Europe France

Gorge du Verdon Tips and Trick

25th October 2017 -

9 min read

It is no doubt that South of France is a must destination to visit especially in Summer time. I had been there once and stayed in Nice as well as visit Monaco with my friends. Now, it would be a total different kind of experience since Damar and I wanted to go for camping. We always wanted to go camping to see how we liked it and if so, to repeat it in the future. Both of us love nature so much, so we started from the friendly one. Camp in the Camping Site is a friendly step, note that it is not allowed to wild camp in Europe. Although, we met a few hitch hikers who did such, BUT only for a night.

The nature was jaw dropping and I literally had so many breath taking moment. Gorge du Verdon is located in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Gorges du Verdon is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) long and up to 700 meters (2296.59 feet) deep. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon River flows into the man-made lake, the Lac de Sainte-Croix. The gorgeous turquoise-green color river.And oh! not forget to mention, the road trip via Napoleon route was a moment I would never forget.

Where to land?

We chose to fly to Nice, some people also goes to Marseille. More or less it takes around the same duration. We chose Nice because the flight was cheaper (obviously! :P). Why pay more, when it’s not more efficient?

*Please note that the map is only to show the duration, not necessarily the exact same route we took.

Transportation

We intended to rent a car there in France. However, we had only a narrow option due to no credit card. None of the car rental would rent out their vehicles without a proof of ownership of credit card from the rider which is understandable. It is not a good example, but Damar finally found a way. He found the ‘snapcar‘ version of France, which is called ouicar. Knowing neither of us had no credit card, the owner was still letting us rent. I do think it’s against the rule of the company, but we were really lucky! Luckily also, we got a very cool car with open roof. We rode along the road feeling like a millionaire (just a little!).

So rent a car and arrange before your flight so you have a security once landed in terms of transportation. Public transportation is not recommended and it is quite difficult too to be flexible.

Here you can find some of options of car rental in France.

Road Trip and Route

Prepare yourself mentally and your photograph gear because this road trip would be one of the most beautiful car journey. It is one of the finest, most scenic and exciting mountain drives in the world. There is no other mountain road route of such duration and awesome beauty so rewarding to drive. Damar and I often gasped after making a turn, because what we saw next was more and more beautiful. At over 730M up we could see down into the gorge.

Source: http://www.alsgodinzuidfrankrijk.nl/nl/routes/la_route_napoleon. The Route Napoléon is the route taken by Napoleon in 1815 on his return from Elba.

Our pose on our way

Driving the Verdon Gorge puts the car on the mountainside of the road. Some people wonder whether or not it is safe to drive along side the mountain. From Damar’s perspective, it was not as scary as he thought, because with the narrow roads, there were still barriers on the cliff side. Just make sure that you stay in the road and be extra vigilant with other cars. Sometimes they who come from the opposite way do not want to share the road.

From people’s review, during Summer (end of Jun, Jul, Aug), there are usually traffic jam where cars are in line, so maybe avoid it? That is when the people with manual car is tested with their driving skill 😉 It’s worth every nail-biting moment though.

A MUST PASS ROAD: D71, D952

Skip to 2:00 to see how the view in the road.

Where to camp?

There are literally a lot of camping site options in this area. We went to ‘Camping La Source‘ that rates 28 euro plus 5 euro of electricity. We had no complains, customer service was so good, the sanitary was always controlled hence super duper clean. I would suggest to search a camp in the area of the lake. Our camp site was just 2 minutes (100 m) away from the beach lake. Most of the time it was more quiet than the main lake, so you could have your own quality time with yourself, partner or family.

The camp site had some entertainment options, they had kayak-canoe0-boat rental as well as table tennis. It’s the heaven of water sport and the camping provided your needs. Too bad we did not have chances to use the rental facility due to the time restrain and bad weather.

Tips: Bring your own dishes cleaning tools! And no need to take electricity if you only need it for your phone. You can do this in the reception.

A view 2 mins away from camping site

What to pack?

During the period of September – October, the weather might be unstable. I did not really this coming because I assumed that South of France will still be relatively warm. During the day, sun was out but being in a shadow would make you chilled. And it could be windy as well which what happened in the 2nd day we were there. In that case always bring extra sweater, socks and some layers!!!!!
Tent + sleeping bag
Toiletries
Flip flop – for going to the toilet etc. Don’t bring the fancy expensive one as it would get wet
Sneakers or mountain shoes
Cutlery
Lunch or food box
Reusable bottle
Plastics for dirty clothes and bin
Water, food, snacks, rice can be bought in the supermarket there
Sunblock + swimsuit + sunglasses
Stove + gas (in our case, we need the cable connector to connect French gas and Dutch stove)

Where to shop?

The campsite backs on to the village of Les Salles sur Verdon which means that campers can make use of the many shops (bakery, supermarket etc. ), restaurants and other service.

You can buy your groceries at 8 à Huit which is 3 minutes driving from the camping site.

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Asia Malaysia Travel

Transit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8th October 2017 -

7 min read

A few months back, Damar and I went to Indonesia for the wedding of his brother. Actually we did not plan to come due to my limited holiday at the office and the high flight season. But then we changed our mind. You can earn money but no family memory, I believe. And therefore, we kept it easy going and looked for the cheapest options. The selected flight went to a combo of KLM – Malaysian Airlines which required a transit in Kuala Lumpur. I felt somewhat more excited because I had not stepped my feet on Malaysia before. And obviously the cheapest one required a long amount of transit in the Airport (16 hours!!). So we could go out and take a peek in the city. Off we went!!

The airport is very big and modern. The only way to get you connected from KLIA and KLIA2 is an aerotrain (airport facility). Follow the sign or ask the friendly staff, you will get yourself there very easily. KLIA is for the Malaysian airlines and International – national flight while KLIA2 is more for the budget/carrier flights. We ended up in KLIA and stayed there.

Visa or no Visa

If you remain staying within the Airport, check the detail in here. As Indonesians, we obviously do not need visa to enter Malaysia. However, you might do. Check out the list of countries that need visa here, especially when you want to take a look outside.

Place to sleep

There are different places for you to spend the night. Overall there are a bunch of chairs and benches you can choose. That is actually what we decided to do. Many travelers recommended avoiding KLIA2 overnight, the main terminals have more options. The food court on the 2nd floor is pretty quiet, many travelers try to sleep here. We decided to go there for having a bite (actually a big bowl of noodles) at 11.00 pm just right before it closed down. Actually in general, all the places are quiet after 00.00 because that is when the stores close. For uninterrupted sleep, there is a transit hotel and sleep pods inside the airport and several hotels near the airport. See Airport Hotels list.

What to bring

If you decide to sleep in the airport, Eye shades, socks and blanket is a must! We were lucky because our airline provided us with a few of those equipment. The light in the airport is pretty bright and for those who need darkness, nothing would do but a proper eye shades.

Other than that, toiletries, towel and clothes change are obviously needed, but we all would know that.

I would exchange money in the ATM machine before anything.

What to do in Kuala Lumpur city the next day

The next day we started at 5 am and took a shower in one of the shower room there. Damar did but I just freshened up instead 😉 We went to KLIA2 and left our baggage over there. You can choose to be put in a locker or just to drop off (kept in a big room). I recommend to take the locker if you have valuable belongings. As it is time sensitive, you should already plan where to go beforehand, we used the night before with free WIFI to do a small research. We do not want to waste the time where we can enjoy the city, do we? Our next flight was at 13.30 in the afternoon, thus the goal was to already back in the airport at 12.30.

We took a bus to get ourselves to KL Central. The bus was enjoyable, with AC and free WIFI inside. Once I went out of the airport, I felt the breeze of Asian life already. Life starts super early over there and the dynamic is just oh feel a lot like home. It took 1 hour to KL central and once we were in the KL Central we transferred to another transportation. We took the green line because we wanted to have Nasi Lemak as breakfast. Checked lots of different sites, we wanted the famous one and also located in the middle of our way to Batu Cave. Yes, that is our ultimate destination! The selection dropped to Nasi Lemak Mak Wanjor atau Mak Wonjo! It made our morning and we continued our journey to by commuter. It took 25 minutes to get there.

No entrance fee and just enjoyed the time there. Put alarm on when you should take the tram back to Sentral.

Budget

Activity	Price	Details
Late Dinner in the airport	20 RM
Baggage drop off	40 RM	in Medium-sized locker
Bus 2 ways	20 RM
Ticket train 2 ways	4,2 RM
Breakfast Nasi Lemak mak Wanjo	10 RM
Rent Sarong in Batu Cave (if needed)	5 RM
Fresh coconut water	5 RM
Total	104,2 RM

Source

https://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/kualalumpur.htm

http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/?m=airport&c=transit_info&id=4&aid=1

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Italy

Venice Travel guide

12th September 2017 -

7 min read

It is such a long overdue post as we went to Italy already went when Summer just started. Now, autumn is about to roll. Though, this would be the right timing to look back to remember how beautiful summer in Italy was.

Obviously Venice took part in our overall Italy backpacking trip. What are the reasons not to? Every cities in Italy has its own charm. But I have to say the experience in Venice was very distinct considering the city itself is super special. What captivated me the most was the richness of the water section, the labyrinth, and the local people.

As soon as we were reaching Venice by train from Florence, the huge open water field welcomed us in the view. Some said that Venice is touristy place and highly busy with its touristic activities in all corners, and some said that it’s relaxing to be there. This is why it’s important to travel- so that we can all have our own experience and form our own opinion about a destination. The fact is – Venice is both a busy and relaxing, because all the local people are relaxed. Damar and I spent our days walking around the island discovering various square, canals, and labyrinth stop. In total, we stayed for 3 Days 2 Nights.

What to see

Santa Margherita square – It’s a very local part of town, near the university. My Italian friend suggested to give the “Ciccheti” (typical snacks from Venice) and spritz a try. Since I do not drink alcohol, I only enjoyed the Ciccheti and a cup of coffee. Ciccheti includes tiny sandwiches, bruschetta, plates of olives, and other small servings food. In here, make friends with the local, they will have lots of stories to share.
San Polo – Small district with interesting sight, including the Rialto Bridge. San Polo is the smallest of the six sestieri of Venice. It is one of the oldest parts of the city.
Frari – This is one of the greatest church in Venice with lots of artworks inside. Unfortunately, we did not get the chance to enter this beautiful architecture. We only admired from afar which gives another feeling of satisfaction.
Basilica di San Marco – I am confident to say that this cathedral is the most famous in Venice and perhaps the biggest. You cannot miss this building. It is so special that you would stop completely and give your admiration by staring closely. They said it’s one of the best examples of Byzantine Architecture.
St. Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco – It is often known as just ‘La Piazza’. Just take a seat and enjoy people-watching, that is what we did. Although, the heat was quite intense that day so we could not stay right under the sun too long. The surrounding buildings are breathtaking. It’s a busy and often crowded place. To enjoy the best views, go as early as possible. Or another way to enjoy it is a stroll after dark with music in the square etc.
Le Zattere – It’s along the water. Just walk while eating ice cream and enjoy the view.

What to ride

On foot! Literally!
Vaporetto – One-way tickets cost €7.50. The service is efficient and punctual, yeats boats on main lines get full fast and can be overcrowded during peak season.

What to eat

Try traditional dishes from the Veneto – like oca in onto (goose in its own fat) or freshwater lagoon fish done in saor at Antica Adelaide, get the best polpette (meatballs) in Venice at Ca d’Oro (Alla Vedova), and a strong selection of Venetian antipasti, including raw sea food, at Vini da Gigio.

The lagoon city has a long and glorious culinary tradition based on fresh seafood. A writhing, glistening variety of sea creatures swims from the stalls of the Rialto and Chioggia markets into local kitchens. Going with the flow of la cucina veneta requires a certain spirit of openminded experimentation. Not everybody has eaten granseola (spider crab) before, or garusoli (sea snails) or canoce (mantis shrimps), but Venice is definitely the place to try these marine curios. Go to Ae Oche for pizza

When we arrived, it was quite raining and dark already. While we did not really want to go out, we were really starving. We decided to go to a very good rating Pasta take away restaurant in trip advisor – Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta

Ae Oche

Having black squid spaghetti in Dal Moro

Tips

Get lost as much as you can.

Map is useless anyway. To be honest, I do not get the map nor how the house is numbered because it does not make sense to me. But if I was asked what to change in Venice, that is certainly not it. It makes Venice very special. As long as you find some squares, you are fine 😉
No gondola ride. Merely enjoy it from the surface.

Besides it is expensive, sometimes you get traffic jam in the water too. I personally prefer to take a picture of the view with other people riding it rather than myself 🙂

Hope it is helpful! Have fun in Venice!

2 Comments

Culinary Europe Italy

2 Days 1 Night in Florence

20th August 2017 -

6 min read

Damar and I went merely for 2 days as a part of our Italy Backpacking trip which you can get the tips here. And surely 2 days are not enough if you want to take your time and enjoy its full beauty. Therefore, we went to get a quick look for the full experience. A must do if you only have short time!

By the way, Florence is one of the most walking friendly city. Everything is a walking distance so we did not spend any thing for transportation. YES!

Some of these tips I received from my Italian colleague, who used to study in Florence for a few months. Thus the place surely is pocket friendly (Indonesian: ramah kantong hahah) yet has been approved by local.

We arrived in the evening, we initially wanted to make it to the Hill (Piazzale Michelangelo) for the sunset but we were too late because we also wanted to go to the famous bridge. Well I guess, one has to choose. If you have extra days, it would be perfect.

Place to eat:

Go to the San Lorenzo market – a food market where they sell great Italian products and there are also a couple of places where you can have lunch. Just randomly visit, it’s cheap and nice.
Trattoria Mario near San Lorenzo – according to my Italian friend is also a fantastic place for lunch. You share the table with the other guests and it’s very simple but food is really really good. Apparently the Dutch queen liked it too and she had lunch there when she went to Florence. I do not think she shares table though.
Near S. Lorenzo (via S. Antonio) there’s another place called Bistrot la Capannina. It is a very good place for lunch, especially if you want a good pasta. We went here for dinner, I took the gnocchi which is so good. Their portion is huge. It’s a good value of money.
Near S. Margherita church there is a tiny place called Da’ Vinattieri. They have good wine and good food. They have only one table with stools but it’s nice to get a glass of wine and stand outside with all the locals.
According to my Italian friend, the best Italian gelato is from Perche’ No in via de’ Tavolini and she is true! Totally recommended! Take anything classics, it’s heaven!

Place to go:

Ponte Vecchio, the name sounds strange but all of you must know this one. It’s the famous bridge of Florence. It’s within walking distance with the center. You should go there during the day and before sunset as we talk about different experience. You will feel the romance of the city by the jazz/blues music played by the locals in that bridge. If you want some extra cheesiness, people sell red roses are also known in there, buy one for your loved one 😉
Piazalle Michelangelo, you will see a perfect panoramic view of Florence from this hill. It’s quite a hike, but super worth it. During a hot day, you don’t want to forget a bottle of water, sunscreen and sunnies. It was 25 degree in April when we were there. It maybe cliche tourist stop but it never fails to catch the heart of those who walk the path to the top. Prepare your camera and best smile.
Go to Piazza della Signoria late at night when all the tourist are gone. It’s empty and majestic. Such an incredible place when it’s empty. This is the L-shaped main square in Florence. It’s in the city and nearby Ponte Vecchio. Florence is a distance friendly city. So don’t worry, you will not miss it..
Another must see according to my collegaue is the Boboli Garden if the weather is nice. Too bad we did not have enough time to make. But next time, we definitely will.
Duomo di Firenze, you’ll be captivated with this gothic-styled cathedral that was built in 1296. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Lorenzo Market this is where you can find leather markets from all qualities. Be careful in choosing the real good leather. I will post a tips in choosing real leather from this market. This is sort of a traditional market, yet in general Florence is the place of a good leather product. Don’t hesitate to stop to one of the stores in the center. They are usually cheaper than retail store in other countries.

Video

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Europe Italy

Italy Backpacking Trip Tips

13th August 2017 -

7 min read

Italy trip this time is quite different as we decided to go backpacking. What I mean by going backpacking is literally going around, moving from one point to another carrying a proper backpack. Damar and I wanted to have a different concept this time. Also, because we aimed to reach 5 different areas of Italy. We thought it would be much more easily-mobile with a carrier in our back.

We think, Italy is quite good and easy going for backpackers. The weather is nice (we make sure we go in the perfect timing also). With a nice weather, we do not have to carry bulky clothes around!

I really love Italy! I think every time I go there, I just easily fall in love all over again. It is such an excellent country to visit. With its great food, beautiful landscape, fabulous coffee, friendly locals.

Hope this article will help learning some tips and tricks you need when travelling to Italy as well as some cost saving.

When to visit Italy

Summer period will be considered as the highest peak in Italy, everybody wants to get away from its own country and find a large exposure of sunlight. Summer in Europe happens in between May-August yet the hottest month will be August. However, people tend to forget that Italy is generally warmer than the rest of other countries in Europe due to its geographical location. Italy is in the South of Europe so for people from West Europe (like we are), no need to wait until Summer to visit.

We went to Italy in April, when the weather in Italy was just about right. Actually, avoid to go to Italy in the hottest period. It will not be that comfortable to carry around your backpack 🙂 And plus, plane ticket will be much cheaper 😉

Find a really good carrier

As we did also hike during our Italy trip, we chose a light backpack that covers all of our needs as well as good bone structure. I chose the smaller one, that Damar would carry in daily run (for the hike). Mine is from Fjallraven, which I am very happy about. The 32 liter size is perfect for a week trip and also for me who is just 155 cm tall. We looked for the material that is sustainable with recycled and organic garment. Damar got the North Face Terra 50. We got them in a very good deal (so lucky!).

What ever the carrier is, make sure it has the rain cover / water resistant, has a light bones yet solid. It is a good investment for your trip and your body structure, so more expense is worth it!

Packing light

Bring one jacket and sweater, in case for any change of weather. It’s always possible!!! Yet pack the essentials, I usually bring 2 pants, 1 dress, and several t-shirts or light tops. Andddd done!! Don’t forget your sunblock and coolest sunnies.

Plan and Budget your daily activity

Italy is considerably affordable and cheaper, yet it could be very expensive if you get lost in the tourist area and just pop into a random places. I don’t mind paying more for a quality and taste that I already researched, yet no no no for a random drop-in. Quick eats like pizza by the slice, paninis, and light snacks will cost between 2-7 EUR. In Italy, there’s a sit down fee that covers service and bread on the table.

How to save cost in Italy

Drink the tap water – Ask for tap water or you will automatically get expensive bottled water included on your bill. Later on, you can refill your bottles of water at any of the drinking fountains throughout Italy. The water is fine to drink. You’ll be no different than the locals.
Get a city pass – If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, these will give you discounts to the top museums, tours, and attractions. They are priced to save you money when compared to buying separate tickets.
Go on a free walking tour – This is a great way to learn the history behind the places you are seeing and to avoid missing any must-see stops.
Eat panini – Eating out every meal in the popular cities of Italy is an expensive affair. Buy paninis and pizza by the slice for just a few dollars, and save a lot of money.
Buy RESERVED trein ticket online in advance – For regionale train (unreserved seats), there is no difference in the fare whether purchased in advance through the Trenitalia website or locally at the train station on the day of travel. If you will be using the RESERVED Trenitalia trains (Freccia or Intercity), there IS a difference between the advance purchase promotional fares (which you can purchase online as an electronic ticket through the Trenitalia website) and the same day fare (full fare) purchased at the train station (in the form of a traditional paper ticket). Their advantage is that you get to the station wait for your train, board and the conductor will eventually come by to scan your e-ticket. Hassle free!!!!!!!

Bring some cash with you

Usually I don’t bring any cash with me, except some coins I have in the depth of my purse. In Italy, you have to pay the tourist tax in the place you stay. And not all places have the machine to pay with your national card.

Footnotes

Italy Travel Guide

1 Comments

Europe Germany Travel

Grand Mosque Koln

23rd July 2017 -

4 min read

Pertama kali menginjakkan kaki di Masjid ini yang ada di kepala saya adalah betapa futuristik modelnya. Dari luar terlihat kaca dimana-mana serta bentuk kubahnya yang melengkung unik dari bawah. Lengkungannya tidak seperti kubah biasanya yang warna warni terbuat dari tiles, melainkan dari konkret dengan warna minimalis dengan bangungan yang tidak lepas dari bangunan dibawahnya. Bentuknya menyerupai kapsul kalau menurut saya.. Kata beberapa orang, terlihat seperti masjinya alien haha.

Jadi ceritanya, Komunitas Turki di Koln mendirikan masjid baru ini di tahun 2007. Letaknya di sudut Venloer Straße dan Innere Kanalstraße di daerah Ehrenfeld. Bangunan ini ditandai oleh kaca-kaca yang lebar, beton dan kayu serta kubah transparannya. Masjid tersebut diapit oleh dua menara setinggi 55 meter. Selain ruang sholat, pusat komunitas akan mencakup perpustakaan, kantor administrasi dan ruang untuk kursus pelatihan dan seminar.

Pada saat masjid ini pertama kali direncanakan untuk dibangun, banyak sekali kontroversi yang terjadi hingga mulai didirikan. Biaya bangunan yang melonjak hingga warna tema dari masjid itu mendapatkan tuduhan bahwa ada simbol kirstenisasi yang tersembunyi. Arsitek Paul Bohm dan Ditib, cabang otoritas urusan agama Turki, sepakat untuk melanjutkan proyek tersebut namun menunggu intervensi dari Walikota Koln pada saat itu yang sekarang telah pensiun.

Setelah dialog yang intens, Fritz Schramma mengatakan bahwa partai-partai tersebut, yang dengan jelas dia anggap sebagai “kombatan”, telah sepakat untuk menyelesaikan proyek tersebut untuk menciptakan sebuah “masjid terbuka yang transparan”. Dia mengatakan bahwa dia berharap masjid tersebut “segera dipenuhi dengan kehidupan”. Saat ini masjid itu benar-benar sudah dipenuhi dengan kehidupan dan menjadi pioner tercampurnya banyak kultur dan agama di Kota Koln.

Jika berkesempatan atau tinggal di daerah Jerman, kalian harus mengunjungi Masjid yang dicanangkan sebagai masjid yang paling modern se-eropa ini.

Cologne Central Mosque
Venloer Str. 160
D – 50823Cologne
+49 221 – 50 80 00
+49 221 – 50 800 100
http://www.zentralmoschee-koeln.de

Source:

https://www.cologne-tourism.com/attractions-culture/central-mosque.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1555604/Huge-mosque-stirs-protests-in-Cologne.html

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Europe Events Family Germany Hidup di Belanda

Lebaran di Grand Mosque Koln, Jerman

9th July 2017 -

7 min read

Alhamdulillah, kita bisa merayakan hari kemenangan lagi tahun ini. Dan tahun ini lebih spesial karena bisa merayakan bareng dengan mama bapak. Mereka berdua datang dalam rangka berkunjung untuk Wisuda PHD mbak Fany (yang ternyata tertunda hingga November). Tapi karena tiket sudah terlanjur kebeli, mereka tetap berangkat ke Belanda.

Sudah beberapa kali belakangan ini saya menerima whatsapp broadcast group soal masjid baru di Turki yang sangat modern nan megah. Masjid ini bentuknya lain daripada yang lain dan diklaim sebagai masjid yang paling modern di Eropa. Bagaimana tidak, arsitektur dalamnya mencerminkan sisi progresif islam dan memutarbalikan anggapan bahwa islam harus melulu tradisional dan dibangun dengan kayu. Bapak dan mama were quite intrigued and so was I.

Sebenarnya perjalanan ke masjid ini sama sekali nggak terencana, tapi Bapak dan mama sudah berwacana minta untuk dibawa kesana. Saya terbuka dengan ide itu, tapi saat Bapak mengutarakan keinginan untuk sholat eid disana di H-2 lebaran saya agak kaget juga. Alasannya, karena Masjid itu bukan masjid Indonesia dan pastinya punya peraturan-nya sendiri. Apalagi saat saya buka websitenya semuanya bahasa Turki dan Jerman. Untungnya saya punya kolega Turki yang mau membantu untuk mengartikan bahkan menelponkan panitia masjid di Grand Mosque.

Ternyata di masjid Turki, sholat eid hanya wajib untuk pria, tidak bagi wanita (atau sangat jarang). Jadi pada umumnya, masjid tidak menyiapkan tempat khusus untuk shaf perempuan dan hanya memprioritaskan sholat untuk pria. Bahkan memberi kan ruang khusus wanita untuk pria-nya. Dan panitia masjid Grand Mosque pun tidak bisa menjawab saat ditanya apakah akan ada ruang khusus untuk wanita. Yang jelas, masjid akan penuh dengan pria. Terutama tahun ini adalah sholat ied pertama yang digelar di masjid ini. Kami pun tetap memutuskan untuk datang tanpa ekspektasi apa-apa dan sudah ikhlas jika memang tidak bisa sholat. Yang berbeda lagi dari masjid turki adalah sholat eid dilaksanakan pukul 6.15 pagi sedangkan masjid Indonesia di Belanda baru dilaksanakan antara pukul 09.00 hingga 10.00.

Dengan berbekal informasi itu saya dan kakak saya cepat-cepat menyewa mobil dan mencari akomodasi. Alhamdulillah semuanya dilancarkan..

Kami menyewa mobil dari snappcar dan menginap di sini. Dua-duanya super memuaskan. Untuk persewaan mobil ada hal yang perlu diketahui, Jerman adalah Green zone jadi mobil yang digunakan harus berstiker tertentu (green sticker), jika tidak bisa kena denda atau tidak boleh masuk. Tidak hanya Jerman yang menganut anti-air-pollution, tapi juga Austria dan beberapa negara bagian lain.

Kami tiba satu hari sebelum Idul Fitri dan atas usul bapak, kami sholat maghrib di Masjid Grand Mosque agar bisa menikmati kemegahannya dengan lebih puas dan tidak terburu-buru. Tanpa kami ketahui ternyata ada buka puasa yang diselenggarakan oleh panitia masjid tersebut. Kami ditarik oleh salah satu panitia masjid tersebut, wanita Turki yang baiknya masya Allah. Ah indahnya kebersamaan ini, rasanya tidak ada yang membedakan kita walaupun kita tidak mengerti bahasa masing-masing, tapi kami semua saudara. Kami merasakan sekali kehangatan di dalam ruangan makan itu. Makanannya pun enak sekali.

Keesokan paginya kami siap-siap dan ternyata Grand Mosque menyiapkan tempat untuk wanita sholat. Kecil sekali dan tidak sebanding sama sekali dengan di Indonesia atau masjid Indonesia di Belanda, namun saya dan mama bersyukur sekali bisa berkesempatan sholat Eid. Karena saking terbiasanya, jika tidak sholat Eid rasanya bulan Ramadhan dan puasa sebulan nggak afdol 😀

Ada satu perbedaan lagi yang kami temukan saat sedang sholat, mereka melaksanakan sholat dengan 5 takbir di rakaat pertama lalu alfatihah, kemudan di rakaat kedua alfatihah yang diikuti dengan takbir 3 kali. Karena saya nggak ngerti (dan nggak fokus) setelah alfatihah di rakaat kedua, bagian imam takbir, saya rukuk, kemudian berdiri lagi. Baru ‘samiallahu liman hamidah’ saat saya sedang sujud hahah. Dan anehnya orang-orang di bagian perempuan itu juga salah, yang berarti mayoritas wanita-wanita itu bukan dari Turki. Karena kebanyakan perempuan Turki tinggal di rumah dan mempersiapkan makanan untuk keluarganya.

Setelah trip ini saya bahagia karena bisa menghabiskan lebaran dengan keluarga, yang jarang sekali terjadi. Saya sampai sudah tidak ingat kapan terakhir kali saya idul fitri dengan mama bapak. Alhamdulillahh.. Selain itu saya tidak akan pernah lagi berburuk sangka akan perbedaan. Dalam hal ini, kami semua islam walaupun kami mempraktekannya berbeda, tapi bukan berarti salah. Saya ingat kata Ust Quraish Shihab soal pertanyaan mengenai bagaimana dengan Islam dan cara yang berbeda-beda. Beliau menggunakan analogi penambahan. 7+3=10, apa 5+5 bukan 10, apa 6+4 bukan 10, apa 2+8 bukan 10?

Selamat Berlebaran semuanya.. Semoga ibadah kita diterima di sisi Allah SWT dan bisa bertemu kembali dengan lebaran-lebaran berikutnya. Aamiin aamiin yarobbal alamin.

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Europe Italy Travel

CINQUE TERRE TRIP and TIPS

23rd April 2017 -

12 min read

Damar and I bought a ticket to Italy long time ago and had been waiting ever since. Neither of us had never been to Cinque Terre area, hence the excitement. Cinque Terre literally means Five Lands, comprise the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso located in the Italian region of Liguria. They are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (source: Wikipedia).

Cinque Terre Map

Our plane landed in Milan at around 12 and as I had never been to Milan, we immediately headed off to Duomo di Milano. We just roamed around there, took picture, and people-watching. Three hours are quite enough time to get a little taste of the city of Milan. After being a full tourist, we went back to station to catch our trenitalia for our Cinque Terre ride. We booked it in advance and we recommended it as it is much cheaper!

The train was amazingly comfortable, no WIFI though, but really nice with arranged seats. Once we entered Liguria area, we noticed that we often passed by dark tunnels. And as soon as reaching the coast area, all I saw was mesmerizing and breathtaking view. We were lucky that the sky was blue and very clear. We could totally enjoy the nature landscape through the train.

How long to stay?

Three nights we stayed in which actually you could also do less. But we did not want to hurry. For some people 1 or 2 nights are enough. Actually you can also go explore all the lands in one day if you go by train. But we planned to hike and take the high road 🙂 This way you experience the nature more. If you do everything in one day, I don’t think you would be able to explore as much.

Where to stay?

We decided to stay in Corniglia as it is the most uncommon and it is located in the middle of the five lands. We thought it would be easy to 2 lands in one day and the other 2 lands the next day. T

Damar read an article stating that hiking from Corniglia to Vernazza is better than the other way around due to the amount of ascending. That is another reason why we chose to stay at Corniglia. It is a beautiful, quite and less tourist place to stay.

I stayed at Cristiana’s place, in which you can check the airbnb here. It was only the small bedroom available, thus we got that one and it’s more than sufficiently equipped. It is included breakfast and it is SO GOOOOOD! Try the chocolate croissant if you go there. The view is everywhere beautiful too.

FOOD

Colazione (breakfast): You should try the pasticceria (pastry) of Italian. The creme, chocolate and apricot are the typical taste of croissant that makes it different than others. I love the creme or more like fla, Damar loves the melting chocolate. However, after tasting melting chocolate from Cristiana’s place, we had a new standar of delicious chocolate croissant. We tried so many times but we could not find anything better. Besides pastry, you should have coffee, no matter if it is espresso or capuccino. It is a perfect combination with the sweetness from the pastry. Be careful when you order “latte”, as they will give you milk. You should say it caffe latte instead.

Pranzo (lunch): Many places are closed during lunch time as it is considered as the most important meal of the day. Like in Spain, Italian people also have ‘siesta’ (an afternoon nap) after having lunch. Some schools allow the students to go home for lunch. However, nowadays they can also just go to closest Trattoria (an Italian place where simple food is served) or Pizzeria (Pizza place).

Panini is one of a good choice to have lunch, however me as an asian, bread is not enough as a meal. I always prefer pasta and my favorite is Gnocchi (potato pasta)! Cinque Terre is the best place that serves seafood. Thus, while there make sure you treat yourself with a very fresh, good-taste seafood. I must say the squid and muscles are the best! We love fried fish and seafood street way too!

A typical Italian though, they tend to really have a big meal. With first course (pasta or rice), second course (meat or fish), side dish (vegetable or salad) and dessert (fruits or sweets).

Cena (dinner): Italian dinner is quite light (soup, broth, salad or cold meat), but we cannot go light! We always end up with either seafood pasta or big pan of seafood pizza!

Check out my videos for some food footage 🙂

What to pack?

I will suggest to go there around Spring time as it is not that hot that you can actually enjoy the weather although sometimes it is quite unstable as it’s a transition period. Thus this will revolve around Spring’s needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Bring hiking or running shoes for the hike! And also some socks obviously!
Make sure to always bring sweater or warm stuff in case cloudy weather, it gets chiller and chiller, especially at night
Beach towels OR make sure your stay provides beach towels. Mine does 😉
Swimsuit or bikinis!
Sunblock! it can be really hot during hike especially when the sun is above your head
Leather jacket and umbrella
CAMERAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Bottles, to refill with mineral water
CASH! they prefer cash than card, and it is just easier. I always prefer cash when travelling, easier to give ourself budget
Books, podcast download, earphone – for the train ride and beach

Budget

Activities	Price/ person	Calculation	Total
Easy Jet flight ticket return	50 eur		50 eur
Train ride airport to Station	12 eur		12 eur
Train ride from Milan to Corniglia	15.4 eur		15.4 eur
Airbnb	46 eur	46 eur x 3 days	138 eur
Hiking entrance ticket Corniglia – Monterosso including train ticket to return to Corniglia	16 eur		16 eur
Return train ticket from Corniglia – Riomaggiore	8 eur		8 eur
Food	10 eur	10 eur x 6 lunch dinner	60 eur
Mineral water 2 liter	1,5 eur	1,5 x 3 days	4,5 eur
Total			284 eur

Five Villages, from West to East

Monterosso (midday)

It is the only land in Cinque Terre that has a proper beach. We arrived and decided to sit by the beach and take a nap. We thought that was the only beach there. After taking enough nap, we continued walking and voila there was another bigger beach nearby the station!! So we spread our beach towel and continued enjoying the water and sun. Buy some fried fish that was served in a cone, also the anchovies is the best in this area!! Monterosso is the most accessible by car.

Vernazza (midday)

It is the fishing village of the area. There is a famous church called the Santa Margherita d’Antiochia which was built in 1318. It’s built on a rock right in front of the sea. You can just simply enjoy the view and have some snacks by the water.

Corniglia (morning or midday)

Its very tranquil and it is best place to stay in my opinion. There is a sea-facing terrace in the corner and nice small alleys that you should visit!

Manarola (late afternoon)

The hiking trail from Corniglia was closed unfortunately, thus we took train. Make sure that you go there before sunset. The sunset view is killer! And to experience before sunset is even better, you would see the slow movement of the sunset. There is a cemetery uphill to visit and you can also wait for the sunset over there. There are also cafes in the below layer hill, and you can enjoy the sunset while listening to music and sip some drinks.

Riomaggiore (morning or midday)

It is the largest and apparently the ‘capital’ of Cinque Terre. The buildings lined down very steeply and in a very vivid color (the brightest compared to others). It’s best to enjoy during the day when the sun is above your head. I do think there are more rocks by the water than other lands. You can buy panini nearby, we do not remember the name but it is pretty obvious as people always line up. Bring the panini and eat it on the rocks. You can go to the cafes and enjoy a sip of coffee and people watching. The center is just a walking distance from the small ‘beach’. You should wear colorful dress to look good in a picture 😉

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Europe Hidup di Belanda Netherlands

Honeymoon di Belanda saat musim dingin

3rd April 2017 -

11 min read

Jadi beberapa minggu yang lalu, saya dapet pertanyaan dari temen SMA saya soal bulan madu di Belanda. Dia tiba-tiba berkirim kabar sekalian tanya-tanya gimana tinggal di Belanda, yang akhirnya berkelanjutan dengan obrolan soal liburan di Belanda. Usut punya usut ternyata si temen saya ini sedang merencanakan pernikahannya dan dia bersama pasangan berencana untuk jalan-jalan ke Belanda selepas menikah nanti. Mudah-mudahan selalu dikasih lancar! Soal bulan madu di Belanda sendiri, sebenernya kalau dipikir-pikir, saya juga nggak terlalu pengalaman. Karena kan saya di Belanda judulnya bermukim, jadi nggak pernah kepikiran untuk plesir di negara sendiri dengan tujuan ‘bulan madu’. Walaupun begitu, sebenernya memang banyak sih tempat-tempat seru yang akan memorable untuk dihabiskan bersama sebagai pasangan baru.

Bicara soal bulan madu, Eropa memang menjadi salah satu destinasi utama wisata bulan madu terutama belakangan ini. Karena Belanda selalu menjadi tempat singgah pesawat sebelum lanjut ke destinasi yang sebenarnya, akhirnya Belanda pun juga menjadi tempat transit. Dan nggak jarang para pelancong akhirnya memutuskan untuk tinggal lebih lama di Belanda daripada di negara-negara lainnya. Sebenernya yang namanya bepergian atau jalan-jalan pastinya sudah direncanakan dan dihitung budget-nya. Sesuai dengan gaya saya, masukan-masukan saya di blog ini lebih ke arah bulan madu yang reasonable dan affordable, bukan yang mewah. Apalagi saya ngerti banget, pengalaman, setelah menikah kan prihatin dulu karena biaya pernikahan yang nggak sedikit 😉 Toh juga gimana pun, dimana pun, akan selalu seru, karena yang terpenting bukan tempat tujuanya, tapi state of mindnya. Bahwa perjalanan dan pengalaman berdua lebih penting dari kelancaran jalan-jalannya. Karena justru disitu pengenalan karakter yang sebenarnya akan kelihatan. Anyway.. sorry for the ramble 😉 Let’s start making plan for your honeymoon in the Netherlands.

Akomodasi

Menurut saya, nggak ada yang bisa mengalahkan nyaman-nya airbnb. Ini linknya.. Buat yang belum kenal airbnb, airbnb adalah servis online yang memungkinkan orang untuk menyewa penginapan jangka pendek bahkan juga terkadang jangka panjang seperti beberapa bulan. Bedanya dengan hotel adalah kebanyakan dari properti-properti ini dimiliki oleh individual, jadi memungkinan penyewa untuk menyewa satu rumah beserta isinya. Yang bikin saya suka adalah kenyamanan dan rasa seperti rumah.. Saat cari rumah, pilih filter yang ‘entire house’, juga lebih nyaman untuk kalian pasangan baru… Untuk area tinggal di Amsterdam, coba cari di daerah sekitar ring, jadi nggak terlalu jauh dari tengah kota dan bisa jalan kaki ke tempat-tempat pentingnya. Lebih bagus lagi kalau bisa sewa di dekat kanal, sudah pasti lebih mahal tapi kalau ada budget lebih kenapa nggak. Secara umum, price range disekitar 60-100 euro.. Ya, Amsterdam memang relatif lebih mahal dibanding kota-kota lain, atau bahkan negara-negara lain di Eropa Barat.

Kalau kalian lebih nyaman tinggal di hotel karena selalu bersih, siap dan nggak pengen ngerasa seperti dirumah bisa cek beberapa opsi hotel-hotel romantis disini.

Menginap dan bulan madu di Amsterdam, Belanda

Foto dari Wegenforum

2. Aktivitas

Di musim dingin, cuaca biasanya bisa mencapai minus terutama di bulan Januari-Februari. Jadi aktivitas pun baiknya kombinasi antara outdoor dan indoor, tapi lebih baik banyak di indoor 😛

Museum: Untuk kalian pecinta museum, Amsterdam adalah surganya. Utamanya museum seni dan sejarah. Ada sebuah square terkenal di Belanda yang namanya museumplein (yang artinya museum square) karena alun-alun itu dikelilingi oleh bermacam-macam museum yang berbeda. Dari sang legenda Van Gogh, Stedelijk Museum (Modern and Contemporary art), Rijksmuseum (yang guedenya ya ampun, you name it, it’s in Rijksmuseum), MOCO (Modern Contemporary). Dan juga pastinya ada tulisan I AMSTERDAM yang gede banget itu disana. Jadi sekali dayung beberapa pulau terlampaui. Di daerah situ ada Amsterdam concertgebouw (concert building). Menurut Wikipedia, karena kekerenan akustiknya concertgebouw adalah satu concert hall yang palng bagus, setara dengan Boston dan Vienna. Di hari Rabu siang jam 12.30, ada konser gratis di hall-nya yang kecil. Please please make your time to visit if you have a thing for music.
Ada museum gratis di daerah North yang worth banget visiting. Kenapa? selain karena gratis tapi juga karena isi-nya yang edukatif dengan instalasi interaktif, seru dan nggak membosankan soal sejarah film. Tempat ini namanya Ij museum. Aku suka bawa tamu atau temen yang lagi main ke Belanda kesitu karena dapat kesempatan untuk menyebrangi sungai dengan Boat fasilitas stasiun (gratis!). Juga karena gedung dari museumnya cantik, kalian bisa makan siang dan menunggu matahari terbenam disitu sambil minum kopi.
Tips: Kalau kalian memang pecinta museum, akan menarik untuk beli I Amsterdam City Card karena jadi banyak akses ke diskon (plus gratis transportasi publik). Juga pastikan kalian punya tiket museumnya in advance. Karena antrinya yang kadang keterlaluan panjangnya.

Kalau kalian ke Amsterdam di akhir Januari atau awal Februari, kalian masih bisa dapat suasana natal di museum plein seperti foto di bawah ini.

Sepedahan atau duduk-duduk di taman (Vondelpark atau Amsterdamsche Bosch): Gampang sekali untuk nyari penyewaan sepedah di Belanda. Untuk bulan Februari mungkin itungannya masih lumayan dingin, tapi dengan perbekalan dan pakaian yang cukup, kapan lagi dapet pengalaman sepedahan di Belanda. Jarak dari satu tempat ke tempat lain masih sangat terjangkau dengan sepeda. Kamu bisa parkir dan menikmati segarnya taman-taman di kota Amsterdam. Di dalem Vondelpark ada beberapa kafe dan restaurant yang kamu bisa singgahi untuk minum segelas Chocomel (Dutch Hot Chocolate).

Volendam: Mungkin kalian pernah beberapa kali melihat orang-orang berfoto dengan pakaian tradisional khas Belanda. Nah Volendam itu tempatnya! Ada studio berjejer-jejer dan bahkan ada artis dan politikus yang fotonya nangkring di depan display. Untuk pasangan baru, foto ini perlu untuk kenang-kenangan. Volendam bisa dijangkau dengan bus dari Amsterdam Centraal Station dengan waktu perjalanan sekitar 30 menit. Untuk lebih jelas cara untuk kesana dan harga tiketnya cek disini. Dari Volendam nanti bisa naik ke kapal ke Pulau Marken. Pulau kecil cantik yang ada di atas Amsterdam.

Jalan-jalan dipinggir kanal: Ini sih hal favoritku dan suami, jalan-jalan.. Bisa siang atau malam, tapi malam lebih seru dan romantis. Jalan-jalan sambil ngobrol soal kehidupan kalian setelah menikah dan rencana-rencana ke depan, atau ngobrol-ngobrol ringan aja soal gimana kesan soal kota Amsterdam. Saat kalian jalan nanti, kalian pasti akan nemu ‘secret hidden gem’, seperti toko-toko atau cafe/restaurant cantik. Saat sudah kedinginan atau kaki sudah capek berjalan, kalian bisa mampir di salah satu Cafe di sekitar situ sekalian makan malam.

Free walking tour: Saat saya berlibur, saya merasa lebih bisa menikmati apa yang saya lihat jika saya tahu makna dan sejarahnya. Walking tour ini walaupun gratis, tapi sangat edukatif dan menyenangkan. Tour ini cukup banyak memberi gambaran umum dari segi kota dan landmark yang mungkin kalian sudah lewati tanpa tau seberapa berharganya. Tidak hanya itu, tetapi juga banyak tentang sejarah dan budaya. Kalian juga akan dijelaskan tentang bagaimana orang-orang Belanda hidup mereka. Tour bertemu di alun-alun DAM dan berlangsung sekitar 2-3 jam. Jangan lupa untuk memberi tips ke pemandu ya! Book your spot here.

Canal cruise atau dinner di atas kapal: Sejarah Amsterdam sangat erat dengan air. 165 kanal Amsterdam diciptakan selama berabad-abad untuk merangsang perdagangan dan transportasi dan merebut kembali tanah untuk memperluas kota. Mereka terus mendefinisikan lanskap kota dan pada tahun 2010 cincin kanal (canal ring) Amsterdam diakui sebagai situs warisan dunia UNESCO.
Sebagian besar canal crusie memakan waktu sekitar satu jam, di mana kalian akan dibawa menjelajah Canal Ring UNESCO yang dilindungi Amsterdam dan menemukan banyak fakta menarik tentang kota sepanjang jalan. Selain itu, saat malam hari tiba, dinner di dalam kapal bisa jadi pilihan romantis yang akan selalu kalian ingat.Bisa cek disini atau disini.

Zaanseschan: Saya selalu merekomendasikan tempat ini kepada siapa pun yang minta saran liburan di Belanda / Amsterdam. Tempat ini sedikit di luar Amsterdam, di kota Zaandam. Pada dasarnya kalian dapat mencakup semua apa yang perlu dilihat di Belanda, dari kincir angin, pabrik keju, Albert Heijn yang pertama (supermarket khas Belanda), pabrik klompen, pancake restoran, dll. Zaanse Schans adalah daerah perumahan dari awal abad ke 18-19. Kalian bisa menyewa kapal kecil atau sepeda untuk merasakan suasa desanya. Nggk ada biaya masuk untuk daerah Zaanseschan sendiri dan beberapa museum, tapi kalian harus membayar untuk memasuki pabrik dan beberapa museum. Bagaimana cara ke sana? Kalian dapat pergi dengan kereta sprinter dengan tujuan Uitgeest dan berhenti di stasiun Zaanse Schaan. Atau pergi ke stasiun Zaandam, menikmati sedikit pemandangan di stasiun Zaandam dan mengambil bus 69. Klik disini info lebih lanjut soal Zaanseschan.

3. Transportasi

Transportasi di Belanda cukup mudah dimengerti. Beberapa transportasi umum yang biasa digunakan di kota-kota besar, seperti Amsterdam khususnya, adalah tram dan bus. Kamu bisa beli tiket transportasi GVB (info di link ini) atau I AMSTERDAM Card (public transportasi dan free/discounted museum entrance (info di link ini). Dan kalau bingung bisa cek google Maps atau tanya ke orang sekitar. Semuanya bisa bahasa inggris kok.

4. Pilihan lain selain Amsterdam?

Ada banyak kota-kota cantik di Belanda selain Amsterdam, dan tentunya lebih sepi. Contoh kota lain-lain itu adalah Haarlem, Leiden, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Delft atau Utrecht. Semuanya perjalanan kurang dari 1 jam dengan kereta.

5. Pilihan lain selain Belanda?

Kalian bisa naik kereta Thalys dari Amsterdam untuk ke Belgia (Brussel dan Antwerp) atau ke Prancis (Paris). Untuk informasi kereta dan tiket, bisa dilihat disini.

Selamat menikmati honeymoon-nya!

1 Comments

Culinary Europe Poland Travel

7 Top things to do in Krakow, Poland

15th March 2017 -

9 min read

1. Visit Auschwitz, Birkenau, (and Salt Mine)

These are the main reason why we visit Krakow in the first place. It is such a historical place that witnessed the suffering of millions of innocent soul during World War II. It will teach you one or two things about life. You will leave that place with so much more gratitude about your life that your small complains are nothing to what the genocide victims had to go through. This place is what makes Poland very special. Try to imagine how painful and damaged the places and people back then, but it has managed to be re-built into a beautiful country. Let’s gain some new perspectives!

The Salt Mine is located in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland. It was opened in the 13th century, the mine produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world’s oldest salt mines in operation. It is amazing too how genius people worked back then already!

Tips: We went with a tour just because we wanted to save some stress with transportation, tickets and history guide. The tour we chose was Krakow Direct. Check out the link here. It includes pick up transportation, tickets and english tour guide for Auschwitz, Birkenau and Salt Mine. The fee was PLN250/ person (or around EUR58), which is quite expensive (especially when you think in Zloty way) and some people prefer not to go with group tour like that as the transportation is considerably easy. It’s a matter of preference.

Auschwitz

Birkenau – 20x bigger than Auschwitz

Salt Mine

2. Walk and sip coffee/chocolate in the old town during the day and especially at night

Both time will give you different ambiance. We prefer the night better as the lights from the buildings, the street and church/cathedral will give such a magical feeling. There will be a jazz/blues music performance in the square playing passionately by street musicians. During the day you will see more people walk, but you will see the beautiful pastel colors of the buildings around the square more clearly as well as the horse carriage. You really can sit any cafe around the square, but we sat in Cafe LOZA which was quite nice.

In the mid day, very half an hour there’s a beautiful trumpet sounds coming out from the main church. It will last for 5 minutes and blown through 4 different sides of the highest window. You can wait this to happen while wandering and checking the flower market just in front of the church or get a thick hot chocolate from the place in the corner Krakowska Manufaktura Czekolady. Take the pure one!

3. Try the local culinary

One of many things that are special about Poland are its FOOD! My second favorite cuisine in Europe after Italian. If you ask locals about what to eat in Krakow, first typical thing you would hear is Pierogi! It is a Polish dumpling, some legends say that pierogi have come from China through Italy via Marco Polo expeditions. The best would be the ones with spinach, cheese, or mushroom feelings (and FRIED). It will be served with onion-butter sauted sauce. I personally like to dip it a little with sour cream that they usually have ready (or you can always ask).

You should also try goulash that is served in bread! The delicateness of beef meat and its thick tasteful sauce blends really well and fit with the plain Polish bread. I think I like it very much because the taste suits my asian tongues. Polish food uses garlic/onion, simple ingredients that most of the times Dutch tend to forget to use (heheh!), and some rich spices (cumin, clove, etc). Desserts such as pancake (sweet or savory), cheesecake (don’t imagine American cheesecake!, Polish is a bit dry but nice) and hot chocolates are also worth to taste.

Restaurant Czarna Kaczka/ Black Duck: Recommended, food is amazing, service is great, price is okay

Address: Poselska 22, 31-002 Kraków, Polen

Restaurant Chata: Situated in the old town – Highly recommended, food is great, service is great, ambiance and music is great, price is cheap

Address: Krowoderska 21/2, 31-141 Kraków, Polen

Cheder Cafe: Situated in the Jewish Quarter. Nice ambience and apple tea!

Address: Józefa 36, 31-056 Kraków, Polen

4. Breakfast in the Milkbar (Polish: bar mleczny ) Tomasza

Milkbar Tomasza
Milkbar is supposed to be a canteen that was used to be a place that the food is cheap (subsidied by government), nutritious and where workers had their breakfast. It dates from the communist era, but many bar mleczny are now sought-after providers of great value, locally-sourced meals. It is for easy quick breakfast. It is no longer acted as it was these days, but this place is quite special. Try the savory (spinach-feta cheese) pancake, fried dumplings, and omellete. Everything was so good in that place including the coffee and juice. This place is just 5 mins walking from the main square. Price is fairly cheap just as other food in Poland. Five stars for the taste!

Address: Świętego Tomasza 24, 33-332 Kraków, Polen

5. Sip coffee at night in the main square

A way to rest for the day activity and enjoy your night after a very well-spent dinner. Take a sit and relax, just in any place really! Make sure you sit outside to have the full experience enjoyment!

6. Walk along Wawel Castle and Vistula River

Such a peaceful place to look at the beauty of architecture with a little touch of gothic. Walk around it to enjoy the castle life and walk down the river side. Have a sit in one of the benches, read a book if you are alone or talk with your travel buddy, enjoy the water flow/ the swans that most of the times park there.

7. Talk to Locals

They are very warm and polite, you will find relatively no struggle to speak English as most of the people are willing to learn. In fact, I encountered a couple of people who started a conversation with me because they wanted to improve their English. Amazing spirit!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

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Travel

Where to land?

*Please note that the map is only to show the duration, not necessarily the exact same route we took.

Transportation

Road Trip and Route

Source: http://www.alsgodinzuidfrankrijk.nl/nl/routes/la_route_napoleon. The Route Napoléon is the route taken by Napoleon in 1815 on his return from Elba.

Our pose on our way

Where to camp?

A view 2 mins away from camping site

What to pack?

Where to shop?

Visa or no Visa

Place to sleep

What to see

What to ride

What to eat

Get lost as much as you can.

No gondola ride. Merely enjoy it from the surface.

Place to eat:

Place to go:

Video

When to visit Italy

Find a really good carrier

Packing light

Plan and Budget your daily activity

How to save cost in Italy

Bring some cash with you

How long to stay?

Where to stay?

FOOD

What to pack?

Budget

Five Villages, from West to East

Monterosso (midday)

Vernazza (midday)

Corniglia (morning or midday)

Manarola (late afternoon)

Riomaggiore (morning or midday)

Akomodasi

2. Aktivitas

3. Transportasi

4. Pilihan lain selain Amsterdam?

5. Pilihan lain selain Belanda?

Selamat menikmati honeymoon-nya!

1. Visit Auschwitz, Birkenau, (and Salt Mine)

Auschwitz

Birkenau – 20x bigger than Auschwitz

Salt Mine

2. Walk and sip coffee/chocolate in the old town during the day and especially at night

3. Try the local culinary

4. Breakfast in the Milkbar (Polish: bar mleczny ) Tomasza

5. Sip coffee at night in the main square

6. Walk along Wawel Castle and Vistula River

7. Talk to Locals

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