Imlek, Chinese New Year in Indonesia

Chinese New Year date in 2011 will be on February 3. Chinese New Year is is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations and usually it is proclaimed as a public holiday. Indonesia has only about 4% Chinese in its population, but Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday. Chinese New Year's celebrations in Indonesia, known locally as Imlek, incorporate customs, beliefs and practices brought to Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow the practices handed down from their parents.

The series of activities to welcome the Chinese New Year celebration begins with a prayer cap year from morning to night. Events praying own New Year, begins before midnight until tomorrow morning.
Here are several pictures from a temple where some Indonesia chineses who live in Jakarta praying to the gods (Photos taken at Vihara on Jalan Petak Sembilan, Glodok Area, Jakarta). On Chinese New Year candles burn in the temples, as adherents believe that candlelight symbolizes a bright future.

All images contained are not allowed to use for any purposes without permission.

(All the images taken with Canon EOS 20D. For more stories about Chinese New Year in Indonesia, click this link)

Beauty of the Hajj

Hajj is the obligation of every Muslim who can afford. Hajj is a pillar of Islam and is the fifth pillar after the shahada, salat, zakat and fasting. Perform the pilgrimage is a form of an annual ritual performed Muslims worldwide who are able (material, physical, and scientific) to visit and carry out several activities in several places in Saudi Arabia at one time known as the hajj season (month of Dhu al-Hijjah). This is different to worship Umrah can be performed at any time.

Millions of Muslims from around the world come to the holy land of Mecca to perform hajj rituals mandatory. Millions of people from various colors and nationalities come from various countries, united in Islam to do the same activity to meet the pillars of Hajj. Malcolm X, an American human rights activist, describes the sociological atmosphere he experienced at Hajj as follows:
"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist...You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought patterns previously held."
Many people really want to go on a hajj as yet have cost to leave for hajj, but many also are still reluctant though they can afford. The various reasons put forward other than to feel not ready to go hajj but also there is the worry will be punished in the holy land of the bad deeds they have done. Indeed, hajj is a beautiful journey. Travel of hajj is a form of a summit of faith of a Muslim. A Muslim who would go on a hajj not only he has to bear substantial cost but also has to leave all matters of his world, including leaving his family. The beauty of hajj is surrendering everything to the AlMighty, the beauty of a journey that million of Muslim want to do it every year , the beauty of a journey that the person himself/herself can feel ... A journey to be closer to his Lord

Here are some pictures of a journey of hajj (taken during hajj season of 1429H/2008):





























All the images were taken with Canon EOS 20D with a standard lens

(The principal activity of the pilgrimage itself starts on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah when Muslims spend the night in Mina, Standing (silent) in Padang Arafah on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, and ends after throwing jumrah on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. )

Sony Photo Contest

Sony just launched a photo contest. As one of the official FIFA Partners of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, Sony invites photographers around the world to send their best soccer images. The theme of this photo contest is Soccer!. And the choice of subject and location is up to the photographers. The best part is the prizes, Sony will pick 2 Grand prize winners who will each have a chance of winning the highly sought after tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals. What's more, Grand Prize winners will also walk away with a Sony DSLR camera package.

Grab you camera now.. ! For more info click this link http://soccergraphy.sony-asia.com/

Beautiful Lake Toba

Have you ever been to Indonesia? Usually if you ask someone about Indonesia, his quick answer is Bali. Yes I agree Bali is a beautiful island with many tourism sites. But Bali is just a little part of Indonesia. There are many other tourism sites besides Bali in Indonesia, one of them is Lake Toba, which is located in the province of North Sumatra.
Lake Toba is a volcanic lake and it has 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide, and 505 meters (1,666 ft) at its deepest point and considered as the largest lake in the southeast Asia. It has a very astonishing location as it is surrounded by tall mountains and with the large island of Samosir in the middle. I was very fortunate that I had an opportunity to see, enjoy the lake and capturing beautiful scenery there. Here are some of them.

What camera I should buy?

If someone asked me what camera I should buy, I will not answer it right away. That is a very common question from someone who is about to purchase his first camera. Well, usually I will ask him back to know what of his motivation and what he is going to do with his camera. Then I will ask him his budget. I need to know if his budget will cover what he is going to do with his camera.
There are many ways of what you can use with your camera. Just for taking family pictures, remembering great holidays, capturing your daily activity, hobby or learning photography in more serious way. If you will use your camera for taking your family holidays, for sure I will not suggest you to buy a new DSLR from Canon. Instead, I will suggest a compact digital camera which handy and easy to use.
How about the budget? They are variety of camera available in the market now with variety of prices. Your budget then will lead you to what camera you are going to buy. Today I can say you may have a good camera with less than USD 500 if you only need it for taking pictures of your children. But if you are about to be serious with photography, I have to say that you will need more.
Well, basically if you asked me what camera I should buy, it’s really up to what do you do with the camera and how much budget you allocate for it. In digital photography world currently, I can say that quality comes with the price.