Aloooooha! I’m Tracy Ban. I was born and raised in the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. After high school, I spent a number of years living in Oregon and Texas. In 2012, I packed one suitcase and moved to Berlin, Germany. I started Trekking Tracy (back then known as “Da Wandering Wahine”) to share my experiences living and traveling abroad.
Three years later, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so I moved back to the US to take care of her. It was a very rough time for me and I took a blogging hiatus. My mom passed away in 2017. It was, and will always be, the greatest tragedy of my life.
After a couple of years of getting back up on my feet, I have a newfound love for life. I am currently living in my dream home in Seattle, Washington with my boyfriend and adopted kitty, Shabu Shabu.
My photography is inspired by many things; people I know, music, art, places, other photographers, and the WordPress community. I’m self-taught in Photoshop and Lightroom.
I appreciate all the support, comments and feedback posted on my blog! If you have any advice/tips to better my blog or photography, please let me know! I hope to share many more photos and stories with you.
Trekking Tracy 
I was doing my weekly explore the blosphere by clicking on a gravatar on each site in the likes. This week it was the 4th and found yours, just wondering, if it’s brand new?
Lucky number 4! =)
Yes, its brand new. Just published my first post today.
Congrats and welcome to the blogosphere.
Thank you!
I absolutely adore your potographs. I tried and failed in finding an email for you. Could you please shout this way? emilie@everplaces.com
Thank you, Emilie! Sure thing, I’ll shoot you an email today.
Nice photos. What wide angle lens do you use?
Thank you very much! I use a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 I was on a budget when I bought it, the lens is very affordable and the photos are so sharp!
V nice. I was thinking about getting that lens. They came out with a new version of it with a motor, making the older one more affordable. Maybe I’ll ask Santa for it. Thanks for the info.
Gorgeous photos! Thanks so much for sharing….love getting inspiration from others, and you have certainly done this for me. Cheers, and happy Friday to you.
Thank you so much for such a nice comment! It’s very nice to hear that I’ve inspired someone! I’m so glad you enjoy my photos. Much aloha!
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog (maedetera.wordpress.com) and liking some of my photos. I feel honored to be appreciated by a fellow photographer and traveler like you. Keep on shooting!
Thank you! Your photos are inspiring, I hope to travel more and capture those places such as you have!
Congratulations, dawanderingwahine!
I have nominated your blog for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award.
The rules of the award are at
http://motionphotographyonline.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/blog-of-the-year-2012-award-thanks-dear-kitty-some-blog/
Well deserved! Hope you enjoy!
Great set of shots! Seems you enjoy travelling very much!
Really fine photography. Looks like you get to travel!
Thank you very much! I hope to do more traveling this year! =)
Thank you for stopping by my blog. Where on Oahu are you from? My husband was born and raised there and I lived there for 25 years. We’re now living in Oregon.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! I lived in Mililani for 20 years. Where on Oahu did you live? I lived in Oregon, too, for a short while for school!
… it’s been awfully quiet ’round these parts….
Thanks again for stopping by Along the Way and the like!
I enjoyed your blog! Thank you for checking out mine! =)
Thanks for liking my post of Poppy, wheat and sunshine earlier today
You take great photos! Its a beautiful image. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Lovely blog, awesome images..! Also u are very cute, i hope i am not offending..haha..Cheerio..!
Hahaha thanks for the nice comments! Your photos are wonderful, I hope to travel around Europe a lot more!
Your photos of Berlin caught my eye. I come from Berlin, and live in California now. Was nice to see Berlin sites, I love the city! And I recognized the Holocaust memorial site.
I love that you travel around the world and take wonderful photos to share with us!
I love your city! =) There are so many things to see and do here, I can’t wait to take more photos to share! I don’t feel like a Berlinerin, yet, I think it will take some time =)
Are you staying in Berlin right now?
You will be eine Berlinerin alright soon!
Yes, I’m staying in Charlottenburg right now!
Heheh I hope I do very soon! As soon as I hear about my visa, I’m going to start language class in March. Then hopefully I’ll fit in a bit more around here!
You have a very unique style of photography!
The berlin images are amazing. =]
Thank you a bunch! I really appreciate your comment! =)
Your photo’s are fantastic!
Thank you! I’m glad you like my photos! Thanks for checking out my blog! =)
Saw some recent posts on your blog. And thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks a bunch, Roto! I enjoyed your blog as well. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! =)
You’re welcome.
Hi! Really enjoyed looking at your pictures. Love the monster series!
Thank you! I’m very glad to hear you liked my photos! The monster series has some of my favorites =) Thanks for visiting my blog!
Hi, thanks so much for dropping by my blog today! I hope you do enjoy your easter weekend….mine too is in a world of snow! I love your photos 🙂
Hi, Laura! Thanks a bunch for checking out my blog. I appreciate your comment! I’m glad to hear that we’re not the only ones who had an unusually chilly Easter weekend! 🙂
Hej from Sweden!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today and liking my recent post.
Small world, my father was from Oahu. We still have family there.
Hallo! Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog! 🙂
That’s awesome! Have you been to Hawaii?
Hej from Sweden !
Sadly no due the high humidity it was not good for my then terrible asthma., But the highlight was able to send my daughter with grandpa to the family home in Hawaii. They had a fantastic time and they all fell in love with her.
Thank you for visiting and liking my blog. With only my third post under my byline, I found I really am enjoying exploring the blogs of others who have visited mine. I love your perspective in your photos. I will enjoy following your work. It’s nice to make your virtual acquaintance.
Welcome to WordPress, John! 🙂 It’s nice to meet your virtual acquaintance, as well! Thank you for taking the time to check out and visit my blog. I love photos of nature and places to hike, so I know I will enjoy your blog! I look forward to your future posts! =)
Nice reading about you.
Thanks for visiting my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog! =)
thanks dear
Excellent pictures. Your blog is inspirational, the quality of the images are fantastic both in style and processing.
You have some great images here! Especially like the old water tower!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Much appreciated! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and liking my post “April Fools” – your support is appreciated. I look forward to exploring your blog more in the future 🙂
Hi there, and congratulations! I have nominated you for the Best Moment Award… which you really deserve! Click this link to have a look at how to accept the award: http://itmadeallthedifference.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/best-moment/
Thank you for liking my post
Love your blog
Hi, thanks for liking my post.mi love your blog, your photos are amazing and inspiring also! Makes me want to photograph more! Thank you! I look forward to following.
Hello, thanks for visiting my blog. You’ve got some great pics! I’ve been living in Europe for 2.5 years but have yet to go to Berlin. Hope to make my way there sometime soon : )
Thank you for liking my pale travel photo. You have wonderful photography here. I especially like the Easter eggs.
nice images you have here and thanks for the visit.
Thanks for the “like”. In case you visit Netherlands, let me know..
Thanks for following my Europe blog. You have beautiful photography. I especially like the abandoned factory, which surprises me that I would enjoy that subject matter.
Hi, again! Thank you for following my blog. I am looking forward to reading more from your site as well.
Thanks for returning and for following – your support is appreciated!
Thank you for dropping by my blog. I really enjoyed learning about a Wahine. I had no idea.
Merci pour le fait d’ajouter!!! d–0.o–b
Looking forward to more photography from you. I like you’re self taught. I’m in that boat too!
Hi Tracy! Nice to know you are in Germany too! But in Berlin… Hahaha! Anyway, I’m also currently in Germany! But in Bremen… Will be going back to Singapore soon! Nice to see your blog! Cheers!
Hey Alex! I enjoy looking at your photos of Germany! I really want to visit Bremen, it looks really peaceful and pretty! Thanks for checking out my blog! 😀
Cheers to you! Thanks for visiting my blog too! Hope to see you soon!
Congratulations! You have been nominated:
http://ericmvogt.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/the-first-cup-award-10/
Thank you so much for the nomination, Eric! I appreciate it! Sorry I didn’t reply back sooner!
O, I am sure you were just wandering! 😉
Thanks for visiting my blog and liking my photography! I post new pictures daily, so please come and visit again soon. I enjoy everyone’s likes, comments, and reblogs, so please let me know you stopped by and stay in touch. I’ll do the same.
Thanks for checking out my blog, Big Dog! 🙂
Your welcome.
Beautiful images, I look forward to following your journey!!
Thank you! 🙂 I really appreciate it!
Wonderful pictures, you’re so young yet so mature and spiritual in capturing images. I wish you the best of luck in life. Thanks for visiting my blog, hope you like my island. Lucia
Wow, thank you, Lucia! Your comment really means a lot to me! Thank you so much for taking the time to check me out. Take care! 😀
thanks for stopping by and liking my recent post. I enjoyed looking through your site. Best Wishes!
Thank you, Eddie! Thanks for dropping by! 😀
Thanks for checking out my blog. I love your photos!!
Thanks a bunch for stopping my blog! 🙂 I appreciate your nice comment, I’m so glad you enjoyed my photos!
WOW. I don’t know what other word to say other than “Wow.” Your photography is absolutely stunning!
-Kaitlyn 🙂
Mahalos, Kaitlyn! I really appreciate it! 😀
Thank you for stopping by.
I enjoyed your photos on your blog. Thank you for visiting mine! 🙂