What is Pier’s Great Perhaps, and who is Pier?
Hi there! My name is Pier Nirandara, and welcome to my travel blog Pier’s Great Perhaps. Inspired by the quote by French poet Francois Rabelais, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps,” I wanted to capture that feeling of insatiable wanderlust, and the desire to explore what else is out there.
How is Pier’s Great Perhaps different?
I’m an avid reader of many travel blogs, but it struck me that most are written by full-time travelers. While this is an incredible lifestyle, I want to balance travel with a long-term career with travel. This site will never focus on perfectly curated outfits or flat-lays of food. Instead, you’ll see many underwater pictures of sharks, crazy drone shots, and authentic adventures.
My goal is to create a space to share travel experiences with fellow wanderlusters who may also seek this balance, and to build a community around a zest for exploration.
What can I expect to find here?
From backpacking adventures to 5-star hotels, this blog chronicles my globe-trotting misadventures around the world, with guides and tips on how to squeeze in some traveling in between a busy schedule.
As a photographer, I also tend to focus on visually stimulating destinations, and am known to plan itineraries around photography, and ‘eatineraries‘ around my other passion: food! I’m also an avid scuba diver, and passionate about wildlife/marine conservation. There are entire sections dedicated to these topics.
Feel free to comment, share, or let me know what else you’d like to see!
What do you currently do? Do you work?
Yes! I am a full time employee fulfilling my love for storytelling in Hollywood. All trips I do are balanced with scheduled holidays or carefully planned time off!
How do you travel so much?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to grow up in a family that values traveling and had the means to do so. Nowadays, I take trips more frequently with friends or by myself on a cheaper budget, balancing time and money between my full time job and travel. I work in Hollywood, which some people may know is one of the busiest industries with limited vacation time. However, I’m not letting this deter me from globe-trotting, as I’m a firm believer that with careful planning, you can have it all.
Where have you traveled?
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to over 70 countries/territories and all 7 continents. For a full list, check out Where I’ve Been.
Where I've Been
Where are your photos from?
All the photos on Pier’s Great Perhaps are my own. Yes, sometimes this may mean sacrificing the perfect image as I may only have an old grainy picture available for a certain destination, but travel isn’t perfect! I’d also like to put an emphasis on original content. Eventually, I may start featuring guest photographers (with credit, of course!) to bring exposure to talented individuals.
What camera equipment do you use?
I shoot mostly with a Canon 5D Mark III, Sony A7R II, Sony RX100, GoPro, and iPhone! For a full list, check out my Photography Gear.
Where is your favorite place?
Such a difficult question to answer! Every location is unique, but I’m a sucker for cold weather climates and landscape photography. My top country for this would probably be Iceland due to its long golden hour(s) that make chasing the light supremely fun, and my favorite trip setting sail to Antarctica.
Do you work with brands?
I do! Check out my Work With Me page for more info.
Do you have an official press bio?
Yes, indeed! See below:
Pier Nirandara is an author and photographer from Bangkok, Thailand. She is a lifelong lover of the ocean and its habitants (fantastical or otherwise), and began her career as Thailand’s youngest author at age 15 when her YA novel The Mermaid Apprentices received critical acclaim in 2009. Citing her experience growing up in a multicultural environment and traveling to over 80 countries, she was inspired to “write a children’s fantasy series that tackles themes of identity, prejudice, morality, and social responsibility.”
Since then, Pier has worked as Brand Ambassador for the Bangkok Metropolitan/UNESCO campaign “Bangkok Read for Life” and has spoken at various schools and events to promote literature. Her short story Fah was shortlisted for the S.E.A. Write’s ASEAN Young Writers Award. Additionally, the elements of fantasy and conservation play prominent roles in her work, and her photography focuses on capturing vivid images that expose deeper issues around the world, and particularly under the sea. She hopes to help bring attention to fragile ecosystems and marine wildlife.
Pier is a recipient of the Outstanding Youth Award, a judge for the Neilson Hays Young Writers Competition, and was added to Thailand’s Writer’s Hall of Fame. She currently resides in Los Angeles, where she works in Hollywood.
