Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc (French for white mountain) or Monte Bianco (Italian, same meaning) also known as "La Dame Blanche" (French, the white lady) is a mount in the Alps. With its 4,808m, it is the highest mountain in the Alps, and in Western Europe.

The mountain lies between the regions of Aosta valley, Italy and Haute - Savoie, france.The location of the summit itself is a subject of controversy between the two countries, and each tends to place it within its own boundaries on maps. In a convention between France and Kingdom of Sardinia, in Turin (1861), the border was fixed on the highest point of Mont Blanc and this was the last official definition of this border, but often the Italian and French maps do not respect this solution.

Mont Blanc di ketinggian 3800m - Aosta Valley dari atas 2000 m

The two most famous towns near Mont Blanc are Courmaveur, in Aosta Valley - Italy - and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France.
Begun in 1957 and completed in 1965, the 11.6 km Mont Blanc tunnel runs beneath the mountain between these two cities and is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes.
The Mont Blanc Massif is popular for mountaineering, hiking and skiing.

Dari Spotorno, Italy kita nyetir selama kurang lebih 3 jam ke Valle D'Aosta, Italy. Disana kebetulan ada rumah tante nya suamiku, jadi begitu tiba disana kita ngga langsung ke Monte Bianco, tapi nginep dulu dan menikmati pemandangan Aosta dr Gardennya mereka yang kebetulan tinggi dan menghadap ke pegunungan pre-alps.... Pemandangan indah seperti itu bisa mereka lihat tiap hari, Gosh....

Naik ke atas monte Bianco kita menggunakan Cabble car, yang pelan2 naik keatas, agak antri untuk masuk ke Cable car, mengingat waktu itu banyak sekali turis yang datang ke Mont Blanc. Ada beberapa stasiun cable car diatas sana di beberapa ketinggian, jadi kalo kamu mau stop di ketinggian 1000 m atau 2000 m bisa saja, diatas sana diketinggian 3600 ada restaurant yang lumayan besar menyediakan makanan italy, restaurant nya berada diluar, jadi bayangkan saja, kita makan siang di atas Mont blanc, couldn't imagine.....

Dan diatas sana juga ada hotel, ngga berbintang banget, tapi cukup oke lah buat orang2 yang kebetulan lagi hiking. Waktu itu kita cuma naik sampe ketinggian 3800. Waktu itu kita kesana pada waktu summer, tapi diatas sana dinginnya bukan main, saljunya tak pernah cair. Pada waktu winter katanya saljunyaakan menutupi seluruh pegunungan.

Diatas sana di ketinggian tertentu ada tiga tanda panah yang berwarna warni yang menunjukkan ke beberapa arah, ke Italy, France dan Swiss. Jadi pada ketinggian itu kita bisa memilih jalan mau kearah mana. Sedangkan puncak Mont Blanc ( Monte Bianco) berada di France.

Hang Out in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the world's best hangouts, a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves, BMWs give way to bicycles, and triple-strength monk-made beer is drunk in gleaming, minimalist cafes.
The city seems to thrive on its mix and, despite hordes of tourists, still manages to feel quintessentially Dutch. The old crooked houses, the cobbled streets, the tree-lined canals and the generous parks all contribute to the atmosphere.

Amsterdam is noted for many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, and its world-class symphony orchestra, the Concertgebouworkest, the home base of which is the Concertgebouw. The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world. Anne Frank House is also a popular tourist attraction.

Amsterdam is also famous for its red-light district, de Wallen. Window prostitution is legal in the Netherlands at specific places. The red-light district is located in the centre of the city along major canals and is clearly marked on maps.

Centred around the Wallen, but also elsewhere in the city, coffee shops sell cannabis. This is not completely legal but is tolerated when small quantities of cannabis (up to 5 grams) are involved.

July 2006 lalu gue berdua dengan suami memutuskan untuk berweekend di Amsterdam, tiga-hari-gila kita nikmati di Amsterdam. Kamar2 hotel di Amsterdam itu kecil2 banget, dan harganya mahal-mahal. Hari pertama setelah makan siang kita berjalan kaki diantara canal-canal dan bangunan-bangunan Amsterdam yang indah. Sore harinya kita berhenti di sebuah coffee shop dan nyobain ashiss, hehe "bandel" yah, tapi cuma di Amsterdam aja kok. Cannabis, ashiss, mushroom dsb hanya dijual di coffee shop - coffee shop, which is legal di Amsterdam. Setelah ketawa ngga berhenti2 malamnya kita dinner di Brazilian restaurant di dekat2 hotel... Setelah makan malam kita jalan-jalan ke red-light-district ngeliat window prostitution (NO CAMERA) yang udah kayak boneka dijual di etalase.

Esoknya kita berkeliling Amsterdam lagi karena hari kemarin tidak sempat mengelilingi semua, kita naik boat mengelilingi canal-canal, mengagumi lagi keindahan bangunan2 Amsterdam yang rata2 sangat sangat sempit itu consider badan2 orang dutch kan gede2 banget. Ngeliat rumah terkecil di Amsterdam house no 7, yang lebarnya cuma semeter, cat house, magic mushroom museum, sex museum.... Minum Heinekken di Bar yang sudah berumur 300 tahun, yang warnanya dinding dan atapnya coklat tua, karena pada musim dingin orang2 merokok didalam dengan pintu dan jendela tertutup selama 300 tahun, kita juga berhenti disalah satu bar yang beernya mereka buat sendiri.

An old Bar - Me, in front of the magic mushroom museum

Setelah itu kita mampir lagi di coffee shop (he he , bandel lagi), kali ini kita nyobain cannabis dan space cake, space cake seperti brownies rasa coklat tetapi sudah di campuri dengan ashis (bener ga nulisnya), alhasil sore itu kita teler banget, ngga tau ashisnya apa space cake nya yg bikin kita teler, yang pasti sore itu kita nyasar nyasar ngga sampe ke hotel Hahahahahah

Gue emang belum pernah liat sex show, banyak org bercerita ttg ping pong show di Bangkok, tapi waktu gue ke Bangkok belum sempat kesana. Jadi kali ini di Amsterdam gue harus liat, kayak apa sih sex show itu. Di Amsterdam banyak pertunjukan2 sex, ada peep show, dan segala macam cara. Tapi gue maunya yang LIVE...! Ada beberapa theatre yang menayangkan live sex show di Red-light district, tapi yang paling panjang antriannya itu adalah theatre yang bernama CASSA ROSSO. Antrinya kayak mau beli sembako, jadi jelaslah gue maunya ke situ. Tiket masuk harganya 40 Euro satu orang, termasuk dua gelas alkohol drinks. Di dalam bentuknya seperti layaknya theatre, cuma jauh lebih kecil, penonton nya hanya sekitar 50 orang, di panggung yang jaraknya hanya semeter dari kursi paling depan ada tempat tidur yang berputar2.... Yahhh, ngga mungkin kan gue ceritain kayak apa show nya, tentunya kalian juga tahu.

Sex Shop in the street of Amsterdam

Pokoknya selama tiga hari di Amsterdam kita gunakan untuk gila2 an hehehe, maaf! Tapi dari pertama kita memang sudah commit untuk tidak mencoba magic mushroom, yang katanya sangat berbahaya, magic mushroom ada macem2nya, ada yang hawaii, mexico dll, kalo ngga salah Hawaiian yang paling berbahaya. Katanya jenis mushroom itu bisa membuat perjalanan anda menjadi disaster trip. Mengingat masa mabuknya bisa sekitar 12 jam. I noticed orang2 belanda sangat ramah dan friendly, turis terbanyak di Amsterdam berasal dari Britain. Ternyata penduduk lokal (Dutch) yang memakai drugs di Belanda hanya 5% (sumber: lonely planet) dan yang terbanyak ialah turis dari inggris.

Iguacu – Nature’s Monument to the Mystery of Latin America

In a way, no South American Travel Blog would be complete without an Iguacu entry. Like Machu Picchu, the giant falls have become both an integral part of Latin America, as well as an iconic representation of the type of beauty so often found within the continent. I think everyone finds something in Iguacu. However, it all depends on the individual, and whether they experience a life altering realization, a subtle understanding of nature, or even just a quiet peace of mind, people both lose and find themselves in this jungle waterfall wonderland. Over the years, I have traveled to Iguacu a number of times for both business and pleasure and am always amazed. And amid bromeliads, vines, orchids and a kaleidoscope of brightly colored butterflies, the mighty falls never fail to impress me with their reckless beauty.

The name Iguacu derives from Guarani and translates as “Great Water”. It’s a very apt description to say the very least. According to local tradition I am told that the falls were created when a Guarani god fell in love with a beautiful young girl in the area and decided to make her his wife. Listless in this regard however, the young girl took off with her lover in a boat and headed downstream. The god’s wrath was apparently terrible, and in order to avenge himself he broke the river Iguacu and created the falls which sent the young girl and her lover to a watery grave. It seems like a rather elaborate way to extract revenge – I agree – but when looking out over the falls and appreciating their sheer immensity it’s easy to gauge how annoyed the deity must have been. All I can say is that she really must have been unbelievably attractive to evoke such a wonder.

The falls themselves consist of 270 separate cascades that stretch in white veiled patches for over 2.7 kilometers with vivid green jungle sprouting spectacularly between the waterfall segments wherever it can. The Garganta do Diabo or Devil’s Throat is perhaps the most impressive of all the falls and with a U bend shape, it stretches for over 700 meters. The fall marks the division between Brazil and Argentina and is best seen from the Brazilian side, but best experienced from the Argentina side as you’re much closer to the actual falls. A raised platform on the Argentine side leads one out over the river for almost a kilometer right up to the very edge of the Devil’s Throat. The lookout point is so close to the falls that you can almost touch the billowing clouds of mist that rise up from the depths and obscure the view of Brazil across the river. Its rather magical standing right there and feeling both the immensity and power of the river as it falls right by you.

I enjoy Iguacu from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides – both have their merits, and it is generally recommendable to spend time on either side in order to get a better feel for the falls. Both the Brazilian and Argentine side offer a number of different activities, with everything from jungle walks and abseiling, to adventure rafting and helicopter rides available. The Macuco Safari offered on the Brazilian side involves a spectacular hike and drive through the surrounding forest down to the river where you board a large outboard motor speed boat and make your way up river to the falls. The drivers – all fully professional – skillfully maneuver the boat directly under the falling water in what can only be described as a heart stopping yet life changing experience. It changes ones perspective and I loved it. The Helicopter flights are also very worthwhile – the view from a thousand feet above the falls is utterly unbelievable and the pilots are skilled at taking the choppers as close as possible to the falling water.

From a regional point of view, the falls lie between Brazil and Argentina; while another of the area’s famous sites – the great Itaipu Dam – lies between Paraguay and Brazil. The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant is the largest of its kind in the world. It’s well worth seeing for no other reason than the sheer size of the dam is mind boggling. I am very pro hydroelectric power as it’s a great way to generate clean energy – and while the dam itself looks like a bit of a concrete abrasion on what is probably one of the most beautiful parts of Latin America – one needs to take into account the fact that the plant supplies Brazil with close to 25% of its power needs, and Paraguay with almost 97%. That is a lot of clean energy. The dam is rated at one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World – and with enough concrete to build 210 giant football stadiums, and enough steel to build 380 Eiffel Towers; it is hardly any wonder why.

Three settlements in three different countries converge around Iguacu and give the area a distinctive feel and vibe. While you’re on the Brazilian side you feel very much as though you are in Brazil. The same holds true for the Argentine and Paraguayan sides, and this is strange as one could almost argue that the three settlements are so close to one another that they practically make up the same city. Brazilian Foz de Iguacu is the largest, and within the lively city it is easy to find samba, capirinhas, and colorful attitudes. The Argentine side is home to Puerto de Iguassu – a tranquil, safe, cheap, and much smaller town where you can eat a great Argentine Parilla (Barbeque). The Paraguayan settlement is a trade free zone called Ciudade del Este and is a haven for counterfeit watches and knock-off computers – it’s a bustling town, rougher than the Brazilian and Argentine sides, but a great place to go if you’re looking for a good deal. All three towns are connected by bridges and separated by border control posts giving them a feeling of both unification and detachment from one another. Most tourists choose to stay on either the Argentine or Brazilian side – visiting the other side for a day.

Regardless of what there is to see and do in and around the falls, it is the falls themselves that remain very much the central attraction to the area. I’ve heard it said that Iguacu is at once both mind numbingly large, and jaw dropping beautiful. I guess Iguacu will always remain one of those places where you just can’t seem to fully appreciate its immensity and beauty. There is simply too much to see there. The falls – I feel – are just way too big and way too beautiful to ever really be understood and respected in the way that they deserve to be. For the most part all we can do is visit, gain what we can personally from seeing one of natures most spectacular sites, and then leave knowing that there are still places on earth that remain a mystery.

Keep on Traveling

Bart

www.cat-travel.com

Yangon

Gue berdua temen gue (Angel) hampir mendarat di Bandar udara di kota Yangon, kita penasaran melongok ke jendela pesawat dan kaget dengan pemandangan yang kami lihat dari atas, ternyata Yangon tidak semetropolitan yang kita bayangkan. Mendarat di Yangon siang hari dan dijemput temen kita (Nanda, Burmese) di airport, masih terbengong2 gue melihat keadaan sekitar, melihat semua laki2 memakai sarung. Begitu nyampe langsung check in di Hotel, ngedrop tas dan langsung cabut lagi buat nukerin dollar, karena NO ATM, NO CREDIT CARDS in Myanmar.

Hari pertama kita nuker US1000, dapetnya K12.625 (Kyats) untuk beberapa hari. Dan gue lebih kaget lagi setelah menerima uang sana, itu uang sebuntelan, belum pernah memegang uang setebal itu dalam hidup gue, tas kita juga ngga muat, akhirnya itu duit gue masukin ke dalam tas kamera, dan sebagian didalam tas plastik Hahahahah. Orang2 Myanmar kalo ngitung duit yang banyak banget di itungnya pake penggaris :D Kira2 di cm sekian berarti jumlahnya sekian. Soalnya pecahan paling kecil disana cuma K1000.

Setelah itu kita langsung lunch di salah satu restoran lokal, makanan nya enak-enak dan murah. Setelah makan kita beralih ke Bogyoke Market, market yang terkenal menjual Gems, fabrics dan handycraft. Kita berdua ngeborong, semua dibeli, liat ini dibeli, liat itu dibeli kayak orang kesetanan.... Hahahahah. Selain handycraft2 Myanmar itu cantik, indah dan bagus, harganya juga relatif murah.

Yang paling menyolok ketika gue nyampe di Yangon itu adalah orang2 nya baik laki2 dan perempuan semuanya memakai sarung, jadi gue berasa disana kayak sedang mau Jumatan.... Angel malah bilang kayak sunatan massal heheheh. Kedua, hampir seluruh perempuan baik tua dan muda memakai Thanakha di pipinya, beberapa laki2 juga memakai. Fungsinya sebagai sunscreen, cooling dan make up. Thanakha terbuat dari kulit kayu.

Yangon adalah kota yang unik, mungkin kayak Jakarta 30 tahun yg lalu kali ya, jadi mundur nih, semuanya masih minimalis dan sangat ketinggalan jaman. Maklumlah negara ini kan closed country, ngga ada investasi yang masuk. Di Yangon mobil2 semuanya jelek2 dan tua2, karena harga mobil itu mahal banget, kayak mobilnya temen gue Toyota Mark II itu sekitar US 50.000. Udah bisa beli Mercedes tuh, mobil2 bagus hanya dimiliki orang2 kaya.

Di jalanan di Yangon ngga ada satupun sepeda atau sepeda motor, jadi disana ngga ada Macet!Ngga ada Mc.D, Pizza, Sturbucks, dan Cineplex, ada bioskop tapi gedungnya tua banget dan menayangkan film2 yang udah lama banget dan gue jg ngga kenal :)

Pemandangan di jalanan kota Yangon - Menjual ikan asin siap pakai

Burmese food sangat-sangat enak, agak2 mirip dengan makanan indonesia. Meal yg terkenal adalah Fish Soup, enak dehhh.... Namanya Monigha. Biasanya fish soup dimakan sewaktu pagi. Kebanyakan Burmese food itu seafood dan ikan yang kebanyakan didapat dr sungai. Sedikit memakan daging2an. Gue impressed kalo myanmar punya bir sendiri dan enak lagi, merknya MYANMAR, very light, dan satu lagi yg bikin gue impressed mereka punya wine juga, dan rasanya enak lho!

Myanmar terkenal dengan Batu2 mulianya, dan harganya tergolong sangat murah, terutama Ruby dan Blue sapphire nya. Jadi kita sempetin liat2, di Bogyoke Market, dan juga di toko2 bergengsi di Yangon.

Malam harinya kita ke Shwedagon Paya, pagodanya gede banget dan berlapis emas, pagoda aslinya sendiri sudah berumur 2000 tahun. Lokasinya besar sekali, malam hari banyak orang datang kesana untuk berdoa dan duduk2 menikmati keindahan pagoda. Bukan hanya org2 lokal dr Yangon saja, tetapi juga dari Mandalay dsb. Katanya di dalam pagoda ini banyak banget emas, dan juga diamond yang sangat besar. Banyak harta peninggalan raja2 Myanmar jaman dulu di masukkan kedalam pagoda ini, yang kebanyakan berupa emas.

Kemudian sebelum makan malam kita mampir ke Karaweik, restoran milik goverment yang bentuknya seperti kapal dengan moncong naga, diatas danau. Indah sekali dilihat dr jalan....

Kita juga bergonta ganti restoran di Yangon, nyobain restoran2 yang ramai dikunjungi disana, termasuk Power Light yang menyediakan live musik dan penari2 sebagai hiburan. Dua hari aja di Yangon, kemudian kita berangkat ke Mandalay.