medandaily

Garbage corner

2008-06-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

This is the not so beautiful part of Medan. Garbage has been a problem since earlier this year. No garbage trucks but garbage cart, piles of garbage around the city, etc. Sigh.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2598981971/" title="sampah by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2598981971_9fd99c3603_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="sampah" /></a>

This garbage corner is located not far from my house. I will pass by this corner if I want to go to Thamrin Plaza. Some people can stand the garbage's smell but I can't.

Tailors at Pasar Rame

2008-06-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2598981091/" title="tailor by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2598981091_1baa9a4f1d_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="tailor" /></a>
The above picture was taken at second floor of Pasar Rame (wet market).

Sewing is supposed to be a woman's activity. But nowadays, most of the tailors is men instead of women. Well, what does this mean? No more gender differentiation in working area or what?

Alternative entertainment

2008-06-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2583735306/" title="Alternative-entertainment by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2583735306_87b54d4f0e_o.jpg" width="500" height="430" alt="Alternative-entertainment" /></a>

Not every kids are so lucky to go <a href="http://www.timezone.co.id/">Timezone</a> to play arcade games and take every rides. And not everyone is employed. Hence there is this street entertainment, that is not only cheaper than the ride in Timezone but also can earn some cash for the man. This man will cycle around the town and stop at some places that has customers. This ride doesn't work by machine but cycling using pedal in front of him (the pedal is in black color, a bit hard to notice).

Good entertainment at a cheap price. The man can earn $. What a win-win situation.

Swimming pool and blue sky

2008-06-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2571510515/" title="swimming-pool by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2571510515_609753d99c_o.jpg" width="400" height="533" alt="swimming-pool" /></a>

Yours truly has decided to pick up a swimming lesson at Paradiso swimming pool. It is located at S.M.Raja road. A lot of people go there for a swimming lesson. It will be started next week. The lesson fee is at IDR.250.000, for one swimming style until I can swim well. Entrance fee is at IDR.8.000 per entry or make a member card at IDR.140.000 for the first month and IDR.90.000 for the next month.

Worry and exciting at the same time. :P

How we take picture

2008-06-09T02:14:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2544362890/" title="say-cheese by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2544362890_0763de2d38_o.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="say-cheese" /></a>

When I went to Mikie Funland, I saw this man whom was taking picture of his family members. I am just interested with how the 'photographer' takes picture. I mean, his position. Sometimes we even bend down, open our legs, or whatever ways just to take a good photo.

Crispy fried banana with honey

2008-06-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2543525335/" title="close-up-pisang-goreng-madu by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2543525335_a64a29e324_o.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="close-up-pisang-goreng-madu" /></a>

This is the fried banana with honey that was served in restaurant of Grand Mutiara Hotel, Brastagi Highland. It is oh-so-crispy. Ain't it looks a bit like fried chicken? :P

The price is at IDR.15.000, excluded 10% charged. Expensive it is, consider it is just a fried banana. But wait a minute, eating delicious fried banana with honey in a 5 stars hotel with the mountain view and fresh air is not an everyday experience. ;)

Brastagi Highland: Grand Mutiara Hotel

2008-06-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/1609420047/" title="02-BalconyView by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/1609420047_46e8b6627f_o.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="02-BalconyView" /></a>

<a href="http://www.grandmutiarahotel.com/">Grand Mutiara Hotel</a> is located nearby Mikie Holiday. It is in walking distance. I often stay in Grand Mutiara when I go to Brastagi Highland with my family. The room is clean, service is good, and the price isn't that expensive.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/1610313374/" title="03-SwimmingPool by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/1610313374_706fd792ea_o.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="03-SwimmingPool" /></a>

Grand Mutiara Hotel consists of 123 rooms. The room choices from Superior, Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Executive and Presidential Suites. It offers the following five star facilities:
- 24 hour room servcie, coffee shop and international restaurant.
- Piano lounge, Karaoke.
- Billiard Centre.
- Lobby shop (souvenirs and guest necessities).
- Special request massage service.
- Fully equipped conference room.
- 24 Hours security system.
- Spaciously carpeted rooms with satellite TV channels, rooms with access to balcony overlooking the panoramic garden and swimming pool.

Location:
Jl. Peceren No.168 Berastagi Kab. Karo, North Sumatra Indonesia 22156
Telp: +62 628 91311, 91555 (Hunting)
Fax: +62 628 91385

Brastagi Highland: Mikie Holiday Resort & Hotel

2008-06-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.mikieholiday.com/">Mikie Holiday</a> Resort & Hotel is one of the hotels in Brastagi Highland, located 60 km from Medan. It takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to reach the place.

Mikie Holiday often holds concert of Asian singers at their Star Theater. Fahrenheit and 183 club (Taiwan) are some of the singers that ever performed here. This coming August 17th will be the concert of JJ Lin (Taiwan). ;)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2544352236/" title="Mikie-funland-entrance by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2544352236_36fd4b0b4a.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="Mikie-funland-entrance" /></a>

The small outdoor theme park is called Mikie Funland. Entrance fee is at IDR.6.000, excluded games.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550965042/" title="outdoor-mikie-funland by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2550965042_759046cc18.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="outdoor-mikie-funland" /></a>

There is so many games; Go-Kart, Bumper Boat, Flying Fox, Sky Rider, Hello Kiddies, Buzz Coaster, Video Arcade, Bumper Cars, Fun 'n Jump, Paint Ball, Twister plus many more!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550141983/" title="Flying-Fox by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2550141983_a4f38f0f0a_o.jpg" width="500" height="667" alt="Flying-Fox" /></a>
Flying Fox.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550141269/" title="Paint-Ball-Mikie by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2550141269_f9cac77270_o.jpg" width="450" height="338" alt="Paint-Ball-Mikie" /></a>
Paintball area.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550962420/" title="Brastagi-Highland by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2550962420_317cba44fa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Brastagi-Highland" /></a>
Cycling with mountain view.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550964154/" title="Carnival-games-Mikie by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2550964154_3c8832aa3a_o.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="Carnival-games-Mikie" /></a>
Carnival games.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2550965960/" title="Hill-Gazebo by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2550965960_96f1111ccb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Hill-Gazebo" /></a>
Hill Gazebo.

Mikie Holiday has 129 rooms (info from their website) with facilities as below:
- Standard bedroom set up
- Full Bathroom Amenities
- 18 TV channel entertainment
- IDD phone with two lines
- Iron & Ironing board on request
- Hair dryer on request
- Room Service 24 hours
- Hot water facilities

It offers international 5 star hotel standard facilities:
• Business centre
• Internet service
• Laundry Service
• Azalea Restaurant
• Dome Café with Japanese food
• Park Café with Singapore yummy
• Hotspot with local food
• Passion Karaoke
• Gossip leisure games & Billiards
• Funland outdoor & indoor games
• Teambuilding ( Low & high element )
• Warm water swimming pool

Location:
Jl. Peceren, Brastagi
North Sumatra-Indonesia
Phone: (62-628) 91533, (62-628) 91624, (62-628) 91650
Fax: (62-628) 91652

J.W.Marriott Hotel in Medan

2008-06-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2460215957/" title="Hotel-JW-Marriott-Medan by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2460215957_1052594098_o.jpg" width="400" height="533" alt="Hotel-JW-Marriott-Medan" /></a>

Quoted from asiatraveltips:

Marriott International is to add a fifth hotel to its lodging portfolio in Indonesia in 2008 under a management agreement with PT Kurnia Tetap Mulia. The 268-room Marriott hotel will be located in Medan, Indonesia’s third largest city.

The Medan Marriott Hotel will be situated in the city’s north central business district along Jalan Putri Hijau, the main north-south traffic artery in the city, approximately four kilometers from Medan’s Polonia Airport.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the economic vitality of Medan and to help encourage corporate travel to the city,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “We’re confident that the Medan Marriott Hotel will quickly become a favored venue for major local functions, weddings and conferences because of its quality, location, excellent public space and high guest standards.”

Guest rooms at the Medan Marriott Hotel will measure 40 square meters and will feature four fixture baths.

For dining and entertainment, the Medan Marriott Hotel will have three restaurants including an all-day restaurant, a Chinese restaurant with three private dining rooms, and a Japanese/Korean Restaurant. Entertainment options will include a 248-seat entertainment lounge, a lobby lounge, and a cigar and wine bar.

An outdoor swimming pool; a 900-square meter fitness center and spa with six treatment rooms, a sauna and steamroom; and a lighted outdoor tennis court comprise the hotel’s recreational amenities. In addition, the hotel will have an executive lounge, a business center, a gift shop and parking.

For weddings, conferences and other events, the Medan J.W.Marriott Hotel will have 3,210 square meters of space including a 1,850-square meter ballroom that will be divisible into two sections; a 660-square meter function room that will be divisible into three sections; and four individual meeting rooms, all measuring 175 square meters.

The Marriott International hotel portfolio in Indonesia currently consists of the JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta and the JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya. Under construction are The Mayflower, Marriott Executive Apartments in Jakarta and the Renaissance Bali Resort & Spa, both of which are scheduled to open in 2007.

Click to view more pictures inside of <a href="http://www.poole-associates.com/JW-Marriott-Medan.htm">J.W.Marriott Hotel in Medan</a>.

One day trip to Brastagi Highland

2008-06-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiehanne/2541689302/" title="View-from-Mikie-gazebo by wiehanne, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2541689302_944938ddab_o.jpg" width="500" height="667" alt="View-from-Mikie-gazebo" /></a>

Yours truly finally had a weekend break to <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Berastagi">Brastagi Highland</a>, away from the polluted and noisy city of Medan. It is about 2 hours journey with car, from Medan. The weather was as cold as ever. More review and pictures will be done later.

Exhausted.