Basel is Switzerland's

 

Basel is Switzerland's oldest university city. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. During a walk through the old town, past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers, a visit to the "Läckerli Huus" to try the traditional Basel honey cake is well worth your while. Basel is tradition-conscious and open-minded at the same time, a fact born out by several modern buildings designed by renowned architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta, Diener & Diener and Richard Meyer.

Almost 40 museums make Basel the city with the highest density of museums in the country. Internationally known museums, such as the Basel Art Museum, the museum devoted to the iron sculptor Jean Tinguely, the Fondation Beyeler and the Museum of Cultures attract a great many visitors, as do several galleries and playhouses. Basel is among other things home to the symphony orchestra and the chamber orchestra as well as the musical theatre featuring international productions. And a wide range of classical and contemporary productions are shown on the stages of the Basel Theatre and the Playhouse.

Basel is a green city. The Botanical Gardens, several parks and the banks of the Rhine are perfect places to relax and linger for a while. And the Etoscha House at the biggest zoo in Switzerland offers spectacular insights into the Namibian Savannah. 

 

At nearby Augusta Raurica near Augst impressive ruins and a great many finds at the museum bear testimony to the busy lives of the Romans in the region in the past. The charming countryside of the Basel region with its many cherry trees in spring boasts a particularly beautiful display of blooms. Germany and France, the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains are only a stone's throw away from the border city of Basel.

The yearly Fasnacht (Carnival) is the most important celebration for the people of Basel. On the Monday following Ash Wednesday the city rises with the "Morgenstraich". At four in the morning on the dot all the lights in the city go out and a colourful and brilliant procession through the streets of the city begins.

Highlights

• Basel Art Museum - one of the oldest public art collections and biggest Holbein collection in the world.
• Jean Tinguely Museum - the glass hall was designed by the Ticino architect Mario Botta and houses the unique metal sculptures by Tinquely.
• Fondation Beyeler – a variety of art collections and special exhibitions are displayed in the 127-metre-long modern building designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.
• Museum of Cultures - one of the biggest collections in Europe devoted to life in European and non-European cultures.
• Zoological Gardens - about 600 animal species housed in eleven hectares of grounds featuring exotic flora right in the heart of the city.
• Musical Theatre Basel - delights a wide audience with extravagant productions of international musicals.
• Rhine Cruises - excursion boats provide opportunities for views of the city from the Rhine and operate all the way to the big freight ports of Basel and Rheinfelden.

The city of Zürich

 

 

The city of Zürich lies in the heart of Europe and at the center of Switzerland, on the northern shores of Lake Zürich. Its multicultural flair and the variety of leisure activities on offer attract guests from all over the world to this “region of short routes”. Zürich is quick and easy to reach, whether by train, plane or private vehicle. Its international airport has direct connections with over 150 destinations. Just a 10-minute train ride from the airport and situated right in the city center, Zürich’s Main Railway Station is regarded as a central European railroad hub. A total of 370,000 people live in this experience, science and business center. Thanks to its top-quality infrastructure set amidst natural surroundings, it is a popular place for study and research. For example, at Zürich University or the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH); built in 1855 by Gottfried Semper, the ETH Zürich is today associated with 21 Nobel prizewinners.

Some 150 years ago, part of the city’s fortifications was transformed into what is now arguably the most famous “Station Road” in the world, the Bahnhofstrasse. Zürich’s shopping mile has contributed largely to the city's reputation as an El Dorado for shoppers and is a top address for international fashion labels, jewelry and watches. However, it is just one of the places where you can find urban Zürich labels; whether in Zürich-West or in the Aussersihl quarter, you often come across local brands where you least expect them. They inspire the fashion-conscious and cause a sensation far beyond Switzerland's borders – as has, for example, the cult label Freitag, with its unique style of bags and accessories.

Zürich boasts the highest density of clubs in Switzerland – here, you can never turn up too late. From a house music party in the legendary Kaufleuten to Greatest Hits from the Eighties at the oldest club in the city, the Mascotte, to a gay event at the Labor Bar – parties really get going after 11.00 pm and continue into the wee hours of the morning. Here, there are no official closing times. In summer, nightlife can be found not only in the clubs, but also outside in the open air; the venues where visitors bathe and relax during the day are ideal places to flirt and dance at night.

Also for lovers of art Zürich has a lot to offer. The city alone is home to over 50 museums, some 14 of which are devoted to art. The museum of fine arts, the Kunsthaus Zürich, boasts a significant collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and videos. In addition, it has an extensive collection of works by Alberto Giacometti. Another highlight is the Rietberg Museum, one of the leading centers of non-European art in the world. Just a stone's throw from Zürich's main station, the Swiss National Museum – housed in an over 100 year old building reminiscent of a fairytale castle – contains the country's most comprehensive collection of exhibits relating to Swiss cultural history. 

The lively tradition of merchant guilds in Zürich is dating back to the Middle Ages. Equally impressive are their fine guild houses and guildhalls – such as the Zunfthaus zur Waag, open since at least 1303. Like the Grossmünster church, the Lindenhof square and the Öpfelchammer restaurant in the Niederdorf, these venues are now among the city’s cherished emblems.

Highlights

• “Kunsthaus” – Switzerland’s most important art gallery contains a collection from all the important periods of European art – from the Middle Ages through to the present.
• Rietberg Museum – the museum houses non-European art, particularly from India, China and Africa.
• Bahnhofstrasse – the mile-long street of banks featuring exclusive fashion boutiques, department stores and street cafes invites passers-by to linger.
• Zurich Zoo – featuring a 11,000-square-metre ecosystem hall containing several hundred plant and animal species from the Madagascan Masoala Rainforest.
• Old town – with its art galleries, antique and book shops: an insider’s tip amongst art aficionados. In the evening, the old town is transformed into an entertainment quarter for an eclectic swathe of the general public.

Top Events

• Sechseläuten – every year Zurich’s guilds and the population celebrate their traditional spring festival with great fervour (April).
• Festival Tropical Caliente – hot rhythms like salsa and samba and a diverse mixture of top acts and trendsetters in Latin music drive the hips of partygoers to sway and writhe (June).
• Streetparade – one of the world’s biggest techno events draws fans from throughout Switzerland and its neighbouring countries to the city on the Limmat (August).
• Zurich Festival – a festival offering a unique combination of operas, concerts, drama, dance and open-air theatre takes place annually in the summer setting of Zurich (June/July)
 

 

 

http://www.myswitzerland.com

Nasi Ayam Bu Oki

Sunday, October 13, 2013

On a vacation trip, it's a must to try local food, don't you agree? Suggested by the driver I hired for few days in Bali, after having fun at Tanjung Benoa, he took me to Nasi Ayam Bu Oki. I heard the name for quiet some times before. Ah, it's a famous thing. 

Located near Santika Hotel Nusa Dua, the place looked so simple but never empty. People just kept coming even it already 2 hours passed from lunch time. The first thing the waiter asked was the level of spiciness. I ordered medium. Apparently they already had one set of dishes so you don't need to choose, but it also open for your preference. 

Here is the picture of my plate. 

Nasi Ayam Bu Oki

One set of dish consisted of rice, fried chicken, ayam suwir (pulled out chicken), lawar ( in Indonesian we called it as urap khas Bali. Basically, vegetables - usually bean sprout and long beans - mixed with shredded coconut), telur pindang (egg boiled with soy sauce stock), sate lilit (fish satay). I love the sate lilit that I ordered more. It costed me IDR 2K for 1 sate lilit. All the side dishes were so good, I finished them all in less than 10 minutes! 

Cooked by native Bali, the dishes was rich of spice. Worth a try! 

Tips: Order for more sate lilit
Price : Less than IDR 20K (I forgot the precise price)
Payment: Cash only

Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki

Jl. Celagi Basur

Perumahan Puri Jimbaran, belokan di Jl. Raya Uluwatu

Jimbaran, Bali

T. (0361) 805 2059

at 9:14 PM

Labels: asian, Bali, indonesian, maincourse