4 most beautiful churches in Jakarta, Indonesia

Charming colonial buildings, tradition-influenced design and even charming fusions make these churches more than just a place to attend masses. These beautiful churches in Jakarta are also historical landmarks, a cultural heritage, and are architectural feats.

Stella Maris Catholic Church

This church’s sophisticated wooden interior creates a solemn and relaxing ambiance for those who come to worship. A soft earthy palette is also reflected by the stone floor and exterior, together creating a local and natural feel. The façade takes the form of three concentric ovals adorned by long windows and framed by greeneries. Thoughtful and aesthetic design granted Stella Maris a number of architectural awards, including the honour of getting International Architecture Commendation from The Australian Institute of Architect for its graceful interior.

GPIB Pniel

Like many colonial heritage structures in Indonesia, this church manifests a certain classy and nostalgic feel in its architecture. Started off as a small chapel in 1856, the church building has since undergone a number of rebuilding and revitalisations. Now, the whitewashed building has two main towers, with a rose window and other design elements typical of old European churches. Many of its interior components are remnants of history, including an 1855 bible in Dutch.

Jakarta Cathedral

Built with the Neo-Gothic style typical of the time of construction in 1901, this cathedral looks more like the ones you’ll encounter in Europe than at the heart of the world’s largest Muslim nation. The façade mimics natural stone construction with towering spires and interiors adorned with statues and symbolic objects. This church also serves as a heritage site and destination with one of its three main spires housing a museum showcasing relics of Catholic rituals.

GPIB Immanuel Jakarta

In addition to being a prominent place of worship, this church at the heart of Jakarta is also a historical landmark, having been built during the colonial era in 1834. Moreover, this Protestant church is an architectural feat with monumental pillars and exquisite Corinth-style carvings, a stunning circular layout covered with marble tiles. Inside the effortlessly elegant interior sits an antique pipe organ from 1843 that continues to be used for church services to this day.

See more: Top amusement and theme parks to visit in Jakarta, Indonesia

Source: Internet

2 day trip to Aichi, Japan

Aichi Prefecture is located in the Chubu Region of Central Japan with Nagoya, its biggest and best known city. Nagoya is Japan’s fourth largest city and the capital and economic hub of Aichi Prefecture. It is also a gateway for travel in Central Japan and a great base for exploring the nearby area. Below are the best destinations to visit in 2 days.

Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya City. The castle was originally constructed in early 17th century and served as one of the most important castles in Japan ruled by the Tokugawa clan during Edo Period. The most part of the castle was destroyed during World War II bombing by the U.S. Army Air Forces, it has been reconstructed in 1959 and now serves as a popular tourist site in Nagoya City. The castle is a top viewing spot for cherry blossoms, and also it is illuminated at night from the sunset to 23:00 pm.

Nagashima Spa Land

Nagshima Spa Land is a big amusement park featuring a number of rides fitted for everyone, from thrilling rides to extreme ones. It boasts a huge roller coaster, Steel Dragon 2000, which spreads through the entire park. Nagshima Spa Land also houses hot springs and a water park with several pools and water slides. After enjoying all the rides, visitors can unwind and shop at Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima, a mall that has over 200 shops and restaurants.

Tower Park

Tower Park in Ichinomiya City near Nagoya is a beautiful public park with the tallest arch-style tower in Asia at 138 meters tall. The tower offers spectacular panoramic views of the nearby area, Kiso Valley and peaks of the Japan Alps. The park is free to enter and has a lot of interesting things for the whole family. Highlights include a rose garden with 4,000 perpetual roses, seasonal flowers such as cosmos, tulips, hyacinths and poppies, and some of the best cherry blossoms in Aichi Prefecture. A great time to visit is in December for the winter illuminations, when the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular scene to enjoy the festive season in Japan.

Toyokawa Inari

Toyokawa Inari or its real name is Myogonji Temple is a Sodo sect Buddhist Temple located in Toyokawa City in eastern Aichi Prefecture (about 70 km from Nagoya City), which is dedicated to the god of fertility, rice and agriculture, industry and worldly success as well as the foxes. The unique sight of countless stone statues of foxes can be seen at the temple site.

Korankei Valley

Korankei Valley, located in Nagoya is best known for its autumn colors, being the best autumn leaf viewing spot in the area. The valley goes along Mount Iimori, which is home to Kojakuji Temple. The head priest of the temple planted maple trees in the valley more than 400 years ago. Visitors today can see the beautiful trees that are now fully grown. The highlight of the valley is Taigetsukyo, a vermillion bridge that looks amazing next to the colored trees.

Atsuta Jingu Shrine

Atsuta Jingu Shrine is the second highest rank shrine of Japan, founded in the 8th century. It occupies a big area with huge woods in the metropolitan atmosphere of Nagoya, and there are always many people coming for all kinds of prayers. The woods are full of sacred and reverent feelings, and makes you feel something divine inside yourself, too.

See more: What to do in Nagoya for first-time travelers

Source Internet

3 ideal luxury resorts to spend your summer in Vietnam

Sipping a cold cocktail on a white sand beach, with a dense jungle at your back and the lapping of the tide gently soothing your senses – what could be better? Vietnam’s luxury beach resorts are some of the best in Asia, with luxurious accommodation available at affordable rates all along the country’s 3,200 kilometers of coastline.
 
Fantastic Vietnamese food and the sunny warmth of both climate and its people make this a great choice for relaxing and unwinding in stunning surroundings.

Princess d'Annam Resort & Spa

Facing a century-old French light house and placed in a picturesque surrounding amidst magnificent sceneries, the Princess d’Annam Resort is Vietnam’s first all-villa luxury boutique resort. The hotel is situated on the pristine bay of Ke Ga about a 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh city. Overlooking the South China Sea, it is features stunning mountains, red canyons, sand dunes, and a rich ecosystem. Guests can participate in a wide range of outdoor activities from four-wheel exploration on dirt roads or spectacular mountain raids, to playing at one of Vietnam’s best golf course.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a top-picked destination when it comes to a beach vacation in Vietnam. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Nha Trang is a 5-star international resort where you can peacefully rest in a fresh and natural atmosphere with cool sea breezes combined with the aroma of grass and plants. With an area of 26,000 square meters, this resort is designed with traditional Vietnamese coconut leaf roofs. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is one of the first resorts in Vietnam that receive many prestigious awards from tourism associations in Vietnam and around the world.

Anantara Mui Ne

Set on Mui Ne’s pristinely sweeping beach, Anantara Mui Ne Resort is an oasis of elegance and comfort offering a unique and exclusive way to experience the southern coast of Vietnam. Mornings are spent by the pool deck, afternoons by hikes through nearby sand dunes, and evenings by a soothing spa treatment before starlit dinners near the beach. Expertly blending Vietnamese tradition and legendary Anantara service, the resort offers a tropical retreat, worlds away from Vietnam’s urban bustle. Rooms are set in the serenely designed main building that embodies a contemporary grace infused with touches of Vietnamese charm, while more exclusive private villas are located in impeccably landscaped, tropical garden.

See more: The best day trips from Hoi An, Vietnam

Source: Internet