by Carla Caruso

A Filipino family, who have made a home here, love to share their passion for your Adelaide Park Lands.

If you frequent social media, you will have seen their beautiful images being reposted by APA and others.

On Instagram, the family identifies as @dearlittlemango. We spoke to Romeo to learn more about them, and their creative pursuits.

*Kharen, Maya and Romeo from Dear Little Mango in the Adelaide Botanic Garden (****Park 11***)*. Photo: Dear Little Mango.*

Hi, Romeo. Please tell us about your account and HOW IT GOT STARTED.

Dear Little Mango on Instagram is run by myself [Romeo] and Kharen Mata. We love capturing beautiful moments together with our daughter, Maya.

We started sharing photos of our life here in Adelaide back in 2019 when we decided to move here from the Philippines.

Living in the Adelaide CBD, we thought we’d be confined in our rented two-bedroom apartment, but when we saw how vast the Park Lands were, we instantly fell in love with Adelaide.

Since then, we spend most of our weekends photographing our family moments around the city.

*Checking out the roses in Veale Gardens (Park 21). Photo: Dear Little Mango.*

Why do you love capturing images of the Adelaide Park Lands?

The Adelaide Park Lands are beautiful. For park lovers like us, there is a certain kind of comfort it holds. It makes us happy and content.

When we see light peeking through the trees, beautiful flowers in bloom, or when we see smiles from our daughter’s face, it brings joy to us. That’s the same feeling we wanted to show in our photos.

Another reason that we love the Adelaide Park Lands is that every season it brings an amazing show.

From the blossoming flowers of spring, jacarandas in summer, foliage in autumn, and hunting leafless trees in winter, it’s picturesque all year long. We love chasing every change and the wonders of nature.

*Enjoying the change of seasons in Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21). Photo: Dear Little Mango.*

How often do you frequent the Park Lands, and why?

We often go to any [part of the] Park Lands every weekend. After a week of work, we really make sure we give ourselves a breather and enjoy the nature.

Sometimes we go out for a walk even on a weekday to relax or [just] to feed the body, mind, and soul too.

What’s your favourite park in the Adelaide Park Lands, and why?

Since we live on South Terrace, Veale Park [Walyu Yarta – Park 21] is our go-to, and our favourite as well.

We love how many things we can do, from biking, walking, enjoying the flowers (especially the roses), feeding the ducks, having a picnic, or even playing around the vast grassland.

We have taken most of our photos here, from birthdays, special occasions and even spending time with our friends. Wonderful memories that we will cherish forever.

*Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21) is always good for a meander. Photo: Dear Little Mango.*

What keeps you busy when you’re not enjoying the park lands?

We run a small business and that keeps us busy in our everyday lives. Photography is our hobby.

Our business name is DC Engineering and we specialise in scaffolding and temporary works. Kharen and I are both engineers and photography is our way of escaping the stressful world of construction.

If we are not taking pictures of our family, we are capturing the vibrant city. Adelaide is beautiful and we wanted to show other people how liveable it is.

*Hanging out near Himeji Garden in Peppermint Park / Wita Wirra (****Park 18****). Photo: Dear Little Mango.*

What do you consider the most pressing issue for the Park Lands?

City development can be an issue for the Park Lands. As the city grows, more facilities are needed to cater for the growing population.

I do hope the government will highly consider, in their decision-making, that the Park Lands are vital component in the community. [They] should be protected and appreciated.

We hope in the future, as our daughter revisits our photos, she will still have the same feeling as what we felt when we first came here - the feeling of being at one with nature amidst living in the city; the true balance of yin and yang.