Travel Photo : What A Landscape! - Mount Bromo, Indonesia

I'm sharing a super old travel photo taken from a trip to Bromo, Indonesia.

What A Landscape - the area comprises of volcanic ashes, dusty and we left Mount Bromo with grey, powdery shoes and socks. The view is totally out of this world.

 A busy day at Mount Bromo with tourists and the local trying to make some ends meet

Photo Travel : Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

Lake Tekapo, South Island , New Zealand - Simply Amazing! Need I say more?

Lake Tekapo, South Island - New Zealand

Driving all the way from Christchurch, you will pass across Lake Tekapo if you are heading towards Mount Cook. In my lifetime, I have never seen anything this amazingly beautiful and it was one of those many 'Nat Geo' moments that one can expect to encounter if you are going on a road trip around New Zealand.

Photo Travel : Feijoa Fruit From New Zealand

Feijoa Fruit

I had my first ever taste of this fruit - the Feijoa during my previous trip to New Zealand. It was also the first time I have ever heard of such a fruit. Apparently, if I can remember this correctly, Feijoa tree is a pretty common garden plant for people living in the North Island of New Zealand ( I think :)).

We received a bag full of feijoas from some friends right out from their backyard and of course they do sell them at the supermarket as well. As for the taste of it, I think it is a bit like the kiwi fruit but with a different texture and a slightly more tangy, sour taste. Some feijoas can be really sweet too and I think I would prefer the sweeter feijoas version a lot more.

In New Zealand, when you buy kiwi fruits, it will come in a pack with a special spoon which makes it easy for you to cut the fruit in half and scoop the juicy kiwis with the tiny spoon. Similarly, that is the way you cut and eat your feijoas too.

 Kiwi and the spoon

For more about Feijoa, read more here from Wiki.

*Note : In Malaysia, I've seen Feijoa fruit being sold at Cold Storage for a crazy price tag. If you are curious to what Feijoa tastes like, probably you should try to get it. Even if you are a Kiwi living in KL and is missing home badly, probably you should buy it too. :)

Photo Travel : Madakaripura Waterfall, Probolinggo, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

Madakaripura Waterfall in Probolinggo, Jawa Timur ( East Java) has to be one of the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen up until now. For those who make a visit up to Mount Bromo, I would really recommend for you to add a visit down to Madakaripura Waterfall in your next itinerary.

[caption id="attachment_2896" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Madakaripura Waterfall - view from afar"][/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2899" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Madakaripura water pouring heavily"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2901" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Super murky water and the camera lens got a bit of water on it. Murky water = leave ASAP because water level is rising and that's dangerous!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2902" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="It's getting cloudy, murky water, heavy water flows - few more last snaps to go and leave quickly people!"][/caption]



Madakaripura Waterfall - it is simply beautiful. I know the camera work here isn't really fabulous but we are really thankful for the waterproof digital camera that Miss M brought along with her other camera. All in all, it was a great short trip to the waterfall. Maybe in total we spent about 15 minutes max around the waterfall and since the weather wasn't looking good, the water getting totally murky and the amount of water falling from above was immense, it was a good call that we didn't spend a lot of time around the waterfall and thankfully we all got back to the car safe and well.

*** Note:

- If the water level would have been on a safe level, the water at surrounding the waterfall will be in a hue of green-ish blue in colour. Even though we brought along a so called guide, he didn't mention a single word about getting out of there quickly what more briefing on the track. Hence, do come with some basic river or water level knowledge along with you.

- The walk towards the waterfall is fairly easy. It takes probably about 30 minutes or so ( wasn't really timing the walk) to get to the waterfall. However, do be aware of local men who would be asking to guide you (with a fee of course) or some men who seemed to be really nice to help you along the way (wading through the streams) because in return they will be asking for some money. In our case, our tour operator had already assigned a person to guide us which in my opinion was totally unnecessary.

- Do come prepared to be extremely drenched  and there will be locals trying to rent to you umbrellas. So yeah, you can come equipped with a raincoat, proper sandals, umbrella and a waterproof casing for your camera or a waterproof camera. Water is also essential and make sure you pack that in your bag.

- Safety first and it was certainly one of those ' heaven on Earth' moment as you reach the waterfall.

 

 

Photo Travel : Kuching, Sarawak | East Malaysia, Borneo

For today's Photo Travel it is about Kuching, Sarawak. Sarawak is the biggest state in Malaysia and it is located in Borneo which is a huge island on its own. To find out more about Kuching which is the capital city of the state of  Sarawak check out this Sarawak wiki link.

Let's get down to the pictures and I hope you will enjoy them.

[caption id="attachment_2553" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Postcards of the ethnic people of Sarawak: The Iban"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2554" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The Charles Brooke Memorial, Kuching"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2555" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Charles Brooke Memorial - The Iban Warrior"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2556" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Chinatown, Kuching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2557" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The Old Court House, Kuching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2558" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The General Post Office, Kuching Town"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2559" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Indian Mosque Lane, Kuching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2560" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Masjid Bandar Kuching - The Indian Mosque in India Street, Kuching crammed amongst the shop lots"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2562" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The super old skool spice shop along India Street in Kuching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2563" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Three prominent buildings/landmark in Kuching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2564" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Boat cruise along the river at the Kuching Waterfront"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2565" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Bot Tambang at the river Kuching"][/caption]

 

Photo Travel : Teh Botol Sosro, Indonesia

Teh Botol Sosro - you couldn't get any more Indonesian than that!

[caption id="attachment_2389" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Teh botol Sosro Jasmine Tea - Indonesian popular drink"][/caption]

Teh Botol Sosro is loosely translated as Bottled Tea ( Teh = Tea, Botol = Bottle;  Indonesian is easy to learn huh? ). When it boils down to the exact taste of Teh Botol it is actually a Jasmine Flavoured Tea, best to drink it cold and this Teh Botol is like a much better version of the typical Iced Lemon tea. The smell of Jasmine in the tea is pretty strong and for that I love this Teh Botol hands down.

If you would like  to discover just a miniscule taste of Indonesia, I guess having a sip of Teh Botol can kick start your adventure, journey and discovery of Indonesia. And yes, Teh Botol Sosro is a MUST beverage to taste if you are visiting Indonesia or if you can ever find one in your nearest Indonesian grocery store around your place. It is THAT good and if you love flavoured tea like yours truly, having a go at Teh Botol is a definite must. It will not let you down. :)

I couldn't stress this more - Teh Botol Sosro : You couldn't get any more Indonesian from that drink! I simply love it.

Photo Essay : Something round and green...

Let's have a guess on these. Hint : there are round and green...

[caption id="attachment_1510" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="That's a hat being held tight at the end to hold something round and green inside"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1511" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="It's a blurry image of that something round and green"][/caption]

Still can't tell what it is?

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.

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Oh man, you got to be kidding me! Check this other picture and see what it really is then.

So it's a Calamansi ya'll. Totally hand-picked fresh from the 'garden' from a couple of calamansi trees. They are so sour and they make some great ice 'calamansi'  tea drink. Yum!