Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Lahir Bathin!

(Happy Holidays, Forgive my sins and the sins of the world)

This greeting is the felicitation once often hears in Indonesia and the rest of the Malay world, exchanged by all Muslims in commemoration of the end of the 1-month Ramadan fasting. That will be tomorrow, October 1, the Eid ul-Fitr or Eid il-Fitr, which is probably the most celebrated Eid in the Muslim world.

The day will definitely be marked by revelry, feast and personal splurge. Families reunite and people flock back to their villages much like the Chinese do during the Lunar New Year, or the Christians do during Christmas. Gifts will be exchanged, food will be shared and goodies will be given away. The event is also marked by alms-giving and personal introspection.

To all my Muslim friends in the world, Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Lahir Batin! Eid Mubarak!

Here are pictures celebrating the culture of Islam.


Canon PowerShot S40, 1/1000s, f/5.6, 7.1mm
Masjid Agung Surabaya, the biggest mosque in Java, Indonesia; March 15, 2007



Canon PowerShot S40, 1/1000s, f/5.0, 8.6mm
Masjid Al Markaz Al Islami Jenderal Muhammad Yusuf, Makassar, South Sulawesi, the biggest mosque in East Indonesia; July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/125s, f/7.1, 18mm, ISO 400
Girls playing in Stonetown, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Note the one in front with henna “tattoo”, a traditional ornamentation for the Eid; November 8, 2005



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/10, 49mm, ISO 100
the House of Wonders, a famous Omani palace in Stonetown, Zanzibar, Tanzania, November 8, 2005



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/320s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
the vintas or traditional Muslim boat sails, now a symbol of Zamboanga City, the Philippines, March 26, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/10s, f/5.6, 41mm, ISO 800
Jembatan Merah, Surabaya, Indonesia, February 3, 2007. The ladies are wearing traditional hijab, or Muslim headscarves.



Canon EOS 350D, 1/25s, f/5.0, 61mm, ISO400, +1/3EV
another view of Masjid Agung, Surabaya, Indonesia, as seen through a blue-tinted window of the car; March 15, 2007

10 tips in Aerial Photography, part 2

continued from 10 tips in aerial photography, part 1 in colloidfarl.blogspot.com


6. International flights often have TV screens for entertainment. When available, I always set mine to the flight channel which charts the progress of the flight against a map. I regularly take a snapshot of the channel screen so that I can place the location of my photographs at the later time.

7. Use your sharpest lens. Long lens are fine but only if they are sharp, otherwise you have a lot of post-processing to do. My favorite lens in most of my aerial photographs is my 18-55mm kit lens. I have a 70-300mm lens but it is soft and sensitive to camera shake.

8. Photography inside a plane is much like action photography. I often set my camera at the widest aperture or adjust the ISO so that a proper exposure of at 1/500s or faster can be achieved. The plane moves in such speed that is magnified at lower altitudes.

9. When the wide world below becomes your photographic canvas, always remember the fundamentals in composition. Think before you shoot. You may not be able to pass that way again.

10. Cut out glare. Depending on the light conditions, this may mean keeping the lens as close to the window as much as possible. Sometimes the shirt you’re wearing, even when it is all white, could get reflected on the glass and come out in the exposure. A plain dark shirt, especially black, works best for me.


more aerial photographs


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
a highly populated island near Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -2/3EV
an island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008
an unpopulated island off Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D, 1/640s, f/6.3, 54mm, ISO 100
Tawi-Tawi, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, the Philippines, March 27, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 0.005s, f/8, 55mm, ISO100, -1/3EV
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/800s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200, -1/3EV
Laguna de Bay (?), Manila, the Philippines, September 12, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/250s, f/10, 55mm, ISO 100
over Myanmar, SE Asia, November 18, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/80s, f/6.3, 55mm, ISO 100
35,000 feet over Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 18, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/250s, f/11, 55mm, ISO 100
the dunes near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa, November 10, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 0.031s, f/5.6, 22mm, ISO 100
the desert dunes of Dubai, UAE, November 7, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/160s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100
Lantau Island, Hong Kong, January 8, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/9, 55mm, ISO 100
West Madagascar, East Africa, November 16, 2005

10 tips in Aerial Photography, part 1

I am enamored by aerial photography. The patterns one can see from above are different and mostly are left unknown to the ordinary viewer on the ground. The earth from above takes on a whole new form. No wonder a lot of people attribute to flying as a spiritual experience.

Being a frequent flyer, I always try to get that window seat that provides the best view of the earth down below. But getting that right spot in the plane, away from the obstructing wing, is easier said than done. Luck plays a great deal in getting that enviable seat. Over the years of flying, I’ve learned some tricks of the trade which I am sharing here.

1. Study the flight direction against the map. Is the direction going northeast or directly west? If you’re a sunrise and sunset hound, determine which side of the plane faces west or east. What are the most likely attractions that one can pass? Short of asking the pilot, the actual flight path can only be acquired by experience so if you would take the same flight sometime in the future, check out now what the sights are below.

2. Be conscious of the flying time and the direction of the light. Sometimes, I purposely would sit where the sun is at the other side to get strong backlights against bodies of water. Check the weather too of your port of embarkation and the place of destination. Aerial photography is impossible in bad weather.

3. Be early in the airport. If it is possible to book a seat before the actual flight do so. International carriers allow you to choose a seat online although some of the good seats are often blocked. I have not tried this with domestic Philippines airlines which don't offer this service yet.

4. If you cannot get a window seat at the front, a section often reserved for the business class, settle for a seat at the back. The view of middle seats are blocked by the wing and the engine.

5. Keep a wet tissue. I find it useful in cleaning the windows (yeah, people stare at me).

to be continued

Here are a few samples of my aerial photographs.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200
Laguna de Bay (?), Luzon, the Philippines



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/500s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -2/3EV
rice (?) fields at Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/500s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200
ponds near Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, November 8, 2007



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
ponds in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1500s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 100
salt farms in Madura, East Java, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/9, 55mm, ISO 100
river tributaries in West Madagascar, East Africa, November 16, 2005



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1000s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 200
Biddeford Pool, Portland, Maine, the US, December 18, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/640s, f/5.6, 25mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
an unknown development project near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/640s, f/6.3, 55mm, ISO 100
Tango Island, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the Philippines, March 27, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/1000s, f/6.3, 51mm, ISO 100
an islet near Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, the Philippines



Canon EOS 350D, 1/200s, f/11, 47mm, ISO 100
sanddunes north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa



Canon EOS 350D, 1/200s, f/11, 47mm, ISO 100
sanddunes north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa


For other aerial photos, check out My Islands of Sulu

Searching for Tanjung Mebelu, part 1

Uluwatu

The temple of Uluwatu in Jimbaran is not to be missed. Founded in the 10th century, the Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali's eight kayangan jagat or directional temples' and guards Bali from evil spirits from the southwest.

I have been there numerous times. After all, it is the one famous place that is nearest to the place where I lived in Bali in the early 90s and most convenient to visit when we had guests to show around.

As the pictures below attest, Uluwatu deserves is reputation as one of two most picturesque sunset temples of Bali, the other being Pura Tanah Lot.

views inside the Uluwatu temple complex


Canon PowerShot S40, 3.2s, f/8, 7.1mm



Canon PowerShot S40, 1/500s, f/4, 14.7mm



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 25s, f/29, 25mm, ISO 100,



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 25s, f/11, 28mm, ISO 100



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 6s, f/22, 18mm, ISO 100, -1/3 EV


the search for Tanjung Mebelu

Having frequented Uluwatu, I’ve always been curious in finding another promontory that could offer a different view of the temple. I checked the map. There are several possibilities north of the temple, namely the beaches of Suluban, Padang-Padang and Labuan Sait. Problem was these are at sea level and Uluwatu is situated way up in the cliff. Sigting it against the sky might be a problem. Instead, one spot seemed attractive. It is a hill directly south of Uluwatu, identified in the map as Tanjung Mebelu.

Now, Tanjung Mebelu is one place practically nobody has heard of. Even in Pecatu, the big village where Uluwatu is, people just gave us a blank stare when we mentioned the name. But as we edged closer to the temple, we finally found someone who was able to give us the direction. Tanjung Mebelu can be reached by taking one of the last concrete lanes at the left side of the highway, about a kilometer before the temple entrance. The road was a private one and is surprisingly wide and smooth. It came out it led directly to an unfinished a hotel development. Under the dying afternoon sun, the large decrepit structure looked eerie.

We parked by the locked gate and followed a foot path towards the edge of the precipice. There was one solitary farmer herding local Balinese cattle. We practically had the place all to ourselves.

From Tanjung Mebelu, the temple of Uluwatu stands proud. Perched on steep limestone cliffs that jut some hundred meters over the ocean, the temple is an acrophobe’s nightmare. The view westward over the is impeded by nothing and the Indian Ocean looks infinite. Up on the open cliff, it would just be you and the deep blue sea. And these are no ordinary peaceful waters. The surf is wild and dangerous, constantly battering the hapless rocky shores.

We got there some 30 minutes before sundown and the wait did not take that long. The views, as can be seen below, are rewarding.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 13s, f/22, 18mm, ISO 100, +1/3 EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/5, 140mm, ISO 100, +4/3 EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 100, -1/3 EV

the Cacing Diaries #16

Seven months and counting

I am sure every parents feel this. Raising kids is sweet pain. So people say that the most relaxed time is when babies are in their mid-year. Maybe so. Cacing is getting naughty but she still cannot walk or crawl so at least she cannot not run all over the place yet. At seven months, Cacing is having lots of fun with anything. Her favorite toy, it seems, is a blown up plastic shopping bag, in whatever size as long as it is inflated. On the other hand, her attention span is blink in time. One minute she enjoys being cradled in your arms, the next she’ll yelp to get free.

Cacing knows the power of the smile. She dispenses smiles to please and be pleased in return. She smiles right before a bath when lying on her tub. She smiles when she’s about to be fed. When she’s bored, she’ll squeal and holler in protest so that she’ll be taken out of the house. Then she’d give you a smile once she’s free from the confines of space.

There are a few more milestones that I have noted of my dear child. She is becoming nimble with her fingers. Fine motor skills, my wife says. She could easily pick up dropped objects like a ball.

She enjoys peekaboo and squeals loudly and delightfully when play with her. Another favorite pasttime is her experimentation with her hands, closing and opening them in succession.

She still cannot crawl though. Lazy I think she is. As a consolation, she now can lie on her stomach for more than 10 minutes if we diverted her attention with toys. Soon, I hope she can sit on her own. However, and we are proud of her for this, Cacing loves to practice walking. We just have to lift her by her arms and amble her slowly across the floor while she pretends to walk.

I’ve heard that physically girls develop a bit late than boys. Fine with me. Besides boys can’t have long hair which can be fiddled the way Cacing hair can.

So really, this post is just a reason to show her off. She’s cute even when her hair is baaaaaad.


bad hair days special


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/320s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 400



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/60s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 800, +1.0EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/80s, f/2.8, 100mm, ISO 100, -1.0EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 100



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/80s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 800, +4/3EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/100s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 800

Pandanon redux

It is raining today in Cebu. Most days of the past two weeks though, it has pretty been viciously hot. Too bad that the waters around the islands remain choppy. It is the monsoon of Habagat or the southwest wind which predicates tidal swells and stormy seas. The typhoon-laden wind only makes me wish for summer, when weather is gentle and perfect for the beach.

While travel to my favorite islands appear hard nowadays, I could not help but pine for the sand, the sun and the seas of Pandanon. I may not be able to go there now but I had some Pandanon Island escapade photographs to keep me company.



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/100s, f/10, 18mm, ISO 100, +1/3EV
Pandanon island, Getafe, Bohol, Philippines



Pandanon is like two islands linked by a narrow isthmus. One end is almost pure sand. The other is inhabited by a small barangay of about 300 people, ekeing out a living from the seas, and now, from tourism.
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/80s, f/16, 18mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
Pandanon island, Getafe, Bohol, Philippines



I was passing through the small fishing village of Pandanon when I bumped into these boys. They saw my camera and eagerly asked that I take pictures of them with their teddy bears. Ah, innocence!
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/30s, f/5, 39mm, ISO 100
Pandanon island, Getafe, Bohol, Philippines

Seaweed time in Indonesia

For people in Northern Hemisphere, there are four definitive seasons- winter, fall, summer and spring. Not from where I live in tropical Asia. We only have the wet and the dry season, yet at all times, temperatures would still be moderately warm by most standards.

Summertime in perennially sunny Southeast Asia is defined as that period of no rains, that intermission between stormy monsoons. This time is important in agriculture, or more particularly in seaweed farming.

Seaweed mariculture is agriculture but not on land but at sea. Growth-out period is around a month and a half, afterwhich the harvest is dried openly under the sun to be dried to commercial moisture levels. Drying time takes 2-4 days, depending on weather. Obviously, the stretch of dry season termed “summer” in Asia is favorable for harvesting. Cultivations cycles are planned to peak during this time to take advantage of the heat that allows faster turnover.

This series of pictures are taken in regions that are two of the seaweed hotspots in Indonesia: Bali and Lombok


Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Ironically and fortunately, the farms of Nusa Dua also happen to be located in beaches that are beautifully pristine and heavily favored by tourists. Hotels practically are facing these farms. Tourism and seaweed farming seem to cohabitate together. For now.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1000s, f/5.6, 205mm, ISO 400, -1/3EV
at Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 100
at Geger, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/500s, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 800,
at Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia


Serewe Bay, Lombok, Indonesia

It would be difficult to outdo Serewe Bay in East Lombok when it comes to spectacular sandy beaches, what with numerous outcropping islands and steep cliffs spread over the bay. Roads are still rough though and visitors, if any, are sparse. While still a whispered secret among beachcombers in the know, these beaches are only a heartbeat away from commercial development.



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/2500s, f/5.6, 190mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
at Sumerang, East Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1600s, f/5.0, 190mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
at Serewe, East Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia