What was your very first trip?

Terence:

I will probably never forget my first major journey. I was only nine years old when I flew alone from Johannesburg to Vienna to visit my aunt and uncle. For a child, it was a huge adventure. I still remember the mix of excitement, curiosity, and a little fear as I traveled without my parents for the first time.

In Vienna, everything suddenly felt different: the language, the buildings, the people, and the overall atmosphere. Although we could barely communicate at first because of the language barrier, we quickly found a way to talk to each other using a translation device. It was precisely these small challenges that made the trip especially exciting for me.

Schönbrunn Palace, the Prater, and a boat trip on the Danube to Bratislava are among my fondest memories. Even today, I can still picture the passing landscape while The Blue Danube Waltz plays in the background. It was the first time I truly realized how vast and diverse the world is. That journey awakened something in me that has stayed with me ever since: a curiosity about other countries, people, and cultures.

 

Do you travel searching for something or for the sake of the journey itself?

Terence:

For me, travel has never been a search for a specific destination. I do not travel to arrive somewhere; I travel to be on the journey.

The most beautiful moments are often the unplanned ones: a conversation with a stranger, a hidden café in a narrow side street, or a sunset in a place you had never even heard of before. These are the moments that make every trip special.

Every country, every city, and every encounter opens up a new perspective on the world. To me, traveling means continually learning and remaining open-minded. I believe that when you are on the move, you discover other places and keep discovering new things about yourself. That is why the real reward is not arriving but exploring.

You must have met many interesting people. What quality do they all have in common?

Terence:

When I look back on my travels, I think first of the people and only then of the places. To me, people are the soul of a country. They shape its atmosphere, its stories, and ultimately the memories you take home with you.

What fascinates me time and again is how similar we human beings actually are. Of course, languages, traditions, and ways of life differ. But whether you are in Africa, Europe, Asia, or the Americas, family, friendship, love, and the sense of belonging play an important role everywhere.

This realization changed the way I see the world. It taught me to approach others with openness and to view differences not as barriers but as enrichments. That is why I especially encourage young people to travel as early as possible. Those who get to know the world develop an understanding of other cultures and gain a more profound understanding of themselves.

You have had a very dynamic professional life, but you also take impressive photographs. Can you tell us more about your photography?

Terence:

Photography is, for me, an exceptional way of traveling. It forces me to slow down and look more closely.

While many people photograph famous landmarks, I am often drawn to the details that others overlook. An old door, weathered cobblestones, a hidden courtyard, or the texture of a historic façade can sometimes tell you more about a place than its most famous attractions.

Although people are the heart of a city for me, I often try not to include them in my photographs. I wait for the right moment, search for the perfect perspective, and am often patient until a scene reveals itself exactly as I want to experience it. As a result, I create images that convey a sense of calm, even in places crowded with visitors.

I hope my photographs inspire people to look more closely and discover the beauty in the small, often overlooked things.

What role does Vienna play in your life? What does happiness mean to you?

Terence:

Vienna holds a special place in my life. The city fascinated me as a child, and over the years I have developed a deep connection to it. I love its unique combination of history, culture, and quality of life. The magnificent architecture, green parks, coffeehouse culture, and vibrant markets give Vienna a charm that I have rarely found elsewhere.

I especially enjoy spending my summers here. At the same time, South Africa will always remain an important part of my identity. It is where my roots are, and that is why I enjoy spending the winters in my homeland in the Southern Hemisphere.

However, Vienna is most significant to me for a very personal reason. During the COVID pandemic, I unexpectedly met the love of my life here. That encounter changed my life and brought together two people, two cultures, and two homelands.

If you ask me what happiness means, the answer is actually elementary: freedom. The freedom to remain curious, to stay open to new experiences, and to look at the world with a sense of wonder. I do not know where I will eventually settle down for good. But perhaps that is undoubtedly where happiness lies: in knowing that behind every bend in the road, a new story is waiting for me.