One Day Bali Photography Tour with Arie and Friends

Posted on July 17, 2012 by admin

Mr. Arie is my regular guest (now feel more like friend). He is a professional in airline industry but spending many of his time taking pictures. This time he was coming with a group of friends from the same industry with similar hobby, photography.

We started the day very early as usual as we want to capture the morning ray of light in Bali country side. We drove to a place that I have seen has a great ray of light once before. But it is not guarantee that we would have the same ray today. The great ray of light will occurs when we have enough mist and   the right light direction through the trees. Once we arrived the scene a bit disappointing. There was no rain the night before so not as much mist and the sun as not strongth enough. I insist to wait and let them open their breakfast box. After 10 minutes the scene we are looking for start to occurs. We got the scene now just wait for the subject to pass by. Soon, villagers start walking by on the way to their farm field. One great subject was the family with their cow waiting for a truck to pick their cow. The cow will be deliver to the market.  We spent almost two hours here before proceed to Lake Batur.

At lake Batur we try to capture people of Batur doing their daily activities by the lake. Washing cloth, fixing net, fishing on the canoe and others. The next destination of our photography day is Unda river water dam. Our regular subjects, the kids, as usual, are more than happy to play in the water for us.

We were only spent 30 minutes with the kids as we need to rush to  get to Ubud where two beautiful dancers has waiting for us in their colorful outfits. They privately posed for us. Our last photo taking for the day is Kecak and fire dance. Interesting and challenging light as usual.
We were start the day at 6am and end back in the hotel at 8PM, 14 hours total. It is a normal long day for dedicated photographers.

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Forgotten South Bali

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

We start the day by visiting:
– The mangrove forest. 30 minutes walk on wooden path amongst the forest while observing some birds in the area.  Entrance fee is IDR 100.000 per person.
– Serangan Turtle island to make a visit to genuine turtle preservation center, not the tourist’s turtle attraction. Donation is required to help the preservation of the turtle.
– Kedonganan Fish Market: to see the local fishermen activities and the busiest fish market in the island.
– Seafood lunch in quite Jimbaran Beach. Most people will dine here in the evening by dining at day time you will have the beach all by yourself.
– Uggasan Beach , a road just open to access this beach by car other wise we would need to walk  on 800 steps down.  Crystal clear water under  lime stone hill with white sand beach. Wave can be big in high tide.
– Uluwatu cliff temple. Join other visitors to see temple on the cliff and Kecak Dance with sunset background.

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One Morning in Ubud Outskirt

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

These photos I took while assisting a group of photographers doing photography tours in Bali. The tours itself is mentored by Rarindra Prakarsa, one of the inspiring photographer of Indonesia. Many of his work of human interests and landscapes inspired many other photographers worldwide.   We did few days tours of photography in Bali but this what I can come up for the moment. This is only from one morning in outskirt Ubud.

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Sidemen Trekking and Snorkeling in Bloo Lagoon

Posted on April 19, 2012 by admin

We start the day early in the morning by heading to Sidemen Valley in east Bali. The trekking will be following the path along the irrigation channel amongst the green valley of Sideman. The valley is located in the foot of the Bali’s highest Mount Agung. Starting early will give us more opportunity to see this scared mountain.  The rays of lights shine the steaming mist under the trees above the curvy rice terraces with mountain in the background is mystical view that inspired many artists including the famous Walter Spices. Many of his high demanded paintings created here back in 1930. These mystical views are still last up to present time. Our trek will try to lead you to witness these beautiful scenes together with seeing the local people doing their farming activities. Planting rice, cow plowing harvesting, cutting grass, bathing in the river are some activities you may see along the hike. Most of the time they grow rice but not always. Now days sometime they also grow other food plant like corn, peanut, soya been or vegetables.

After the trek, on the way to Bloo Lagoon we can stop at the Sideman village centre to see the traditional market and traditional weaving activities.  We will get to Bloo Lagoon, a small nice beach that mentioned in ‘Eat Pray Love’ book at lunch time. You may have lunch first before snorkeling in the clear crystal water. The snorkeling spots just 50 meters off the shores and you can easily swim to it. You will see numbers of interesting fish swimming in between the colorful corals. After tired of snorkeling you may just relax on the beach.

Price :Please email us for prices.

Include: Transportations from/to hotel, trekking guide, mineral water, snorkel and fins, beach bed renting, shower. Lunch is not included to allow you to choose your desired meals.

What to bring: Camera, walking shoes, swimming wear, and towel.

Suggested departing points: Sideman, Candidasa, Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak

Approximate duration: 7 AM to 3PM.

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Mount Batur Volcano Trekking

Posted on April 16, 2012 by admin

Mount Batur is one of the most active volcano in Bali beside the highest Mount Agung. Mount Batur trekking usually start at 4am to be able to see sunrise from the top. The sun will rise from behind the mount Abang, located just across of the calm Lake Batur at around 6AM. It would take about 2 hours to hike up from the trekking starting point. The starting point would be in the base of Mount Batur,  just out side of Jati Temple. A local trekking guide from the local organization need to be hired to accompany anyone who wish to hike up the holly mountain.

On the first 40 minutes of the walk  would rather flat on black sandy path. You will need to put on your flash light and still need to wear your jacket of sweater. As the part start to hike up it will slow down your step. Some are steep path so you need to work out a bit but still consider not difficult for most people. Try to take sort break while taking a deep breath of the fresh air. If you look behind , you you see line of light of other trekker in between the mist, still rather dark. But if it is full moon , you may able to see the calm lake Batur in distance already.

Once you get the top, find the the best spots that facing the Mount Abang. While waiting for the sunrise you may start having your breakfast box and get ready with your camera. There is a hut where you can buy hot tea or coffee if you wish.    After enjoying the beautiful  sunrise , you may walk around the area to see the caldera with few small holes with  volcanic steam come out from it. It used to be, trekkers can boils egg in these holes but it is not allowed anymore due to the cleanliness reason.   The sacred monkeys of the mountain are visible at this time. They may steal your breakfast , so be careful.

Walking down may take less then 2 hours and the sun start to be heating up. After reaching back to the based and seeing good bye to your trekking guide we proceed to see the lonely temple by the lake.After that we can then get a refreshing dip  into natural hot spring  pools by the lake before driving back to your hotel.

We organized Mount Batur trekking trip from IDR 650.000 /USD 60 per person for minimum 2 person.
The price include transportation from and back to your hotel, trekking guide,mineral water .  Hotel pick time will be at 3AM if you stay in Ubud, 2Am  to 2.30AM if you stay in Nusa Nusa, Kuta, Seminyak or Sanur.

Please drop us an email  to putu@balifriend.net or a note below if you wish to trek the Batur volcano with us.

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