Some travellers collect stamps in a passport. Others collect the moments that quietly rearrange who they are. Ben Ng-Wai Shing, a New Zealand doctor, tramper and photographer, belongs firmly in the second camp — and in a recent interview with Wilderness Magazine, he opened up about the three trips that changed his life.
Ben is an interesting kind of outdoors person. By day he helps train the next generation of doctors; in his spare time he heads for the hills with a camera, driven by a love of community, good food and the backcountry. His story is a reminder that the outdoors doesn't have to be your whole life to matter deeply in it — a few well-chosen trips can do a lot of the work.
The format itself is worth stealing. Rather than listing destinations or bragging about summits, Ben reflects on the journeys that left a mark on him, blending tramping with photography and the simple pleasure of sharing food and company after a long day's walking. It's a very New Zealand approach: the outdoors as something woven into ordinary life rather than an extreme sport reserved for athletes.
Why does this resonate for travellers? Because it reframes what a 'life-changing' trip actually looks like. It's rarely the most expensive or far-flung itinerary. More often it's a multi-day walk with friends, a sunrise you earned with an early start, or a meal that tastes better than it has any right to. Ben's three trips are personal to him, but the takeaway is universal: pick journeys with room for connection and creativity, not just mileage.
For anyone inspired to follow his lead, New Zealand is one of the best places on earth to test the theory. The country's hut network and Great Walks make multi-day tramping accessible even to beginners, and a camera — phone or otherwise — is enough to start the photography habit. You don't need to be a doctor, or even particularly fit, to come home from a trip a slightly different person.
If you're looking for a nudge to plan your own formative journey, this interview is a warm, honest read from someone who balances a demanding career with real time in the wild.
Story via Wilderness Magazine.
