TRAVEL IDEAS: June 2010

Fruit Stall around Kintamani area, Bali

There were many fruit stall like this along the road to Kintamani. So we decided to stop at one of the stall. I was attracted by the way they display the fruits...unique and nice!

The Fruit Stall (S8 17.458 E115 21.612) was located along the way while we drove back to Ubud, Bali.

There was not much different from the food stall at Johor Bahru, except this...rarely can see it around JB area...

Do you know what is the name of the fruit above and below?

The tomatoes of Kintamani, Bali

We did bought some fruits to enjoy along the journey back to Ubud...

Is this mandarin? Or orange?

Bali 5 days 4 nights trip :-
* My Bali Trip on June 2010 (D1)
* Harris Resort at Kuta, Bali (D1)
* Made's Warung at Kuta Beach Road (Jalan Pantai Kuta), Kuta - Bali (D1)
* Babi Guling (Suckling pig) of Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud town, Bali (D2)
* Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali (D2)
* Tegallalang Rice Terrace at North Ubud Town, Bali (D2)
* Kintamani and Mount Batur at North Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* BAS Coffee Farm at Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* TJ's Mexican Bar and Restaurant at Kuta, Bali (D2)
* The Kuta Beach of Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Taman Ayun (Temple) at Mengwi, Bali - Indonesia (D3)
* Strawberry Park at Candikuning beside Beratan Lake - Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Ulun Danau (Temple) at Bratan Lake, Bali (D3)
* Pacung Indah Hotel And Restaurant at Bali (D3)
* One of the Famous Balinese Seven Sea Temples - Tanah Lot Temple of Bali (D3)
* Bebek Bengil - The Dirty Duck Diner at Ubud, Bali (D3)
* The Legian Street (Jalan) at Kuta, Bali (D3)
* Bali Collection at Nusa Dua, Bali (D4)
* Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Temple) at South Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Lia Cafe Seafood Restaurant at Jimbaran Bay, Bali (D4)

* Our Bali Humble Driver - Mr Agoes (D4)
* Farewell Bali Island! (D5)

The location of the Fruit Stall we visited at Kintamani area

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First 2011 Photo Expedition

I'm on my way back to New York from teaching a multimedia class at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Istanbul, and thought it opportune to announce that my first photo~expedition in 2011 will be to Gujarat, India. I have yet to pinpoint the dates, but I am leaning towards January 23 to February 6, 2011.

The Travel Photographer's In Search of Sufis photo~expedition will focus on the visual exploration of the syncretism which exists between Islam (especially Sufism) and Hinduism. Syncretism is the combination of disparate or contrary beliefs, often fusing practices of various traditional philosophies.

This expedition will travel in the southern peninsula of Gujarat, and photograph at the various Sufi shrines/darghas as well as Hindu temples, where a multitude of pilgrims arrive to supplicate. It will also include a foray in the tribal belt of Kutch to document the unaltered ways of life of the area, to include religious rituals exclusive to Gujarat.

The maximum number of participants is 5 (excluding myself), and participation will be based on a brief portfolio review. This photo~expedition is not for first-timers to India, is for self-starters and requires an interest in Indian religious traditions. It will include coaching in multimedia techniques and story-telling.

The photo~expedition will commence and end in Ahmedabad, which is well served by flights from Delhi and Mumbai. Hotel accommodations will range from 4-star hotels in the larger cities/towns to whatever is available in the more remote areas.

Details of the photo~expedition and its itinerary will initially be announced to my newsletter recipients in a few days, and then to the general public via this blog.

This photo~expedition is inspired by the remarkable work of my friend Asim Rafiqui as per his The Idea of India project.

My Work: Belly Dancing In Istanbul

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Due to the distance between the historic Sultanahmet district and Kadikoy where the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop was based, I wasn't able to photograph much of Istanbul...except for some grab shots with my new GF1.

However, some of us did manage to take some time and attend a folkloric dance program in Sultanahmet, where we were allowed to photograph at will.

The above photograph was made at the Hocapasha Cultural Center in Eminönü during a wonderful performance. The dance was under black light or UV light...and was minimally color corrected.

I used my Canon 5D Mark II and a 70-200 2.8 Canon lens....and yes, my Foundry class attendees; it's a vertical!!!

Sulawesi Surprise!: A School in Tana Toraja

Traveling on, we had come across a little school. Although looking a bit drab, most of the things there look rather familiar - there were single storey buildings with classrooms and a big field with children playing in it and at the entrance, there was even a signboard which proclaimed to the world the school's grand mission and vision. I suppose many schools nowadays, whether in the East or the West, have their own visions and missions but it still came as a surprise to see a little school like that in Tana Toraja with its own mission and vision. That there was a signboard to proclaim them seems so much like having The Ten Commandments cut out in stones. That serves to impress, don't you think?

A school in Tana Toraja... Can you decipher the school's mission and vision?

Traveling Tip: Visit a school!

Sulawesi Surprise!: A House Built in Heaven

The little village we had stepped into must be the much hyped model Toraja settlement. It is said that a few minutes from Rantepao, there is this place called Kete Kesu where one can view Toraja architecture and experience the local lifestyle. Over here, it is said artisans produce bamboo carvings and other traditional handicrafts- all these I did not see, but there were several well-maintained Tongkonan and rice barns. A Tongkonan is a traditonal ancestral house or rumah adat of the Toraja people and it has the distinguished boat-shaped and oversized-saddle back roof.The interior is meant only for sleeping, storage or meeting and is cramped and dark.The roof is shaped like a boat because the ancestor sailed all the way here to Sulawesi on a boat from South China and a legend had it that the boats which were damaged in a storm were used as roofs for the new houses. There is a myth too about the first tongkanan being build in by Puang Matua,the creator. The first Torajan ancestor who descended to earth copied the idea and now, here in the Celebes, whether in Kete Kesu or not, as long as you are in Tana Toraja, you would get to see a house built in heaven!

Here on Earth, you could see a house built in heaven!

Traveling Tip: Visit a village!

Chico Sanchez: Andalucian Flamenco

Photo © Chico Sanchez-All Rights Reserved
Here's another lovely audio slideshow by Chico Sanchez, a freelance photographer based in Mexico City. Chico worked in Venezuela, collaborating with Reuters, European Pressphoto Agency, Agencia EFE, and freelances for various newspapers and magazines.

The title of this audio slideshow is The Angel.

This time, Chico documents the spiritual side of Flamenco, whose mystical, almost religious origins, are almost forgotten by the admirers of this genre of music and dance. Chico is well placed to do so...he's a native Andalucian, a musician and was involved in flamenco himself.

I would have loved to see a flip book effect in Chico's work...various shots of a dancer (or singer for that matter)...and arranged in such a way that playing the slideshow would have animated these almost-identical stills.

The well-known flamenco style of music and dance is emblematic to the culture of Spain, although it is actually native to only one region: Andalusia.

Gypsy, Sephardic, and especially Arabic musical influences are found in flamenco. For me, one of the best flamenco singers is Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar, known as El Cigala, whose album Lagrima Negas fusing Cuban rhythms and flamenco vocals, made it an international success.

Kintamani and Mount Batur at North Bali, Indonesia

"Kintamani is the most favorite tourist destinations in Bali with the active volcano of mount Batur and beautiful lake. Kintamani is surrounded by the captivating nature and there are six ancient villages around cauldron of Batur Lake which is often conceived by Bali Age Village. The local people from these Bali Age villages own the unique cultures, houses and life style. Kintamani Area is consisted of some Villages those are Kedisan Village , Buahan, Abang, Trunyan, Songan, South Batur, Middle Batur, North Batur, Sukawana and Kintamani Village . The total of resident in these area are about 15 thousand who are mostly working as farmer, merchant, or work at industrial tourism." Source from here.

Kintamani (S8 16.614 E115 21.051) is located at the north of the Bali Island. The entrance fee was rp22,000.00 for the 6 adults and 2 children. We decided to view the Volcano Mount Batur at one of the restaurant named 'Grand Puncak Sari' (S8 16.352 E115 20.839).

"Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera, which was formed during emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago." Source from Wiki.

Grand Puncak Sari Hotel and Restaurant

The Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant is located about 700 meter from the entrance of Kintamani. The restaurant dining area are divided into indoor and outdoor 2 session. They are serving buffet lunch while we arrived, but we already had our lunch at Warung Ibu Oka and we just intend for a drink. So we ONLY allow to sit indoor where the outdoor session (better view of Mount Batur) is for customers who order the food! That's normal, don't worry! :)

The outdoor session of Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant

The indoor area of Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant

This was the first time I tasted the Bali Coffee! Hmm...taste nice!

The Bali Coffee - rp.6,500.00 (MYR2.50 / USD0.75)

I did check the altitude of the restaurant was 1360 meter from Garmin etrex HCX GPS device.

The GPS device shows altitude at 1360meter

Some photos of the Breathtaking view of Mount Batur and the Batur Lake...

The Mount (Gunung) Batur Volcano of Bali

You can see the Lava clearly from this photo above

Lake Batur from far away...

Too bad the summit of Mount Batur was covered with thick clouds...
The weather at Kintamani is cooling, temperature was around 23C-26C. I can imagine how nice if we put a night at the Hotel here...but beside enjoy the cool air at night, there might not have other activity. Quite boring...

We were off from the restaurant after 30 minutes rest, and still looking for a better viewing area for the Volcano...and we found this! About 2.5km East from the restaurant (S8 16.972 E115 21.867). The view was much better! And the area we stand were closer to the Lake Batur.

The local women selling drinks to visitors

Many peoples gather around here to witnesses the Beauty of Mount Batur! I like it very much!

Mount Batur from another angle

And more closer to Lake Batur

After all photos were taken...we continue our journey to the next tourist hotspot and bye-bye to the Beautiful Nature!

Bali 5 days 4 nights trip :-
* My Bali Trip on June 2010 (D1)
* Harris Resort at Kuta, Bali (D1)
* Made's Warung at Kuta Beach Road (Jalan Pantai Kuta), Kuta - Bali (D1)
* Babi Guling (Suckling pig) of Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud town, Bali (D2)
* Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali (D2)
* Tegallalang Rice Terrace at North Ubud Town, Bali (D2)
* Fruit Stall around Kintamani area, Bali (D2)
* BAS Coffee Farm at Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* TJ's Mexican Bar and Restaurant at Kuta, Bali (D2)
* The Kuta Beach of Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Taman Ayun (Temple) at Mengwi, Bali - Indonesia (D3)
* Strawberry Park at Candikuning beside Beratan Lake - Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Ulun Danau (Temple) at Bratan Lake, Bali (D3)
* Pacung Indah Hotel And Restaurant at Bali (D3)
* One of the Famous Balinese Seven Sea Temples - Tanah Lot Temple of Bali (D3)
* Bebek Bengil - The Dirty Duck Diner at Ubud, Bali (D3)
* The Legian Street (Jalan) at Kuta, Bali (D3)
* Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Temple) at South Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Lia Cafe Seafood Restaurant at Jimbaran Bay, Bali (D4)
* Our Bali Humble Driver - Mr Agoes (D4)
* Farewell Bali Island! (D5)

Location map of Kintamani at Bali Island

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Foundry Workshop (Istanbul) Signed Off

Photo © Anamitra Chakladar-All Rights Reserved
Well, what is there to say except that I had a blast! The Foundry Photojournalism Workshop has ended with a marathon session to show the work completed by some 130-odd photographers who joined it. It was a visual overload of photographs and multimedia projects, and was followed by the customary beer bash at a nearby bar.

My Introduction To Multimedia class was attended by a cross-section of the nationalities represented at the Workshop, and I was extremely pleased to work with Brenda Bravo, Pierre Claquin, Yagmar Dolkun, David Hagerman, Pedro Gomes, Jeroen de Kluiver and Roubina Margossian. The class also benefited enormously from Anamitra Chakladar's expertise in audio editing and multimedia. He patiently fine tuned some of the class's audio tracks...thank you, Anamitra!! The class's output ranged from black & white documentary work to travel and cultural projects.

There's no other way to describe it, but the success of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop -whilst based on the unstinting generosity of the instructors and its staff- is due to Eric Beecroft's vision, tenacity, enthusiasm and his being just Eric.

Next year? South America...perhaps Argentina, perhaps Brazil. Incha'allah.

The top photo was made during my presenting a couple of personal projects at the start of the Workshop, while the bottom photo was during a class with Yagmar and Brenda looking on.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace at North Ubud Town, Bali

"Tegallalang is a well known area to the north of Ubud in the centre of Bali. It is the major area for handicraft production in Bali, but also has a surprising amount of other businesses, often not visible to the passing tourist.
Tegallalang has just about every form of handicraft made in Bali. This site showcases those shops and businesses creating these products." Source from here.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace at Bali

We tooks 30 minutes (about 10km) from the Warung Ibu Oka Ubud town to this Tegallalang Rice Terrace (S8 25.984 E115 16.715). Even the distance was not far but because of the narrow street and slow traffic.
This is one of the A Must stop area while on the way to Kintamani, it's just because of the Stunning Rice Terrace!

Another view of the Rice Terrace

This area has many Wood carving, souvenir shops & cafes. We took our sweet time to shop around...Please remember, bargain is necessary!!

Souvenir shops are everywhere...

I found out the wood carving souvenir here were really interesting! There were many shape and item that I haven't see it before! :)

Below photos are 18X! :) If you are children reading beside you, please temporary close their eyes...Haha!

The shop told me that...THIS IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN BALI! Interesting!

Beside the woodcraft, you also can find some other carving like below...

There are many peoples selling the souvenir around without proper shop unit. They will approach all the visitors, if you interested what they are selling, Bargain is A Must! Please take note, once you bought anything from them...another BIG group of peoples will come towards you! (I almost push into the drain) Haha! Anyway, I don't blame them, that's the way they make for living...

I called them 'The Postcard Boys'. They were aggressive!

Please notice if there's something look like the photo below along the way or in front of their shop, Don't step on it! This is one of the Hinduism praying...(correct me if I'm wrong)

After your shopping around the shops, you can have a cup of Bali Coffee at most of the cafe in this area...relax and enjoy yourself beside this beautiful Rice Terrace...

The Cafe by the side of the Rice Terrace

Too bad we don't have much time that day, because it was cloudy and we afraid to miss the spectacular view of Mount Batur. So we had to move on by skipping the coffee over here...anyway, I will be Back! :)
You can view the Rice Terrace from the top at Google Earth too.

After about an hour at Tegallalang Rice Terrace, we continue our journey to Kintamani...

Bali 5 days 4 nights trip :-
* My Bali Trip on June 2010 (D1)
* Harris Resort at Kuta, Bali (D1)
* Made's Warung at Kuta Beach Road (Jalan Pantai Kuta), Kuta - Bali (D1)
* Babi Guling (Suckling pig) of Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud town, Bali (D2)
* Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali (D2)
* Kintamani and Mount Batur at North Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* Fruit Stall around Kintamani area, Bali (D2)
* BAS Coffee Farm at Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* TJ's Mexican Bar and Restaurant at Kuta, Bali (D2)
* The Kuta Beach of Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Taman Ayun (Temple) at Mengwi, Bali - Indonesia (D3)
* Strawberry Park at Candikuning beside Beratan Lake - Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Ulun Danau (Temple) at Bratan Lake, Bali (D3)
* Pacung Indah Hotel And Restaurant at Bali (D3)
* One of the Famous Balinese Seven Sea Temples - Tanah Lot Temple of Bali (D3)
* Bebek Bengil - The Dirty Duck Diner at Ubud, Bali (D3)
* The Legian Street (Jalan) at Kuta, Bali (D3)
* Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Temple) at South Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Lia Cafe Seafood Restaurant at Jimbaran Bay, Bali (D4)
* Our Bali Humble Driver - Mr Agoes (D4)
* Farewell Bali Island! (D5)

Location map of Tegallalang Rice Terrace

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Take Five!

Traveling in the Celebes or elsewhere in the world could be taxing. Sometimes, especially if you are following an organized tour group, you would have to wake up very early in the morning and make long arduous journey to a place of attraction. I remember many many years ago, while on a train journey up north to Chiengmai, Thailand, a friend commented that my skin dried up so much so that there were lines on my face. Those days, I did not use moisturiser. These days, people have it all so good. Nowadays, there are even anti aging products like the one produced by I bet, one of the hottest penny stocks around - OXIS International, Inc . Their products contain L-Ergothioneine or ERGO which serve to conserve and maintain the levels of antioxidants including Vitamin E, Vitamin C and glutathione which are required to combat free radicals in our body. Take five, travellers! Take a break and see if you need to bring along a cache of such anti aging products!

Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali

After our early lunch at Warung Ibu Oka, we were definitely TOO full! Once we stepped out from the restaurant, I noticed there is a Palace across the road...I suggested to have a walk in Palace, because I can't sit in the car for travel another 1 hour more...

The entrance of the Palace

I have no idea what's the name of the Palace, but I felt very peaceful once I stepped in. It calm and beautiful. I just found a small area to sit down and enjoy the peaceful surrounding...
Quite a number of visitors that moment...after about 5 minutes of relax, I continue to Snap!
Sharing the photos below...