Exploring Bandung Restaurants And Coffees

Day 1

Eat, Eat, and Eat !! 

Bandung is rich of nice restaurants. Hundreds of foods can be found in Bandung. On this page I want to share favourite restaurants in Bandung based on my experience. 

- You must taste Bubur Ayam Savoy Homann. But it is only open at night. The price is relatively expensive, but do not worry, you will forget about the price because of the taste this porride (Bubur)

- Now move to Cloud 9. It’s one of Bandung’s most popular night spots. Various activities are separated by levels such as dining, dancing, and bar. The pizza is the best, but all the  food is good, and the ambiance is unparalleled.

- Warung Lela is the nice spot to enjoy a beautiful view while lunch or dinner. 

- Perched high on a hill between Bandung and Lembang, The Peak is one of Bandung’s most exclusive restaurants. They offer a wide range of steaks, pastas, salads, and traditional Indonesian dishes.

Day 2

- The Valley Bistro Cafe offers an elegant dining experience at an affordable price, with both Western and Indonesian food, and an extensive wine selection.

- Kopi Ireng is one of Bandung’s favorite places. They usually offer live entertainment on weekends. You can order the most expensive coffee in the world at this place, that's Luwak Coffee. 

- Congo Cafe is part of a larger complex that features a furniture gallery offering fine wood furniture made from exotic hard woods. Coffee, fruit drinks , and snacks combine with the saw mill environment to create a unique hang out place. The menu is mixed Western and Indonesian.

Exploring Bandung Restaurants And Coffees by Dian Lucid - TourExplora

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Bali Shopping And Dining

Dining and shopping in Bali are the most important things to do in Bali. I just created a Bali dining and shopping tour   to share my favourite places for dining and shopping. 

Shopping Day 1

- Kuta Square is a shopping centre approximately 50 metres from Kuta Beach. Kuta Square is packed with a lot of international and local brands from surf wear outlets, dining areas, a hypermarket and fashion stores, such as Billabong, Quiksilver, Hurley, Giordano, Reebok, Nike and Levi’s, and two famous local brands – Milo’s and Animale.

- Kuta Art Market is a traditional market where you can get local-crafted souvenirs and goods. 

- Mall Bali Galeria is among the largest shopping centres in Kuta. Arcades comprise various restaurants, bookshops, fashion outlets, a Hypermart, the Galeria 21 cineplex, souvenir shops, and various scheduled exhibitions in its atrium and main lobby. 

After feel satisfied with my shopping, now I will share to you good places for dining.

Dining Day 1

- Surfer Bar and Grill

- Made's Warung

Shopping Day 2

- This surf superstore is very noticeable with its motif of a Balinese winged angel riding a surfboard in front of the store. Surfer’s Paradise main store is loaded with surf brands from market leaders like Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Billabong and Oakley to minor brands such as Cult, Aloha, and many others. 

- Monkey Forest Road (Jalan Monkey Forest). Along the street you may easily find international brand stores, sophisticated shops selling local designs, beautiful painting stores and handicraft and antiques outlets on each side of the street.

Dining Day 2

- Ary's warung

-Poppies Restaurant

Bali Shopping And Dining by Aldika Viallinata - TourExplora

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7 Beautiful Destinations for Photographer

Many travelers who are purposely visiting a place to see beautiful sight or interesting event such as a festival. If you are one of them, you may not miss these 7 destinations.

A quote “A picture is worth a thousand words” is absolutely right indeed. We won’t be surprised that many photographers willingly to visit thousands kilometer place just to catch beautiful moment out there. Not only capturing a view but they will also capture a moment such as festival, culture, and locals of the place.

If you are a traveler who love photography, these are 7 destinations which will satisfy your passion.

      1.        Venice, Italy

The romance of Venice could be got when you try aiming your camera to some objects there. For Venice, “Beautiful ” is the union of canals, bridges, gondolas, and park lamps. Castle styled buildings  spreading around the city, providing the atmosphere like a middle century of Europe.

You can find various colours of Venice on The Carnaval of Venice event. This event conducted before the Easter Day. Locals will wear a beautiful europe costume and gown in this event.

      2.       Ladakh, India

Ladakh is the highest province in India which there still lot of societies in this province. Based on the fact, what do you think about this place?

Surely, the landscape of India highland is very beautiful one ! Himalaya Mountain rows would be a good object to capture. With blue sky and cloud background, you will catch a high class image.

In the other side of Ladakh, the formation of landscape will change  to be a stone and giant cliff formation surrounding a sandy land, it is called Nubra Valley. In the middle of the desert, there is a lake called Pagong Lake which has dark coloured water. Your image will be more beautiful when you capture some Buddha temples as a sign if there still a life there.

         

      3.       Las Vegas, USA

Las Vegas is known as one of the bright city in the world. Las Vegas looks so bright in the middle of Nevada desert. This city can be like a “death city” in noon time, but it will be different when night comes up, Las Vegas will be a colourful city at night.

      4.       Rajasthan, India

Even located in the same country with Ladakh, Rajahstan has a different face in India. Old portrait of India can be found in Rajahstan after Agra and Delhi. Try to go around the city, get some locals image who are shopping at traditional market.

  

      5.       Bagan, Myanmar

No many tourists know that Myanmar is a right country to visit. Compared with other South east Asia countries, Myanmar is left behind. But right now, Myanmar has been trying to open the door for tourists to visit Myanmar. Buddha  is major religion in Myanmar, and Bagan is known as the spiritual center of Myanmar.

You can see high temples wraped by gold and bronze.  When sunset comes, orange rays can be seen from the temples. Meanwhile when sunrises, you may sit on a hill that faces Bagan. That is a right time for you to capture some pictures.

      6.       Bromo Mountain, Indonesia

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park has a strong magent for photographer around the world. This national park is a union of many landscape, cultural festival, and origin tribe of there.

Bromo mountain is a place to catch beautiful sandy mountain landscape, completed with beautiful valley on the middle of Bromo mountain. Vast desert would be a good object for photographers to capture it.

      7.       Tibet Highland, China Autonom Province

Tibet highland stretch along Himalaya mountains, bordering Nepal, Bhutan, and India. Lhasa as the capital city of Tibet is a correct area to catch some portraits. This city is full of spiritual atmosphere.

One of spiritual building is Potala castle, house of Dalai Lama. This white building is very high and beautiful.

You can also get portrait about local tribe and Tibet culture. 

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Trip To Karimun Jawa

Day 1


I have a plan since long time ago to have a trip to Karimun Jawa Islands. Karimun Jawa Islands is being a top favourite attraction right now. There are so many view we can see in these Islands, and because of that I made a plan to take a trip to Karimun Jawa Islands. 

Okay, here is my plan tour during my trip to Karimun Jawa. I will start my trip from my town, Surabaya. I'm going toward Tanjung Mas, Semarang to cross to Karimun Jawa by boat. The information I have got, the boat only depart in the morning at 09:00 am. I shouldn't be late then. 

From Tanjung Mas, the journey will take about 4 hours to be arrived at Karimun Jawa. If my boat departs from 09:00 am, I will be at Karimun Jawa at 13:00 pm. 

After landing on Karimun Jawa, I will go to Cemara Besar Island to swim, sunbathing and enjoying the wind. Then before the sunset coming up, I want to visit Tanjung Gelam Island for seeing the sunset there. I will take some pictures there. 

At night, hotel is my only destination. I won't go anywhere at night, but maybe I need to buy souvenirs near my hotel.

Day 2

In the early morning, I should wake up earlier to enjoy the beautiful sunrise from my hotel. After seeing the beauty of the sunrise, I need to breakfast and take a bath. Then packing my clothes to be brought to my next destination. Because I have to go home at this day. 

okay, at 08:00 am I want to reach Small Menjangan Island (Pulau Menjangan Kecil). I really want to do Snorkeling, hunting some pictures, and playing with cute fishes on the beach. 

Satisfied being at Pulau Menjangan Kecil. I would like to aim Pulau Menjangan Besar. In there, I can play with many turtles, and I can see the eggs of turtle above the sand. This island is very reccomended to visit. 

Huufft.. It would be an exhausting day. In the afternoon, I should go back home to Surabaya. I will be arrived at home at night, it spends 6 hours to be arrived at my home from Karimun Jawa. 

Trip To Karimun Jawa by Tasya Hutabarat - TourExplora

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Travellers Financial Tips

While vacations serve as great breaks from the daily grind of the working world, they can often make a larger dent in your pocketbook than planned. And, if you don't take a few precautions to protect your finances while traveling, especially abroad, you could fall victim to theft, fraud and a lot of headaches trying to recover your expenses.

Following are top financial tips for travelers :

Handling Credit, Debit and Travel Cards

1.        Always while traveling abroad, take different credit cards, some local currency, a few traveler’s checks and a few US dollars. You’ll be prepared to pay for items where your credit cards aren’t accepted. You’ll also be prepared to pay in the local currency even if currency exchange counters are not available.

2.       Before you travel, make a list of your credit card numbers, issuing bank names, expiry dates, customer service numbers, and emergency numbers. Print this information out and keep it handy in your clothing or luggage just in case your wallet is stolen. Having the 1-800 toll-free numbers handy to call from wherever you are can relieve you of major headaches.

3.        Use your credit card to pay for goods as much as possible, unless the charges are too high. Carrying too much cash around is like asking for trouble. Your credit card is still safe, as long as you hang on it carefully and report theft immediately.

4.       Don’t charge up your credit card in advance before traveling. You might think that putting funds into your credit card means you won’t have to pay interest or charges. It doesn’t work that way.

Handling Cash

  5.     Don’t carry all your cash in your wallet. Stow away some cash in hidden pockets within your jacket, pants or dress. Keep some cash in your hands-on luggage while flying. This way, even if your wallet is stolen, you’ll have some cash to fall back on.

  6.    Keep a few notes in different currencies in your wallet if you are traveling to different regions abroad. For example, if you are traveling to Europe, keep a few Sterling Pounds, US Dollars and Euros with you. Some cash-only establishments are particular about the currency they accept.

  7.     Don’t exchange money at airports or railways stations; you won’t get a good exchange rate for your dollar.

  8.    Buy sufficient destination currency before you travel. This way, you can avoid the high fees and other hassles that areassociated with currency exchange.

Reference

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Exploring Raja Ampat by Alvial Gemini - TourExplora

Exploring Raja Ampat by Alvial Gemini - TourExplora

Right now Raja Ampat is being one of the most popular diving spot in the world. For me as the dive lovers, Raja Ampat is the right place to visit.

The place to be for the spoiled diver. Recognized as the richest reefs of the world. No where else can you see so many species of fish and corals in one dive. That and the fact that Raja Ampat is so remotly located, makes diving here among the best in the world.

There are several liveaboards through the area, but you can also go to the landbased, smack in the middle, Kri Eco Resort or the (more expensive and luxurious) Sorido Resort. Both owned by Max Ammer. Max pioneered the area and knows the best dive sites. 

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10 Most Hated Airports in The World

10. São Paulo-Guarulhos International, São Paulo, Brazil

Why is this place on our list after scoring third best airport in South America at the 2011 World Airport Awards? 

Because, shockingly enough, it turns out that corporate medal ceremonies aren’t always in sync with what people are thinking when they're standing in two-hour immigration lines, suffering routinely unannounced gate changes and paying through the teeth for a stale Brazilian cheese roll and beer inside an understaffed and over-aged aviation facility. 

In a country where flight delays (departing or arriving) are just part of the deal, some recent numbers would give pause to the most unflappable traveler at Brazil’s largest airport.

Just 41 percent of all flights leave on time. Only 59 percent of flights arrive on schedule, according to Forbes.  

São Paulo-Guarulhos has announced plans to add runways and terminals -- what airport hasn’t? -- but with nearly 30 million passengers traipsing through every year (the figure has reportedly doubled in under a decade) the urgency is palpable and, sadly enough, unsolved by upping prices at musty duty-free shops.

But does this really constitute bronze medal status? When the best unofficial advice for surviving Brazil’s pin-up airport is to try and learn a little Portuguese and not lose your temper, something’s gotta give. 

9. Perth Airport, Perth, Australia

If there’s one thing Australians love, it’s hating their airports.

But while the big guns in Sydney, Melbourne and also-rans in Darwin, Cairns and Hobart get routinely lambasted for various inefficiencies and rip-off tactics, passengers in Western Australia have a special place in their spleens for Perth. 

“The only advantage over some other airports is the lack of nearby combat,” notes one of several miffed passengers on airportquality.com. 

With a reviled pair of domestic terminals (home of two-hour taxi-line queues, atrocious check-in lines, overpopulated gates and meager lounges) and a slightly more palatable international terminal five kilometers away, Perth’s brittle facilities can be overwhelmed just by a trio of aircraft arriving within 20 minutes of each other. 

Now that an ambitious “billion-dollar” redevelopment project has been significantly scaled back, who would ever want to leave Changi for this place? 

8. Tribhuvan International, Kathmandu, Nepal

For a small airport in a pretty country, Tribhuvan has it all: the interminable weather delays of Boston Logan, the shoddy restroom maintenance of a Glasgow sports bar, the departure board sparsity of McMurdo Airfield and the chronic chaos of a kids' soccer match. 

Some airport improvements have been underway for the Visit Nepal 2011 tourism campaign, including things most passengers don’t much care about (e.g., the new helicopter base). 

The most serious beefs with Nepal’s only international airport revolve around its primitive yet officious check-in procedure, starring a roulette wheel of underpaid security agents. 

“Departure is an endless game of body searches and silly questions,” notes one passenger.

“Those who didn’t have their e-tickets printed out had to argue their way in,” says another, who was checked seven times and scolded for not having a baggage tag on a carry-on before eventually boarding. 

Never mind. The city’s markets and surrounding mountains are lovely.

7. John F. Kennedy International, New York, United States

You’d think it would be one of the greatest humiliations any major airport would never allow itself to live down -- getting routinely abandoned by fed-up folks opting to fly out of Newark (Newark!) instead, where at least the ground staff cop less attitude and fewer people outside are pretending to be cab drivers.  

But, nah, JFK really couldn’t really care less.

Every year, more than 21 million passengers stumble through worn, mid-century terminals that peaked when The Beatles arrived in the United States and rooftop parking was all the rage; JFK proudly remains the world’s busiest international air gateway.

So if you’re not into a dim, surly, unbearably congested airport reeking with attitude and unapologetically long immigration lines -- good riddance. 

“JFK had a piece of my luggage sitting in a little detention room for bags -- for over a year,” notes one passenger. “No one noticed it was there, until finally an observant Air France employee wondered what the dusty little green bag in the corner was.” 

6. Jomo Kenyatta International, Nairobi, Kenya

“As African airports go, it’s not that bad -- but as an international hub, it may be one of the worst out there.” 

This is the common refrain among travelers through JKIA, who either don’t have the heart or the expectations to give this dated aviation facility the kind of pounding reserved for the JFKs and Charles de Gaulles of the world. 

Saddled with a 1958 blueprint designed for 2.5 million passengers, JKIA receives close to twice that many. Hence the airport’s 2005, Three Phase, US$100 million expansion project which has seen long delays (something about the rain) and has been spinning its tires somewhere in Phase Two for the last few years. 

For now, that means business as usual: cramped spaces; long lines; inadequate seating; frequent power outages; tiny washrooms hiding up several flights of stairs; shabby duty free shops; overpriced food outlets; and business class lounges worthy of a shelter in mid-city Los Angeles.

Sure, it’s a breeze compared to Lagos. But it could be so much better. The confusing result: grateful disappointment?

5. Ninoy Aquino International, Manila, Philippines

Beleaguered by ground crew strikes, unkempt conditions, soup kitchen-style lines that feed into more lines and an overall sense of futility, NAIA brings the term “Stuck in the 1970s” to a new level.

At Terminal 1 all non-Philippine Airlines remain crammed despite serious overcapacity issues and a new and underused Terminal 3 is occupied by a few minor carriers. 

A rash of bad press this year (including a “Worst in the World” ribbon from Sleeping in Airports) was capped by a collapsed ceiling in T1, a paralyzing ground service strike at T2, and the usual charges of tampered luggage, filthy restrooms, seat shortages at gates, re-sealed water bottles sold in retail shops and an Amazing Race-style check-in routine spiked with bureaucracy, broken escalators, lengthy Dot Matrix passenger lists and creative airport departure fees. 

4. Toncontín International, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

When do the most common airport gripes about inefficiency, uncomfortable gate chairs, dirty floors and lousy dining options suddenly become irrelevant? When you’re preoccupied about whether your 757 will actually be able to stop before the runway does. 

Nestled in a bowl-shaped valley at 957 meters above sea level, Toncontín’s notoriously stubby, mountain-cloaked landing strip was recently lengthened another 300 meters following a fatal TACA aircraft overshoot in 2008.

Not enough though to avoid being named the “second most dangerous airport in the world” by the History Channel. 

Nepal’s hair-raising Tenzing-Hillary Airport in the Himalayas is the top seed, but receives fewer gripes from its thrill-seeking Everest-bound clientele.

3. London Heathrow, London, England

Depending on which of Heathrow’s five terminals one is funneled through, the average experience at the world’s third-busiest airport ranges from mildly tedious to "Fawlty Towers" ridiculous. 

With its rash of -- as they were politely called -- “teething problems” in bright and airy T5 (remember that riotous grand opening with 34 canceled flights?) and nicely matured problems in Ts 1, 2 and 3, the issues passengers are beset with run the gamut.

Parking messes. Busted baggage carousels. Deadlocked security lines. Long walks (or, more commonly, runs) between gates to a frenzied soundtrack of “last call” announcements. Realizations that getting out of Heathrow took longer than actually flying here from Madrid. 

In the airport “where the world changes planes,” it all boils down to a chronic inability to cope with this many people. Plans for a sixth terminal should help sever even more nerves.

2. Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, United States

If the world’s seventh-busiest flight hub was an old ballpark resting on the stale reputation of its Dodger Dogs and that great 1959 series, LAX might have some endearment value. 

But it’s an airport -- a dramatically undersized and moribund one with the architectural élan of a 1960s correctional facility and several publicized concerns about how its 1,700 takeoffs and landings a day can be sustained in a facility a fifth the size of healthier cousins like Dallas/Fort Worth. 

The unsupportive donut-shaped design -- it’s been called “eight terminals connected by a traffic jam” -- makes dashing between airlines feel like a diesel-scented cardio test. 

Plunked in the middle is the airport’s landmark Jetsons-style restaurant and only mentionable amenity, Encounter, but how does one actually get inside this place -- at least before being nailed for a petty traffic violation by some of the most ticket-hungry airport cops west of the Mississippi?

1. Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris, France

“A great country worthy of the name,” President Charles de Gaulle once opined, “does not have any friends.” 

True or not, it’s this sort of attitude that has helped CDG become the most maligned major airport on earth. What’s fueling it? 

Grimy washrooms with missing toilet seats don’t help. Nor do broken scanning machines and an overall lack of signage, gate information screens and Paris-worthy bars, restaurants or cafés.

The baffling circular layout is worsened by warrens of tunnel-like structures, dismissive staff and seething travelers waiting forever in the wrong queue. 

The worst part may be this airport’s aura of indifference to it all. “Waiting for a connection here,” notes one commuter, “is like being in custody.”  

If you’re actually staying in Paris, you may be okay. If you have the gall to just be passing through between Malaga and Montreal, you can cut the spite of this place with a cheese knife.  

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