Tale Castle District in Northern France

executive summary by Darmansjah Godjali

Sights that one is very unique and is rarely visited by tourists from Indonesia. Because of this uniqueness, then Traveler  taking the time to visit to Northern France, precisely in the area of ​​Normandy, after witnessing the beauty of one of this international cultural heritage. You can enjoy the trip reports in several series of articles below. Please enjoy.

Quite a while ago I heard about the beauty of Le Mont-Saint-Michel is situated off the north coast area of ​​Normandie, France; but over the years too, the desire to visit the place was never accomplished.

A friend of mine who happens to the original French and often travel to Bali, trying to give a picture of Le Mont through a variety of picture postcard he sent to me. From the picture on the postcard, I can already imagine how beautiful the area of ​​the former monastery (monastery) located far flung in the middle of the sea. That's what intrigued me to set foot on the 'island of the castle' is.

"It's like Tanah Lot Temple in Bali, Le Mont was also built in a secluded island in the middle of the sea. 

However, its size is much bigger than Tanah Lot, "so my friend's comments.

When at the end of May and then I got an invitation to travel to Europe for two weeks, then I do not forget to include a visit to Le Mont in my agenda.

Almost every year I always had the opportunity to Western Europe and Eastern Europe, but there was never any chance at all to go to Le Mont. This time, my desire was to materialize, so my resolve before departure.

From Paris, the city became home-base I was on a visit to Europe this time, the journey to Le Mont take quite long. I had to leave early in order to arrive at Le Mont before lunch arrived. Road trip for 5 to 6 hours is the 'price paid' for by visits to places included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

According to Paul Van Eden, Belgian bus driver who drove the bus I was riding at that time, there are independent reasons why the trip to Le Mont be done early in the morning. One is because this area becomes one of the main tourist destination in France. Lots of groups of foreign tourists who have the same intentions with me, and their average starting perjalananannya from Paris. The second reason is, when it will travel into rural areas in the Normandie region, will be hard to find a resort which can usually be easily found in almost all toll roads in Europe. For information, a resort on the toll roads in Europe usually have a very complete facilities where there are gas stations, restaurants, souvenir shops and cafes that are useful for those users a way to unwind while filling the stomach. I therefore feel 'nervous' because by the time he left me no time to eat breakfast (because it woke up late) and also unfortunately, I do not carry any provision for 'snacking' on the go.

Fortunately, a trip along the rural areas in the Normandy region make the time go faster, so that even in the belly I've heard the sounds of 'various musical instruments orchestra', at least the eyes are still satisfied. The atmosphere of peace and calm through the mountainous desert really contrasts with the frenzied atmosphere of Paris and frenetic.

When the bus finally pass through the coastal areas are used by many local people as a place to raise wheat because the soil texture is 'flat', I saw far away, behind a thick fog led to the open sea, a small coral island shadow standing 'alone' . The closer, the more visible too, that the above coral island stands a building with a tower patterned triangle soared into the sky. Looks majestic and mysterious.

Le Mont Saint Michel is included in the visited tourist destinations in the route is written in serial avonturguide.blogspot.com saving travel in europe. Please get a guide and full instructions, here

TRAVEL in Iran

Beautiful garden for the Public
  executive summary by Darmansjah godjali

Garden Gate Flower, vast flower garden in Isfahan, Iran.

It turned out to create a pretty garden flowers or do not have to rely on expensive or rare plants. The flowers and unusual plants are easy to maintain is also capable of displaying a charming garden. It is important in making the park is convenient and enjoyable visit anyone, so when out of the park's mind was refreshed and the mind calm again.

In Iran, there are many recreational parks as the place to its citizens. In the garden they met and talked with friends, picnic with family, playing with children, to exercise. Many parks are made between residential and office buildings. As a result, the parks are always crowded by those picnics or just passing by.

In Tehran alone, there are at least 10 parks, namely Chitgar Park, Gheytarieh Park, Jahan-e Kudak Park, Jamshidieh Park, Laleh Park, Mellat Park, Niavaran Park, Park-e Shahr, Saei Park, and Shatranj Park. Everything is always crowded, especially on Thursday which is a working day in Iran. In that country, a national holiday is on Friday, not Sunday. So, Thursday-Friday in Iran is the weekend, the same as Saturday-Sunday in Indonesia.

Chitgar Park,

While in Isfahan there are two public parks of the famous, the Flower Garden and Bird Garden. Although there are only two, actually Isfahan is a city that has many parks. They create a park along the banks of the river, the green line, the market, the palace courtyard, until in the hotel.

Gheytarieh Park

Isfahan is being in Isfahan province, central Iran about 430 kilometers south of Tehran is a beautiful city. In the past, nicknamed Nesf Isfahan-e-Jahan, which means half of the World. Isfahan had been the capital of Iran in 1598 and 1722. When the population of Isfahan half of the world's population. Isfahan was once one of the largest cities in the world.

ahan-e Kudak Park

The city had 163 mosques, 48 ​​schools, 1801 shops and 263 public bathroom. Plus many parks and libraries. Richness and beauty of the stunning city of the Europeans because when it's cities on the Continent there is nothing as grand as Isfahan. That's why if you want to see the whole world, half to be seen in this world is in Isfahan, the capital city of Iran which is still called Persia.

Jamshidieh Park

Persian Style

The Persians during the Achaemenid dynasty got the idea of ​​creating a heaven on earth as it is told in a variety of classic works of literature and take samples from other cultures such as Greek culture.

Laleh Park

It is worth noting, in the English word paradise means heaven, derived from Persian. Avesta in the language of the ancient language that is used for books in Persian Zoroasterianisme, pairidaeza paradeisoi translated into Greek. In Latin the Paradisus and from there spread to other languages ​​in Europe. French call it paradis, while Germany Paradies.

 Mellat Park

Iranian-style garden generally refers to a traditional garden that comes from the Persian period first. Initially, the parks were built surrounded by a fence or wall is closed. The purpose of making the park is for relaxation in various aspects, spiritual, and fun, and create a heaven on earth.

Niavaran Park

The specificity of the Persian-style garden is a rectangle with a narrow water canals and length. Canals meet in a big pond in the middle of the garden and pond filled with fish and water lily plants.

Park-e Shahr

For the first royal family, the gardens must be equipped with building-sized spacious pavilions to enjoy the fresh breeze blowing. In fact, visitors can sit under a shade tree while enjoying the splash of running water, feast for the eyes with colorful flowers and leaves and inhale the breezy scent of fragrant flowers.

Saei Park

Water is an important element because it can help lower the temperature inside the park since Iran is desert  dry climates. To reduce the heat must also have a shade tree as a shade. Additional pavilion is also aimed at blocking the sun too much. However, the concept of Persian-style garden, the sun plays an important role to beautify the park. That is why trees and plants carefully selected so that solar rays can still break through on the sidelines of the leaves and illuminated garden.

Shatranj Park

An example of Persian-style garden is famous for the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Taj Mahal garden is an interpretation of even the largest Persian-style garden in the world that was built during the Mughal kingdom. Ideal concepts like heaven according to Persian tradition is built perfectly in the Taj Mahal.

the Taj Mahal in Agra

 

Persian-style gardens also spread to Andalusia, Granada, Spain. The sample was clearly visible at the Alhambra, the palace complex at the same time nan majestic fortress of Bani Ummayyah Caliphate, which covers an area of ​​hills in the border city of Granada. The palace was built as a residence caliph and his superiors.

the Mughal kingdom

Beauty of Persian-style gardens in the past presented to the Europeans, among others, through Ibn Battuta in the 14th century, Ruy Gonzales de Clavijo in the 15th century, and Engelbert Kaempfer in the 17th century.

Ruy González de Clavijo is a roamer and author of Castilian origin. In 1403-1405, Clavijo became ambassador representing King Henry III in Timour, Samarkand.

While Engelbert Kaempfer (16 September 1651-2 November 1716) is a German naturalist and physicist famous for his trip to Russia, Persia, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan in 1683-1693. Kaempfer is describing the beauty of Persian-style garden in detail when returning to Europe.

Type of park

There are six types of Persian-style garden in accordance with its function. Three parks for the public is Hayat, Meidan, and Park. As for personal is Hayat, Chahar Bagh, and Bagh.

Hayat is a classic Persian garden that emphasizes aesthetics rather than function. Therefore, the structure is more important and often has a curvature and a pool that is used as a bathing place. Common ground was covered with gravel and plants that are laid out a simple form of row crops.

Hayat 

Meidan also includes a formal garden, but rather emphasizes biotic or natural elements and minimize the building structure. Plants in the park like this diverse, ranging from trees, shrubs, ground cover plants flower, until the grass. Element pools and paths of gravel as a barrier.

 Meidan

Chahar Bagh is a private garden and formal. The park is usually divided into four quadrants, each separated by water channels or walkways. This park serves as a part of the workspace for the rich, for example, entertaining ambassadors or other important guests. As with other types of gardens, there is always an element of green plants, ponds, and walkways.

Chahar Bagh

Park according to its function is in the public interest. Thus, existing elements such as trees, park benches, buildings, and pool all to be enjoyed by the wider community. Its function is primarily for relaxation and socializing.

 Bagh park

Such Bagh park, emphasizing elements of natural and green. However, bagh is privately owned and is part of the house so that its main function is as a family leisure arena.

Recreation cheap

When I visited Iran at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, last September, next to Laleh Park Laleh International Hotel, was so crowded. Rhythm of the music was pounding as many gymnastics together on Thursday (23 / 9) morning.

Laleh International Hotel

There are a lot of tap water can be drunk directly. Besides gymnastics, many visitors to play badminton, volleyball, or jogging. Many of the visitors who sat reading, playing, to parenting.

In Niavaran Palace complex, there is also a beautiful garden that surrounds the Niavaran Palace. Once the palace was the official residence of the last king of Iran, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. To get into this complex visitors must pay 3000 rials per person or nearly equal to the same amount in dollars.

owever, to enter the palace, visitors must purchase another ticket for 5000 rials per person.

Niavaran Palace complex

While Jamshidieh Park also called Jamshidieh Stone Garden was built as a memorial to Jamshid Davallu Qajar, the Qajar prince who makes the park to Queen Farah Diba. This park is located in the district at the foot of Mount Kolakchal Niavaran.

Jamshidieh Stone Garden

There are restaurants, traditional Iranian teahouse, picnic sites, hiking to the summit area of ​​the mountain, open amphitheater, and a pool. So many visitors enjoy the park from early morning until late at night. They should roll out a picnic blanket or rug, camping, or just stroll and stop in the tearoom.

The park is popular among young people. They were happy to come forth while carrying a cushion and blanket for the night low temperatures there.

"Look at the trees, there must be a lover who was dating and cuddling. I used to frequent in Jamshidieh date, "said Khouros, friend and guide us in Tehran as he chuckled.

For me, the most fun things there are the sellers of boiled corn on the front gate. Reminds me of the atmosphere at the Peak!

(Ida Setyorini)

PHUKET

Adventure in the Middle Sea

By Susie Berindra
Executive summary by Darmansjah Godjali

 

 phangabay phuket

One corner of the James Bond Island in Phuket a favorite place for tourists to take pictures with. The island has become famous since used as a shooting one of the James Bond film in 1974. Phuket islands surrounded by unique rocks.

No remnants of the tsunami that hit Phuket, Thailand, in 2004. Every corner of Phuket visible foreign tourists around to enjoy a variety of tours offered. When the evening, bars and cafes on the beach is also filled with foreign tourists.

The atmosphere of the resort town was seen when the group of travel journalists and tour invited by Indonesia AirAsia and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at the end of last year. Starting late last year, AirAsia opens new flight routes, namely Jakarta-Phuket and Medan-Phuket. Of course the price is tilted so that the tourists Indonesia need not worry that much to spend money to travel to Phuket.

For instance scenery on the edge of Patong Beach is crowded with tourists from several countries. At the time of the tsunami, Patong Beach area is affected. On some street corners there is a rescue evacuation direction boards are installed after the tsunami disaster.

 Patong Beach

For the holiday beach resort, Phuket, which in Malay means "hill", offers a variety of attractive options. One of the interesting attractions are the Phang Nga Bay which consists of 42 islands. On the islands of Phang Nga Bay, tourists can enjoy one of the wonders of the world are charming, the unique rock formations.

The first island we visited was James Bond Island. The island is famous for once be a place to shoot one of the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, in 1974. On this island, tourists can enjoy the beautiful scenery marble rocks. One favorite spot is photographed against the background of an oval stone that loomed at sea.

The next two islands are mangrove islands, namely Hong Island and Island Panak. To reach the second island, we had to climb the canoe containing only three people. Then the canoe through the rocks to get into the island surrounded by rocks and overgrown with mangrove trees.

hong island

Adventure was felt when visiting the island Panak. When the canoe through the rocks, we should be in a position to sleep because of the distance between water and rocks are very low. When the sea water began to rise, the body can be injured by sharp rocks. Fortunately, the canoe rower who drove us already knew the ins and outs of rock in the lake.

 the distance between water and rocks are very low close panak island

Not all tourists who come to the Island Panak get into the island. Sea water is higher the more difficult road to the island. If we can go in there, then when the return of the sea water rising, we had to wait three hours for the water to recede.

In fact, in the island can only see the mangrove trees on the canoe and surrounded by rocks.

Not only beaches and adventure tours in the middle of the sea, Phuket also offers interesting performances, like Simon Cabaret and Phuket Fantasea. Simon Cabaret show is played by tens of lady boy (term for transvestites in Thailand) with a sparkling dress like a festival. For an hour, they sang and danced.

Phuket Fantasea is a tourist place like Dufan Ancol. To get all the entertainment and dinner, a tourist must pay 2200 baht. Peak entertainment in Phuket Fantasea is a colossal show depicting Thai culture. All kinds of cultures in Thailand, including the animals that live in the country's elephant, appearing in this colossal show.

Indra of the TAT reveals, every year tourists come to Phuket to reach 35 million people. Phuket has the slogan "Amazing Thailand, Amazing Values​​". "Everyone who travel here will benefit more than just a walk. The price is affordable, not too expensive, "he said.

Coupled with the unique characteristic that is offered in Phuket Thailand. Seven uniqueness is Thainese, the nation's heritage of Thailand, beaches, culture, shopping trends, the typical Thai greeting "way", and festivals. In Phuket, there are dozens of festivals that were shown to the tourists. One of the famous festival is the Songkran Festival, which is a new year celebration for the people of Thailand.

songkran festival

However, Phuket is not a shopping destination for Indonesian tourists who want to get branded goods at lower prices. Branded goods on offer in Phuket is not much different in Indonesia. If you just want to get souvenirs typical of Thailand, on the edge of Patong Beach Road lot. It's just not very good quality.

There are two shopping centers that can be visited in Phuket, the Central Festival Phuket and Jungceylon. In Central Phuket Festival, visitors can find branded goods of quality number one, but the price is almost the same as in the big malls in Jakarta.

 central festival phuket

While Jungceylon in Patong Beach area. Mall offers souvenir items with prices skewed. All sorts of trinkets souvenirs bearing the image of an elephant which is a typical animal of Thailand. This mall is not too wide so it does not take long if you want around every corner 

Jungceylon.

When you are bored with malls, tourists can stroll in Phang La Road that turns into a night market when dusk. Along the pavements, street vendors offer the shirts that said Thailand, as well as accessories such as necklaces, bracelets earrings, and other souvenirs.

Phang La Road 

Do not forget to bargain for a lower price because vendors will open the bidding with a high enough price. Almost similar in China, souvenir merchants do not speak English so the bidding is done by calculator.

Tired after the around Phuket? Do not worry, Phuket also offers Thai Massage. Typical Thai massage is offered at a price of around 300 baht. However, to choose a good massage place needs foresight. Along the Road of Patong are so many places that offer massage by pretty girls. Not every place is convenient because it's transparent glass-walled room. If a massage at the place, like the spectacle of people passing by on the roadside.

thai massage

Well, already interested in Phuket? Do not hesitate to visit the Thai beach town in this region.

The World Making Tiny

The World Making Tiny

by Darmansjah Godjali

It is the third planet from the eight planets in the solar system 4.6 billion years old, no one had ever said anything delouse opportunity that IBSA found on Earth. There are always new and interesting things to note and invite a question mark for a great deal of curious race.

Finding out these things can be a fun job. Tak need to be a researcher or scientist to do so, because of now everyone can do it with ease. Especially if not a pretext to exploit the internet managed to summarize Segal things that happen on earth that has a surface of 510 million square kilometers.

"When there is free time, I often browse on the Internet looking for various information. Starting from exciting attractions to plan the next vacation, or just read the news. Fun, leisure time was so useful because there are a lot of information that can be obtained, "said Rina, an active Internet user.

Internet has become a source of information and entertainment. In it includes imaging topics. No problem if you want to know more in the world of philosophy with Aristotle, Plato, and others, or that include lessons sekoalh, political, social, economic, health, movies, music, and much more. Millions or billions bhakan new data entered into the internet every day.

No wonder the internet is often referred to as a world without limits. Simply sit while relaxing, the whole world can be revealed through the tone of a computer screen. In fact, probably with the presence of smart mobile devices, the world is in gengaman and just as wide as the phone screen.

This is nothing but thanks to search engines that provide a variety of convenience for Internet users. In cyberspace, Google page may be the most visited sites. While maintaining a simple and clean pages, search engines are finding Sergey Brin and Larry Page are already using more than 100 languages.

In fact, when it first launched, Google was originally given the name Googol, only underestimated. In the process, Google also always give inov `new ation is increasingly giving comfort and convenience for its users.

Berhala Island Charm Of Concern

Orignal Text by  Irma Tambunan, executive summary by Darmansjah

Berhala Island on the border of Jambi and Riau Islands waters to save the beauty. Stretch of white sand surrounds the island. Always look beautiful scenery from any angle. Looming large quartz rocks and spread along the coast.

A collection of tongtong heron perched on the branches of mangroves. They are not disturbed when we use motor boats going past. However, when the boat slowed and we issued a camera, stork, heron flew away.

Although classified as protected wildlife, herons can easily tongtong we have encountered along the Batang Hari River estuary in the village of Duck River, District Sadu, Tanjung Jabung Eastern District, Jambi Province. Mangroves there are relatively close together they become a comfortable home for them.

After going through a stretch of mangrove trees that seemed endless, our ship finally entered the coastline. Berhala island began to appear from a distance even though the trip actually still is about 16 miles to go.

That is, we need about 1.5 hours to reach the island area of ​​60 hectares which is currently with the status quo because it disputed by the Jambi and Riau Islands.

The journey we traveled last October it was quite interesting. Not only in the waters of the River Village's only stork tongtong Ducks and gulls often we meet. Among rumpon shrimp nets surrounded wooden stilts near the sea too.

On top of the milestones that the herons and seagulls watched the fish prey, passing on the water surface. The group shot the bird was so nimble touch the surface of the water takes its prey and immediately flew into the air.

Ship Island is reaching the Berhala. From a distance looks a number of other islands, such as the postal Ciumar Island lighthouse, the island filled Eggs large quartz stones, and green-colored hair island in the eastern part of Idols.

Around 16:00, shipmaster, Arsad, and colleagues, Dody, tether ropes at the pier that was built Berhala Island Provincial Government of Riau Islands. Dock along the nearly 200 meters was broken at the edges.
Conditions were quite apprehensive pier damage. However, far more concerned about the condition of the pier that was built in Jambi Province. The dock is disconnected in the middle of the sea so completely unusable.

The wood pier made it even exists Jambi province that has been stolen citizens to be wood. "It's one more year of this second pier damaged. But there has been no improvement by each provincial government, "said Arsad tell.

Ghost Island

Idols in the past the island known as Pulau Dakjal, Bratail Island, Island or Pulau Bertayil Afgorl (Netherlands), Island Birella (Tome Pires), and the Island Verrela (Portuguese). In fact, some refer to it as the Ghost Island.

Although the name is rather creepy, Idols save the beauty. Stretch of white sand surrounds the island.

At any point on the island, the scenery is always beautiful. Quartz rocks looming large and spread out near the pier, heading the resort, and among the coconut trees that has aged nearly 30 years old. Trees that meet the island to near the top of the hill as high as 200 meters above sea level. Sea water around the coast is green, not blue, like most beaches.

There are a number of historic relics on the island. One is the tomb of Datuk Paduko Idolatry, founder of the kingdom of Jambi Malay, who was in the waist of the hill.

Continue up to the neck of the hill there is a frog cannon, and getting to the top there is a Japanese cannon among the wild bushes.

At the bottom of the island, we will meet the Japanese army kitchen, that looks more like a furnace heated as high as 1.5 meters. Not far from there, there is a hideout, aka bunker ground.

From a number of historical relics and natural beauty inherited Berhala Island, which is not less interesting precisely underwater wealth. Some divers often visit there to witness the beauty of the underwater world.

According to Agus Sudaryadi of Archaeological Heritage Preservation Hall Edinburgh, by diving at a depth of 5 meters above sea level, we can already enjoy the expanse of the root bahar or gorgonian corals are colorful.

In addition, continued Agus, an estimated one from Thailand that sank the ship around the island Berhala. "It was known after the nets of a fisherman ever get a jar of Thailand about five years ago," he said.

Despite having a lot of tourism potential, Berhala Island is now even more lonely. According Junaedi, head of the local village, about five years ago, when he began to settle in the idols, there are many tourists visit, including foreign tourists.

"Bule-bule love to come here because the island is beautiful, but quiet. They are free to sunbathe all day and we were just stunned to see them sunbathing from far away, "he said.

During school holidays, Idols also frequented by a group of students. They generally arrive on the island late in the afternoon, then spend the night. The next day a new day they left the island. "Many also come to a special idol for fishing," the story Junaedi.

Decline

As the heat of the disputed island of idols, the rate of tourist visits declined during the last two years. Foreign tourists never even longer singggah to idol this past year.
In the school holidays in July, did not seem too group of students who vacation there. "The island became more quiet," added Junaedi.

Local governments argued, continued Junaedi, the island is in the status quo so that tourism development should not be done there. "Therefore, the dock is left broken," he said.

Garbage began much scattered. Construction of supporting facilities, such as lodging and sanitation, are also absent. Access to the island was left to be difficult, including for residents.

Therefore, to achieve the idols, travelers must pay at least IDR 1 million trips just to rent a boat.

Junaedi admitted quite concerned with such conditions. He worries that idol be forgotten. The government certainly needs to quickly find a solution to the dispute so that the two areas do not become islands dead idols.