he could do again. What that is I will let him divulge in his own blogs. 

This was the inside of the mall where the tower is sitting. As I wandered its halls of consumerism I realised it felt the exact same way as any other mall in Australia. Bland and repetitive. The photo I took captures some of that. 

Some more photos I took. 

Even in one of the best hotels in Santiago, there still persists stress.

John writing in his journal. He has an incredible ability to write so much. 

I like the way the light strikes across his face. He is half here and half there. Yet his face is adamant.

__

More photos will come in the next blogs.