Photo of the Day ~ Arak, Tuak and a Torajan Elder ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

This happy man is an elder from Tana Toraja.  We had a brief chat with him over a few glasses of tuak. Tuak is similar to arak (Balinese arak made with coconut palm flower, not the Turkish and Iranian national drink).  It can be a powerful alcoholic beverage made of fermented rice, sugar and yeast. Quality or well brewed tuak can be 50% alcohol.  It is commonly shared and drank at Torajan funerals, festivals, weddings, hosting of guests and other special occasions.  Both tuak and arak are more than just recreational or celebratory drinks.  They are also used as a base for medicine.  Balians (Balinese healers) will commonly use the arak base and add roots, herbs, and other organic materials and use it both internally and externally to cure a variety of maladies. It is said to provide more than simple intoxication and can lead to visions, messages in dreams and even hallucinations.  Authentic high quality tuak and arak are hard to find and are sometimes completely fake and can even be poisonous.  Unfortunately, reports of death from fake arak are not uncommon.  Perhaps illogically the real arak and tuak can be found at warungs (small roadside stands where you can see them making it) vs. liquor stores where the product can be very weak or even cut with harmful chemicals and liquids.

Please note: Beware when purchasing any arak, tuak or any 'homemade liquors' while traveling.  Balifornian Tours can help you source real arak and tuak.  We do not make, manufacture or gain profit from this, we just want you to travel safely.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

For more on tuak, arak and Toraja, Sulawesi and its incredible funerary practices, keep an eye out for the upcoming Balifornian Films documentary.

Our Adventure Photo Safaris ~ Are you a photographer or just love 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 fantastic 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! Salamat Jalan!

Michael and Maryam ~

Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best website for news and information on Bali and Indonesia.

Photo of the Day ~ Boys playing Soccer- Taman Sari Water Castle ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Built in mid 18th century,  The Taman Sari Water Castle is the former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.  A huge complex of manmade lakes, underground tunnels, bathing areas and much more.  The name Taman Sari comes from the Javanese words taman, meaning a "garden" or "park" and sari, which means "beautiful" or "flowers".  These boys were elated to kick around the soccer ball in these empty cavernous rooms.  We saw them on our travels 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- Your best source for information on Bali Travel

Photo of the Day ~ Charlie Sheen's Tiger Blood ain't got Nothin on this! ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Today's Photo of the Day puts Charlie Sheen's Tiger Blood and Adonis' DNA to shame.  Who's winning now Charlie?

We captured this guy (with photos of course as an actual capture of this beast would be quite a feat) on Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog's Eco-Adventure Tour while on the indonesian island of Java.  This ultra-rare white tiger seemed to indicate that he wanted nothing to do with our advances.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Hows that tiger blood now Mr. Sheen?  Still winning???

Interested in photography or just like to take some great pictures?  Please contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  All skill levels are welcome and we guarantee you will come away with some breathtaking shots of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  Take a look at the images in our gallery http://www.balifornian.com/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 already 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!  Salamat Jalan!

Michael and Maryam ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Photo of the Day ~ Peacock ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Peacock- Green Peafowl, (Pavo muticus) Java, Indonesia 2010

The Peacock or Green Peafowl, (Pavo muticus) Breeds from Burma east to Java. The IUCN lists the Green Peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat. s sAeen on Balifornian Tours and Travel Blogs Eco-tourism Adventure Tour in Java, Indonesia 2010.

Copyright © 2010 Mikaku ~ 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.

Photo of the Day ~ King Parrot ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

The Male Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis).  As seen on our Eco-Adventure Tour on the island of Java, Indonesia 2010

Copyright © 2010 Mikaku ~ 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.