All posts by Musa

As a young man from an artist family, Musa has grown up as an art lover. He interested in any form of arts. The art of travelling is one of his best, from high budget travel to a backpacker. Musa is also work as head designer of Travelfore.com, he design the logo of travelfore. Musa is also founder of Rizal.me, the place for company identity branding

Destinations, Editor's Picks, North America, Sponsored, Sport and Adventure

Heber Valley, Utah: Experience the Dazzling Outdoor Adventure

05/25/2016 Musa Leave a comment

Heber valley is the most amazing and beautiful gem of Utah that houses 3 state parks, golf courses, Swiss theme town, fishing and a lot more to do and enjoy. It is indeed the perfect destination for adventure travelers as well as families and friends. I too got to know all this through my neighbor who when returned from the valley convinced me and my family to visit the place soon. We experienced the best of outdoor activities in Heber Valley like biking, fishing, hiking, golfing, snow skiing, water skiing, ATV-ing and a lot more.

Some facts you may not have known before

We were surprised to know that the valley is also called as Utah’s Switzerland due to its rugged beauty. We visited the Provo River on the very first day of our trip. Truly, as believed to be, there are about 45,000 fish per mile of the river and the blue ribbon fishery is famous for its high-quality fish as well as mind boggling surroundings. Our kids enjoyed there a lot and we decided to spend a whole day at the River to enjoy its mesmerizing beauty and surroundings.

Activities for all

The whole area provides amazing outdoor activities for recreation so that everyone can have a gala time. We got this information beforehand from our travel manager and so we tried our hands at water sports, skiing, and fly fishing.

Prime location, easy access

Situated just 50 minutes from the very popular Salt Lake City and hardly 15 minutes from Park City Home, cool temperature and mind blowing scenery are the watchwords that describe Heber Valley. We completely enjoyed our stay and even experienced golf at a popular golf course that was well maintained and has eye-catching backdrops.

Activities for all seasons

As we visited the valley during peak summers, we enjoyed hiking, biking, boating and exploring the pristine forests of the area. The neighbour that told us about this place visited there in winters and at that time, the activities that are open to experience are ice skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing etc. As we did not have much time in winters, we decided to visit it in summers. Surely we would visit again some year in the cold to enjoy all the activities of that season.

It can be truly said that Heber Valley is the ultimate gateway to some of the best snowmobile areas of Utah including Mirror Lake, Strawberry, and Mill Hollow.

As compelled by my wife and kids, we visited the Daniels Creek as well that is like the popular fishing stream situated just east of the valley in Daniels Canyon. What was great is that the stream had easy access and we enjoyed fishing all day long there.

Last but not least, some of the best activities of Utah surely lie within boundaries of this Heber Valley. We crossed a lot of dirt as well as paved roads from the valley through forested canyons, alpine meadows, overlooking the meandering streams and rocky ridges and experienced ultimate views. And just don’t forget to take your camera as you will be all busy in capturing spectacular views of the scenic views around. Being an avid photographer, I was engrossed completely in clicking a picture here and there, adding to my collection of beautiful landscapes and nature.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to Heber Valley with your friends, family or colleagues and you will surely have a great time enjoying in the lap of nature, doing the extraordinary and most enjoyable recreational activities just like we experienced.

For more information go visit www.gohebervalley.com.

Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks

Abashiri, the Icy Wonder of Hokkaido

06/07/2014 Musa Leave a comment

Hokkaido is probably not the most developed area in Japan, but for many people, that is the main attractiveness. As consequences, the island of Hokkaido is always colder than Japan’s other main islands, and its natural beauty is considered the most intact. Many people love going to Hokkaido as an escapade from hotter and more humid weather, as well as crowded urban jungles. People usually come to Hokkaido in between June and September, where the snow is great to play ski, snowboarding and such. However, if you really look for serious snow, you must come to Abashiri, a city in the eastern Hokkaido coast.

The Drifting Ice of Okhotsk Sea
Okhotsk Sea is the only part of Japan where you can actually ryuhyo, or Abashiri drifting ice. The drifting ice is clearly visible during winter, and usually starts to disappear near spring, around the late of March. The view is spectacular; plates of drifting ice on grey sea under cloudy sky give impression that you are in North Polar, not in Japan. You can use a sightseeing boat to see the drifting ice in the middle of the sea, where the view is more spectacular.

Aurora Sightseeing Boats is the most famous boating company that provides boats to see drifting ice, and so popular it can run its boats five times a day during peak season. Each trip lasts an hour and passenger must pay 3,300 Yen per entry. However, since this tour is so popular, you must order the ticket in advance, usually by online.

Is boating not your cup of tea? Try seeing the drifting ice from Ryuhyo Norokko Train that has retro feeling, or from one of many sightseeing facilities available on the seaside roads. You can use binocular and look at beautiful sea while warming your feet with available feet warmer (very popular in Japan).

Abashiri Prison and Other Tourism Delights
If you want something more educational, visit Abashiri Prison Museum, which once housed around 1,000 prisoners. The prison was built in unique five sided building, and became famous after director Ishii Teruo featured the building in his popular yakuza movies in the sixties. You can take a guided tour around the prison to see display case and prison interior, getting explanations about how prisoners did daily routine. The ticket is around 1,040 Yen, but you can get discount if you order online ticket. You can get unique lunch experience by eating ‘Prison Set’ menu, which is the same menu the prisoners once ate. The menu consists of barley rice, fried mackerel, daikon or Japanese vegetables, noodle salad and miso soup.

However, the prison menu is not the only culinary delights here. You can also enjoy Abashiri Zangi Rice Bowl, which is basically a bowl of rice mixed with seaweed, chicken or salmon from Okhotsk Sea, wasabi and Japanese vegetables. The most famous version is served in a unique cinema themed restaurant near the train station. Another delight is chan yaki, a grilled dish made from Okhotsk salmon, sliced into fillet and eaten with Japanese vegetables.

Cultural and Historical Heritage, Editor's Picks, Wine and Drink

Martell: the Old Heritage of French Cognac

05/21/2014 Musa 1 Comment

Any spirit lovers will not pass a chance to try a glass of cognac, the signature French brandy. Made in the city of Cognac from specific type of tart grapes with unique distillery mechanism, French cognac provides wide variations of flavors depend on the brands, creating rich drinking and tasting experience for every connoisseur.

Martell is one of the oldest and most famous brands of cognac France has even been proud of. Starting from a simple cognac house run by family, Martell is now one of the most recognizable cognac brands with wide range of signature flavors.

Martell History: from Small Distillery to Big Brand
Martell was started way back in 1715, when a young merchant named James Martell came from Jersey, Normandy to Charente bank in Les Borderies, and started a cognac distillery (cognac house). Martell made his cognac from Ugni Blanc grapes, local grapes that were very rare and exclusive even until now, with oak barrels to store the wine.

Thanks to his option, Martell cognac is now famous for several unique characteristics: strong flavor, strong aroma, and hints of spices and candied fruits on each sip.

La Maison Hennessy — Martell cognac distillery – Travelfore

Martell cognac distillery was one of the oldest, and after his death, his wife and children continued the business. They kept the tradition and original ingredients and techniques used to make the signature cognac, even as far as being able to import their products to England in 1814. However, Martell international fame was only achieved in 1831, when the house produced Very Special Old Pale cognac, which was distributed to England, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

From there, Martell continued to achieve fame and success. The famous Cordon Bleu brand was created in 1912, attracting even more international fame. Martell products have been served on Queen Mary and Concorde in the early 20th century, at luxury houses and establishments in French through Comite Colbert, and even became sponsor for restoration project of Queen’s antechamber in Versailles Palace.

Products of Martell
Here are several famous Martell drinks:

Trois Etoiles/Martell VS, the first drink created by Martell, was a type of drink usually turned to cocktail.
Martell VSOP, the second brand that helped Martell achieved international fame.
Martell Noblique, the third brand that has more sophisticated flavor and aroma.
Martell Cordon Bleu, one of the most famous brands, famous with its unique hint of gingerbread and candied fruits.
Martell XO, which is mostly known from its unique, arch shaped bottle.
Martell Chanteloup, which is a strong cognac made of Chanteloup eaux-de-vie that has been aged for several years.
Martell Grand Extra, which is made of grapes from Grande Champagne and Les Borderies.
Martell Cohiba, which is famous for its distinct floral aroma.
L’Or de Jean Martell, which is exclusive cognac made of eaux-de-vie that has been aged for 100-400 years.

Jean Martell might start small with his distillery, but thanks to his unending dedication to create the best drink from unique and rare Ucni Blanc grapes as well as innovation, Martell has made France proud with their cognac.

Editor's Picks, Entertainment, Nightlife Guide

Famous Red District Areas in Popular Tourist Destinations

10/16/2013 Musa Leave a comment

If you like traveling, you must be excited to visit various tourist destinations in the world. However, when you visit certain cities, especially if those cities are very busy and famous, there are big chances that you will find red light districts.

Red light district is not something uncommon in big cities, but as a tourist, you must be careful not to come close to this area, especially if you do not want to get bad name or bring your family along in vacation. By knowing about red district areas, you can travel without accidentally entering this area and getting into trouble or unwanted attention. Here is some information about red light district areas to avoid in the world’s popular tourist destinations.

Red District Areas in Asia

If you visit Bangkok, you can expect to see various red light district areas; one of them is Soi Cowboy. This is just a 400-meter road, but it is located near to important public places such as Millennium Hotel and two public transport stations.

In Singapore, famous red district area is the ‘Lorong’ (lanes) in Northern and Southern part of Geylang, where there are many bars and houses where prostitutes entertain foreigners. In Indonesia, the famous red district area is Gang Dolly (the Dolly Lane) in Surabaya City, East Java. The area is located in Jarak area in Pasar Kembang, and it is actually the second largest red district area in South East Asia.

Moving to the East, Kabuki Cho is an area in Shinjuku, Japan, which is famous for its various bars, nightclubs, erotic shops and other erotic establishments. The area is located near Shinjuku Station, and is very recognizable at night with bar and club workers promoting their businesses on the roadside. In South Korea, Cheongnyangni-dong (district) has red district area in Cheongnyangni 588.

In Hongkong, Wan Chai area has a bar district on Lockhart and Jaffe Road, near the Western End. In India, when visiting Mumbai, do not let yourself get lost in Kamathipura, a red light district near Southern Mumbai where about 50,000 prostitutes work.

Red District Areas in Europe and America

Europe and America also have their fair share of red district areas. If you visit London, do not get lost in Soho, an area in Westminster that is famous for its red light districts (although the area has been a little bet improved).

In Paris, there is Quartier Pigalle, an area near Place Pigalle, where many erotic shops and bars operated boldly; you can see their signs that show their nature such as ‘Sexodrome’.

In Amsterdam, De Wallen is a red light district that consists of many alleys with erotic shops and clubs illuminated with red lights at night.

Meanwhile, in German, there is Reeperbahn area in Hamburg. However, the entrance of this area is marked with red sign that forbids youths under 18 year old and women to enter, so you can easily avoid this area.

In the United States, Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles are not only famous as places where you can see movie stars, but also red district areas at night where prostitutes will offer themselves to drivers on roadside. Meanwhile, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, there is a commercial district called La Zona (Boy’s Town), which serves as some kind of semi-legal red light district.

Shortly, by knowing about these areas, you can avoid unnecessary troubles when traveling.

8 World’s Most Expensive Foods

09/30/2013 Musa 1 Comment

While most of us are usually content with eating whole food bought from grocery stores or local restaurants, many people in the world refuse to feel simply content with common food ingredients and dishes. They are willing to pay huge fortune for exquisite and luxurious food, which brings us to this list of 8 most expensive foods in the world.

Wagyu Steak

Wagyu steak is made of the meat of Wagyu cows, particularly the ones that are raised in Kobe farm. The meat is tender, succulent, and has thick, delicious fat that gives the steak its great taste. The most expensive Wagyu steak is served at Craftsteak in New York City, with a hefty sum of $2,800.

Beluga Caviar

Caviar itself is already expensive, but Beluga Caviar tops all types of caviar when it comes to price. This type of fish egg is harvested from rare sturgeon fish from Iranian coast. It can cost as much as $3,200 per pound. Once cooked, it is very salty and usually eaten with pastry.

Yubari Melon

Yubari melon is a type of rare melon grown by farmers in Yubari. This melon can only grow in that certain area and has a tender, sweet and exquisite taste, different from that of other melons in Japan or even the world. A pair of Yubari melons can cost around $22,800.

Caciocavallo Podolico

Caciocavallo Podolico is an Italian cheese made of the milk of Podolico cows, which is rare because the cows only produce it in very small quantity. It can cost around $650 per pound.

Densuke Watermelon

Another expensive fruit from Japan is Densuke Watermelon. It is a rare watermelon, which can only grow in North Hokkaido area. The watermelon has dark skin, very crunchy compared to watermelons we used to eat, and has rich sweetness. With weight reaching up 17 pounds and hefty price of $6,100 per fruit, this watermelon often becomes expensive gifts because of their rarity.

Fugu

Fugu is a type of blowfish that is famous for both its delicate taste and its poison. That is why, all chefs that handle fugu in Japan must have special license and certificate from vigorous training. Once turned into a dish, fugu can cost as much as $100 per serving (which, I remind you, is quite small).

Matsutake Mushrooms

Matsutake Mushrooms are known by many chefs in the world as the most expensive mushroom. This mushroom is very rare because it only grows during autumn in specific type of trees. It has fragrant smell and rich taste, and can cost as much as $1,000 per pound.

Blue Fin Tuna

Blue Fin Tuna is a type of gigantic tuna that can grow as heavy as 100 pound. The fish is usually caught during winter. If it is caught during summer, the meat will taste oily. It is popular as sashimi ingredient in Japan, with a price of up to $250 per pound.

These foods are considered expensive because they are rare, not easy to make or can only be found in certain areas. Despite the hefty prices, they do not stop many people from spending much money just to experience the most exclusive delicacies money can buy.

The Worlds Foremost Travel Blogs | Travelfore