The Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza (Arabic: أبو الهول "The Father of Fear") is a half-human, half-lion Sphinx statue in Egypt on the Giza Plateau at the west bank of the Nile River, near modern-day Cairo. The largest monolith statue in the world, it stands 73.5 metres (241 feet) long, 6 m (20 ft) wide, and 20 m (65 ft) high. Commonly believed to have been built by antient egyptian in the 3rd millennium BC, it is the earliest known monumental sculpture.

Mythology
The Great Sphinx was believed to stand as a guardian of the Giza Plateau, where it faces the rising sun. It was the focus of solar worship in the Old kingdom, centered in the adjoining temples built around the time of its probable construction. Its animal form, the lion, has long been a symbol associated with the sun in ancient nears eastern civilizations. Images depicting the Egyptian king in the form of a lion smiting his enemies appear as far back as the Early Dynasty period of Egypt. During the New Kingdom, the Sphinx became more specifically associated with the god Hor-em-akhet ( Greek Harmachis) or Horus at the Horizon, which represented the Pharoah in his role as the Shesep ankh of Atum (living image of Atum). A temple was built to the northeast of the Sphinx by King Amenhotep II, nearly a thousand years after its construction, dedicated to the cult of Horemakhet.

Reference from http://www.en.wikipedia.org

Jakarta - Capital of Indonesia

Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta), is the capital of Indonesia. It was formerly known as Sunda Kalapa (397-1527), Jayakarta (1527-1619), Batavia (1619-1942), and Djakarta (1942-1972). Located on the northwest coast of the Java Islands. Its metropolitan is called Jabotabek ( Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi ) and contains more than 23 million people. Jakarta is served by the Soekarno - Hatta International Airport. Since 2004, Jakarta, under the governance of Sutiyoso, has built a new bus system known as Trans Jakarta or "Busway", a route just from buses that provide by Jakarta Goverment. Jakarta also is the location of the Indonesia Stock Exchange and the Monument National or we called Monas.

Monument National

The design of the monument is meant to combine elements of masculine and feminine. The design based on Lingga - Yoni, the symbol of fertility in ancient Hindu - Javanese belief. The phallic shaft comes toward the ground and is engulfed by square base meant to symbolize fertility. The monument body was made of steel and concrete covered with italian white marble. On the top of the tower there's a square terrace that can be reach by visitor with elevator. From here visitor can see aerial view of Jakarta. The monument is crowned by gold-coated flame, right on the top of the peak terrace. This golden flame symbolize the spirit of freedom and the struggle for independence of Indonesian people. This monument was built by the idea of the former president Soekarno ( the first president of Indonesia ).

Monument National is located at the central of Jakarta at Jalan Medan Merdeka, near the Presidential Palace, Gambir Railways station and central business district.

The Pisa Tower

This is image and information from http://torre.duomo.pisa.it
The Tower is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the second half of the XII century.

Characteristics of the Tower
- The height of the building from the foundations to the belfry is c. 60m- The ring shaped foundation has an external diameter of 19.6m- The Tower weighs c. 14,500 tonnes- The Tower is shaped like a hollow cylinder formed by two concentric walls (in marble blocks) which contain mortar and other matter- A spiral stair within the cylindrical body allows access to the arcaded storeys and to the summit of the tower- The thickness of the wall at the first level is 4.1m. At higher levels it is 2.7m - The inclination is c. 5½ degrees towards the south; this means that the seventh cornice protrudes about 4.5m over the first cornice.

Construction history
The Tower was constructed in the course of about 200 years- The history of the building works is only partially documented, and has been reconstructed on the basis of indirect sources- Work on the foundation began on 9 August 1173.- The third order had only just been completed when, in c. 1178, the building works were suspended.- Around 1272 the construction was recommenced, only to be interupted again, at the level of the 7th cornice, in c. 1278.- The construction of the belfry (8th order) began around 1360 and was completed c. 10 years later.- The Tower has subsided vertically by c. 2.8m as a result of the unstable nature of the underlying ground. The catino at the base was excavated in 1838 to bring to light the bases of the columns which had sunk underground.- The differential subsidence is 1.89m; this means that the extreme north and south have subsided by 1.86m and 3.75m respectively.

The Passion of Travelling

I love travel, I love something new, new places, new culture, new enviroment, and new looks, also a new great views. I love that all and I think most of people is dream about that. We can travel anywhere and anytime we want to. But there are many problems that we must face off, including financial problem.

I am the one who had to face that and because of that I make this blog. Just to fullfil my passion to travel aboard, to many country, many places that have a great views and great adventures.

So with this blog, I hope part of my passion can be fill with many places without going there. I really hope that someday many people can share with me, a nice and wonderful places around this world.

Here are a journey I took few month ago, from Jakarta to Ciamis, we stop in a place call Sharmila Restaurant, a country side style restaurant with a great view and great lake. And look what I found in the lake.

Thousand of Gold fish, waiting for us to feed them. The restaurant already provide you some fish food, so you no need to buy them.

Beside thousand of fish, you also will get a great view.

London Eye

Now London has the London Eye - an extraordinary symbol for an extraordinary city. The world's largest observation wheel offers a spectacular way to take in over 55 of London's most famous landmarks in just 30 minutes! Combine your flight on the Eye with a 40 minute circular cruise on the Thames. Departing from the London Eye pier the commentary takes you from the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London and back to the London Eye.
This picture is taking from http://www.infolondon.co.uk

Prices:
Adult: £14.50 to £29.50 per ticket
Child: £7.25 to £9.00 per ticket
Concession: £11.00 per ticket

You also can buy ticket by online, just visit http://www.visitlondon.com

This information is from http://www.visitlondon.com

London - Big Ben Tower

The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower are one of London's iconic landmarks. The building is known as the Palace of Westminster and the clock tower is sometimes called St Stephen's Tower, although it is commonly referred to as Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs in at over 13 tons (13,760 kg).

The Clock Tower
The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. Each dial is 23 feet square, the minute hand is 14 feet long and the figures are two feet high. A special light above the clock faces is also illuminated, letting the public know when parliament is in session.
Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum. Big Ben has rarely stopped and even after an incendiary bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War. The clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.
The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.
Big Ben History
The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided that the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock. The bell was refashioned in Whitechapel in 1858 and the clock first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859.
Just two months later, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.
Why Ben?
The origin of the name Big Ben is not known, although two different theories exist.
The first is that is was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works, a large man who was known affectionately in the house as 'Big Ben'.
The second theory is that it was named after the champion of the prize ring at that time, Benjamin Caunt. Also known as 'Big Ben' this nickname was commonly bestowed in society to anything that was the heaviest in its class.
Visiting Big Ben
The clock tower is not open to the general public. However, it is possible for UK residents to arrange a visit by writing to their MP. Applications should be made in writing, as far in advance as possible, to:
House of CommonsWestminsterLondonSW1A 0AA
It is not possible for overseas visitors to tour the clock tower.

This information is from http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/culture/big-ben

Paris, the romantic city

Image from http://middlezonemusings.com/.../03/eiffel-tower.jpg

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the world. There are 3 levels where you can have a look at the centre of Paris. The first 2 levels you can reach by stairs, or elevator if you prefer. And for the last one to the top you have to buy an extra ticket for the elevator. But it's worth it for the view you get there.

The Arc de Triomphe

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the end of the Champs-Élysees. It is 51 metres high, 45 metres wide and is the second largest one in the world.

Image of Montenegro

Some image of beautiful places in Montenegro.

Montenegro

Montenegro is a country with bright sun, deep blue sea, crystal clear rivers, mountains that reach the sky, dense forests, lakes full of fish, and all that in the south of Europe, for just a 2 or 3 hour flight away from the main capitals of the old continent.Looking forward to outwit the ruthless tempo of contemporary lifestyle and comprehend primeval beauty? Then Montenegro is your best destination.

Save your time and choose the biggest concentration of quality. Feel the adrenaline surge while rafting down on the crystal clear water of the canyon of the Tara River, the deepest canyon in Europe. Get accustomed to nature again in the virgin beauty of Biogradska gora, the last of the untouched forests in Europe.
Feel the beat of Arcadian life in the Kotor Bay, the southernmost fjord in the world.
It is up to you to choose an exalted life on one out of 117 sandy beaches at the Adriatic sea, on coastal towns with renaissance charm or idyllic Montenegrin mountains beside glacier lakes.

Discover a part of the mystic formula on which the seductiveness of Montenegro rests in conquering the irresistible peaks of Durmitor mountain. Cruise along the largest lake and the biggest bird reservation in Europe - the Skadar Lake. Reveal the special dimension formed in intersection of specific Montenegrin combination of ethics and aesthetics, which makes the soul of Montenegro. Montenegro is one of the last undiscovered secrets of the world, one of the last Wild beauties of Europe, a country whose biggest natural and spiritual values refuse to fit into any commercial patterns. Challenge and provocation, adventure and love, the combination of the incompatible, unbelievable but it does exist - Montenegro is waiting for you. http://www.cipatravel.com

Disneyland - Florida

Discover the magic of Disney World with a variety of Disney World vacation packages. Whether traveling as a couple or an entire group, there are a variety of options to help you have a great time in the Orlando area.
http://www.tour-florida.com/