5 Days Photo Challenge: Cruising at Congo River

Congo River, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2/5

I accepted photo challenge from Nina to combine two challenges into one. Nina, Indonesian woman expat who has been living in several countries (lately she’s living in England) and traveling to many countries around the globe. I did follow her blog since couple of years ago and amazed with her photography works, especially with her architecture photography. You can check her blog here.

The rules of the 5 days challenge are:

1. On 5 consecutive days. create a post using either a pas or recent photo in B&W only for Black and White Challenge OR in color for Five photos – Five stories challenge.

2. Each day invite another blogger friend to join in the fun.

Cruising at Congo River

Surely, don’t think it’s like cruising with five star cruishing ship. Democratic Republic of the Congo has serious problem for transportation access. There are many cities and villages can’t be reached by road. Unavailabiity access road makes many areas are hard to be reached. Plane can be an option if passengers need to be arrived faster. For passengers that have limitation budget, they can choose to cruise along Congo river.

The ships are over loaded, full of people with many kind of stuffs. Black smoke kept coming out, forcing passenger to inhale it along the journey that can take two to three days.

Congo River, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Challenge Invitation:

I invite Gara from Mencari Jejak  to participte with the challenge. Gara is travel blogger from Mataram, Indonesia and has traveled to many places in Indonesia. His style in telling stories with full of details makes me feel like traveling together with him.

5 Days Photo Challenge: Bent Pyramid

Bent Pyramid, Cairo, Egypt

1/5

I accepted photo challenge from Nina to combine two challenges into one. Nina, Indonesian woman expat who has been living in several countries (lately she’s living in England) and traveling to many countries around the globe. I did follow her blog since couple of years ago and amazed with her photography works, especially with her architecture photography. You can check her blog here.

The rules of the 5 days challenge are:

1. On 5 consecutive days. create a post using either a pas or recent photo in B&W only for Black and White Challenge OR in color for Five photos – Five stories challenge.

2. Each day invite another blogger friend to join in the fun.

Bent Pyramid

I took this photo five years ago at my short visit to Egypt. Unlikely common pyramids found in Egyot, Bent Pyramid has an unique shape. At the bottom, it has 54 degrees inclination. But once the construction started, the builders realized that it would create a very long pyramid. In the meantime, the death of  Pharaoh was nearing. The builders decided to change to 43 degrees to complete the construction on time.

Its location as far as 40 kilometers to South of Cairo makes it a bit hard to reach, compared to its neighbour, the Three pyramids of Giza. However, few tourist makes the place more special and gives more mystical impression for the building.

Bent Pyramid, Cairo, Egypt

The Challenge Invitation:

I invite Cybele from ‘There was a time” – the runes of the gatekeeper’s daughter and other tales to participate with the challenge. I like her works in monochrome photography that give mystic and mysterius feelings for the readers. Her impressive works can be checked HERE

Images of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is one of places that you must visit when you’re in Turkey. Located in central Turkey, can be reached by plane (more less one hour). Don’t worry if you’re budget travelers. There are many bus options going to Cappadocia with cheaper price (compared to plane fare) and comfortable enough. Nonetheless, the trip takes 12 hours for one way. Coming to Cappadocia is like entering the fairy tales. Thousand rocks with unique shapes resulted by volcano eruption thousand years back. Camel shape, mushroom, even head of Napoleon are there. In some places, it became hidden places for Christians in era of Roman Empire. People on that time created houses by craving the rocks. It was like living in the cave. Recently, some are still be used as habitations and hotels.

This is Fairy Tales.. Location: Cappadocia, Turkey

Some of cave houses are still used as houses and hotels

Cappadocia, Turkey

Chimney Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey

Mushroom shape, Cappadocia, Turkey

Camel Shape, Cappadocia, Turkey

Head of Napoleon, Cappadocia, Turkey

Cave Houses at Cappadocia, Turkey

Fondouk

Fondouk or also known as Caravanserai, a kind of hotel purposed for traveling merchants. In Fes, one of the oldest cities in Morocco, many fondouks are still exist. One of them located in old Medina, as shown below. Travelers and traders of all places stopped here for rested, on their way to or back from Sahara. While men slept on the top floors, horses and mules rested in the inner courtyard. The bottom floors are set up to conduct trading transaction with variety of goods, such as leather, books, textiles and other goods.

Fondouk in Fes, Morocco

Fondouk in Fes, Morocco

Fondouk in Fes, Morocco

Fondouk in Fes, Morocco

Fondouk in Fes, Morocco

Weekly Photo Challenge: Early Bird (Kinshasa in the Morning)

Responding to weekly photo challenge, I would like to share a photo I took in early morning from my flat in Kinshasa. The weather was so lovely, showing beautiful clouds flying in the sky.

Kinshasa in the Morning

Mesjid Raya Medan or more well known as Grand Mosque (Religious Building #1)

Located not far from city center, Mesjid Raya Medan, or usually known as Grand Mosque, is one of the most beautiful mosques in Medan, Indonesia. It was built by Sultan Ma’mum Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam, the ruler of Kingdom of  Deli  in 1906. It is used acitvely for Islamic worship. Due to its history and unique architecture, it becomes one of landmarks in Medan.

Mesjid Raya, Medan

Location : Medan, Indonesia.

Camera: Canon 1000D

Harapan Bangsa Stadium

Harapan Bangsa or Lhong Raya Stadium, located in Banda Aceh which is purposed for football match.  On one afternoon, I came there to have some shots. Since there was no match on that day, I couldn’t enter the stadium but I still could get some shots from outside.

I took the photos of this stadium with my first DSLR Camera, with not so good results, since I was still not familiar  with every functions of camera, such as speed, ISO, etc. I tried to make modification by changing it to Black and White to make it looked better.

Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

The Monument, located in front of stadium.

Lamps at Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

 

The Green Rwanda

On last Easter Holiday, I took a chance to visit Rwanda, a small country in East Africa, bordered with Democratic Republic of the Congo. Knowing the fact that I have been living for almost two years in Bukavu, where the border is only 2 miles from my house, I succeeded to convince myself to see how the country is. I took public bus from Kamembe bus station, heading to capital Kigali. It took six hours journey, but the view was spectacular. Rwanda is not only known as the cleanest country in Africa but also very green. On my way to Kigali, I was shown with beautiful scenery, tea plantation and heavy rain forest.

Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda

House, in the middle of tea plantation. Location: Rwanda

Tea Plantation, Rwanda

Tea Plantation, Rwanda

Tea Plantation, Rwanda.

Rain Forest of Rwanda

Weekly Photo Challenge: Afloat

Dead Sea is one of places you must visit when you’re in Jordan. Dead Sea or also known as Salt Sea, has the lowest surface in the world and has very high salt contents. You can just floating on the water, even if you never had swimming experience for your whole life. It can be reached by driving  from Amman, the capital of Jordan for one hour. There is no public transport to reach that place. If you have no private car, taxi can be a good option, as I did. The photo I show below is not my shot. Jo Wagner, my travel mate, took it for me when I was enjoying floating on the Dead Sea.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blur

Responding to Weekly Photo Challenge, these are some blur photos I took from the old files.

A Lady in Solitaire. Location: Uganda

Little Girl in Solitaire. Location: Uganda

Girl Vendor. Location: Uganda

Eiffel Tower

After reading blog from Le and David , I’m inspired to post some photos of Eiffel Tower. In the same time,  126 years ago, Eiffel Tower was officially opened. The beautiful tower designed by Gustave Eiffel (where its name came from) and took two years to finish the construction. I took  chances to visit Eiffel twice, day and night times, which gave me different feeling that can’t replaced by other.

Eiffel at Night Time
Paris, France.

Eiffel at Day time.
Paris, France.

Eiffel Tower at Day Time

Travel Theme: Outdoors (Kawah Putih: Beauty of Indonesia #2)

After long time not participating with Ailsa Photo Challenge, this time I will share some photos I took when I did outdoor activities in West Java. Kawah Putih or White Crater, is a crater lake and one of tourist spots, located 50 km to South of Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Kawah Putih is one of crater of Mount Patuha, one of many volcanoes in Indonesia, and had no serious activities since year 1600’s. It took two hours driving from Bandung (it depends on the traffic, it can be more or less). There are paths leading visitors to the crater. Once you get there, you’ll see the lake with its beautiful white water (probably that’s why they call it Kawah Putih), heavy fog and and strong smell of sulfur.

Kindly check some photos I took during this visit.

Forested Area surrounding the lake. Location: Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih, West Java, Indonesia

Small lake I found near the crater,

For more challenge, kindly visit Ailsa’s website at wheresmybackback.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ephemeral

It’s a tough challenge. At least, I needed couple of hours to find photo which is suitable with the theme of this week. Ephemeral. Something that can represent present. Ephemeral for me is when I tried to shoot some birds flying high, when I must get focus, used the short moment efficiently before the birds flying away and never return.

Bird flying high

Bird flying high

Bird Flying High

Bird flying high

Bird Flying High

Bird Flying High

For more challenges, kindly visit the Daily Post for Weekly Photo Challenge.

Time

Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Time will always heal the pain

Bring the sun and dry the rain

“Tommy Page”

Happy World Water Day

Today is world water day. I felt to give a bit reflection of what I did in term of saving water in our planet and realized that I was not doing so much.

Water is one of five elements philosophy and one of the most important things that people can’t live without. People could survive without food for three weeks, but surely will perish for three days without water.

When I can have an easy clean water access, many people out there are struggling to it for daily needs. I do remember when I was in Pining village, one of village in Gayo Luwes, Aceh, Indonesia, I needed to go for 1 kilometer to have an access clean water to have shower. I complained, but for the villagers, it was not something to be complained. They’re happy, even tough they must walk for some times, they still could have shower every day.

I found this water source at Pining Village after walking for one hour.

Seeing these two little girls must walk far just to have a shower makes my heart broke.

Children in Africa must walk many miles just for having clean drinking water. It makes me even more ashamed with myself for having drinking water without thinking where I must get it, and still took it for granted.

Children in Africa must walk many kilometers just to get clean water

These two ladies living near to Source of Nile River. But they must walk for many distances to bring the water at home.

Nile River. I just wonder if there is good infrastructure and water piping systems, these water can cover the whole Africa

I am not the expert of water that can find solution how to distribute clean water to many unfortunate people in the world. However, I came up with rosulution to start it from my self for using water maximizely and avoiding to use water for something unecessary. Our planet will not loose our water if we care to share.

We care, we share, we can.

Happy World Water Day..

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

Contributing to Weekly Photo Challenge, these are the meaning of fresh for me.

Watching small water falls at KL Bird Park. Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Walking in the pouring rain. Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Swimming in Indian Ocean. Location: Phi phi islands, Thailand

 

Some Snaps From Princes Islands

Princes Islands had been known as islands of Princes at Byzantine Period. The princes kept coming to these islands to have private holiday. When Ottoman took over Turkey, this practice were still continued. During the nineteenth century, the islands become popular as summer holiday destination for jetsetters of Istanbul.

Buyukada is the biggest island. Located in the middle of sea of Marmara, there are regular boats coming and leaving from Kabatas harbour. Speed boats are also available which just taking 90 hours sailing to reach the island.

Vehicles are forbidden within the island. If visitors want to walk around, they can walk or get on the cart or riding the bicycle. It make the islands become special and very quite too. You just hear ring of bicycle, horses’ steps instead of car machine. Most of houses built using Victorian style and wooden construction.

Buyukada Port, Princes Island

Buyukada, Princes Island

Buyukada Downtown. Vehicles are forbidden.

The quite road in Princes Island

The horse cart, one of transportation allowed in Princes Island

Horse Cart Passing th road in Princes Island

Another House at Princes Island

Wooden House at Buyukada, Princes Island

Wooden House at Buyukada, Princes Island

Wooden House at Buyukada, Princes Island

Wooden House at Buyukada, Princes Island

Wooden House at Buyukada, Princes Island

Horse Station at Princes Island

 Since this blog is purposed for photography only, I didn’t write many things on this page. If you’re interested to read my visit to Princes Islands, you can read it at my other blogs, An ongoing Journey for English version and Jendela Fitri for Indonesian version.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Wall

Responding weekly photo challenge for this week.

One of World Nature Wonder, Spectacular wall of rock mountain in Cappadocia, Turkey

Another nature wonder, spectacular wall in Pamukkale.. Still in Turkey..

High Walls at El Badi Palace, Marrakech, Morocco.. As you can compare with people walking between it.

Another rock walls. This time, it’s in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. My friend, Royan trying to climb it.

Pini Island (Beauty of Indonesia #1)

This photo taken in Pini Island, one of the biggest island in area of Batu Islands. This island is located on the south of North Sumatera Province. There is no special public transport coming to this island. The easiest way is getting the regular wooden boat from Teluk Dalam (capital of district of South Nias. It’s in Nias island, and can be reached by 1 hour flying from Medan), and continued by charter boats to Pini taking 3 hours sailing for one way.

I came here not for holiday purpose. It was one of assignment when I worked for humanitarian organization to do reconstruction of elementary school in the island. There were not so many occupants within the island. Perhaps, it was 30-40 households only. It was exhausted journey, but the view, I even couldn’t describe by words. It was so natures, with the blue sky, blue sea and coconut trees around. It was one of paradise on earth.

Pini Island, South Nias, Indonesia.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Orange

Responding challenge at Weekly Photo Challenge, Here are mine:

Spectacular Landscape of Wadi Rum in Jordan.

Golden Sand on Sahara Desert

Reflection of Candle

Mapple Leaves in Autumn in Istanbul, Turkey.

Little Visitor at the Backyard at my house of Bukavu.

A pair of birds at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa.

Wall Paintings at Brazaville Museum, Republic of Congo

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reward

I did keep in my mind, reward means something I got due to appreciation for something. Reward for getting the new job.  Reward for getting promotion. Reward for winning the game. Reward is always connected to achieving something.

Lately, I realized that anything we got through our lives must be given a reward. It doesn’t matter what it is. Rewards for still having a good health, meanwhile others are struggling for cancers in the hospital. Reward for still having good sights, seeing beautiful blooming flowers in the spring. Reward for still having good hearing, listening beautiful music or just rain drops on the roof. Rewards for still having abundant foods to eat for the whole month, meanwhile others are thinking how to get the food for tomorrow. Reward for having appropriate clothes, meanwhile others just have one or two pieces to wear every day. It’s a blessing to have all of them in my life. These two photos represent some rewards I have in life.

 

Location: Red Sea, Jeddah, KSA

Location: We Island, Indonesia.

These Explain Why I’m in Love with Istanbul

I mentioned many times how I am in love with this beautiful city. It’s not easy for not falling in love with one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is no place but Istanbul offering magnificent beautiful historical buildings, cultures and delicious foods. Its strategic location put it as the only city in the world located in two continents, namely Asia and Europe.

The city is modern enough, similar to cities in other European countries. With its small streets covered by paving block and gable stones and many tram rail decorating some main roads within the city. No matter where you go, you always could see minarets between skylines, which is usually used as mosque’s tower. However, there are many public buildings using the minarets as element of the buildings.

When you visit Istanbul, Sultanahmet is the best area to stay. Located in European side, there are many tourist attraction surrounding area, most of them in walking distance. You can visit some of them all at once, such as Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace and many more. Don’t worry when you get tired. There are many restaurants and cafe offering teas, coffees, and their special Turkish Delight.

I would like to share some photos I took in Istanbul couple of years ago. Most of them are located in Sultanahmet.

Blue Mosque, as the landmark of Istanbul. It’s one of masterpieces of Mimar Sinan, the famous Turkish architect. This mosque was built to fulfill wish of Sultan who wanted to compensate the beauty of Hagia Sophia built many years before.

Blue Mosque.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Exactly located in front of this beautiful mosque, you can see the other beautiful building, Hagia Sophia. I had been known how popular this building since I attended class of Religious Architecture at University. This building purposed as a church under ascendancy of Constantin the Great. Once Istanbul took over by Ottoman Empire, Sultan changed its functioned to be a mosque. Nowadays, the Government of Turkey functions it as museum.

Hagia Sophia or Aya Sophia.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

 It’s not far from Blue Mosque, located at the northern end of old Hippodrom, a fountain with Gazebo style called German Fountain. The fountain was built to commemorate German Emperor when he visited Istanbul in 1898.

German Fountain.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

If you keep walking, you’ll find the exotic Bosphorus strait. In the morning is perfect time to wander around when you can see fishermen coming and going with beautiful sunrise and flying birds as its background.

Istanbul in the morning

Istanbul with Galata Tower as background

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

At other part of Sultanahmet Area, you could find Galata Bridge. This bridge is always full of people, no matter when. Watching people fishing or just walking around and ending with a cup of coffee at restaurant below the bridge, could be a perfect way to end the day.

Galata Bridge
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds (Candle Cup)

 

When I traveled to foreign land, I tried to bring something home, just to remind me about good memories I had while I was there. It didn’t have to be something big or fancy or expensive. I just need something small that I could put in my backpack. It could be a key holder, snow ball, bookmark, and any other small crafts that assist me to nostalgic with those special places.

For this challenge, I would love to share a photo of cup candle by using Rule of Thirds. This cup, I found it while I was in Istanbul (my favorite city. I think I told everybody many times about it). When you have a chance to visit this beautiful city, you’ll see abundant souvenir shops in every corner of the city. Lamps and candle cups are one of beautiful crafts hanging at most of souvenir shops in the city. Many of them are hand made (including what I show on this blog. I hope the seller told me the truth), covered by fraction of colorful glasses.

Taken by: Canon 600D

Portraits of Maasai

Beautiful Maasai Woman.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Maasai House.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Head of Village.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Location: Masai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Maasai Men Start to Dance.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Maasai Men are Dancing.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Maasai Men are Dancing.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Maasai Women.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Women are selling craft.
Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Location: Maasai Village, Kenya.
Camera: Canon 1000D.

Welcoming December

 

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Location: Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.
Camera: Canon 1000D

Weekly Photo Challenge: Converge

Agriculture Museum.
Location: Budapest, Hungary

Tyn Church.
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Old Town of Bratislava

Photo Series of Old Town of Bratislava. I took the chance to stepped out the train, on my way to Prague.

St. Michael’s Street.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Michael’s Gate, at Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Capuchin Church.
Old Town with Bratislava Castle as the background.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Trinitarian Church of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

St. Martin’s Cathedral in Old Town.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town with Bratislava Castle as the background.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town with Bratislava Castle as the background.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

The Tram which is operating in Bratislava
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

I found this Sumba Shop in the old town. Sumba is one of islands in Indonesia.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

I found Jakarta as well. It seems Slovakia and Indonesia has good relation tough.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Cute Window.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Cute Window.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D.

Cute Window.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Old Town of Bratislava.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Camera: Canon 600D

One Statue in Bratislava

Danube River.
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Novy Most (New Bridge). Observation Deck
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia.
Camera: Canon 600D

Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement

Finally.. I was in the middle of desert of Sahara, after fighting my fear riding on the camel. The credit will be given to Mr. Zarrar Khalid Sikandar, the photographer of this awesome photo. Location: Sahara desert, Morocco

Feeling relieved after having achievement be on the top of the mountain.
Location: Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa.
Model: Sari

Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist

It’s so minimalist. Only a bench and the sea.

Location: Dead Sea, Jordan

Weekly Photo Challenge: Descent

Dana Valley, Jordan