A decade ago, Hong Kong psychiatrist Dr Ivan Mak visited Cuba. There, he took numerous photos of the locals, from children mischievously grinning at the camera to ordinary people sitting outside their homes, whiling away their time.

These photos became the backbone of his first travel photo book, Souvenirs for the Soul – A Hong Kong Doctor Travels in Cuba, some of which now line a wall in the waiting room of his clinic in Central.

This summer, Mak published another photo book, also in Chinese, called Souvenirs for the Soul – A Hong Kong Doctor’s Family Journey to Sri Lanka. It is part travelogue, part collection of lessons drawn from a family trip with his wife and two daughters to the island nation last year.

The book offers readers practical tips, not only for their travels, but also for their daily lives that can help boost their emotional well-being.

Widely recognised for his work supporting the long-term mental health of Hongkongers severely affected by the Sars pandemic in 2003, Mak has been blending his hobbies – photography, travel and writing – to offer advice for those who might feel overwhelmed by city life. His latest publication is a prime example of how his practice extends far beyond his consultation room.

About five and a half hours from Hong Kong by air, Sri Lanka shares certain ties with the city, the doctor points out. Both were once British colonies, and Sri Lanka is the source of Ceylon tea – the building block of Hong Kong’s classic milk tea.