My Travel Life: Alice Gao Shares Her Dream Destinations
Continuing our travel series in which we tell stories of life-changing trips, most-loved vacations and ultimate bucket-list destinations, photographer ALICE GAO shares her weekend getaways, the trips she never tires of, and why she is still in search of her favorite place in the world. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Alice Gao’s passion for travel started early in adulthood. “I didn’t have the privilege of traveling while I was growing up,” says the photographer, who has shot for brands such as Aman, Mandarin Oriental and Condé Nast Traveler. “My first trip to Paris – my first time in Europe, in fact – had me head over heels. I was 24, just a year into my freelance photography career, walking everywhere in awe with a giant film camera swinging around my neck, eager to capture the magical golden hours while I was there.”
“Whenever I’m stuck in a creative rut or feeling like I’ve taken too many turns on the hamster wheel, travel opens up a world of possibilities and gives me new inspiration
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“Beyond my thirst for capturing beautiful new places and light, I quickly recognized that travel was the thing that could expand my mind and perspective beyond what I thought possible,” she continues. “Whenever I’m stuck in a creative rut or feeling like I’ve taken too many turns on the hamster wheel, travel opens up a world of possibilities and gives me new inspiration. I also live for the serendipitous moments of meeting strangers while traveling. You never know what moments or experiences could potentially alter the course of your life.”
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My favorite place in the world
“I’d like to think I haven’t been there yet. I used to have more concrete places in mind, but I find that as I get older, the answer constantly changes and places that I used to think were my favorite no longer serve that purpose for me. But in my mind, my favorite place would be somewhere close to the sea, where I feel at home; a place that can make me feel both energized and at peace.”
My travel personality
“I have multiple personalities when it comes to travel, and I think that’s the beauty of it. I don’t follow a formula and I enjoy the balance between these opposing styles. For a while, I just let work dictate wherever I would go and rarely went on personal trips – that has changed a lot since the pandemic and now the balance has shifted more towards personal travel. But with this freedom of choice, ironically, I now suffer from decision paralysis, as there are fewer boundaries.”
The most meaningful trip I have ever taken
“Both India and Kenya come to mind most saliently. I have indelible memories of being moved to tears on both of those trips because of the kindness and hospitality of the locals.”
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The most spontaneous trip I’ve ever taken
“At one point, I treated Paris like a weekend getaway – after all, it takes practically the same time to fly to Paris from New York as it does to fly to California – so, if on a Monday or Tuesday I realized I had no plans for the weekend, I would sometimes book a flight to Paris.”
Somewhere I love to return to again and again
“Mexico City, Portugal and Copenhagen are places I love returning to. Hong Kong used to be a place I visited frequently, but I haven’t been in a while, and I miss it.”
An upcoming trip I cannot wait for
“I haven’t planned anything for next year yet, but I want to do a proper deep-dive into Italy (preferably off-season, during the spring or fall), and I hope to get to Menorca as well. I’ll also be celebrating 10 years with my partner, so we’d love to go somewhere relaxing and off-grid.”
My ultimate bucket-list destination
“New Zealand would be my practical answer, and Antarctica my reach answer.”
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The most beautiful place I’ve ever visited
“Internationally, Iceland would be high up there. In the US, I love White Sands in New Mexico and the whole super-scenic West – Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and so on – and coastal Maine.”
Where I would go for…
…a culture fix: “Kyoto.”
…food indulgence: “Seoul.”
…ultimate relaxation: “The countryside of Portugal (hello, leisurely four-hour lunches).”
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