Photo of the Day ~ Mbok Salak Pondoh ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Salak Pondoh also know as Snake Fruit or simply as Salak (Salacca zalacca) is a species of the palm tree family native to Indonesia. The leaves of the palm can be 6 metres (20 ft) long!  The fruit is almost the size of a baseball and the snake fruit moniker comes from it reddish-brown scaly skin.  The fruit inside is sweet and a bit acidic and crunches like an apple.  It almost looks like garlic and consists of three lobes, each containing a large inedible seed.  Salak pondoh is an important fruit in Yogyakarta province and sold throughout Indo including Bali.  

This kind woman (mbok or mother) is selling the Salak Pondoh and we spent quite a while chatting with her and learning about her family while on our tour of Bali and Java.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Our Photo Safaris ~ Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Do you have some great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Photo(s) of the Day ~ Napping Becak Drivers ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

These shots are some of my favorites and we have many more in this series but here are just a few.  We spotted these hard working gentleman (really they are) taking a break from thier labor while on our Eco-Tourism Tour in Yogjakarta, Java, Indonesia.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Our Photo Safaris ~ Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Do you have some great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best Bali website.  Your best option for Bali and Indonesia Travel information.

Photo of the Day ~ Lotus Fountain, Yogja ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

The lotus fountain at Candi Prambanan Temple in Yogjakarta as seen from our Eco-Adventure Tour.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Have great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best Bali website.  You best option for Bali and Indonesia Travel information.

Photo of the Day ~ Gentle Street Vendor ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

This gentle older woman was selling sweets in Yogjakarta.  Our Eco-Travel Tour stopped to get some provisions before we headed off to the increadible Water Castle and underground tunnel system in Yogjakarta.  I have been asked what equiptment I use for these shots and this was taken with a Canon 7D, handheld.  If you have any questions, we would love to hear from you! 

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Have great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best Bali website.  Your best option for Bali and Indonesia Travel information.

Photo of the Day ~ Candi Prambanan- Sunrise ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Today we have another view of Prambanan Temple.  We arrived at sunrise to capture this ancient feat of architecture in all its splendid beauty.  Here I opted for a shot without crisp focus to capture the morning aura at first light.

Candi Prambanan in Yogjakarta is considered by many to be the most beautiful Hindu Temple in the world.  Prambanan temple is located in Yogjakarta, Java.  This masterpiece was constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two powerful kings; Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. At its tallest, the temple climbs up 48 meters (almost 160 feet, even taller than Borobudur temple).  This photo was taken on our Eco-Adventure Tour while in Yogjakarta, Java.

Prambanan temple has three main temples all facing to the East.  One for Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.  temples.  Each of the three also has accompanying temple that faces to the west. The grounds are beautiful, complete with gardens, fountains and 224 more temples!

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Have great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam