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Minggu, 10 April 2011

Journey in Hongkong

Our Journey in Hongkong 27 Feb - 2 Maret 2011

Sebelumnya keinginan ke Hongkong, khususnya Disneyland cuma keinginan yang belum terbayang kapan dan bagaimana caranya, sampaiii...suamiku iseng buka2 web airlines murah dan hasilnya terbelilah tiket Medan-Hongkong- Medan berdua pulang-pergi dengan biaya Rp. 905.000 saja..hahahah.

Karena waktu keberangkatan yang masih jauh..kita pesan bulan Desember 2010 kalau ga salah, ga terpikir lagi deh untuk cari tiket Jakarta - Medan yamg ternyata mmmmm, tiket dalam negeri jauhhh lebih mahal (sayang banget yaaa, padahal bisa menarik wisata domestic sendiri yang sekarang ini lebih milih liburan ke Singapore, KL atau seperti kami,.Hongkong.

Akhirmya di minggu terakhir terbelilah  tiket Jakarta- Medan dengan Citilink yang lumayan menguras biaya, b2 sekali jalan Rp. 1.500.000...bayangin harganya dibanding dengan tiket Medan-Hongkong-Medan.

Untuk Info perjalanan yang kita tahu untuk ke Hongkong :
AirAsia : Via Medan dan Kuala Lumpur
Tiger    : Via Singapore ( Budget Terminal )
 Setelah dapat info Tiger Airlines juga bisa dibeli dengan harga murah, kita pikir kenapa pulangnya ga lewat Singapore aja bisa jalan2 dulu di Orchard.,..dan rugi sedikit beli tiket Hongkong -Jakarta lagi, karena sebelumnya kan sudah beli Medan-Hongkong-Medan (untung Medan-Jakarta belum beli).

Hari H-nya tiba...
Jadwal keberangkatan Jakarta Medan pukul 07.00, kita putusin berangkat dari rumah jam 04.30 pagi dengan Taxi Express, selain ga mau nyusahin orang rumah, dan yah biayanya cuma Rp. 95.000 dibanding  capenya bolak balik Soeta buat yang anter...
Bingung juga karena tidak pengalaman naik Citilink yang ternyata ada di Terminal 1C, setelah check in, baru sadar, kita di Medan punya keluarga yang mau jemput dan bawa kita ke jajanan Soto Medan, untuk nunggu keberangkatan ke Hongkong dan kita belum bawa apa2 untuk keluarga di Medan, pilih2 yang sudah buka cuma Papa Buns...dan ternyata di Medan pun sudah ada, maluuuu banget, jadi mending jujur aja kalau kita lupa...hahahah,diharap dimengerti karena kasian juga liat suami aku yang seminggu kerja keras bikin rencana perjalanan di Hongkong, kerja kantor sampe malam karena mau cuti seminggu.
Alhasillllll, dengan Citilink, pesawatnya bekas Garuda Indonesia, pelayanannya cukup baiklah yaaaaa untuk tiket murah...Kita sampai jam 09.00 WIB di Medan, dan dijemput keponakan umur 1 tahun yang Masya Allah lucunyaaaaaaaa dan gantenggggg...Diajaklah kita makan di soto Medan yang terkenal dan memeang enak...tapi lupa nama daerahnya, hihihi, dilanjutin muter2 ga jelas dan berakhir di Mal untuk cari Novel pembunuh waktu perjalanan Medan-Hongkong 5 jam.

Medan-Hongkong 14.30 Polonia Medan....cihuyyyyyy, dengan AirAsia yang ternyata dinginnnn banget di pesawat, turbulance yang cukup banyak,bikin mual dan pusing...Alhamdulillah kita sampai lebih cepat dari perkiraan awal.
Mendarat di Hongkong International Airport jam 20.00 ( perbedaan waktu dengan Jakarta 1 Jam lebih awal).
Wahhhhhhh....airportnya bagussss, lebih teratur dan keren dari Changi Singapore (Kita bicara Asia ya, karena ingatan aku soal pengalaman jaman SD ke Eropa sudah lupaaa, hehehe)

Hongkong Day 1

Imigrasinya lumayan cepet dan bagasinya cepet banget..(hhehehe, ga maksud nyindir negara tercintaku lohh).
Karena sebelumnya kita dah browsing dan cari tau apa yang harus dilakuin pertama kali sampai Hongkong, alhasil kita sibuk nyari tempat jual Kartu Sakti "Octopus Card"..kartu yang fungsinya bisa dipakai untuk naik kendaraan umum, seperti bus, star ferry, trem, MTR, kecuali Taxi ya. Tempat pembeliannya ga jauh dari pintu keluar Terminal 2, jelas banget ada petunjuknya. Harga si "Octopus" ini HK$ 150, yang bisa dipakai HK$ 100, sisanya deposit yang bisa diuangkan kembali dengan potongan HK$ 7. Dengan kegunaan yang banyak rasanya sangat bermanfaat pembelian si Sakti ini, mengingat jarak-jarak perjalanan Hongkong yang terdiri dari pulau2, sayang dan cukup mahal kalu pakai Taxi, kecuali kalau perginya lebih dari 3 orang ya..

Tugas pertama selesai, nahhh yang ke 2 adalah cari tempat berkumpulnya bagi pembeli paket air asia tour dan jasa antar jemput airport-hotel dan sebaliknya. Ini sedikit ribet karena kita sama sekali ga kebayang tempatnya seperti apa dan sebenarnya ada sih tempat penjemputan dengan nomor2 yang juga ga jelas, ujung2nya kita tanya petugas Airport, akhirnya kita ditunjukin tempatnya yang bernomor B 12, jadi disana ada kayak booth2 Hotel yang bisa dipesan ataupun alat transportasi.
Setelah ketemu, kita tunjukin bukti reservasi dan mereka kasih stiker buat kita dan buat bagasi yang ada, dan diminta menunggu di ruang tunggu airport...ohhhhh ternyata banyak yang pesen dan kita nunggu semua kumpul, setelah data mereka lengkap kita jalan deh rame2 ke tempat shuttle minibus.
Ternyataaaaa...semua beda Hotel dan muter2lah kita ke orang yang terdekat dari Airport...sekitar 5 orang sebelum kita sampai di Park Hotel Tsim Sha Tsui. Awalnya kita seneng banget karena jam 20.30, pemandangan lampu2 dan terlihat semua gedung2, jalan utamanya bagusssss, belum lagi liat Airport Express Train yang lewat disamping kita (tentunya di jalurnya loh) ngiri liat kecepatannya dibanding Minibus kita, heheheh, cape badan ngebuat kita pengen secepatnya sampai di Hotel dan berbaring lurus, karena total perjalanan Jkt-Medan-Hongkong 7 jam, pegellll boooo.
Muter2 dan memasuki daerah2 di Hongkong cukup bikin kita kaget dan takut juga karena selain daerah hotel lainnya ada di jalan2 sempit dan ramai, bener2 china town...serem juga (bukan apa2, cuma ramenya ga jelas). Harap2 cemas ngebayangin lokasi lingkungan hotel kita gimana yaaaaa?????


Alhamdulillah, ga salah rekomendasi daerah dari saudaraku dan pilihan suamiku di Park Hotel, selain daerahnya di tengah kota ramai, jalan besar dan sekitarnya Mall besar. Oh ya penampilan Hotel2 dan Mall di Hongkong ga kayak di Jakarta yang besar dan keliatan bangunannya sendiri2, tapi disini rapat2, ga nyangka atasnya Mal atau Hotel. Selesai Check in yang tidak memakan waktu banyak, sampailah kita di Kamar 531, huahhhh dengan harga pemesanan via website Air Asia Rp.3.600.000 ( 4 hari 3 malam ), kamar ini cukup nyaman, bagus, bersih dan ada di lokasi yang menyenangkan. Setelah bongkar muatan , bersih2 dan sedikit rebahan, kita mutusin cari makanan dan minuman, nahhhhh berasa banget nih sisa2 musim dingin, angin malam (waktu menunjukkan pulul 22.00) dan suhu yang mencapai 17 derajat, bikin maju mundur mau pergi, lupa bawa jaket tebal, sementara di jalanan, semua orang berjaket tebal, sepatu boots dan syal, saltum deh isi koper, OMG. Akhirnya kita ke mall seberang jalan dengan pakaian seadanya, jaket tipis dan sepatu teplek, Mall ini pun ga keliatan juga namanya apa, hahahah,gak apa2 deh cuma mau beli KFC, b2 habis HK$ 56 dan minuman di Seven Eleven dan bisa dibayar pake kartu sakti "Octopus".
Ada sedikit kecewa, sedih dan sakit hati, service di 2 tempat itu sangat buruk, tidak ramah, dengan bahasa inggris yang jelek dan makanan disajikan sedikit di lempar, dan setelah bbm-an cerita ma temen, dy bilang "orang disana memang gitu karena orang Indonesia dianggap semua TKI", akhhh gila kan, maksudnya apa??? TKI juga manusia dan harus diperlakukan selayaknya secara mereka penjual jasa, pokoknya sebellllll...heheheh.
Kesimpulannya, sekarang kalau ga perlu ngomong atau nanya, malessss banget komunikasi sama mereka, dan berhubung kita memang cuma akan makan malam di luar, diputuskan makan take away aja ke Hotel...hahahah
Malam ini setelah makan, kita tidur dengan bayangan besok sesuai jadwal jalan ke Disneyland....horeeee



Hongkong Day 2

Alarm Hotel yang sudah dipasang semalam berbunyi....alhamdulillah...Insya Allah jadi nih kita ke Disneyland pagi ini...Kita berdua bener2 sangat antusias, bangun, sikat gigi, cuci muka, turun ke lantai 4 untuk breakfast...mmm menunya sih kurang variatif, tapi itu semua tertutup dengan semangat mau ke Disney, kita bener2 kayak anak kecil dikasih mainan petualangan baru...
Makan selesai, naik ke kamar, mandi, siap2 dan yaaaaa. kita berangkatttt...wwwoooowwww keluar hotel, dingin yang menusuk tulang langsung menyerang, tapi dengan senyum mengembang dan berusaha tetap hangat di balik sweater tipis, jaket, bergandengan tangan kita menuju MTR stasiun Tsim Sha Tsui, jaraknya 5 menitlah jalan kaki dari Park Hotel. Dengan pemandangan keramaian pagi hari yang cukup hiruk pikuk di jam 09.00 pagi, kita melihat banyak restauran cepat saji KFC, McD dan Burger King, mmmm baguslah jadi kita ga perlu jalan jauh2 untuk cari makanan halal (mengingat banyak makanan mengandung atau menyediakan daging babi di Hongkong, hal ini jadi penting karena kita Muslim)

Mengingat pengalaman kita di Singapore, suamiku di Jakarta sudah browsing jalur2 MTR yang tersedia dengan berbagai warna meriah itu, kami tidak kebingungan, ditambah dengan penjelasan dan penunjuk yang sangat jelas, rasanya kemungkinan untuk nyasar sangat kecil, hheheheh.

 MAP MTR Hongkong  (klik untuk detail)

Saatnya Octopus card beraksi, kami memilih jalur berwarna merah menuju Central, interchange ke arah Sunny Bay dengan MTR jalur warna kuning, perjalanan ini kira2 memakan waktu 30 menit sambil sekali2 MTR ini naik ke posisi atas (jalur MTR biasanya di bawah, sesekali aja naik ke permukaan, ahahah, emang kapal selam) jadi kita cukup bisa liat pemandangan Hongkong yang berkepulauan. Sampai di interchange terakhir, disini ada MTR khusus jalur ke Disneyland...dan lagi2 saya bergumam Woowwwwww...benar kata ulasan blogger yang sebelumnya saya baca, MTRnya berjendela kepala Mickey Mouse, dengan interior character Disney di dalamnya


Perjalanan ke Disney dengan MTR khusus ini hanya memakan waktu 5 menit dan sampailah di stasiun Disney



Disneyland....Disney...Disney yipiiiiiiii
Dimulailah petualangan mengingat masa kecil...nah ini ga bisa pakai kata2, jadi aku tunjukin beberapa foto menuju pintu masuk utamanya aja ya..

Puas foto2 di depan pintu masuk Disneyland, kita langsung ke loket penjualan tiket.Harga tiket masuk Disneyland (silahkan lihat langsung ya, di klik aja tulisan Harga tiket masuk Disneyland, langsung ke webnya Disney, info aja, mereka menerima pembayaran dengan credit card). Tiket dengan gambar character Disney ini lucu banget deh, pasti bagus buat koleksi. Dipintu masuk ada pemeriksaan dulu, karena ga boleh bawa makanan dan minuman dari luar, soalnya di dalam banyak penjual makanan & minuman di booth atau di restaurant. (kalau mau bawa diumpetin dengan baik, karena harga mineral water beda HK$ 5 sama di luar)


Jangan lupa ambil Disneyland Map nya yaaa, jadi tau kita ada dimana, mau kemana dulu, letak restaurant2 di masing kawasan, toilet ataupun smoking area.

Tiga wahana yang ada adalah Adventureland di sebelah kiri, Fantasyland bagian tengah dan Tomorrowland di bagian kanan., sebelum sampai di persimpangan kawasan itu, tentunya sepanjang jalan menuju daerah2 itu ada Disneystore di kanan kiri jalan, bahkan di Maingate kita sudah disuguhin photo booth dengan character Disney, saat itu ada Mickey dan Minnie Mouse, dan ga perlu khawatir dengan antrian panjang, karena booth ini dibuat seperti gazebo dengan antrian yang jelas, dan banyaknya foto tidak dibatasi, jadi kalau kita datang b2, bisa foto2 sendiri dulu terus b2 deh..., dan characternya pun sering bertingkah lucu2, jadi kita puas menikmati foto sama mereka walaupun harus antri.


 Disney Store







ADVENTURELAND
 

1. The Lion King Show (live, dilihat dan dicocokkan dengan live show lainnya ya)
    Kita ga foto2 disini, karena menikmati shownya, lumayan bagus, ada nyanyian, tarian dan character2 yang  ada di film The Lion King.

 2. Tarzan Tree House
     Untuk menuju dan kembalinya harus naik sampan, karena Tarzan Tree house ini ada di tengah sungai buatan. Benar2 adventure buat anak2, buat yang dewasa, seru buat foto2,hahaha





 3. Jungle River Cruise

Dengan perahu bermuatan 20 orang, kita muterin sungai di sekeliling Tarzan Tree House, dengan berbagai pemandangan unik dan seru...seperti aslinya..uuppsss

 


FANTASYLAND

Next, di sini semua memang lebih ke mainan anak2... aku sih ga nyobain, karena di dufan ada,hehehe.
1. Sleeping Beauty Castle
2. Mickey's Philar Magic
    Ini petualangan 3D disneyland
3. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
    Sama banget kayak di Dufan, gajah terbang
4. Fantasyland Train Station
    Ini stasuin kereta Disney yang jalur relnya memutari semua Land yang ada, dari sisi luar, dan tetap dikasih    sentuhan dan pemandangan petualangan. Ada 2 stasiun di Disney, di Fantasyland dan Maingate, jadi kalau ga mau cape jalan ke depan mau pulang, bisa aja pake kereta ini.
5. Fantasyland  Garden
    Nah, ketemu deh sama semua character Disney, ada Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Pluto, Goofy dan Donald Duck (seperti sebelumnya aku cerita, kita bebas foto berkali2, dan harus ngantri ya, oh yaaa...Donald Duck dan Goofy gantian shift loh, jadi pastiin kalian bisa foto 2 character ini, biasanya gantiannya setiap 30 menit)





6. Mad Hatter Tea Cup
    ada juga nih di Dufan
7. It's a Small World
    Persis sama kayak Istana Boneka di Dufan, bedanya lebih terawat dan bersih, mmm...tapi kurang dingin
8. The Golden Mickeys
    Pertunjukan musik dan tarian dari character Disney, bikin bengong...hahahahha

Keluar lagi deh lewat Sleeping Beauty Castle dan siap menuju Tomorrowland...apa yah kira2..mmm



TOMORROWLAND
Sebelumnya kita sempat makan siang yang menjelang sore di StarlinerDiner jam 14.30, hahaha bisa ya nahan laper, soalnya kita sempet bawa Apple Pie McD dan berhasil tersembunyi di dalam baju ganti, jadi sempet ngemil.
Makan siang yang terlambat itu ternyata ada di dalam lingkungan Tomorrowland, kita makan burger dan fried chicken, minum ice lemon tea..mmm, cukup mahal sih semua habis HK$ 122, tapi ya sudahlah, cape juga mikirin habisnya berapa, hehehhe.

Tomorrowland puya 6 wahana  futuristik, tapi kita memulai dengan foto sama Buzz Laightyear, itupun ga sengaja karena tempatnya ga sama dengan booth yang sebelumnya, cuma kita liat orang2 antri, nah ada apa nih (kebiasaan orang jakarta deh, liat rame dikit pasti mauuuuu tauuuu aja,whahahahah) dan ga lama datanglah si Buzz, ya mau ga mau ikut antrian deh.



Kondisi badan mulai cape nih, tanpa liat2 wahananya apa, kita ngantri di Autopia, ohhh ternyata ini electric cars, kayak rancangan mobil di masa depan, dimana nyetirnya semua ada jalur relnya, bagus nih buat anak2 yang belajar nyetir, harusnya orang dewasa juga belajar disini, karena keliatannya mudah, tp kalau kita nyetirnya ga bener, kena deh tuh jalur rel nya di bawah, keliatan deh nyetirnya suka asallllll.

Cape ngantri dan mood mulai berubah males, kita ga tau lagi mau kemana, karena keliatannya banyak mainan anak2nya nih, trus kita masuk deh ke Space Mountain, apaan ya nih....ooohhhhhhh ternyata roller coaster...dannn wooooowwww dalam ruangan gelappppp, ga keliatan apa2, pas mulai jalan dan menanjak...nnnaaaaaahhhh adrenalin mulai naik nih, rasanya seruuuuuuuu abisssss. Untung makanan tadi dah turun karena antri di Autopia....tapi ini harus dicoba lohhhhhh.

Keluar dari roller coaster, mati gaya deh, akhirnya kita duduk2 liat pertunjukan jalanan perkusi, lumayan menghibur karena mereka kompak banget, padahal alat yang dipake drum sampah dan botol mineral water.

Ga terasa waktu sudah jam 18.45, mmm, sesuai jadwal ada pertunjukan di Sleeping Beauty Castle nih, kita balik arah dan menuju bundaran awal, dan sudah rameeeee, semua cari posisi duduk yang nyaman, owhhh ini shownya Tinker Bell Castle Illumination.

Tinker Bell muter2 mainin tongkatnya untuk menghiasi Castle ini, seruuu, warnanya ganti2 dan bagusss. Show ini durasinya sekitar 15 menit, tapi semua orang tetap duduk tenang, karena show berikutnya yang sekaligus menujukkan tutupnya Disneyland malam itu adalahhhhhh FIREWORKS TIMES....

Sambil nunggu jam 20.00, kita jalan2 ke Disney store, mau beli oleh2 kecil buat keluarga di rumah, ga bisa semua sih, tapi yahhh seadanya aja...hihihihh, jangan lapar mata ya, karena barangnya lucu2 dan bagus2...rasanya kalau ga inget2 lagi di negara orang dan besok masih harus ngeluarin uang lagi untuk ke tempat wisata lain, pengen beliiiii semuaaaaaa....huaaaaaaa



Oleh2 Kecil sudah terbeli, saatnya kembali ke Meeting Point, FIREWORKS TIMES

it's beautiful view, day, dream, mmmm, kita mutusin ga banyak foto di moment ini, cuma berdecak kagum dan berteriak seru melihat semua fireworks 20 menit yang sangat2 kerennnnnnn....

Jalan keluar dengan senyum mengembang, saatnya pulang ke Park Hotel, mengistirahatkan kaki, meluruskan badan, ga lupa sebelumnya beli Kentucky untuk take away makan di kamar hotel.
Cara pulangnya sama kayak cara berangkatnya naik MTR. Sekedar info, di waktu2 berangkat dan pulang kerja, MTR ini cukup ramai, dan jangan lupa mengingat pintu keluarnya menuju Hotel atau tempat yang dituju, karena pintu keluar system MTR ini banyak, walaupun dengan penjelasannya sangat detail di sekitar stasiun, apa salahnya mengingat lokasi Hotel di pintu keluar yang mana.

Cerita selanjutnya di hari ke 3 adalah OCEAN PARK...see you






Sleeping Beauty Castle

replika kerajaan putri tidur (LEGO)

**keripiku.blogspot.com
siapa yang tak kenal putri tidur dari disneyland
dan ini ada beberapa replika yang sangat bagus sekali 
hampir menyerupai menurut saya, apalagi dengan lego 
wow amazing

Venice

Water City-Venice

July 30, 2010
Venice, a city of great romantic and simple. Each year attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. Beautiful architecture, extraordinary exquisite sculptures, red and black “gondola”, elegant serenity of pigeons constitute the classical and romantic city of Venice style.
Width along the width of narrow canals of Venice, can see the repair in a few centuries ago, ancient houses, the houses still retain the look and style at that time, the bright flowers stretching out from the balcony, bringing vitality and infinite reverie
Momentum exhibited by Venice remains unique style, decadent and gorgeous beauty coexist, blurred the mood to seduce tourists from around the world. This piece of Island Strait, as if a general isolation, living alone are the lazy days of Venice.
Venice, the world-famous fishing village, population is 350 000. The city built on water, going out or on foot or by boat, is the only city without cars. Venice is also a historical and cultural city, the city of many monuments. It have 120 Columbia-type, Renaissance- type and Baroque church, 120 Clock Tower, 64 male and female monasteries, More than 40 palaces, And numerous beach.
Attractions list: Flary church, Ducal Palace, Golden House, Liyatuoer Bridge, Piazza San Marco, along the canal.
Italy_venice
Venice Italy

Ten Islands

Ten Islands Attractions in Autumn

August 18, 2010
Autumn is a superb time to find a way for a final blast of sunshine not too far from home. Not only have the crowds thinned, allowing you to find space on the beaches and enjoy the sights without the queues, but midday temperatures have receded – perfect for donningwalking shoes and exploring rural areas that are wonderful at the moment of year. We pick our top 10 spots for that perfect autumn .

1. Sardinia, Italy

Average maximum temperature: 27C
Agriturismo Testone, Sardinia
Agriturismo Testone
Visit Sardinia in autumn and you can discover one of the island’s best-kept secrets: Autunno in Barbagia (Autumn in Barbagia). Running from September to December, a series of festivals take place across 27 villages in Barbagia, a mountainous area of inland Sardinia (sardegnaturismo.it). Streets are transformed into markets, local craftsmen hold workshops, locals throw open their doors – and dining rooms – to visitors and walks are held through the hills. Or you can just kick back on one of the island’s near-empty beaches and soak up some rays.

2. Andalucia, Spain

Average maximum temperature: 32C
Finca el Moro, Andalucia, Spain
Finca el Moro
Autumn days in Andalucia are still exotically warm, often hitting the low 30s. While the beaches are great this time of year – far quieter than in July and August – this is the time to head to the cooler climes of the hills for some rambling. Sierra de Aracena national park, just north of Seville, is one of the least-known of Andalucia’s parks. Lace up your boots and explore its wooded valleys, whitewashed villages and groves of chestnuts – their leaves turning red and golden. Don’t miss the lively market town of Aracena, with its limestone caves and 13th-century church built by the Knights Templar. Stop for tapas at Café-Bar Manzano, opposite the square – this is the season to try the region’s famous setas (wild mushrooms).

3. Cyprus

Average maximum temperature: 33C
Cyprus’s southerly position means it enjoys a long, hot autumn, with temperatures well into the 30s. While Cypriot resorts are not among the most beautiful in the Med, an increasing numbers of village houses are being converted into cottages and inns, many in remote rural areas that – on cooler autumn days – are perfect for exploring on foot. After a day’s romp, cool off with a dip in the sea, still blissfully warm at this time of year; Coral Bay, a large horseshoe-shaped cove backed by steep limestone cliffs and with blue flag status should do just the trick.

4. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Average maximum temperature: 25C
Lopud Island in Croatia
Lopud Island in Croatia. Photograph: Bertrand Gardel/Hemis/Corbis
Dubrovnik is extremely busy in the summer months; accommodation is hard to find and endless cruise ships dock in its port, adding to the already overcrowded streets and beaches. Autumn however brings out the best of Dubrovnik; it takes on a tranquil, laidback atmosphere, the weather is less humid, the sea is still warm enough for swimming and accommodation and ferries prices drop considerably. Hop on a 50-minute ferry to the tiny, car-free island of Lopud; it’s renowned for having one of the best beaches in the Dubrovnik region, Sunj (pronounced “shoon”); in summer everyone in the region with a motorised vessel heads there for a swim. Come autumn it’s the Adriatic at its best.

5. Dahab, Egypt

Average maximum temperature: 31C
Fish swim past a reef in the Red Sea in Dahab, Egypt
Fish in the Red Sea in Dahab. Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters/Corbis
Visit this small Bedouin coastal resort in summer and you’ll face unbearably high temperatures of up to 38C; by late September, they’ve dropped – to the low 30s – and unlike in winter, nights are not too cool. Located 100km north of its more commercial neighbour, Sharm el-Sheikh, it has a chilled backpacker vibe and is renowned for its diving, thanks to its diversity of reefs, and also its windsurfing (the resort has about 270 days a year of wind a year). Now’s also the time to visit stunning locations nearby – doable as day trips – such as the Coloured Canyon, with its dramatic rock formations, and St Catherine’s Monastery, situated at the foot of Mount Sinai.

6. Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Average maximum temperature: 29C
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Spain
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote. Photograph: Alan Copson/Corbis
Just 70km from the Western Sahara, Lanzarote has a more desert-like climate than the Mediterranean, and is at its best come autumn: the north-easterly trade winds – which blow across the island from March to August – drop considerably; the sea, heated by the summer sun, is at its warmest; air temperatures still average around the mid-20s and the tourist crowds have subsided. This is the perfect time to don your walking shoes and trek the island’s volcanic peaks, for example Timanfaya national park (Fire Mountain), with its striking red and ocre lunar landscape and seismic activity.

7. Kas, Turkey
Average maximum temperature: 29C
Turquoise Coast between Kale & Kas, Turkey
Turquoise Coast between Kale and Kas. Photograph: Demetrio Carrasco/Corbis
Still sunny but not scorching, autumn is the perfect time to visit this relaxed old fishing village, situated on the Lycian coast in south Turkey. Especially if you’re planning on exploring the Lycian Way, a long-distance footpath that stretches for 500km from Fethiye to Antalya through the ancient land of Lycia (Kas is a good base for exploring the southernmost sections). If it’s watersports you’re after, the locals say the best time to dive is after the first autumn rain (usually between late September and early October), as this is when you can see the most fish activity.

8. Saint-Tropez, France

Average maximum temperature: 25C
Pastis Hotel, St Tropez, France
Pastis Hotel
Summer playground of the glitterati, the flashiest seaside resort in the Côte d’Azur takes on a whole new identity come autumn. While temperatures can still reach the mid-20s, most of the crowds are long gone, leaving behind a more laid-back town. Beaches which are usually packed – such as Plage de Pampelonne and Plage des Salins – are blissfully quiet, as are its posh boutiques and restaurants. If it’s the Saint-Tropez buzz you’re after, visit between 25 September and 3 October, when the annual Regatta Les Voiles de St Tropez sees 300 sailing yachts, from all over the globe, compete in a week of racing and festivities – and the jet-set return in throngs to watch.

9. Rhodes, Greece

Average maximum temperature: 28C
Spirit of the Knights hotel, Rhodes, Greece
Spirit of the Knights
Whichever Greek island you pick in autumn you’re likely to find warm sunshine and few crowds. But if there’s one island that is particulary lovely at this time of year it’s Rhodes. Its medieval Old Town is teeming with tourists in July and August. Visit in the autumn, however, and you can have its narrow alleys, lined with Ottoman mansions, and tranquil squares virtually all to yourself. September is also the best time to visit Petaloudes (Butterfly Valley), the island’s most popular tourist attraction; out of season, this lovely green dell in the middle of the island is tourist-free, so it’s the best time to spot the thousands of brightly coloured insects (don’t leave it too late, they only inhabit the valley between May and September). The thermometer will hover around the mid to high 20s, perfect for catching some rays on the nearby beaches; head to Kalithea, just 8km south, famous for its hot medicinal springs.

10. Île de Ré, France

Average maximum temperature: 23C
Ruins of Abbaye des Chateliers on Ile de Re, France
Ruins of Abbaye des Chateliers on Ile de Re, France. Photograph: Sylvain Sonnet/Corbis
A longtime favourite with French holidaymakers, this tiny island, just off the west coast of France and connected to the mainland by a bridge, can be rammed during the summer. By September however, most have returned to the mainland. ÃŽle de Ré is one of France’s sunniest regions; though with temperatures a few degrees lower than in summer it’s one of the best times to saddle up and explore the island’s 100km of cycle tracks, all wonderfully flat. Cruise past endless sandy beaches – many empty this time of year – vineyards, pine forests and oyster farms (ÃŽle de Ré is one of the country’s major producers), ending up at Saint Martin, the island’s capital, overflowing with gourmet restaurants. Re-fuel on ocean-fresh lobster at La Baleine Bleue ,the island’s most renowned restaurant, which out-of-season you conveniently don’t have to book weeks in advance.

Africa’s Great Rift

The Great Rift Valley Travelling Guide

September 9, 2010
Africa’s Great Rift Valley is a 6,000-mile crack (fissure) in the earth’s crust, stretching from Lebanon to Mozambique.One of its most dramatic sections slices through East Africa, dividing Kenya into two segments.Geologists know that the Rift Valley was formed by violent subterranean forces that tore apart the earth’s crust.
These forces caused huge chunks of the crust to sink between parallel fault lines and force up molten rock in volcanic eruptions.Evidence that this process, called rifting, is still in progress comes from the many active and semi-active volcanoes, located along the Rift.Evidence of volcanic activity along the rift is provided by the presence of numerous boiling hot springs.
GreatRiftValley map
Great Rift Valley is known as the Earth wounds, is the fall of the world’s largest fault zone. Since 30 million years ago, is said to be the crustal plate movement, the bottom forming an East Africa, the geographers predicted that the future will be along the rift faults the African continent into two continental plates.
Great Rift Valley, known as the Afar Triangle,
Named in the 19th century by English explorer John Walter Gregory, the Great Rift Valley was created by the rifting and tectonic forces of East Africa and Saudi Arabia millions of years ago. Nowadays, it is in the process of splitting the African Plate into two new separate plates.
Attractions in Great Rift Valley
Attractions here are the incredible landscape and of course the spectacular wildlife. If you’re lucky you may spot pelicans, flamingoes, elephant, buffalo, gazelle, lion, zebra, rhino, hippo, warthog, hyena, jackal, Ostrich, water buck, baboon, wildebeest, flamingo and numerous birds of pray.
great_rift_valley
leopards
In terms of natural beauty you’ll be able to gaze in awe of soda lakes, mountains, volcanoes including Tanzania’s only active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai and the magnificent breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater.
rift-valley
Activities in Great Rift Valley
It’s possible to take both hiking and driven safaris in the Great Rift Valley both offering spectacular scenery and wildlife encounters. However, it is said that hiking safaris give a more personal experience and really allow you to get close to nature and experience the real Tanzania.
Hiking in Great Rift Valley
kenya hiking
Relaxing
Relax at the Great Rift Valley by spotting wildlife such as flamingoes and pelicans at the soda lakes as well as Elephant, buffalo, gazelle and possibly lion.
Kenya The Great Rift Valley  relax

Mesir

Main Attractions in Cairo, Egypt

September 26, 2010
Cairo, Egypt is an amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours every day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. And here, the Egyptians are most at home in this powerful, modern and ancient city.
Cairo, Egypt provides great culture, including art galleries and music halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest accommodations and restaurants in the world, such as the Four Seasons and the Cairo Marriott.
The Egyptian Museum
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. The museum exhibited collections exceed 120,000 objects ranging from the pre historic era to the Greco-Roman period.
The Egyptian Museum
Khan El-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili is for many the most entertaining part of Cairo. It is an ancient shopping area, but some of the shops have also their own little factories or workshops.Khan el-Khalili is an ancient shopping area, nothing less, but some of the shops have also their own little factories or workshops.
Khan El-Khalili
Old Cairo
The part of Cairo that contains Coptic Cairo and Fostat, which contains the Coptic Museum, Babylon Fortress, Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George, many other Coptic churches, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and Amr ibn al-’As Mosque.
Old Cairo
Cairo Tower
The Cairo Tower is a free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo. It stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the city centre. At 187 meters, it is 43 meters higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands some 15 km to the southwest.The first of the top two stories has a rotating restaurant and cafeteria. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Cairo from the observation platform.
Cairo_Tower_by_BooTuM
Qahira Fatimid Mosque
The first Fatimid mosque in Cairo, it was founded in Midan Hussein by Gawhar al-Sikilli in 971 AD (361 H) as both a mosque and Madrasah (school), after Fatma al-Zahraa, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. It is considered to be the oldest Islamic University, the first lecture having been delivered in 975 AD.
Qahira Fatimid Mosque