Travel Mania

How to Choose a Vacation Rental

2009-01-22T21:34:00.000-08:00

Choosing a vacation rental is not as hard as you may think. If you know what you want as well as where to search you should never run into too many problems. With so many vacation rentals located all over the world finding one that is perfect for your lifestyle is only a few minutes away.

Here are three things to consider when choosing a vacation rental.

1. The first thing that you will want to do is take a closer look at what you can afford. Once you know what your budget is you will have a much easier time searching for vacation rentals. This way you can concentrate on properties that suit your budget, and in turn weed out the ones that are too expensive.

2. Chances are that you have a good idea as to what you want from your vacation rental. Do you want more than one bedroom? Do you want to be close to the beach? Is your entire family traveling with you? These are all questions to consider when searching for a vacation rental. Since each rental property is different it is important that you have a good idea as to what you want. This will make it much easier when it comes to making a final decision.

3. Make sure that you consider the reputation of a vacation rental before you book the reservation. There are many vacation rentals that are known to be top notch and full of luxury as well as some that are not nearly as nice. You will want to search for reviews and find out as much as you can about each vacation rental that you are considering. This will go a long way in making your trip a success.

As you can see, there are many details that go into choosing a vacation rental. Luckily, you can take on this task without much trouble if you follow the three guidelines listed above. Remember, your vacation is supposed to be fun. Your good times will start the minute that you begin to search for the perfect vacation rental. Make a good decision with your rental, and you will be glad that you did in the end.

Padang Travelling

2009-01-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

I needed a short holiday and I opted for the cheapest flight I could get at that moment. It was Padang which is located in the province of Sumatra Indonesia. I personally like rural areas of South East Asia. There is more nature, creativity, personalities, emotions, culture and tradition relative to the urban cities. Padang definitely satisfies such tastes but will disappoint anyone who is looking for a urbanized and commecialized tourist attraction.

Other than the cultural and historical museum Museum Adityawarman there is nothing much of a tourist attraction. Padang cuisine is so unique and fascinating that it has successfully spread to much parts of south east asia. Hence I wasnt so disappointed to realize that amongst the few things to do in Padang is to savour its rich cuisine in its authentic state.

There were also other interesting food such as barbaque seafood, murtabak malabar, satay etc.

Much of the places to see lies outside Padang and its worthwhile to spend just about a day or a day and half in Padang unless you are a food maniac.

There is an island called sikuai which is located 45 mins from Padang that offers all beach activities. its worth spending a day and night there. Cubadak island is more secluded and has more diving spots. I didnt have the time to get to these two places and i went to bungus beach within Padang and the beach was aweful as the sand was muddy. i paid a fisherman 50,000 rupiah to paddle me and my mate to the nearest islet that was about 200 metres from the shore in his scarry little boat. the fisherman have safer motor boats and do ask them if you intend to get to such islets.

Tiger Air offers pretty cheap tickets around SGD$100-$150 from singapore changi airport. sometimes it can get as low as SGD$70-$80. The journey is only 55mins to an hour. Padang has a good airport and from the airport a taxi ride costs around 110,000 rupiah to the city centre where there are few really good hotels to stay

Recommended Stays:

1) Pangeran Beach Hotel - the hotel is nice and price is around 600,000 rupiah. no shops within walking distance. the beach behind the hotel is depressing though

2) Ambacang hotel - the hotel is located heart of city and is amazing. the price is only 400,000 rupiah. it has a nice swimming pool too.

To See:

Wikipedia offers good advice

Eat:

1)for an authentic nasi padang, you can go to "Pagi Sore". It is famous for its fried chicken (real kampong chicken) and ask them to give you "nasi ramas" (the gravy and stuff).

2)a good place to find rendang is "Selamat" in Pasar Raya

3)for Murtabak go to "Kubang" or "Malabar" (Near the mosque and Balai Kota) there you can try Martabak Mesir.

4)dont forget Satay Padang, try "Sate Itjap" in front of Telkom Building in Padang Baru or for the spicier try "Sate Laweh".

5) for dessert, try Es Durian "Ganti nan Lamo" found in Pondok Area or Cendol "Patimura".

Gili Islands the great destinations

2009-01-01T01:07:00.000-08:00

Arcing away from the northwest corner of Lombok, the Gili Islands are three idyllic atolls where the sand is still powdery white, the water a clear sparkling turquoise, and the sunsets over Bali’s Agung in the west simply spectacular.

Home to the largest Irish bar on the smallest island in the world, an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant, a turtle hatchery, ominous sounding dive sites like ‘Shark Point’ and miles and miles of white sandy beaches, Lombok’s Trawangan, or Gili T for short, makes a surprisingly ideal getaway destination. Getting there is easy and whichever way you chose, you will be guaranteed to see some of Bali and Lombok’s breathtaking scenery.

No motorised transport

Fortunately all three Gili Islands will not permit any type of motorised transport on them and therefore rely on bicycles or horse and carts, locally known as ‘Cidomos’. Bicycles can be rented from any of the kiosks and cost from around Rp10,000 an hour, or better value, ask for the daily rate. Cidomos are easily located all over the islands but tend to hang around the harbour and busy spots, arrangements can be made if you are staying in a more remote place on the island, for instance a late ride home…. Haggling is the norm, and always agree a price before your journey.

Families
Although originally discovered by backpackers in the mid eighties, and a reputation as a party destination, Gili Trawangan now boasts itself as a great destination suitable for families of all ages. Various new hotels and boutique bungalows now cater for children and offer good discounts, some have baby sitting services, and with lots of activities on the islands families are sure to enjoy their holidays to the full.

Swimming and Snorkeling

The best place for snorkeling and swimming is along the main beach area a few hundred meters from where the boats pull in, this area is known as Goodheart. Masks, fins and snorkels can be rented by the hour or day, from any of the dive shops or the kiosks in the street. Glass bottom boat trips around the three islands are available and cost around 50,000rp per person. You can see all types of marine life just by snorkeling including the turtles, but please be careful not to touch the coral.
Note; Please do not try to swim between the islands as the currents in the channel can be unpredictable and very strong.

Money matters
There is no ATM machine on the Gili Islands and currently no plan for one, all the dive shops and bigger hotels accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards, cash advances at 10% are available in many places most of the time but all relies on a rather shaky phone connection. Money changers will cash traveler’s checks and currency but at a lower reduced rate than on the mainland.

Electricity
All three Gilis now have their own PLN electric generating stations and have power 24 hours a day, however in the peak seasons this can be put under strain particularly late afternoon and early evening. A number of businesses have their own generators such as the larger hotels and restaurants so as to avoid the problem, and usually power cuts or ‘mati lampu’ only last a few hours.

Communication
There are a number of internet cafes on Gili Trawangan all charging approximately the same, (around Rp200 per minute) although all operate at different speeds. For telephone calls the best place to use is the Wartel, located next to the art market.

Crime, safety and health
Generally there is very little crime on the islands, however no where is 100% free. As with any where in the world you travel its best to leave your valuables in your room, and ideally in your hotel safe. If you do have any problems on the island report them to the Head of the Island (Kepala Desa) at the Satgas office, located opposite the Harbour. There are two small basic clinics on Gili Trawangan that can deal with minor problems, located in the village and at Villa Ombak.

The Wallace line
Alfred Russel Wallace, the so-called father of animal geography, formulated his ideas on evolution by natural selection while observing and collecting wildlife in the islands of Southeast Asia. He was particularly impressed by the sudden difference in bird families he encountered when he sailed some twenty miles east of the island of Bali and landed on Lombok. On Bali the birds were clearly related to those of the larger islands of Java and Sumatra and mainland Malaysia. On Lombok the birds were clearly related to those of New Guinea and Australia. He marked the channel between Bali and Lombok as the divide between two great zoogeographic regions, the Oriental and Australian. In his honor this dividing line, which extends northward between Borneo and Sulawesi, is still referred to today as Wallace's Line. The very first island of the Australian region is Gili Trawangan

Beauty and History in Mallorca

2008-12-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago. Its name is derived from the Latin words "insula maior," which literally mean "larger island."

The Spanish island has been consistently recognized as one of the top tourist destinations in the world since 1952. As packaged tourism became more popular, Mallorca saw a half-million visitors in 1960. The number of tourists continued to increase over the years, to nearly 7 million visitors in 1997 and more than 19 million in 2001.

Mallorca has a very colourful history dating back to the Paleolithic period. It has been under Roman, Byzantine and Spanish rule.

Museums in various villages on Mallorca showcase a wide variety of artefacts from each period of the island's history. The official spoken languages on Mallorca are Catalan and Spanish, but many Mallorcans are becoming fluent in English and German as well.

Mallorca has been home to some of the most influential people in Spanish history. Writer and philosopher Ramon Llull was born into a wealthy family in Palma.

He wrote about and studied a wide variety of subjects, including mysticism, astrology and the occult. He's often considered a pioneer of computation theory. Other names of historical interest include Junipero Serra, Joaquin Jovellar y Soler and former two-time Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Maura Montaner.

Palma, founded as a Roman camp around 123 BC, is the capital city of Mallorca. Located on the south coast, the city is still used as a port today. Palma is the most densely populated city on Mallorca. In fact, it is the 12th largest urban area in all of Spain. Nearly half of Mallorca's population lives in Palma.

In 2007, Palma's population was just more than 383,000. Palma is the most visited tourist destination on Mallorca, with many resorts and five-star hotels offering top-notch accommodations and activities to tourists.

Deia is located on the northern mountainous ridge of the island. It is a small coastal village, famous primarily for its awe-inspiring landscape and its star-studded inhabitants. After World War I, Robert Graves, the noted English poet, novelist and scholar, was one of the first foreigners to settle in Deia.

There, he collaborated with Laura Riding, and together they set up the Seizin Press. Graves lived in Deia and used the village as the setting for many of his stories.

More recently, celebrities from around the world have chosen the seclusion of Deia over the crowds of other major cities around the world. Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones purchased a castle-style home in Deia several years ago and continue to enjoy the relative seclusion the village offers.

Other celebrities who own homes on Mallorca include Claudia Schiffer and Elton John. Despite its reputation as a home to the stars, Deia is a very welcoming village that offers a great deal of hospitality to its visitors.

One of the most impressive museums in Deia is the Deia Archaeological Museum and Research Centre. Founded by Dr. William H. Waldren in 1962, this remarkable and fascinating museum is just as well known for its architectural design as it is for its archaeological collections.

Many of the island's museums offer a visual and intellectual feast of archaeological artifacts, including the prehistoric antelope-gazelle which was thought to have become extinct around 40,000 years ago. The fairly recent discovery in Mallorca has shown that it probably didn't become extinct until around 3000 BC.

Mallorca is an island full of wonder and fascinating history. Millions of visitors every year enjoy the rich culture and amazing historic artifacts on display in its many museums.

The island's primary cities and villages are some of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Deia is one of the more private destinations, as no coaches are allowed to stop in the village, and parking is limited.

Parangtritis Beach

2008-12-11T18:05:00.000-08:00

One of the attractive beaches near Yogyakarta is Parangtritis. It is located about 27 km. from Yogyakarta, Parangtritis may be reached in two ways, through Kretek Village or the longer one but more well - established road through Imogiri and Siluk Village. Parangtritis Beach is a lovely beach with many impressing phenomena, naturally and supra naturally.

The waves regularly bring in new wood and bamboo, washing ashore from another nearby beach probably. Some wood is picked and taken away by locals to be used for their own house. Parangtritis is an enchanting sloping beach combined with rocky hills, dunes, and a white sandy beach. Besides being famous as a recreational spot. Parangtritis is also a sacred place. Many people come to the beach to do meditation. Up to now, this area is remaining functioned as the place to perform the traditional ceremony called labuhan. Many hotels and restaurants are available for sunbathe lovers.

t is said that the name of Parangtritis is expresses a natural phenomenon. From the wall of one of the hills drops off water containing calcium continuously dripped down and finally formed a pool with very clear water in it. Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono Vll found and took care of it. The pool is now used as the bathing pool of Parangtritis swimming pool. Meanwhile, the sunset at any point of Parangtritis beach brings a touch of wonderful and amazing as well. The magical atmosphere of the rough waves appears to as all hearts into disposing of all bustles and lead into deep musing.

Tips For Getting A Good Plane Fare

2008-12-09T00:13:00.000-08:00

Without a doubt, scheduling a trip on a plane is one aspect of planning a vacation that most people falter in. Few people realize exactly how to get the best rates when trying to book a flight, and they often lose money by not planning properly. For that reason, we've written this article to help inform you about exactly what you should do and what you should not do when you are planning to take a trip on an airplane.

As soon as you've decided where you want to go, it is of utmost importance to make the plane reservations as soon as possible. The best discounts for airlines are usually given to those who book more than 21 days in advance of the flight.

To get a good rate, ensure that your trip involves a Saturday night stay at your destination. Ensure that your flight dates are during the week to help limit the costs of flying.

It's usually best to consult the internet when looking for tickets. There are several airline search engines available that scour airline rates for the best possible air fare prices.

If the time in which you take the vacation is flexible, it's best to take the trip in the off-season. Also, if you are flexible about when you want the plane to depart from the airport, you can save a good amount of money. Flights that leave very early in the morning and those that leave in the late evening are the fares that are most likely to be unfilled and therefore, cheaper.

If you're taking a long trip and it doesn't seem like the rate is as low as it could be, consider trying to buy two round-trip flights with a midpoint in your destination. For example, if traveling from New York to California, check if there's any way to take a flight from New York to a mid-point such as Nebraska, and then another flight from Nebraska to New York. This can often result in big savings!

When booking the flight with a person, ask them if the rate that they are offering you is the best rate for the flight. It never hurts to ask, and sometimes they may offer you a different option for a lesser price.

If you're staying in a hotel for your vacation, check if there is a travel plan package offered that will help lower your fees on both airfare and the hotel. Many hotels and airlines operate in tandem to offer good deals to customers that book with both of them.

Shopping Places In Bali

2008-10-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Bali owns many unique presentable thing to bring home as a souvenir since the Balinese very creative to create the value thing like handicraft, souvenir, gold, silver etc. they are full innovations and imaginations toward the earth and creates plenty of the high value artwork which has been exported to all over the world. The innovations and imaginations has been poured into the media which has produced the high artwork like pictures, wood carving, jewelry, art material, stone carving and a lot more. You can easy to locate the good shops and shopping mall offers the valuable thing and here we guide to find some of them.

Nusa Dua Bali

Collection at Nusa Dua is a perfect place to shop and it is located right in the center of the elite resort area. There are many good shops offering attractive valuable thing like t-shirt, cloth, souvenirs, handicraft and others. Restaurant and bars are also available in this place that completes it as a shopping center in Nusa Dua Bali. Other small shops along the road to the close village in Nusa Dua are offering the same thing with competitive prices.

Kuta

Kuta is well know as a center of tourist activities in Bali provides plenty of good shops sell the tourist needs, shopping mall, bars, restaurants and pub. The biggest shopping mall is available in this place and offering the beautiful thing that the tourist need. There are two big shopping malls in Kuta offering innovative items like Matahari Square and Centro.

Ubud

Ubud is well known the center of artwork in Bali. There are several traditional art market around Ubud are selling the multifarious of artwork for souvenir like handicraft. Ubud Art market is strategically located in the center of Ubud Bali offering plenty of handicrafts which you can bring home for souvenir.

Gunung Gede - Pangrango, West Java

2008-09-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

"Big Mountain". Major feature visible from many points of West Java.

Add: Taman Nasional Gede - Pangrango (Gede – Pangrango National Park) is one of the preserve natures in Indonesia. The rain forest is still in a very good condition and well preserve. It has 251 birds’ species of 450 species in the Island of Java.

It is the most popular hiking/tracking destination in the west of Java. There are 2 peaks: Mount Gede (2,958 m asl) and Mount Pangrango (3,019 m above sea level).

There are 2 famous routes to reach the summits: Cibodas and Selabintana. Interesting places to see around cibodas:
a. Telaga Biru (Blue Lake), a small lake approx. 1.5 km from Cibodas. On foot is the best way to go there
b. Cibereum Water Fall (500 mtr height)

The north route from Cibodas:
- need approx. 3 hours hiking to reach a hot spring.
- need approx. 4 hours hiking to reach Kandang Badak Flying Camp
- need approx. 5 hours hiking to reach Gn. Gede summit (and enjoying the Crater view)
- need approx. 7 hours hiking to reach Gn. Pangrango summit (and enjoying Edelweiss Field)

The South Route from Selabintana, we will pass Alun-alun Suryakencana before reaching the Gede Summit. If we want to reach the Pangrango Summit as well, we have to go down to Kandang Badak (opposite of Alun-alun Suryakencana) from Gede summit, then claim up to Mount Pangranggo (approx. 4 hours in total).

Six Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

2008-09-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

1. First Things First :

The secret to holiday happiness is to start planning NOW. Yes now, while the weather is still good and the yuletide crush has yet to hit the mall.

2. Plan Meals Ahead:

Looking for convenient, fast mealtime solutions? There are plenty of great resources on the Internet, such as the Louis Kemp Seafood recipe database (Dead link removed).

3. Delegate :

You can't do everything. So share the celebration and the joy – and the planning – with family and friends. Don't wait until it is snowy and cold to get the kids untangling the lights and finding the ornaments in storage.

4. Take Care of Your Body:

A person can only cram so many activities into their calendar. Over-commitment and lack of sleep can lead to major stress. Self-care and making sure to get enough sleep are especially important during the holidays.

5. Get a Handle on the HolidayHelpings:

According to a National Institutes of Health study, the weight people gain during the holiday season adds up year after year. Try not to overindulge this year. Allow yourself only a taste of rich foods during holiday parties and try creating healthier versions of holiday favorites with low calorie ingredients or fat-free products.

6. Keep Expectations Realistic:

Slow down, savor the moments and try not to rush so fast through the season that you miss the good stuff. Having a realistic attitude can go a long way toward making holidays less stressful and happier for all.

Interesting Places - Bukittinggi

2008-08-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

The heart of the highlands, Bukittinggi is a two-hours drives through beautiful of Anai valley countryside and up to the Agam Plateau. A center of attraction is the town's clock tower, topped with a horn- shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. It overlooks the market square and the city's magnificent surroundings. Located 930 meters above sea level, Bukittinggi, formerly named Fort De Cock by the Dutch, has a cool climate and is surrounded by three volcanoes: Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. In the outskirts of Ngarai Sianok town, a canyon that separate Bukittinggi from Gadang City, 12 km away overland. Gadang City is renowned for its fine silver filigree and hand embroidery.

Also worth visit the Museum, which is a Rumah Gadang, a traditional extended family house built in the 19th century. There are dance performances at the museum's open stage every Sunday and on public holidays. Night dance performances are at Sliguri. It is also worth seeing the bullfights at Padang Lawas (6 km south of Bukittinggi) every Tuesday at 5.00 p.m. The delightful hill town, Bukittinggi nestling amid mountain greenery at 920 m above sea level is the Minangkabau capital (victorious buffalo) people. Bukit Tinggi means 'high hill' is stunningly located with views over fertile valleys to two volcanoes, Mt Merapi and Mt Singgalang. It is laid out in tiers down the steep hillside, each level connected to the next by precipitous stone steps and passageways.

The central landmark in Bukittinggi is the clock tower, with its stylized roof, standing in the town square. Geographically, the town's highest point is the Rumah Adat Baandjuang Museum. It is 140 years old classic rumah adat (clan house). It exhibit include wedding and dance costumes, head dressers, musical instruments, village crafts and historic weaponry. Panorama Park has spectacular views over the Sianok and Ngarai canyons.

Medan Sumatera Utara

2008-08-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

Medan is the capital of the province of North Sumatra ( Sumatera Utara ) , Indonesia. Located in the northern part of the province along the coast, Medan is the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. The city is bordered by Deli Serdang Regency to the east, south, and west, and the Strait of Malacca to the north.

History of Medan

Medan started as a village called Kampung Medan (Medan Village). Kampung Medan was founded by Guru Patimpus around the 1590s. Because Kampung Medan sits on Tanah Deli (Land of Deli), Kampung Medan is also referred as Medan-Deli. The original location of Kampung Medan is an area where the Deli River meets Babura River.

Based on the diary of the Portuguese merchant in early 16th century, it stated that the name of Medan was actually derived from Medina which is actually a holy city in the western of Saudi Arabia. However, other source indicated that the name of Medan actually came from Indian language “Meiden”. One of the Karo-Indonesia dictionary written by Darwin Prinst SH published in 2002 wrote that Medan could also be defined as “recover” or “be better”.

The first inhabitants of Medan came from the Batak Karo community. It was not until the Sultan of Aceh, Sultan Iskandar Muda, sent his warlord, Gocah Pahlawan Laksamana Khoja Bintan, to be the Sultanate of Aceh’s representative in Tanah Deli, that the Sultanate of Deli started to grow. This growth stimulated growth in both the population and culture of Medan. In the second year reign of Sultan Deli (between 1669-1698), there was a cavalry battle in Medan.

Medan did not experience significant development until the 1860s, when the Dutch colonialists began clearing the land for tobacco plantations. Medan quickly became a center of government and commercial activity, dominating development of Indonesia’s western region.

The Dutch governed Tanah Deli from 1658, after Sultan Ismail, ruler of the Kingdom of Siak Sri Indrapura, yielded some of his once-ruled land, Deli, Langkat, and Serdang. In 1915 Medan officially became the capital of North Sumatra Province, and officially a city in 1918.

The city is Indonesia’s third most populous after Jakarta and Surabaya, with approximately 2.5 million people.

The city has a mix of communities, reflecting its history. It is famous throughout Indonesia as the home of the Batak people, although the Batak homelands are found throughout North Sumatra. In addition, there is a large ethnic Javanese community, largely made up of the descendants of people transported from Java in the last century as part of the government’s transmigration policy, an attempt to relieve the chronic overcrowding of Java.

A highly visible component of Medan’s population is the large number of Chinese, who control much of the business sector. Finally, the city has a sizable community of Tamil descent who is commonly known as keling. A well-known Tamil market is the Kampung Keling. In addition to Indonesian, Batak Simalungun, Batak Mandailing, Batak Pak-Pak, Batak Angkola, Batak Toba, Deli Malay, Javanese, Hokkien (Min Nan), Tamil, Acehnese, Minang Kabauw and English are spoken.

Travel In Bali Island - Balinese Rites and Ceremonies

2008-08-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

One doesn't have to be on the island for very long to appreciate that Balinese life seems to be an endless parades of rites and ceremonies. The combination of Hindu religious rituals and the local "Adat Istiadat" of the Balinese result in a cycle of events which paces the sun and the moon through the seasons. Ceremonies also mark the procession of human life from the womb to the grave.

The various ceremonies center on different parts of Balinese life. Ceremonies for the gods are much different than the ceremonies for man. For example, Odalan is a ceremony for the Gods and the anniversary of a temple; this is the time when God is invited to bless the daily prayers in that temple.

Two of the most visible ceremonies are concerned with man. "Metatah" or the tooth-filing ceremony, is for Balinese 16-18 years of age. This ceremony is as a sign of maturity and indicates that the kids have reached the age where they need more guidance, love, and care from their parents. Perhaps the best known ceremony is "Ngaben," the cremation ceremony to purify the soul of the death. Many visitors to Bali find themselves enthralled by the cremation rituals, which can go on for days with much pomp and celebration.

Another highly visible ceremony is Galungan, which occurs every 210 days (it's timed to the Balinese calendar). This Balinese festival celebrates a day of victory against an the notorious Mayadenawa, an evil king that ruled in Bali centuries ago. Kuningan day, 10 days after Galungan, is the day to commemorate the spirits of the heroes who were killed during the battle against Mayadenawa.

You can learn more about other ceremonies on this site, including: Saraswati Day (the day of knowledge), Nyepi Day (the day of Silence), Pagerwesi Day, and many others.

History Travel Kota Medan

2008-07-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Istana Maimun

Istana Maimun semula ditulis Maimoon, merupakan istana Sultan Deli. Istana yang berdiri megah di Jalan Brigjend Katamso ini didominasi warna kuning, warna kerjaan sekaligus warna khas Melayu. Istana ini didirikan oleh Sultan Kerajaan Deli, Sultan Maimun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam Shah dengan biaya sekitar satu juta gulden Belanda tahun 1988. Bangunannya berdiri di atas tanah seluas 2.772 Meter persegi, menghadap Timur. Pendesainnya seorang arsitek Italia. Bangunannya terdiri dari dua lantai yang terbagi dalam tiga bagian, yakni bangunan induk, sayap kiri, dan sayap kanan.

Istana ini menjadi pusat Kesultanan Deli. Sebagai catatan dinasti Kesultanan Deli diawali oleh Muhammad Dalik yang menjadi Yang di-Pertuan Haru pada tahun 1630 atas pengangkatan sltan Aceh. Usai wafat, anaknya yang bernama Panglima Parunggit melanjutkan kerjaannya sebagi Yang di-Pertuan Haru dan Panglima deli. Kemudian anaknya Panglinga Parunggit, Tengku Panglima Padrap menggantikannya dengan gelar kerajaan Emir deli (1700-1720). Ketika Panglima Padrap wafat, anak keduanya yang bernama Tengku Panglima Gandar Wahid merebut jabatan emir dari kakak tertuanya. Sultan Deli saat ini adalah Othman Mahmud Ma'mun Padrap Perkasa Alam Shah, yang dinobatkan pada bulan Mei 1998.

Memasuki ruangan tamu (balairung) Istana Maimun, ada singgasana yang didominasi warna kuning. Lampu-lampu kristal menerangi singgasana, sebagai bukti ada pengaruh budaya Eropa. Pengaruh itu juga tampak pada perabotan istana seperti kursi, meja toilet, dan lemari hingga pintu dorong menuju balairung. Ruangan seluas 412 M2 ini digunakan untuk acara penobatan Sultan Deli atau acara adat lainnya. Balairung juga dipakai sebagai tempat sultan menerima sembah sujud dari sanak familinya pada hari-hari besar Islam. Lebih ke dalam lagi, ada 20 kamar di lantai atas dan 20 kamar lagi di bagian bawah. Belum termasuk 4 kamar mandi, gudang, dapur, dan ruang penjara di lantai bawah.

Arsitekturnya perpaduan antara tradisi Islam dan kebudayaan Eropa. Sebagian material bangunannya konon juga didatangkan dari Eropa, seperti ubin, marmer, dan teraso. Arsitektur gaya Belanda nampak pada pintu serta jendela yang lebar dan tinggi. Sedangkan pengaruh Islam terlihat pada bentuk lengkungan atau arcade pada sejumlah bagian atap istana. Lengkungan yang berbentuk perahu terbalik itu dikenal dengan Lengkungan Persia, banyak dijumpai pada bangunan di kawasan Timur Tengah, Turki, dan India.

Istana Maimun merupakan salah satu bangunan terindah di Medan. Lokasinya mudah dijangkau, baik dari Bandara Polonia (sekitar 10 km) maupun Pelabuhan Belawan (sekitar 28 km). Bangunan bersejarah ini terbuka umum setiap hari dari pukul 08.00 sampai 17.00

Masjid Raya Al Mansun

Dikenal juga dengan nama Masjid Raya Medan, salah satu peninggalan Sultan Deli setelah Istana Maimun. Lokasinya sekitara 200 meter dari Istana Maimun Masjid ini dibangun pada tahun 1906 oleh Sultan Maimun Al Rasyid. Kubahnya mirip kubah Masjid Raya Banda Aceh.

Pengaruh kesenian Islam nampak pada denah, atap kubah, lengkungan (arcade), dan hiasan bulan sabit pada puncaknya. Terlebih lagi pada ornamentasinya, baik di dinding, plafon, tiang-tiang, dan permukaan lengkungan (face Arcade) yang kaya dengan hiasan bunga dan tumbuh-tumbuhan.

Motif seperti itu juga terlihat pada bentuk terali besi tingkap-tingkap segi empat maupun lengkungan, seperti ukiran dinding gaya India. Di Indonesia hiasan semacam ini sering disebut hiasan Terawangan atau Kerawangan. Selain sebagai hiasan, juga berfungsi sebagai fentilasi atau lobang angin.

Masjid terindah di Sumut ini hingga kini masih dipergunakan oleh masyarakat muslim untuk sholat setiap hari. Berkat arsitekturnya yang khas dan tentu saja niai sejarahnya, masjid ini kerap dikunjungi wisatawan mancanegara.

Ada lagi masjid milik peninggalan kesultanan Deli yang dibangun pada tahun 1886 yaitu Masjid Labuhan. Arsitektur Mesjid Labuhan unik bergaya India dengan kubah segi delapan. Masjid Labuhan terletak di Jalan Raya Medan Belawan, sebelah Utara dari pusat Kota Medan.

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Profil North Sumatra

2008-07-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sumatera Utara adalah sebuah provinsi yang terletak di Pulau Sumatera, berbatasan dengan Aceh di sebelah utara dan dengan Sumatera Barat serta Riau di sebelah selatan.

Provinsi ini terutama merupakan kampung halaman suku bangsa Batak, yang hidup di pegunungan dan suku bangsa Melayu yang hidup di daerah pesisir timur. Selain itu juga ada suku bangsa Nias di pesisir Barat Sumatera, Mandailing, Jawa dan Tionghoa.

Provinsi Sumatera Utara terletak pada 1Â° - 4Â° Lintang Utara dan 98Â° - 100Â° Bujur Timur, yang pada tahun 2004 memiliki 18 Kabupaten dan 7 kota, dan terdiri dari 328 kecamatan, secara keseluruhan Provinsi Sumatera Utara mempunyai 5.086 desa dan 382 kelurahan. Luas daratan Provinsi Sumatera Utara 71.680 km², Sumatera Utara tersohor karena luas perkebunannya, hingga kini, perkebunan tetap menjadi primadona perekonomian provinsi. Perkebunan tersebut dikelola oleh perusahaan swasta maupun negara. Sumatera Utara menghasilkan karet, coklat, teh, kelapa sawit, kopi, cengkeh, kelapa, kayu manis, dan tembakau. Perkebunan tersebut tersebar di Deli Serdang, Langkat, Simalungun, Asahan, Labuhan Batu, dan Tapanuli Selatan.

Sumatra Utara pada dasarnya dapat dibagi atas:

Pesisir timur
Pegunungan Bukit Barisan
Pesisir barat
Kepulauan Nias.
Kepulauan Batu.
Pulau Samosir di danau Toba.

Pesisir timur merupakan wilayah di dalam provinsi yang paling pesat perkembangannya karena persyaratan infrastruktur yang relatif lebih lengkap daripada wilayah lainnya. Wilayah pesisir timur juga merupakan wilayah yang relatif padat konsentrasi penduduknya dibandingkan wilayah lainnya.

Di daerah tengah provinsi berjajar Pegunungan Bukit Barisan. Di pegunungan ini ada beberapa dataran tinggi yang merupakan kantong-kantong konsentrasi penduduk. Daerah di sekitar Danau Toba dan Pulau Samosir juga menjadi tempat tinggal penduduk yang menggantungkan hidupnya kepada danau ini.

Di pesisir barat relatif tertinggal dan merupakan titik berat pembangunan sejak pemerintahan Gubernur Raja Inal Siregar dengan program pembangunannya yang terkenal, Marsipature Hutana Be disingkat Martabe atau MHB. Pesisir barat biasa dikenal sebagai daerah Tapanuli.

Terdapat 419 pulau di propisi Sumatera Utara. Pulau-pulau terluar adalah pulau Simuk (kepulauan Nias), dan pulau Berhala di selat Malaka.

Kepulauan Nias terdiri dari pulau Nias sebagai pulau utama dan pulau-pulau kecil lain di sekitarnya. Kepulauan Nias terletak di lepas pantai pesisir barat di Samudera Hindia. Pusat pemerintahan terletak di Gunung Sitoli.

Kepulauan Batu terdiri dari 51 pulau dengan 4 pulau besar: Sibuasi, Pini, Tanahbala, Tanahmasa. Pusat pemerintahan di Pulautelo di pulau Sibuasi. Kepulauan Batu terletak di tenggara kepulauan Nias.

Pulau-pulau lain di Sumatera Utara: Imanna, Pasu, Bawa, Hamutaia, Batumakalele, Lego, Masa, Bau, Simaleh, Makole, Jake, dan Sigata, Wunga.

sumber:Wikpedia

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Travel In Sabang Island

2008-07-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

Sabang island or often mentioned as Weh island was located on the north of Banda Aceh was known having the potential of nature beauty that so beautiful, among others are the sea park of rubiah island and the Iboh beach. Where does the Indonesia pillar Km-0 also located in this island.

To reach to this island can be cover a distance by using the sea transport. Departed from the malahayati port in Banda Aceh that approximately will need 2 hours trip to arrive Balohan port in Sabang island. There are two kinds of ferry that was available, fast ferry and slowest one. The average cost of fast ferry from Rp. 60,000.- to Rp. 80.000,- whereas the slow ferry revolved Rp. 15.000,-.

Sabang terletak 3 jam perjalanan naik kapal dari kota Banda Aceh, Sayangnya belum banyak orang yang mengenal kota Sabang lebih jauh dari mengenal lagu Dari Sabang Sampai Merauke. Sabang merupakan salah satu obyek wisata di Indonesia. Terletak di P.Weh, pulau paling barat diwilayah NKRI. Konflik yang berkepanjangan di wilayah NAD membuat tempat wisata disana kurang banyak dikunjungi dibanding misalnya Danau Toba dan Brastagi di Sumatra Utara.

Setelah Tsunami, wilayah NAD mulai aman dari konflik bersenjata. Kehadiran NGO dan tim bantuan membuat NAD lebih terbuka dan ramai dikunjungi. Setelah dua bulan tinggal di Aceh, saya pun tidak mau melepaskan kesempatan mengunjungi tempat ini.

Dari Banda Aceh menuju Sabang dapat ditempuh dengan Kapal Ferry maupun kapal nelayan sewaan. Ferry besar yang menampung mobil berangkat dari pelabuhan Malahayati, di Krueng Raya, dengan waktu tempuh selama dua jam hingga pelabuhan Balohan di Sabang.Sedangkan Ferry cepat yang hanya mengangkut orang berangkat dari pelabuhan Ulee lheu dengah waktu tempuh satu jam hingga tiba di pelabuhan yang sama..

Dengan waktu tempuh yang dua kali lipat, Ferry besar memberikan tarif yang sangat ekonomis, yaitu 12 ribu rupiah, sedangkan Ferry cepat, harga tiket yang paling murah 60 rb, kelas bisnis 70 rb dan kelas eksekutif 100 rb. Sayangnya pemberangkatan Ferry besar hanya satu kali sehari, pada jam 14.00 siang dari Malahayati.dan jam 07.00 pagi dari Balohan. Sedangkan Ferry cepat dua kali sehari dari Banda Aceh maupun dari Sabang, yaitu pukul 09.30 dan 16.00. Oleh karena itulah dengan harga tiket yang lima kali lipatnya, banyak orang yang tetap memilih naik Ferry cepat, jadwalnya cukup untuk bepergian selama dua hari.

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Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

2008-07-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

Informasi umum

Propinsi Daerah Istimewa Aceh merupakan bagian paling Barat Kepulauan Nusantara dengan luas area sebesar ± 55.390 km². Dibagian tengah Propinsi Daerah Istimewa Aceh terbentang pegunungan Bukit Barisan.

Keindahan alam daerah Aceh yang paling penting adalah hutan tropis basah, lereng-lereng dan gunung merapi. Gunung merapi yang semi aktif dan ditumbuhi dengan hutan lebat banyak terdapat sumber air panas dan danau, serta hutan itu sendiri merupakan habitat yang baik bagi sejumlah binatang dan tumbuhan langka yang masih bersisa.

Kekhasan lain yang terdapat didaerah ini antara lain dimana banyak terdapat aneka ragam buah-buahan dikala musimnya seperti mangga, durian, rambutan, langsat, manggis, dsb. Para pengunjung dapat menikmati buah-buahan segar itu langsung di kebun petani ketika melakukan perjalanan di kampung-kampung.

Disamping itu, Aceh juga terkenal dengan masakan khasnya yang terdiri dari Kari Kambing, Kepiting Besar, Udang Besar, cumi-cumi, kerang, telur penyu dan aneka ragam hasil laut dan pertanian lainnya.

Dalam bidang perindustrian Aceh juga sangat menonjol. Pabrik LNG Arun di Lhokseumawe merupakan primadona industri darah ini. Disamping itu dalam kaitannya dengan pabrik gas tersebut, kini berdiri pula pabrik-pabrik lain seperti pupuk, kertas kraft, cat dll. Dekat kota Banda Aceh juga sudah dibangun pabrik semen yang mampu mensuplay produknya untuk Aceh, Sumatera Utara bahkan Bangladesh dan Thailand.

Di Langsa pun kini terdapat pabrik pengolahan plywood yang besar yang sudah mampu mengekspor hasilnya ke Singapura, Malaysia, Jepang dan Timur Tengah.

Komoditi Ekspor lainnya dari Aceh antara lain kopi, karet, minyak kelapa sawit, arang, udang segar, ikan minyak hiyu, pinang, kemiri, minyak nilam, kulit kerang, dsb.

BUDAYA ACEH

Aceh merupakan salah satu wilayah di Indonesia yang memiliki aneka ragam budaya yang menarik khususnya dalam bentuk tarian, kerajinan dan perayaan.

Di Propinsi Daerah Istimewa Aceh terdapat empat suku utama yaitu suku Aceh, Gayo, Alas dan Tamiang.

Suku Aceh merupakan kelompok mayoritas yang mendiami kawasan pesisir Aceh.

Orang Aceh yang mendiami kawasan Aceh Barat dan Selatan terdapat sedikit perbedaan kultural yang nampak nya banyak dipengaruhi oleh gaya kebudayaan Minangkabau. Hal ini mungkin karena nenek moyang mereka yang pernah bertugas diwilayah itu ketika berada di bawah protektorat kerajaan Aceh tempo dulu dan mereka berassimilasi dengan penduduk disana.

Suku Gayo dan Alas merupakan suku minoritas yang mendiami dataran tinggi di kawasan Aceh Tengah dan Aceh Tenggara. Kedua suku ini juga bersifat patriakhat dan pemeluk agama Islam yang kuat.

Setiap suku tersebut memiliki kekhasan tersendiri seperti bahasa, sastra, nyanyian, tarian, musik dan adat istiadat.

Kebudayaan Aceh sangat dipengaruhi oleh kebudayaan Islam. Tarian, kerajinan, ragam hias, adat istiadat, dll semuanya berakar pada nilai-nilai keislaman. Contoh ragam hias Aceh misalnya, banyak mengambil bentuk tumbuhan seperti batang, daun, dan bunga atau bentuk obyek alam seperti awan, bulan, bintang, ombak, dsb. Hal ini karena menurut ajaran Islam tidak dibenarkan menampilkan bentuk manusia atau binatang sebagai ragam hias.

Aceh sangat lama terlibat perang dan memberikan dampak amat buruk bagi keberadaan kebudayaannya. Banyak bagian kebudayaan yang telah dilupakan dan benda-benda kerajinan yang bermutu tinggi jadi berkurang atau hilang.

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Catatan Harian Backpacker

2008-07-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

Travel mania. Mungkin aktivitas travel sering dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang suka tantangan baru, melihat daerah daerah yang belum pernah kita kunjungi adalah suatu kenikmatan tersendiri, bai kemancanegara maupun seputar Indonesia tetap merupakan tantangan, untuk pergi ketempat tujuan wisata kita harus ada modal pengetahuan tentang daerah tersebut, untuk itu saya sengaja membagi pengetahuan tentang daerah pariwisata yang pernah saya kunjungi, semoga menjadi referensi bagi yang membutuhkan.

mengenai saya sendiri tidak ada yang terlalu istimewa yang bisa saya ceritakan. anda juga bisa berkunjung ke blog saya yang lain di www.kampunglumut.blogspot.com
saya menunggu komentar saran maupun kritikan pengunjung blog, saya juga menampung tulisan dari rekan-rekan sesama pecinta travel..maju terus wisata indonesia