The Mainstream San Agustin Church

This is one of the mainstream tourist destinations in Manila but hey when you love it you don’t care about that mainstream and non-mainstream idea or whether it would make you less traveler than other. The way to enjoy your travel time is just go wherever you want to go and let all your senses embrace the place.

In this place, my eyes pampered by its delightful architect and interior, I always love Roman Catholic churches even though I’m not there for praying. You can enjoy this building no matter what religion you’re embracing.

look up!

Located in Intramuros area in Manila, Phillippines, San Agustin Church is a perfect baroque-style of Roman Catholic church. Built during Spanish colonial era in Phillipines, San Agustin Church now is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Going inside the church is like a short visit to Europe’s churches with engraved dome and all the details.

Although it’s a common tourist destination, you still gotta behave a bit in this church, however, it’s still a church so don’t speak too loud, wear a proper clothes (shorts are okay), and respect what’s inside of it. You can take a lot of pictures inside but give yourself a time to sit after that and look up, you’ll love what you see.

@marischkaprue – not against the stream, just sometimes

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You Must Hike: Gili Laba

Saya ingat betapa menawannya Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur sejak bahkan saya belum menginjakkan kaki di sana. Tahun lalu dari dalam pesawat saya melihat gugusan pulau di Flores dari ketinggian, kombinasi warna pulau yang mencoklat di musim kering dengan warna biru tua laut, pasir putih dan warna turquoise di area laut dangkal membuat saya tidak sabar ingin menikmati destinasi yang satu ini.

Typical Flores view during dry season

Tahun ini saya kembali mendatangi Flores, ke beberapa area yang belum saya singgahi pada perjalanan saya tahun lalu dan salah satunya adalah Gili Laba. Terletak di sisi utara Pulau Komodo dan Pulau Rinca, Gili Laba adalah salah satu yang harus anda masukkan dalam daftar “must hike” karena pemandangan yang sangat indah dari puncak pulau ini.

Suddenly green

Datanglah di pertengahan tahun, sekitar bulan Agustus dan September saat rumput tengah mengering dan membuat seisi pulau bagaikan dibalur filter Instagram. Coklat kekuningan dengan terkadang pohon besar dengan daun yang hijau berada di tengah kecoklatan.

Loving these colour combination

It's really hard to hold yourself from taking pictures over and over again :))

who mind trekking if this view you'll got during going up?

Perlu waktu sekitar satu jam kurang untuk mendaki Gili Laba, di beberapa lokasi cukup curam namun bukanlah jalur yang sulit untuk didaki. Saya dan teman-teman berulang kali berhenti untuk mengambil gambar, semua sisi Gili Lawa bagaikan studio foto dengan background yang sempurna!

View from the top, it's all worth the efforts!

Also to have a picture of you standing here is mandatory

Tempat terbaik adalah di puncak pertama, dengan pemandangan pantai area masuk jalur trekking Gili Laba dimana anda dapat melihat kapal-kapal bersandar di dekat area dangkal dengan pasir putih dan koral yang terlihat jelas dari ketinggian, stunning!

Patrick didn't mind trekking to the top since all he has to do is just stick inside my bag

Indonesia never fails to take my breath away over and over again!

@marischkaprue – from top of the hills to the bottom of the sea

NOTES:

• Gili Laba adalah salah satu pulau di gugusan kepulauan di Komodo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
• Untuk menuju Gili Laba anda dapat menyewa kapal dari Labuan Bajo, Flores, NTT atau menikmati sailing dari Lombok menuju Komodo dengan rute yang melewati Gili Laba.
• Having this trip with Tukang Jalan, dengan budget Rp. 1,9 juta per orang (sailing dari Lombok menuju Labuan Bajo, sudah include makan 3x sehari). Untuk info trip serupa hubungi Tukang Jalan di +6281 806898303/ 081315890191 atau email di tuk4ng.jalan@gmail.com
• Untuk menuju ke Labuan Bajo dari Jakarta melalui penerbangan transit di Bali. Harga tiket Jakarta - Bali sekitar Rp. 600 ribu (one way), sementara harga tiket Bali - Labuan Bajo sekitar Rp. 1 juta (one way). Total tiket Jakarta - Labuan Bajo PP sekitar Rp. 3,2 juta.
• Jika ikut trip sailing dari Lombok menuju Labuan Bajo maka tiket yang diperlukan dari Jakarta ke Lombok (sekitar Rp. 700 ribu) dan Labuan Bajo - Jakarta sehingga total budget tiket sekitar Rp. 2,3 juta.

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• Rinca Island, Beauty and The Beast
• Fosil di Gua Batu Cermin (Labuan Bajo)

DIVING IN KOMODO:

• "Shark Hunt" in Crystal Rock & Castle Rock
• NIght Dive in Siaba Besar
• Falling Fishes in Batu Bolong

Having this trip with these wonderful people, thanks for the great experience!

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Made in China: The Venetian

Anda tidak perlu sudah pernah mengunjungi Venesia untuk tahu kota yang terkenal dengan jembatan dan kanal serta gondola yang jadi ciri khas kota di Italia ini. Venesia terkenal dengan romantisme, kota yang unik dan jadi impian untuk dikunjungi pasangan dari seluruh dunia.

The Venetian Macao adalah replika Kota Venesia yang dibuat di dalam bangunan, indoor. Sangat menarik berjalan di dalam kompleks Venesia di The Venetian Macau yang merupakan hotel dan casino resort, sekaligus shopping malls. Bangunan toko di sisi kiri dan kanan dibuat menyerupai bangunan di Venesia, lengkap dengan sungai di area tengah dan gondola seperti di Italia.

The "sky"

Bagian atas dibuat menyerupai langit biru, lengkap dengan awan. Saya masih dapat melihat titik-titik (smoke detector?) di atas namun sekilas tampak seperti langit biru dan membuat area belanja indoor ini serasa berjalan di luar namun dengan udara yang tetap sejuk.

Bought some souvenirs in this cute shop!

Busy day at the Casino

The Venetian Macao dimiliki oleh grup Las Vegas Sands dan dibuat menyerupai Casino Resort The Venetian Las Vegas. Jika ingin mencoba peruntungan (atau ketidak beruntungan), anda dapat turun ke area lantai dasar dengan areal kasino yang sangat luas. Tinggal pilih salah satu di antara 3.400 slot machines, atau gambling di salah satu di antara 800 meja yang ada.

Well, I prefer stay away from that, I don't have the lucky hands on gambling, so does Patrick. But we do enjoy The Venetian a lot!

@marischkaprue - she didn't sing on the gondola, just in the bathroom

 NOTES:

• The Venetian Macao terletak di Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, s/n, Taipa, Macao SAR, P.R. China
• Untuk masuk ke area Casino tidak boleh menggunakan sendal jepit dan celana pendek, perempuan boleh menggunakan celana pendek.
• Area Venesia di The Venetian adalah shopping area, tidak ada ketentuan dress code untuk masuk area ini

GIVEAWAY!

Who want this pretty keychain? :)

I'm having a great time in Macau and it always a pleasure to send a mini gifts from places I've been. This time I have one cute key-chain from The Venetian Macao. How to get? very simple, just answer if you're in The Venetian Macao, will you gamble in the Casino or not and why? Write on the comments below :)

Also, don't forget to write your twitter account on the end of your comment, I'll contact the winner via twitter on 6th October 2014!

Thank you and hope you like it! :)

And the winner is @mohfirmansyah ,semoga suka hadiahnya!

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Double Six Luxury Hotel Seminyak, We Love Luxury

 

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. You might think luxury must relate with money, well in my opinion it depend. For those having all they need but dealing with works 24/7, staying at home one day and doing nothing is luxury. For me, doing things you really love is luxury. Jumping from a height with your feet tied up - you can call it bungee to make it sound wow - is a luxury. This place been providing luxury in Bali; before, now and then.

You might remember the only place to do a bungy in Indonesia: double six. Jumping from about 20 meters, with a pool below. Well, now that bungy is not the luxury you can have here, but I'm sure its the luxury everybody loves.

This is one of the greatest hotels to feel in Seminyak, Bali. Where you can see the beach from your balcony and enjoy swimming on fresh water pool, also from your balcony. Double Six exceed my expectation of enjoying a hotel in Seminyak.

Few years back it was the infamous double six club and AJ Hackett Bungy (same company with the Bungy I tried in Queenstown), now the area is transforming to a more enjoyable luxury, no adrenaline rush needed since all you want to do is just enjoy the room and the atmosphere.

The pool is super clear

I'm lucky enough to get the room with a view, a wide terrace and pool access. I can see the pool and the seminyak beach right from my bed. The thing about having these 120 meters long blue pool is that you just want to jump in and get wet all the time but its not a problem, the room is just steps away.

Another thing I love about DoubleSix Luxury Hotel Seminyak is the bathroom. Just see and I'm sure you'll love it. Don't forget the Hermes amenities, a luxury you usually get in a hotel like Sofitel, but this one is owned by Balinese businessmen. It always good to know a great hotel owned by local.

Sunset feeling

From the rooftop, best place to enjoy the sunset!

Its glowing during the night :)

Then again, it's a place to enjoy the luxury of a hotel, and the luxury of a view nature's been providing for us living in Indonesia.

@marischkaprue - her luxury in life is to be able to travel to various destinations

All photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES:

•  Double Six Luxury Hotel Seminyak located at No 66, Double Six Beach, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 80361. Info and bookings: phone +62 361 730466, email info@double-six.com

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