Garuda Magazine November 2010, Main Feature, 7 Great Holiday Destinations

7 GREAT HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS

Seoul – Dubai – Bangkok – Amsterdam – Melbourne – Yogyakarta – Osaka

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SEOUL SOUTH KOREA

Emerging from the horrors of war, this East Asian capital city has really done well for itself. Seoul, in just some 57 odd years is now South Korea’s unquestioned economic, political and cultural hub and one of the world’s top ten financial and commercial centres. It is fast gaining the reputation as Asia’s hippest and happening place while at the same time maintaining the charm Asia’s old and new.

If you’re looking for flavours of old Korea you’ll have to visit some of the temples and palaces that dot the huge metropolitan sprawl, as well as the arts and crafts neighbourhood of Insadong with its galleries, street vendors and old Korean buildings turned into restaurants and traditional inns. The Gyeongbok Palace is one such palace. It is located in a district called Jongno, lying on the north side of the HanGang River. The Jongno and Gwanghwamun areas cover approximately two square kilometres and it is here that you can find an astonishing contrast of the old and new.

Next, venture into Seoul’s modern side: Myeong-dong is Seoul’s fashion Mecca, where young people on the hunt for the latest styles congregate. Here you will also find the biannual Myeong-dong Festival, featuring an array of entertainment, from traditional music to a fashion show.

Every foreigner who comes to Seoul gravitates towards Itaewon, the most Americanised and tolerant district in Korea, located near the U.S. military base. In here also will you find the highest concentration of Koreans and non-Koreans mingling in the street. This district is also known for the Yongsan Electronic Shopping Town, an ultimate electronic shopping experience where you can shop for various video games, appliances, Western-brand clothing and local souvenirs.

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DUBAI UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Who doesn’t know Dubai now? This once-sleepy desert city that comprises one of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates has stunned the world with its jaw-opening, seemingly impossible projects in the tourism and trade sectors.

Now, people know Dubai as the destination of the superlatives: for the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, this is the place where you’ll find it all. Which makes this little oasis by the desert a must-visit if you’re looking for a truly extraordinary vacation; besides possessing some of the world’s best tourist amenities and infrastructures, Dubai also has liberal policies by the region’s standards. So what can you expect to do in Dubai?

Let us count the ways.

To start with, there is perhaps no better or glorious activity to do in Dubai than simply…..go shopping! Dubai is synonymous with shopping, and the excesses of the emirates mean that you

FROM TOP: An example of

typical islamic architecture on a double door; The Burj al Arab, the fourth tallest hotel in the world, is situated atop an artificial island; Souvenirs on display in Dubai’s market.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Deoksu Palace Guards in traditional attire, Seoul, South Korea

PHOTOGRAPH: JAN DEKKER (3), PHOTO LIBRARY (1)

will actually be encouraged to splurge here. The best things to buy in Dubai are textiles, electronics and gold. If you happen to plan your vacation sometime in January, make sure to plan it around the Dubai Shopping Festival, which runs from late January to late February. This is the Middle East’s largest shopping event for the past 11 years in which almost every shop has a sale.

Dubai’s beaches also make it compulsory for you to visit as the emirate is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. With pure white sandy shores and waters the deepest of blues, lounging around on the beach all day is an activity that will never get old. Just make sure to buy a high-factor sunscreen!

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meticulously crafted facade of one of Bangkok’s most iconic tourist symbol, the Grand Palace; A boat lady in Bangkok’s floating market selling food items.

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To first-time arrivals, Bangkok may very well be an assault on all senses. Labyrinths of expressways and overpasses, huge new Skytrain and crowded streets full of vendors, stifling heat and traffic congestion. But Bangkok remains one of South-East Asia’s most charming destinations for many visitors, who simply can’t peel away from the city’s sweet-natured hospitality, cosmopolitan aura, magnificent temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.

Most of Bangkok’s sights are concentrated on the island of Rattanakosin, often referred to the “Old City”. Out of Bangkok’s hundreds of temples, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun usually make up the big three. The Grand Palace has an

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FROM LEFT: The

BANGKOK THAILAND

immense size, so expect to spend at least a full morning or afternoon there. The nearby Wat Pho is home to the world’s largest reclining Buddha image and a famed massage school.

Back in town, the Lumphini Park in Silom has Bangkok’s largest park, and offers a good venue to rest and escape the fumes. Backpackers around Khao San Road usually head for Santichaiprakarn Park, a small but fun park along the Chao Phraya River with a breezy atmosphere, usually with locals juggling or practicing tricks.

Zoos and animal farms are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok, and Queen Saovabha Snake Farm is prime example of this. Another nice family attraction is the Siam Ocean World in Siam Square. Although the price is a little steep, but it is well worth it considering that the aquarium is the largest in South-East Asia.

There are many cultural performances in Bangkok that show traditional Thai culture and dances, but the highlights in December include the Trooping of the Colours and the King’s Birthday on 5 December. Trooping of the Colours, held in the Royal Plaza in Dusit, will display members of the elite Royal Guards dressed in colourful uniforms march amid much pomp and ceremony. The King’s Birthday Celebration is a grand celebration, where Ratchadamri Road and the Grand Palace are elaborately decorated and illuminated. In the evening, hundreds of thousands of locals line the route from Sanam Luang to the Chitralada Palace to get a glimpse of the King as he is slowly chauffeured past.

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AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest planned small cities in the world as well as one of the most romantic and wonderful cities in the whole continent of Europe.

Having said that, there is perhaps no greater activities than exploring Amsterdam on foot. Once you see the 1,000-plus attractive bridges, eye-candy architecture, countless cutesy cafés and fascinating alleyways each promising a trinket of discovery, you’ll quickly see why.

Be sure to walk the canal districts at night, when the lights from the bridges and buildings are reflected on the waters for

captivatingly romantic scenes. Some of the best areas to wander here include the clichéd but age-old truth Western Canal Belt, Eastern Canal Belt and the Southern Historic Centrum.

Families or couples visiting Amsterdam for the first time must make the time to cruise the canal. If you only have time to do one thing there, make it a canal cruise. Seeing the 700-years old city from the criss-crossing waterways while taking in the view of dozens of spectacular 17th century mansions, humpbacked bridges, quirky houseboats and stunning architecture puts it in an entirely different perspective altogether.

Black-and-white image of an old bicycle by the Singel canal, Amsterdam.

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BELOW, FROM LEFT:

View from the ground, looking up, Shot Tower, hot air balloon and biplane inside Melbourne Shopping Centre, Victoria, Melbourne; Entrance to Luna Park, St Kilda.

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MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

Visiting both quaint and vibrant Melbourne can be a nice change of pace. With its excellent infrastructures and transport network, the city is easy to navigate and is thoroughly modern.

Melbourne, as the fashion and shopping capital of Australia, has some of Australia’s largest shopping centres, including Chadstone, the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere with over 530 stores; Knox City Shopping Centre with 350 stores; and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre with around 330 stores; or hit-and-run picks at some of Melbourne’s eclectic mainstays such as the historic Collins Block

Arcade (on Collins Street), boasting some of the world’s top designers and fashion houses; Brunswick Street on Fitzroy, offering an eclectic mix of vintage, rave, retro and alternative gears such as Shag, Fat Helen’s and Beaut Vintage.

Melbourne Central is another city-based shopping mall adjacent to the underground station of the same name, while Bourke Street Mall anchored with department stores Myer and David Jones offer a nice outdoor-based shopping experience. For bargain shoppers, there is a DFO Outlet Malls located on Spencer Street, just north of Southern Cross Railway station. Outside the city centre, shopping precincts like Chapel Street in South Yarra, Acland Street in St Kilda and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy are great for finding everything from retro home wares to funky shops selling cult-in-the-making jewellery. These strips also have stacks of streetside cafes, where you can refuel between sprees.

Melbourne is also packed with kids-friendly attractions. If you can spare the time and effort to venture out of the city centre, it’s worth noting that not far from Melbourne there exist multiple great options for families or couples looking to

PHOTOGRAPH: PHOTOLIBRARY (4)

escape the big city setting. The fantastic Open Range Zoo at Werribee is great, and so is the equally awesome Dandenong Ranges for a ride on the legendary Puffing Billy steam train.

Kids also love to visit Phillip Island to watch the penguin parade at Summerland Beach, see the fur seals near the Nobbies or go boogie boarding at some of the best surf and swimming beaches in Victoria.

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YOGYAKARTA INDONESIA

Yogyakarta, Java’s most popular tourist destination and cultural epicentre, deserves a special visit all in its own. In addition to the massive amount of cultural and art wealth, the city itself, as a destination, is intrinsically cheap by international standard. With USD 20 per day, you can arguably secure a couple of meals’ worth from the numerous authentic, delicious local fares, sample some local snack delicacies, visit several museums or attractions and perhaps still have enough change to shop for a couple of inexpensive souvenirs.

The number one must-see attraction there while within the city’s limit is the Sultan’s Palace, better known as Keraton Yogyakarta. Notable attractions in the Kraton’s complex include Sultan’s Carriage Museum (Museum Kereta); Taman Sari (also known as waterkasteel or water castle); Siti Hinggil Selatan, where you can catch a shadow puppet performance during weekend mornings and nights; Alun-Alun or the Sultan’s ground, which comprises of the North and South Alun-Alun and which if you are lucky, you’ll be able to see the colossal Gerebeg Maulud parade during Prophet Muhammad’s birthday; and the Great Mosque Kauman (Masjid Gede Kauman), one of the oldest and largest mosque in Yogyakarta.

Other heritage buildings from the colonial era situated located near Sultan’s palace include the BNI ‘46 bank, Kantor Pos Besar (Central Post Office) , and Bank Indonesia. In the downtown area or vicinities, other notable landmarks and attractions include the Tugu Monument, Fort Vredeburg

(Benteng Vredeburg), Kotagede and Imogiri. Must-visit museums include the Museum Affandi (expressionistic art), Museum Dirgantara (aircraft museum), Museum Sonobudoyo (Javanese archaeology museum) and Museum Kekayon (puppet museum).

Candis (ancient temples) are worth every bit of your time and remain tourists’ favourites over the year. Borobudur, a very famous 1,200-years old Buddhist temple, is located in Magelang, not far from Yogyakarta. Prambanan, also a wellknown candi, lies in the Yogyakarta-Central Java border area.

The Malioboro street is a very popular shopping promenade among tourists spanning 2 kilometres in length and home to hundreds of shops and street-stalls which offers various kind of handicrafts. Several notable places in Malioboro are Pasar Beringharjo (Beringharjo Market), Mirota Batik, Dagadu, Ciamis Art Shop and Nadzar. For extra bonus, hop in and out of the local rickshaw transport becak or andong horsecart.

FROM LEFT: The traditional

garb of a Keraton royal guard with Keris; Javanese-style dagger believed to posses magical qualities; The Shiva temple, the tallest and largest structure in Prambanan Loro Jonggrang complex, one of the three main shrines. The other two are dedicated to Brahma the Creator, and Vishnu the Keeper.

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Okonomiyaki, one of Osaka’s most iconic food item. Resembling a mixture between pizza, pancake and omelette, in Osaka a guest is expected to cook the dish himself; The 370-feet Tenpozan Ferris wheel, the worlds’s fifth largest, against the twilight evening backdrop, Tempozan Harbour Village, Osaka.

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OSAKA JAPAN

If Tokyo is Japan’s capital, then Osaka, with its pulsating neon-lit signboards and narrow alleyways full of workers clutching beer in one hand and fried octopus on the other, is definitely its anti-capital.

You should set a day aside to walk around the Osaka Wan or Osaka Bay, which houses the world-famous Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. The Osaka Bay is also home to the Tempo-zan Harbour Village and the Suntory Museum. Take a short stroll and ride the 370-feet Tenpozan Ferris Wheel, the world’s fifth largest, and drink in a panoramic view of Osaka.

If you’re travelling with a company or with little kids,

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visiting the Universal Studios Japan theme park is always a fun thing to do. Osaka Castle offer a good respite and glimpse into ancient Japan, and the blossoming beauty of thousands of trees and flowers on its adjoining parks are simply overwhelming during different seasons.

For alternative attractions you can consider visiting either the Amera-mura (Amerikamura or American village) or Osaka’s Spa World, a prime example of Osaka’s quirky, if not downright bizarre, attraction. This massive theme park can hold up to around 5,000 people, with ethnically-themed areas to add to the fun such as Turkish baths from the Middle East and medicinal baths from China. Hot springs are real and rise from deep within the earth. For additional fun, there is even a massive rooftop swimming complex complete with a wave pool, water slide, covered pool and sunbathing terrace.

PHOTOGRAPH: PHOTOLIBRARY (2)

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