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In Indonesia, one man's passion for photography has given birth to a new hobby.
At several thousand feet above sea level - Indonesia - a land blessed with many islands, is a sight to behold.
And few get to enjoy this bird's eye view more than Jez O'Hare.
Jez is a professional photographer who has been taking aerial shots of the various provinces for more than six years.
To capture his shots from the skies, he started by flying on a variety of fixed-wing aircrafts.
But at the start of the decade, the adventurous man decided to try something new - going solo on his trusty flying machine - a motorised hang-glider.
The trike, as it is called, is a conventional craft powered by engines similar to those found in jet skis.
As Jez is constantly aiming for the perfect photo, he modified his trike to get the maximum freedom to manoeuvre.
"I made a custom seat that makes me lower so that I can shoot under the control bar. At first I was enjoying learning to fly but then I can't take pictures. The bar is always in the way. I took the seat off and make my own seat which is only about that thick. And after that I can shoot easily under the bar," he said.
Jez's appreciation of Indonesia's spectacular landscape and his love for flying are shared by a growing number of aero sports enthusiasts.
A private airstrip at Sukabumi, some 150 kilometres from the capital Jakarta, caters to 25 ardent trike fans.
Since the sport was introduced to Indonesia over a decade ago, hundreds of people there have been bitten by the flying bug.
And every weekend, the men from the Solo Wings Flying Club take their machines for spins.
As trikes do not need an elevated point to launch, crafts like these which weigh up to 200 kilogrammes can take off and touch down almost anywhere - on land or on water.
What is needed is essentially a straight 100-metre stretch that can serve as a runway.
And it is this flexibility that attracts businessman Ahmad Suryadi,
"Hang-gliding is more enjoyable because it is more tranquil up there. We are in touch directly with nature. The trike is a little different because of the noise from the engine but they are basically the same," he said.
Ardent trike fans like Ahmad invest in their own flying machines, paying between US$15,000 and US$25,000.
The crafts are mostly imported from South Africa, although some prefer European models.
If you cannot afford a trike, do not fret, you can still experience the thrill of flying on one.
For US$30, trike owners will gladly take you for a spin - with minimal fuss.
Enthusiasts regularly organise expeditions to different parts of Indonesia - to enjoy the breathtaking aerial views of popular spots like Java, Bali and Sumatra. - CNA/de
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