In Jakarta, they plan to make the city greener. The goal is that 14% of the city area should consist of parks by 2010. Taman Menteng by the street Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto was finished this spring and hopefully the other park creations will follow without any problems.
UNESCO recently voted the rainforest area Atsinana on Madagascar to their World Heritage List. Atsinana, the eastern part of Madagascar, have six national parks well worth a visit: Marojejy, Zahamena, Masoala, d’Andringitra, Ranomafana, Ihorombe and d’Andohahela. Masoala is the largest national park in Madagascar and have been recreated in Masoala Rainforest at Zurich’s Zoo in Switzerland.
Few cities emphasize the concept of sophistication better than Paris. The city has inspired numerous writers, artists and designers with its haute couture and exquisite sense for grace and style. Prices on luxury pieces are undoubtedly high, but people on a tight budget can easily spend hours of window-shopping in the finest fashion districts.
The shopping on offer is a vital element in the city’s status as the capital of romance. Fashionistas select haute couture for ultimate elegance or prêt-a-porter for less detailed and conspicuous apparel. The centre of Parisian luxury shopping, the neighbourhood Triangle d’Or, consists of Avenue George V, Rue Francois, and Avenue Montaigne (with chic labels as Gucci, Celine, Chanel and Dior). Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, on the other side of Avenue Champs Elysées near Metro Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, offers brands like Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermes. For shopping at Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Louis Vuitton on 101 near Metro George V is a safe pick.
Aside from clothing shoppers, Paris also attracts lovers of antiques. You can see them at the world’s leading and most respected antique market Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. A delicately presented gift from this or another vibrant Parisian antique market will hopefully delight your friend or loved one.
Foodies find their heaven among the tempting food shops at Rue Rambuteau, Rue Montorgueil and Place de la Madeleine in the Opéra Quarter, where everything from cheese to chocolate is on display.
Further places worth a visit are the Garment District (Sentier) Royal behind the Palais Royal, the chic Place des Victoires, the attractive Carré Rive Gauche near the Orsay museum, and Rue de Seine, Rue Jacob and Rue du Bac near the church of St-Germain-des-Pres.
Whatever luxury you seek, I am sure you can find it in Paris.
Row of Sun Palapas on a sandy beach in Mexico.
Residing in a design hotel with a hip ambience and a sophisticated feel will give you a remarkable vacation experience. These six coveted Mexican hotels are a safe bet.
ESENCIA
A sumptuous heaven set at the tropical Caribbean seaside on the Yucatan Peninsula. Wake up for a cooling swim in the pool, a session of yoga, an organic Spa treatment or an ocean dive with skilled scuba instructors. If needed, multilingual nannies can provide baby-sitting. This laid-back hotel has 29 rooms, 17 suites and two cottages for $525-$2,800 a night, including breakfast. As it darkens outside, relish the chef Alejandro Rojas’ Meso-American cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant Sal y Fuego, sip an Esencia Carbena in the chill-out lounge or stroll to the beach and watch the sunset.
Location: Carretera Cancun Tulum, Pedio Rustico Xpu-Ha Lote 18, Quintana Roo
IKA DEL MAR
Living in one of the 30 villas boasting their own private pool and outdoor terrace with beds and hammocks costs $585-$2,500 a night, including breakfasts. To ensure peace and quiet, cell phones are prohibited on Ika del Mar’s premises and no children under 16 are allowed. Available activities include hatha yoga, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and horse-riding. End the day with Azul Restaurant’s international and domestic gourmet cuisine.
Location: Playa Xcalacoco Frac 7, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo
CONDESA DF
Javier Sanche’s architectural gem stands along a Jacaranda-lined avenue in the trendy Condesa district, 30 minutes from the international airport. The Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes has listed the building as cultural heritage. A tranquil site filled with funky simplicity and glamorous cool, especially the central patio devoted to relaxation, dining, and people watching. The 40 rooms and suites have an airy feel, chocolate brown tones and functional furnishing. Don’t miss the club in the basement or a sushi at La Terazza bar offering views to neighbouring Parque de Espana and the Castillo de Chapultepec.
Location: Avenida Veracruz 102, Mexico City
HABITA
Mexican architects Bernardo Gomes-Pimienta and Enrique Norten teamed up with hotel keepers Carlos Couturier and Moises Micha for a 2000 premiere. The result? A contemporary designed five storey hotel with 32 rooms and four suites in the fashionable Polanco neighbourhood, near Chapultepec Park in the city’s business centre. Enjoy the aesthetic rooms, admire the view from the rooftop bar - almost a must in a design hotel - and savour Aura Restaurant’s modern cuisine.
Location: Av. Presidente Masaryk 201, Col. Polanco C.P, Mexico City
DESEO
Situated in a charming fishing village 35 minutes drive south from Cancun International Airport, Deseo is one of the hottest spots on the Mayan Riviera. The 15 rooms and suites - some with ocean view - have a plain feel with natural colours and white marble floors. The hip hotel pool terrace offers king-size beds and pillows for optimal relaxation.
Location: 5th Av and 12th St, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
AZUCAR
According to hotelier Carlos Couturier, the elegant Azucar hotel is a tribute to the sugar industry, the Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz who dedicated a song to the sugar cane and items special for Mexico: the huarache (Mexican sandal), the machete (Mexican cutting knife), and the sombrero (Mexican hat). The 20 spacious bungalows with thatched roofs, white colours and cotton attire all have a private terrace facing the Gulf of Mexico.
Location: Km 83.5 Carretera Poza Rica - Nautla, Loocalidad Montegordo Veracruz
Currency converters are a helpful tool to use before traveling abroad. Visit the currency sites Oanda or XE.com for the latest rates.
Does the idea of traveling with a freighter boat appeal to you? If so, check out these sites for tips and booking possibilities.
The Internet Guide to Freighter Travel - A site covering the world of freighter travel and lots of useful tips.
Freighter World Cruises - The largest travel agency in the world dedicated to freighter cruising.
FreighterTrips.com - Online freighter travel community.
Travel by Freighter - A Swedish site for freighter travel.
Freighter - Keith Syvinski
In Paris, 400 wifi hotspots have been installed in public libraries, different parks, museums and town halls throughout the city. There are still a few parts of some arrondissements without Internet access, but the estimation is that whole Paris should be covered by September. To find a wifi point near you, check out http://wifi.paris.fr and click at the link below “Localisation des points Wi-Fi”.
Could you be on the road for several months in a row without access to Internet? I’ve never tried, I could probably make it, but I wouldn’t want to do it.
Before your next trip abroad, don’t forget to visit cybercafes and search their database of 4208 internet cafés in 141 countries.
A while ago I wrote a blog post where I asked readers to vote for the best beach(es) in the world. The response was not what I had hoped for, so I give up that idea - for now.
Instead I wanted to tell you about this great blog about beaches I found a couple of days ago - The Best Beaches of the World. Their reviews give information on the sand, facilities, shade and sports plus useful notes.
Don’t miss the review of Maldives Beach - Sun Island - Nalaguraidhoo. A truly stunning place!
On Freeride (Scandinavia’s biggest ski site) I just found a trailer for Flavours, a new Swedish surf film from Indonesia. To see the trailer, click here and then at Webb-TV: Fresh: Flavours trailer on the top of the page.
For more Indonesian surfing, click here.
