Category Archives: Indonesia

First Foray into Panorama

July 4, 2010 by kianhong

(Panorama of Savanna, formed by stitching 10 photos. For enlarge view, just click on the photo) This was my first attempt producing panoramic pictures of the breathtaking landscape in Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, and I made some terrible mistakes. Rule number 1, never ever set your camera into Auto Mode and Auto White Balance. When you [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Let's talk about photography • Tags: Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Crater, grassland, Indonesia, Java, mount bromo, mountain pass, mountain range, Panasonic Lumix LX3, panorama, Panorama Maker 4, photo stitching, photography, savanna, trekking, volcano

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Rumah Palagan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

June 25, 2010 by kianhong

Rumah Palagan, a boutique hotel I stayed during my trip to Yogyakarta. It’s located some distance away from the heart of the city, but it didn’t bother me much, since the major attractions like Prambanan and Borobudor temples are all located beyond the city. If you need a relaxing and peaceful place for your precious holiday, this hotel is [...]

Categories: By Country, Hotel / Accommodation, Indonesia • Tags: Accommodation, boutique hotel, City, Hotel, Indonesia, Java, Jogjakarta, LX3, photography, rumah palagan, Yogyakarta

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Leo, the man who escaped me from the stormy savanna

June 21, 2010 by kianhong

After wandering around Savanna for about an hour, we decided to leave. But the question is – How? We took more than 3 hours to reach here from Mount Bromo, on foot. If we walk back, it would take us another 6 hours. Our feet are sore and walking was definitely not an option. We saw some villagers passing by occasionally [...]

Categories: By Country, Faces @ 85, Indonesia • Tags: Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Indonesia, Java, motorbike, mount bromo, photography, Portrait, savanna

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A long road to Savanna

June 15, 2010 by kianhong

We were finally up at the edge of Mount Bromo’s crater, after climbing the steep staircase. The pungent white sulphurous smoke belching out from the center of the crater made us sick. Walking around the edge was scary, especially at the area near the upper end of the staircase. It was so crowded with people and the ledge for people to [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Travelogue • Tags: Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Crater, Desert, grassland, Indonesia, Java, lava lines, mount bromo, mountain pass, mountain range, photography, rocky terrain, savanna, trekking, volcano

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The Tenggerese

June 1, 2010 by kianhong

They are the Tenggerese, known to be the descendants of the Majapahit princes. At the foot of Mount Bromo, you will see quite a number of them, offering tourists a horse’s ride uphill to the staircase which leads to the top of Mount Bromo. And the service doesn’t come cheap. It cost about 30,000 Rupiah to 60,000 Rupiah normally, depends on how hard you bargain. [...]

Categories: By Country, Faces @ 85, Indonesia • Tags: Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, east java, horse, Indonesia, mount batok, mount bromo, mount Penanjakan, mount semeru, photography, Portrait, Sunrise, tenggerese, trekking

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Sunrise over Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park? No luck!

May 24, 2010 by kianhong

(A panorama of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, formed by stitching 2 photos) We were all embracing ourselves against the wet and cold climate on the top of Mount Penanjakan. It was probably 4:45 a.m. and we could hardly see each other’s face. I couldn’t differentiate whether it was drizzling or the whole area was just covered with thick mist. We were all standing at an altitude [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Travelogue • Tags: Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, east java, Indonesia, mount batok, mount bromo, mount Penanjakan, mount semeru, panorama, photography, Sunrise

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Faces @ 85

May 20, 2010 by kianhong

Ever since I took the photo of a village girl (click on the photo on the right to see the post) taken in Pushkar, India last year, my perception on shooting portraits has changed. I’m taking more time to observe the faces of people I see along my journey now. I can’t wait to meet interesting locals and take another shot [...]

Categories: By Country, Faces @ 85, Indonesia • Tags: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, east java, Face, Indonesia, mount bromo, mount Penanjakan, photography, Portrait

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Ramayana Ballet Prambanan

May 18, 2010 by kianhong

Today, I’m going to tell you a story. It’s an old Javanese rendering of the Sanskrit Ramayana (one of the two great epics of India) that I learned after watching the theatrical performance of Ramayana at Prambanan, Indonesia. This is how the story goes . . . . Once upon a time, there’s a very beautiful [...]

Categories: By Country, Event / Festival, Indonesia • Tags: ballet, Hanuman, Indonesia, Jatayu, Java, jogja, performance, Prambanan, Rahwana, Rama, Ramayana, Shinta, theater

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Prambanan, Indonesia

April 29, 2010 by kianhong

(The local guide, who did an excellent job in revealing the legend of Prambanan) Prambanan compound was made up of about 237 Hindu temples, and it is the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia. This ancient temple compound which could be dated back to the 9th century is dedicated to three Hindu Gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Travelogue • Tags: Brahma, Hindu temple, Indonesia, Java, legend, Prambanan, Shiva, Vishnu

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日出-婆羅浮屠 (Sunrise @ Borobudur, Indonesia)

April 22, 2010 by kianhong

凌晨4点前, 就从旅社出发了. 为的就是到婆羅浮屠(Borobudur)去看日出. 我其实对看日出没抱太大期望. 因为我从来没有真正看过日出. 记得每次去海边游玩的时候, 每天一大早都会被大伙儿拉去沙滩等看日出. 可是每次都只看到大块大块不识趣的云朵在天空中晃来晃去. 很是讨厌! 这次, 不一样. 我终于看到了日出…. 05:19 am 天还没亮, 守护着婆羅浮屠的, 是下悬月. 05:30 am 05:32 am 太阳先是染红了天尽头的云朵. 05:39 am 慢慢的, 周围的天空, 也染上色彩. 橙色…. 05:44 am 浅橙粉红色…. 05:48 am 色又退了… 05:50 am 在太阳临冲出上空的时候, 云块像被烧红了一样. 05:52 am 05:53 am 出来了! 出来了! 所有的人都叫了起来, 很是激动! 05:57 am 太美了! 又埋进了云边…. 06:00 am 06:02 am [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Travelogue • Tags: Borobudur, buddha, Indonesia, Java, Jogjakarta, stupa, Sunrise, temple, Yogyakarta, 婆羅浮屠, 日出

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Wayang Kulit (Puppet Shadow Play) – An old and dying art form

April 16, 2010 by kianhong

Long before projector and television were invented, puppet shadow play was the popular form of storytelling and visual entertainment. This ancient art form which uses articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images, exists in more than 20 countries, including China, France, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia and Malaysia, [...]

Categories: By Country, Event / Festival, Indonesia • Tags: Indonesia, Java, Jogjakarta, photography, Puppet Shadow Play, Tok Dalang, Wayang Kulit, Yogyakarta

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Yogyakarta, Indonesia

April 9, 2010 by kianhong

(High Dynamic Range Mode,LX3) Many tourists learn about Indonesia not before they know Bali. And their impression on this country usually stop at Bali. But this country’s vast archipelago offers more than what you could imagine: her vast areas of wilderness, top-notch diving sites, spectacular Buddhist and Hindu temples, active volcanos, majestic rice-terraced valleys and the tribal villages in Papua. [...]

Categories: By Country, Indonesia, Travelogue • Tags: City, HDR, High Dynamic Range, Indonesia, Java, Jogjakarta, Malioboro Street, Yogyakarta

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