Places

Romance in Paris and London

It is only natural to associate Paris with love stories. The city mentioned a thousand times in various love stories all over the world has plenty of ideal tourism destinations for you and your loved one. Apart from Paris, London has its own charms. The city where the recent royal wedding took place keeps on surprising the tourists with its elegance. This time, we are visiting these two cities.

Love Story in Paris
Paris, je t’aime. It is almost unnecessary to use words to describe the beauty and romanticism of Paris. As shown in a popular movie setting in the capital of France called Paris, je t’aime. Now it is your turn to explore the streets of Paris with your loved one, and find romantic inspiration in the city. Let’s start with Montmartre, tourists’ favourite area. If you want to see the painting artists in action, go to Musee Louvre and see how they create paintings and caricatures. In the museum, you can stand next to a lot of art masterpieces from all over the world. Walking around Paris can be a unique experience you do not want to miss. You can see the local people take their time walking on the streets paved with stones, feast your eyes upon the artistic old buildings in the area and create eventful memories with your loved one. Eiffel Tower, the icon of Paris, is absolutely on your visit list. Each year, more than six million tourists go all the way up. The tower is decorated with Champs de Mars Park and located by the Seine River. Thanks to its popularity, there are always people lining up and waiting to go up. If you have time, it is better for you to buy tickets online before you leave to Paris. There are still some other places worth visiting. Jardin des Plantes is a botanical garden which covers a 28-ha area of beauty. There is also Champs-Elysees, a world-famous road in Paris with its elegant stores and cafes. St. Germaint des Pres is a high-end area, where the local people never forget to put on their Louis Vuitton or Dor. Not too far from Seine River, here you will find many well-known museums and galleries. Often associated with existentialist thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, St. Germaint des Pres also serves as the best place for you to find modern artwork to bring home. Make sure you do not miss Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, or “Our Lady of Paris”. This historical cathedral is not only celebrated for its beauty, but also for its French Gothic architecture and the fact that it is one of the biggest cathedrals in the world.

Combination of Historical Buildings and Technology in London
Our next destination is London, a city of classic tourism attractions such as Big Ben which also boasts its state-of-the-art technology through London Eye. The first place on our list is, of course, Westminster Abbey. It is the silent witness to the existence of the royal family which can be traced back to 1.000 years ago. This church was recently under the limelight as it was the venue of the royal wedding, where Prince William married Catherine Middleton. The grandness of this church added a perfect touch to the event of the year. London is the home to numerous unique museums accessible for you and your loved one. One of them is the Natural History Museum on Imperial College Road. This museum serves as the world’s research center, specializing in taxonomy and maintenance. This museum also stores the specimens collected by Charles Darwin. Next, why not go to Victoria & Albert Museum. It is located around Albertopolis in London, an area full of cultural and knowledge atmosphere. The art atmosphere feels strong even before you enter the building decorated with paved ornaments on the front door. The museum inaugurated in 1852 is a museum of design and decorative arts, with collection consists of 4.5 million items. Not too far from this museum, stands a Science Museum with a whole different atmosphere. This museum stores more than 300 thousands items, including historical items such as the first jet engine. Interestingly, this museum is equipped with an IMAX 3D Cinema and a Welcome Wing boasting its digital technology. To satisfy your shopping nature, or even just to window shop, Harrods is your choice. You can find this popular store on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. The store has served famous public figures such as Oscar Wilde, Sigmund Freud and obviously, the members of the Royal Family. Harrods is also the second biggest retail store in England. Next, if you and your loved one want to see London from a bird’s eye view, it is time for you to visit London Eye. The 135-meter tall ferris wheel is London’s latest icon. Located by Thames River, London Eye is one of the most popular tourism attractions in England, visited by more than 3.5 million people per year.


Dream Holidays with the Loved One

Let’s find the time to go on holidays together with your loved one this month. It is time to take your spouse to visit the beautiful Gilimanuk Bay, watch the sun set behind Mount Agung, or say hello to the green turtles by the clear water of Derawan.

Seeking Solitude in Bali
Bali never runs out of place to explore, especially for you who want to create an unforgettable memory with your loved one. Bali, the tourism land which is always crowded all year long, still keeps some ideal places for solitude seekers. One of these places is West Bali, under-populated area with a beautiful beach and blissful atmosphere. Even though it takes longer to get here, the wonderful scenery of West Bali is definitely worth the effort. Gilimanuk Bay in the Prapat Agung peninsula is a must on your visit list if you are looking for somewhere private and exclusive. Menjangan Island, reachable on speedboat from Labuan Lalang, offers a lot of premium resorts. One of these resorts even has its own natural hot spring distributed to each villa. There is also a resort offering a unique experience in the tropical forest. Ubud, with its calming natural atmosphere, is another option. You do not have to look very far as Ubud has a lot of resorts offering natural beauty and breeze. Next, if you and your loved one are a couple of diving enthusiasts, Bali offers a lot of tempting places for you to explore. USAT Liberty Shipwreck in Tulamben, Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida, and Tanjung Jepun in Padangbai are three most-recommended places. Diving around USAT Liberty Shipwreck at dawn, you will be accompanied by the sunshine with Mount Rinjani as the background. At Crystal Bay, if you are lucky, you will be greeted by the friendly sunfish. Besides, Tanjung Jepun is also the home to stingrays that swim so elegantly they will make you forget everything else.

Exploring Three Gilis in Lombok
Lombok, the beautiful island constantly compared to Bali, has its own charms. The beauty of Lombok’s nature, relatively untouched by modern facilities, is one of its biggest assets. Lombok is indeed the right destination for you who want to avoid the crowd with your loved one. Senggigi, located on the north of Mataram, is the where most of premium resorts can be found. This area has been developed as tourism center in Lombok since a couple of decades ago. In Senggigi, you will have no difficulty in finding a car to rent along with its driver. Many believe that the best beaches in Lombok can be found on three legendary Gili islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. If you leave from Senggigi, it should not be hard to get there. The easiest way to get there is by renting a boat. After enjoying the sceneries on Gili Trawangan, you and your loved one can proceed to the other two islands which are relatively even less crowded. Just before the sun is about to set, you can go to Batu Bolong and Malimbu, about 7 km to the north of Senggigi. Here you can find hills for a change. Give a perfect end to your romantic trip and do not miss it when the sun goes down behind Mount Agung.

Meeting the Turtles in Derawan
Derawan Islands are located in the Sulawesi Sea, boasting its coral reefs and 21 islands, six of which are sufficiently big. These six islands are called Derawan, Kakaban, Maratua, Sangalaki, Panjang and Semama. Derawan islands are part of Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. To reach these islands, the fastest way is by going to Balikpapan (Sepinggan International Airport) first. Then you can proceed to Berau Regency by plane. From there you can get on a boat from Tanjung Batu Harbour to the Derawan Islands. Once you get there, you will be spoiled with the beautiful scenery. Under the tropical suns, you will see a lot of coconut trees and the houses of local people. Many people will insist that your visit to Derawan is not complete without diving. And better yet, it is a friendly place for beginners, with its calm water and bottom which is not too deep. You can even swim as far as 100 meters from the coast or snorkel around the port while you and your loved ones admire the beauty of the underwater world. One of the most popular Derawan icons is the endangered green turtles. If you want to see these green turtles some place else, your best bet is a zoo. Here in Derawan, green turtles are regular visitors you can see almost everyday. The best time to spot them is at night or in the morning, when the turtles come up to the beach to lay their eggs.