Catatan Perjalanan

Setelah beberapa bulan merasakan tinggal kota ini, begitu banyak fakta yang berbeda dengan bayangan saya selama ini tentang Inggris, khususnya London. Catatan ini adalah pembuka seri beberapa hal tentang kota yang berusia ribuan tahun dan bagi saya menarik untuk dibagi. Demi menghadapi jetlag, tujuan pertama saya setiba di London adalah melihat Big Ben. Bagi saya Big Ben adalah landmark kota ini, selain London Eye dan Buckhingham Palace. Namun setelah membaca berbagai literatur dan buku petunjuk wisata, diketahui kalau St Paul's Cathedral-lah yang bagi mereka lebih 'nendang' dijadikan landmark. Salah satu alasannya adalah sejarah St. Paul's Cathedral sangat jauh lebih panjang dibanding Big Ben. Lagipula, Big Ben ternyata hanya panggilan 'sayang' saja. Aslinya, jam 'gadang' ini disebut Clock Tower (Menara Jam). oh, yang lebih menarik nih, St.Paul's adalah tempat dimana Putri Diana dulu menikah dengan Pangeran Charles. Selain mereka, keluarga keraj...

Honestly, when I first heard this word it just remind me of the word 'barbar' or 'barbarian'. The morning I arrived in our London flat, my husband took us for a tube trip through Barbican Station. I notice this big building complex in dark brown as an old place but not typical english historical establishment. Totally not interesting. I only read slightly somewhere that Barbican was built as a divider between the financial/business district and cultural in the city of London. After few months living just 5 minutes walking distance from this place, I get to realize this big news that "The Barbican is Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue presenting a diverse range of art, music, theatre, dance, film and creative learning events. It is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra." Oh my! I went in there accidentally, just because Jasmine's class teacher listing library near us, one of them is this the Barbican library. When I get in there, ...

Not once or twice I found my foreigner friends comment about how spectacular shopping centers in Jakarta. Not just big, but nicely put and mainly has good lay out and careful planning for its ambience. Not to mention that even the most posh ones still accomodate middle class visitors, at least for recreation and dining. Spacious, friendly and affordable. That could be my outline of those malls, back at my home city. But sadly, its not (yet) reviewed globally or acknowledge by many. Thanks to the traffic and polution where Jakarta's fame comes from. Since I miss Jakarta city quiet much, now lets talk about these malls again (i wrote about pejaten village a while ago). Plaza Senayan (PS) has endless charm. It situated in Senayan, very strategic location. I used to walk from work here for a bite or refreshing. My many early dates with Dave was also in here. I introduce this plaza to Dave maybe in 2002, and since then this is still his favorite shopping center. There are 2 major tenant...