Travel: Beyond Cloud 9

Butted up against the western end of the Pacific basin, popular wisdom says the Philippines receives its best waves down the eastern coast. Indeed it's where the Philippines best-known waves are located.

Yet the Philippines is an island chain surrounded by bodies of water, each capable of producing significant swell. Last month, for instance, the WSL's World Junior Championships were held on the Philippines west coast with waves up to six feet gracing the contest and much bigger again just after it ended.

Multiple swell sources send energy towards the Philippines: irregular typhoons, dependable monsoons, distant lows transmit long period energy, while diffuse highs provide bread and butter waves in between.

Photographer Elise Thompson is currently surfing and working in the Philippines where the colours and landscapes are a muse to her creativity - and the waves too of course.

The following words and photos are by Elise.

As a surfer, what draws you to a surfing destination? What is it about a wave that draws you to its energy?

As a surf photographer, I'm attracted to the beauty of empty barrels and surfers in motion. Yet it extends beyond that: I'm also drawn to certain communities that I come across on my travels. The combination of waves and an uncomplicated way of life is both humbling and exhilarating.

Recently I spent time on a stretch of coast in the Philippines that put those answers in perspective. The generous nature of the people was perhaps only matched by the raw nature breaking on the reefs and shoreline.

With numerous accessible breaks, I discovered fast lefts and rights that peel perfectly over the reef. When the swell is up the waves can easily go overhead, offering space for big carves and open barrel sections. They can also be powerful. Yet the mood changes between swells when more forgiving, laid-back waves crest the reefs.

One particular day last year, the morning brought small and wonky waves - not worth my camera’s time. Thinking that was it for the day, I was enjoying breakfast at a mate’s place, when a perfect, well-overhead, offshore wave stood up and barrelled across the reef. I’d never seen the reef break at that size! Next wave, a surfer, who I hadn't seen enter the barrel, came flying out the end.

Shocked at how good the waves were, I looked down the beach to see another perfect left and right powering over, again and again. The ocean had suddenly turned on. I was in awe. Breakfast could wait.

What started as an insignificant day unexpectedly turned into a total buzz as I was floating in wave heaven and feeling totally stoked.

// ELISE THOMPSON

As one surfer gets slotted, another gives the channel salute

The view from the channel as an empty one rolls through

The dividing line between land and sea

Decision time

The outer peak is both an indicator and a pressure release valve if the crowd - which currently stands at four - gets too much

Apparently the spit belies a makeable barrel - would you trust it and paddle deeper?

A goofys dream and a backsiders challenge

In between swells - on land

Staring at an empty space

The quiet corner of the reef

In between swells - on sea