Fresh out of Oxford University and at a big loss with what to do with my life, I took a trip to Brazil and it changed everything.  That first afternoon on Ipanema beach, marvelling at the colourful madness, i thought... "Whatever happens...I have to live here! This is where i belong!" Little did i know then that it was beginning of a life long love affair, 10 years living in Brazil's Cidade Maravilhosa, and the seedling of my life as a professional traveller.  Big lesson. I followed my heart and it paid off, even though everyone thought i was totally crazy at the time.

However much I might have changed since that wide-eyed 24 year old, Ipanema's beach scene remains equally as captivating.  Here I (try) to capture it in all it's glory for Vice's online luxury platform Amuse.  It was a crazy (hungover) Sunday spent with one of my favourite photographers Tinko Czetwertynski, helping him find who to shoot and then conjuring up the words to work alongside.

Rio, you are always in my heart.  Tom Jobim captures the eternal saudades in this samba. 

Minha alma canta
Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
Estou morrendo de saudade
Rio teu mar, praias sem fim
Rio você foi feito pra mim

Cristo Redentor
Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara

Este samba é só porque
Rio eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar

Rio de sol, de céu, de mar
Dentro de mais uns minutos
Estaremos no Galeão

Published 2015