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Showing posts from 2012

Taj Mahal, where even death won’t do us part

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India has been in my travel bucket list for ages. Since I was a kid, the country has fascinated me. I have heard many stories about its colourful markets, tasty delicacies and magnificent temples to visit. However, it is this one, and always have been this one particular place, that everyone talks about, that every traveller wants to go. The place where I realized that love has a strong power to create something big, something that may seem impossible. Because here, in the heart of Agra, love had encouraged a man to make the most beautiful building for his wife. That is where I wanted to go, and when I finally did, it defined love in a way I have never imagined before. Taj Mahal located in Agra, India, is very famous for being one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Shah Jahan, the ruling Mughal emperor at the time, built it from 1632 - 1653. Because of that, the building has adopted the Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian,

A journey to Gili Genting: An undiscovered splendour of Madura

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The name is not familiar even among local Indonesians, but this island, surrounded by white sand beaches, is a hidden beauty. Gili Genting is an isolated island outside Madura that the only way to get there is by a boat, which departs every hour or two. During the day, this low-populated island is quiet because the heat keeps people inside their houses, but that will make you the only wanderer in the beach. Also, the dusk is stunning. As you hear the sound from the mosque, calling people to pray, you could see the sun setting at the horizon, leaving a trace of its golden ray on the sea. A plane flight to Surabaya is the first thing you need to do to get closer to this island. Then, for about 4-5 hours, drive your car to Sumenep, Madura to get on a boat that will take you for 45 minutes trip to the Gili Genting. Because there is only one boat every hour, people bring everything, including their motorbikes or livestock, into the boat. I even have shared a boat with ducks an

Down Under’s Secret

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When we are talking about Australia, big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne or Perth might be the ultimate destinations. However, after spending almost a week in the down under, I found another destination people should pencil into th eir map s . A perfect destination for you cave-lovers, bushwalkers and of course the wilderness explorers. I ntroduc ing Blue Mountains, another side of Australia you can visit in less than 2 hours drive from Sydney. If you are flying into Sydney, take a direct train from Sydney Airport to the Railway Station. From there, you can board the double-decker mountains train for approximately 2 hours which will spoil you r eyes with the most amazing scenery along the way.   Blue Mountains , covers an area around 1400 km 2 , earned its name from distinctive blue haze that surrounds it. This mystical blue comes from the eucalyptus tree, as the oil in the leaves scatters the light. Blue Mountains’ major tourist attraction is the bea