For The Love of Travel

September 11, 2018
by Lids
Comments Off on 11/9/18 Amirul Mukminin Mosque, Makassar

11/9/18 Amirul Mukminin Mosque, Makassar

You would know that I visited this site on my first afternoon in Makassar. Found slightly more info on it since…rising above the sea at the southern end of Pantai Losari, this futuristic twin-domed house of worship (constructed using concrete piles driven into the seabed) is known as the ‘floating mosque’. Visitors of all faiths are welcome. Built in 2009, it can accommodate 500 worshippers, and enjoys fine coastal views. The landscaped area around the mosque is the place to break the daily fast during Ramadan. There are lots of locals promenading at sunset and attending the mosque for Maghrib (18.01), and Isha (19.10) prayer.

I’ve been googling the significance of the mosque name and finally found it – Amir al-Mu’minin is historically a title bestowed on ‘leaders of believers’ (as a form of respect and identity for these leaders) from the time of the Prophet Mohammed.

My only other successful google on the name was about a professional Indonesian football player, playing for Martapura FC. Instinctively knew it wouldn’t be about him!

It’s fitting that I have both a sunset and sunrise images of this lovely building, taken from different angles.

Brings my short lovely visit to Sulawesi to an end.

September 11, 2018
by Lids
Comments Off on 10/9/18 Paotere Harbour and Layar Putih Beach, Makassar

10/9/18 Paotere Harbour and Layar Putih Beach, Makassar

Early rising to catch the sunrise at Paotere Harbour, that’s packed with traditional Phinisi sailing ships.

Fisherman have boats of varying sizes that can haul between a weekly to a monthly supply of fish. There is a nearby port which was established in the 14thC. The price of skip jack at auction is Rp900,000 for 55 kgs, or $1.60 per kg. If the catch is abundant, the price can be reduced by 50%.

My fave fish is the Baronang, or Rabbitfish a.k.a. Streaked Spinefish. That’s the cute litle one to the right. Very tasty to boot.

Our sunset shoot was at Layar Putih Beach located in Tanjung Merdeka village, 6kms from Makassar. Mother nature gave her all this evening!!! The concrete sails secured in the water serve as a foreground for photos – butt ugly in daytime! Haha!!

Visitors (landscape photographer nuts; wedding photo seekers) provide the village that abuts the water, with a gratuity to be able to park – so its great villagers make a small gain.

I’m gradually developing my skills in using filters and then editing the pics. Rul has been a great teacher and I’ve learnt a lot in a short period of time.

Each of the 2 pics are about 1/2 an hour apart.

September 10, 2018
by Lids
Comments Off on 9/9/18 Rammang Rammang and Sipinga Rock, South Sulawesi

9/9/18 Rammang Rammang and Sipinga Rock, South Sulawesi

Mozzies attacked after the winds died down in the early morn. I had some repellent with me, but it did little to stem their pincer movements!! Guide later told me with confidence they weren’t malaria carrying. Mental note to self: must get Rul to give me precise minute details of next parts of journey!

We woke to a symphony of rooster and mullah chants around 4.45am…and the rain over the night meant not much dramatic sunrise colour behind the karst range or in the water as a reflection. Still, very pretty!

The canoe trip back to our car in the early morning was rather lovely, with vegetation and karst reflections in the waterway.

The afternoon’s adventure took us 65km south of Makassar to Sipinga Rock, via a major road works site that delayed us significantly, with us arriving just as the sun reached the horizon. Located in Garassikang village, Sipinga has heaps of stone formations, some resembling animal shapes. And caves, in the middle of the rock cluster, were once a hiding place for independence fighters in the war with the Dutch.

It was a great location – facing eastwards, we capture the colour of the rocks – more blue and indigo hues than the equally gorgeous orange/red hues that were disappearing quickly west.