Let me show you paradise: The Widi Islands through the eyes of a filmmaker
Last year I was invited on a surveying expedition to The Widi Islands in North Maluku, Indonesia.
I'm the happy looking one in the middle, with his arms around a few of the local men who crewed the boat which took us from Ternate to the Widi Islands, a 7 hour high speed ride on this twin engine boat.
Whilst there my job was to scan the area from the air with my drone, looking for high ground which would be required if there were to be a tsunami. Not that we were expecting one!
Our mission objective was simply to establish if this could possibly be a safe place for people to live. And whilst I fully understood that I was working for a business, seeking to profit from turning this area into a tourist attraction (albeit an eco resort), I could not help but recall the words of Atticus:
HDR Photography
As a addict of the HDR technique I took many photos whenever I had time to myself.
The lightning storms on the horizon at night were intense... and beautiful.
Underwater with the GoPro
The Film
I made a film for Leadership Islands which I sadly cannot yet show you. But I certainly intend to when I can!
Whilst there I shot a bunch of motion-control timelapse, I ventured alone deep into the jungle to record the true sound of nature, and I swam as gently as I could to drift with the fish amongst the coral at the edge of the drop off.
The Highlight
My personal favourite moment was on the way home when we spotted a group of pilot whales who didn't appear to be phased by my drone, unlike the dolphins who would disappear the moment they spotted it.
Guess where I made this banner for my Facebook group from???!!!
Fabulous pics!!!! What a joyrney!!
and it never ends... ;)
I'm not particularly religious, but if paradise has this colors - sign me in! Such an amazing post and photos! Thank you for sharing! Upvoted (of-course)!
My pleasure and many thanks for the comment.
I am also not religious, but I am most certainly a member of the Church of Perpetual Astonishment @copa-communion
Beautiful @samstonehill and thanks for sharing this with us..Some of the photos looks like a painting and the corals were visual treat for us.!!!
It was a treat to be there and the photos don't really do it justice but I very much appreciate your comment :)
Hi @samstonehill! This post just comes at the right moment. I am currently living in Cambodia and I am thinking to come to Indonesia on holiday at the end of September for 10 days. How far is it Maluku to reach from Jakarta? What is the best/cheapest way to reach it? Also, is it possible to have budget solutions? How much would cost me the accomodation :) Thank you for this post and the beautiful pics!
Cheap as chips one might say!!! I believe that accommodation in this area will be very reasonable as it is not (yet) a prime tourist destination. Nothing like the prices here in Bali!
Ternate City is the capital of Maluku and this is where you would fly to. But you must travel further away from this city, which is much like all the cities here in Indonesia. Nothing too special. It is nature you seek and for this you must get on a boat and travel to another smaller island of your choice. Like I said, it took us 7 hours on a speed boat to get to the Widi Island from Ternate! But well worth the journey :)
From Jakarta, how long does it take to fly to Massakar, (in the main saliwasi island) stay there 4 days and then travel to Ternate and reach another small island? And how expensive is it?
I think you will get more accurate info if you google the answer to these questions ;)
I've seen some beautiful places on this earth, but this is rather extreme...
Thank you my friend. I appreciate your very lovely positive words here :)
Beautiful pictures and post from Indonesia ,I like most the under water go pro. Have a great time.
Me too! Shooting underwater is one of the most magical things I have ever done. And hard to do it right! It takes practice to drift with the water with no movement...
Any attempt to swim creates wobble in the film!
Wow beautiful photos
thanks :)
beautiful photo
thank you :)
Oh my god, I would definitly be attracted to this place as a tourist! These photos are so beautiful!
Love the whales 😁
I'm just afraid that plane costs are going to be pricey...
It's paradise on earth and for sure you must try and get there when you are in Indonesia.
Thanks for the comment :)