Yuk Jalan-Jalan Ke Ponorogo

 

Guangzhou - Hohhot

Pagi itu usai sarapan kami jalan2 diseputaran tempat kami menginap di Guangzhou. Rencananya pingin nyoba berkeliling kota dengan taksi tapi batal kami lakukan lantaran setelah berkeliling dengan jalan kaki lalu sebelum naik taksi kami balik dulu ke hotel dan tiba tiba hujan turun mengguyur Guangzhou, jadi rencana itu kami batalkan saja.

Cental Market

If you want to go shopping for souvenirs please visit to the central market; a Malaysian friend suggested me. So that afternoon we went there for a little shopping to buy souvenirs for families and friends.

Central Market is located at Jalan Hang Kasturi, a few minutes away from Petaling Street. It was founded in 1888 and originally used as a wet market, while the current building was completed in 1937. It has since been classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society and it is now a landmark for Malaysian culture and heritage. It is also strategically located within public transport facilities.

Central Market has created a corner to display multi-ethnicity and the stalls are zoned based on the features of each race. The new zone therefore would consist of 3 lanes namely the Lorong Melayu, Straits Chinese and Lorong India. The purpose of this new zone is to let the visitors have an insight of the cultural difference of the various races in Malaysia.

There is also a Malacca Jonker street – a street featuring double-storey and single-storey Baba-Nyonya styled architectural buildings, a Batik Emporium which houses well-known designer labels with the best Malaysian made batik items ranging from clothes, shoes, bags to home finishing.

Central Market is a one stop shopping centre for Malaysian products such as handicrafts, art, kebaya, songket, batik and the wide variety of Malaysian cuisine. Efforts to improvise and upgrade facilities in Central Market also include having a variety of food & beverage outlets such as Secret Recipe, Old Town Kopitiam, Kings Confectionary, Famous Amos, Precious Restaurant (Traditional Baba Nyonya Cuisine), Ginger Restaurant (Traditional Malaysian Thai Cuisine) and many more.

The colourful Malaysian Traditional Cultural and Arts events are presented at the Central Market Outdoor Stage. Central Market celebrates all the Traditional Festivals of each race in Malaysia. Moreover, Central Market supports the local contemporary arts in The Annexe Gallery.

We bought some souvenirs, walked along the street and looked around just for window shopping.

Tower Clock Of Mecca

Talking about Mecca, beside Kaaba and Masjidil Haram (the Grand Mosque), the other building which has more interested to me during I was there was the Tower Clock of Mecca. What a coincidence that I stayed in a hotel which located just next to the tower so then it can be seen more details this 600 meters tall of the tower. Tower Clock  of Mecca is very similar to Big Ben, but if Big Ben just only 94.8 meters in height and only 6.9 meters in width, while Mecca clock tower has 600 meters in high with a width of 45 meters.

This clock can be seen from four directions, lit by two million lights illuminated LED. At the top of the tower we can read an Arabic alphabet الله أكبر meaning "God is the Greatest" while on the inside of the green clock have the Saudi Arabian State emblem in the form of two crossed swords with a palm tree in the open space between the two of swords.

Another uniqueness of the Tower Clock of Mecca that every prayer time come; 21 thousand light green and white will be glowing. It's a sign to remind Muslims to prayer. These lights can be seen from a distance of 18 miles or 28.8 kilometers.

pictures I took from the inside upper floor of the Masjidil Haram

The existence of this tower seems to have rivaled BigBen presence in London, England which has been the international standard time of Greenwich Mean Time.

Establishment Tower  Clock of Mecca also aims to become the world standard time. During these 125 years, the international community recognizes only one standard time clock that is calculated from 0 degrees longitude that passes through Greenwich Observatory. This standard is to be challenged Mecca.

Drink of Coffee Leaves

Coffee is one drink that has the most fans in the world. But drinking coffee made from the leaves of coffee of course strange to most people.

It is a habit that in addition to the west Sumatran communities to enjoy the coffee, they also make a drink of coffee leaf material.

Leaves the coffee they harvest is processed into a typical drink called Kawa daun. Young coffee leaves to dry roasted first and blackish brown. The result is then boiled for hours over wood-fired stove.

To be more enjoyable, Kawa leaves must be served with coconut shells. It feels good, a bit like green bean juice taste

A famous place that sells coffee leaves drinks  is in Pondok Goreng Mangkuto, located at Tanjung Baru, district of Tanah Datar.

Price of the daun Kawa in this place is about rp 2000 ((±  17 cent).per glass. It's just that they serve the drink tend to be too sweet, so for those who do not like overly sweet drinks should be ordered for a sugar made little or no use sugar.

Bukitsangin and surrounding area are producing coffee beans. This area is located on the winding roads between Payakumbuh and Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Eve is cool is perfect for enjoying a glass of warm Kawa leaves accompanied with tofu or fried bananas.

Surrounding communities believe that this nutritious beverage to refresh the body and can treat various diseases.

Monas

Yesterday with my sons I visited Indonesia National Monument or what Indonesian people usually call as Monas. This monument was built in the era of the first president of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno , to remember the struggle of Indonesian heroes fighting the colonial domination. Monas was officially open on 17th August 1961 by President Soekarno, and publicly open on 12th July 1971.

(googling photo)

We went to the top of Monas who shaped like a flame, symbolizing a never extinguished spirit of Indonesian people. The flame was made of bronze medal which weight was 14.5 ton, and was plated with 35 kg gold. The flame has 6 meters diameter and consist of 77 concentrated parts.

The standing pillar of Monas which height is 137 meters, symbolizing a rice pestle, while the cup symbolizing a rice barn. Rice pestle and barn are traditional tools to pound rice, figuring out Indonesia as an agricultural country. They’re also regarded as the symbol of Indonesian people’s fertility, and as the symbol of male and female.

Lampung

As I wrote before that I just went back from Lampung. Lampung is located at the southern tip of Sumatra, Lampung is one of the connection rute between Java and Sumatra. With geographical location, natural resources and unique cultures, Lampung many offer tourist attractions, both natural and cultural.

Natural beauty of the Bay of Lampung, Krakatau archipelago in the middle of the ocean, Way Kambas National Park, Bukit Barisan National Park and other tourist objects scattered, should be an attractive place to be visited.

Lampung topography contains several kind of plain land, such as hilly land to mountainous. This area includes the spines of the Bukit Barisan, in the west coast of Lampung. This area of vegetation due to these conditions is generally covered by primary and secondary forests are verdant all year round.

Holiday to Carita Beach

Yesterday I and family went to Carita Beach for holiday. It took about 2 hours from Jakarta by a car.

As I mentioned before that so many beaches tourists destination in Banten Province and ones of them is Carita beach. This beach has beautiful scenery and greet place for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, and underwater photography.
Besides white beaches behind hundreds of swaying coconut trees, one panoramic highlight is the visibility of the infamous Krakatoa Volcano from Carita, rising above the horizon in Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

Of course this resort also offers a complete set of facilities including restaurants, accommodation, motorboats, and diving equipments. The visitors won't have difficulties finding a place to stay here as many cottages, hotels and camping grounds are all available, not to mention the inevitable seafood. And need to know that nearly everything is cheap here…

Salira Indah Beach

Salira Indah is About 15 km distance from Merak seaport, located at scanning Tanjung Pujut. The location of the beach that close to the bay make it possible for the tourist to have safe the sea recreation, swimming, sailing, surfing as well as camping in the vicinity of the beach with its beautiful scenery. The beach also completed with sufficient facilities and infrastructure among to them accommodation, restaurant, shop that selling foodstuff and of course souvenir.

This resort on Java's west coast can easily be reached within a few hours from Jakarta either by bus or car.

Anyer Beach

Another tourist destination in Banten is Anyer beach, the beach is facing the West, so we can see the view of Mount Rakata and the sunset. A beautiful sea sight with all activities such as Jet Ski, Speed Boat, Para Sailing and other aquatic sport, those types of activities can be found here, as well as sunset view from the beach and an old lighthouse at Cikoneng. A lot of hotels from jasmine to international 5 stars can be tourist best choices to stay.

Anyer beach has many unique enchantments. Its white sands amaze many tourists. They are so pure; we can feel the softness of the sands. The deep blue sea attracts many divers around the world because its various sea lives are so completely perfect. The sea breeze can make visitors' mind fresh, out of stress and enjoy. And the last enchantments that can make Anyer beach as the most favorite place to visit is the view of the legendary Krakatau Mountain and its historical lighthouse.

Sanghyang Island

One of the tourists destination in Banten is Pulau Sanghyang means god (Sanghyang) island (Pulau) located in the Sunda Straits which is separate the Islands of Java and Sumatra.

Sanghyang Island is a small mysterious island in Sunda Strait, partly consisting about 7 sq km of jungle, surrounded by mangrove forests and white beaches and also surrounded by coral reefs. Other parts of the island are muddy and mosquito infested. But the small idyllic bays along the eastern side will you soon let forget the inhospitable and swamps. The coral reefs off the coast, complete with old wreck, are a paradise for snorkeling-lovers. Watch out for stonefish and squids. You can camp on the beaches in the southeast if you want to.

To visit there you will depart from Paku port at a city named Anyer and this island could be reached by local traditional boat in 50 minutes. Paku port could be reached from Jakarta by car in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Family Travel

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Carita Beach

If you have an aversion to the smell of raw fish, you won't warm to the fish sellers on Carita beach in Banten, along Java's southern coast.

This beach is about a three-hour drive along the highway to the west of Jakarta, and has a great beach for swimming, as the waters are relatively calm on this side of the island. A great place for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, and underwater photography, this resort offers a complete set of facilities including restaurants, accommodation, motorboats, and diving equipments.

Tourists here can enjoy sunbathing and boating in the calm waters of Carita beach. Besides being a safe area for children to frolic in the water, visitors can enjoy a stroll along the stretch of white-sand beach that, unlike many other southern Java beaches, is still relatively free from plastic refuse.

Nearby Anak Krakatau, the child of Krakatau, is located at a critical juncture along the Asia and Pacific volcanic ring.

Banten

Guys
Today I will invite you to visit Banten province, an area not far from the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.
In this region many attractions, especially the tourist beaches you can visit. Among them are Salira Indah, Merak, Pulorida, Pulau Sangiang, Cilegon, Anyer, Karang Bolong, Carita, Bagedur and Tanjung Panto.

The Banten province had the potential for the tour that almost was unlimited. From the nature tour, the coastal tour, the history tour, the pilgrimage tour, the industrial tour, the tour agro, to the expenses tour. Because of this, was not abundant if from this 2007, was drafted and organised to make the Banten Province the destination (the aim) the tour, both for Indonesian Archipelago tourists and foreign tourists. Nevertheless, was as happy as the thick territory religious nuances and the cultural tradition as well as really appreciated the values of the culture, then Banten must continue to become the aim of the cultured tour, in line with the Banten tourism point of view that is making Banten the Wisata Destination that was cultured, Profesi and Competitive.

Ranca Upas Camping Area

Last weekend we went to Ranca Upas for a camp. Ranca Upas itself is a camping area in the mountainous region, 45 km south of Bandung. A cool place fresh water atmosphere located near two main tourist destinations, Kawah Putih (white crater) and Situ Patengan (Patengan Lake), Ranca Upas offer is a green rug of grass and a picturesque forest. In this area we can also find deep farm and hot water bathing place.

Holidays in Crete

I have many places which I want to visit in the world, ones of the place was the birthplace of Zeus and the natural resting place for gods, Crete.
Crete Holidays will bring us to the largest and most southern of all the Greek holiday islands and has an interesting history, busy seaside resorts, pretty villages and a charm and character that will encourage us to explore this island of contrasts.

I hope next year I have a chance to take Holidays in Crete and want my holidays going to be easy, no difficulties and stay in a comfortable hotel. For that reason I just visited ulookubook.com, one of the best online services that could help us in many ways to have a nice experience holidays. In my opinion this website have a very good and reliable booking service and make we have a chance to save our money.

I plan to go there in April 2010 because I interested for a cheap Crete Holidays. April, May or October is just outside of the peak summer holidays and not too many people visit there. Its mean that time I will more enjoy with my holiday as the resort will be less busy and the food and drink will get cheaper too.

Wish me luck.

Java, the World's Most Populous Island

Did you come to the city of Jakarta, which is the capital of Indonesia? City of Jakarta is located in an island called the island of Java. You need to know that this island of Java is the world's most populous island, where nearly 60% of the population of Indonesia, approximately 130 million people, living on the island.
In fact this island width is only 7% of the entire region the Republic of Indonesia.

Sunset in Sunda Strait

The Sunda Strait (Indonesian: Selat Sunda) is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.

The strait stretches in a roughly north-east/south-west orientation, with a minimum width of 24 km (15 miles) at its north-eastern end between Cape Tua on Sumatra and Cape Pujat on Java. It is very deep at its western end but as it narrows it becomes much shallower, with a depth of only 20 m (65 feet) in parts of its eastern end. This makes it notoriously difficult to navigate, with sandbanks, very strong tidal flows and man-made obstructions such as oil rigs off the Java coast.

photo by MZ Gani

PADANG CUISINE

Masakan Padang (cuisine of Padang) It’s very spicy food. Padang restaurants are common throughout the country and their unique way of serving it. Padang food is served in small portions of various dishes with rice, a complete meal.

In a Padang-style restaurant, the table will quickly be set with dozens of small dishes filled with highly-flavored foods such as curried fish, roasted chicken, cassava leaf boiled, chili eggplant, curried beef liver, fried chicken, and of course, sambals, the spicy sauces ubiquitous at Indonesian tables. Customers take - and pay for - only what they want from this array of dishes. The best known Padang dish is rendang, a spicy meat stew. Soto Padang (crispy beef in spicy soup) is local residents' breakfast favorite, meanwhile Sate (beef satay in curry sauce served with ketupat) is a treat in the evening.

photos by:MZ Gani

Cancun Vacation

I have many places which I want to visit in the world, ones of the place is an area of the Mexican Caribbean coast with beautiful white sandy beaches and colorful coral reefs and most of that the reef here is part of the second longest barrier reef in the world. This place also is a famous place for world class diving, snorkeling, fishing and water sports.
The place which I mean is Riviera Maya in the State of Quantana Roo, Mexico.
I hope this year I have a chance to visit there and I planned to take cancun vacation packages from Karisma Hotels for accommodation there.
Wish me luck.