MY FAVORITE PLACE

My Favorite Places

The Most Favorite Place I have visited

“Pinus Pengger Forest”

One of my favorite places I have visited is Pinus Pengger Forest in Sendangsari Hamlet, Terong Village, Dlingo District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The distance from Jogja City to Pinus Pengger Forest is approximately 22 KM and the normal travel time of motorized vehicles from Jogja City to Pinus Pengger Forest is around 44 minutes. Pinus Pengger Forest was inaugurated as a tourist spot on April 7, 2016.

This scene looks special for those who crave a dense pine forest and still look natural and beautiful. The atmosphere around the pine forest was cool with the breeze blowing from the east side. Sometimes from the south side.

Another attraction is the spot to enjoy the sunset in the area of ​​Watu Adeg (Watu Ngadeg). Or the western end of the pine forest, which is marked by an area of ​​volcanic lava rock that has frozen. From this place visitors can enjoy the momentum of the sunset from above the height with a view that is almost the same as the Becici Pine Peak. If the weather conditions are bright enough, you will see clearly Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu on the right side.

The Pinus Pengger Forest is installed in various forms of art masterpieces that are made using dried tree branches, the most iconic of which is the giant hand of a giant broom, a bird cage and there is a semi-circular shape resembling a gate with a panoramic view of the city of Yogyakarta. to take pictures for tourists visiting the Pinus Pengger Forest.

Favorite night photo spots in Pine Pengger Forest are on the west side with open terrain. At night, the lights of the city of Yogyakarta become a panorama that makes the background of the photo spot west of the Pinus Pengger Forest become increasingly charming. In order to make the photo spot more unique, the manager added some ornaments to the favorite photos.

For existing facilities in the Pinus Pengger Forest, Yogyakarta is complete enough for tourists who want to visit the Pinus Pengger Forest. Among them are some art masterpieces that are very suitable for millennial generations to find Instagramable photo spots, Hammock rentals, viewing stations and so on.

Because the night conditions are less light so taking photos is more difficult, you don't need to worry because there are already photographer officers and professional cameras that help to get pictures with satisfying results. For service rental rates, visitors only need to pay Rp.4,000 for their performance.

It is recommended to visit the Pinus Pengger Forest not during the rainy season, because the hilly terrain of the Pinus Pengger Forest is clay that is easily slippery and slips so it is dangerous for visitors.

The Most Favourite Place I Have Never Visited (Real)

“MECCA”

The most sacred place in Islam is the Ka'ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'ba is a mosque (built by Abraham according to Muslim tradition) constructed around a black stone. The prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction (qibla) in which all Muslims should offer their prayers. The Ka'ba is believed to be the first place that was created on earth  and the place at which heavenly bliss and power touches the earth directly.

Mecca is located in the Hijaz region of western Saudi Arabia. The city lies inland 73 kilometers east of Jiddah, in the narrow, sandy Valley of Abraham. The Holy City is 277 meters (909 feet) above sea level. Each year, thousands of Muslims from around the world join in a pilgrimage to Mecca (the hajj), in fulfillment of one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The importance of Mecca for Muslims is inestimable. All Muslims, wherever they are on Earth, pray five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca (located at 21° 25' 24" N and 39° 49' 24" E in DMS notation). The direction of prayer is known as the qibla.

Muslims go to Mecca as a sign obedience to God, to achieve enlightenment, to interact with others, to experience the world, to get rid of poverty, to cleanse themselves of sin and to have a closer experience with God.

It is required for Muslims to travel at least once in their lifetime to Mecca. This is one of the pillars of Islam and that is why it is highly regarded. Muslims believe that those who make trip to Mecca receive greater spiritual enlightenment. Obedience: Paying a visit to Mecca is a sign of obedience to Allah and that is why all Muslims are encouraged to make the trip. Experience of the world: Going to Mecca gives all Muslims the opportunity to experience a foreign land. Interaction with others: Important relationships are built among Muslims during the pilgrimage. Information is also shared through interaction with people from all over the world. Sin and poverty: Muslims believe that a trip to Mecca is likely to attract blessings from Allah that will inevitably eradicate poverty. Cleansing of sin also takes place during the trip to the holy place.

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque (Called Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish) is an historical mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design.Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 years,  it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasa and a hospice.Besides still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction in Istanbul. Besides being tourist attraction, it's also a active mosque, so it's closed to non worshippers for a half hour or so during the five daily prayers. Best way to see great architecture of the Blue Mosque is to approach it from the Hippodrome.

There are 3 entrances to the mosque, and after entering inside one gets shocked by the floral and geometrical interior decoration and beauty of over 21 thousand Iznik (Nicea) tiles, about 260 windows with stained glass, and calligraphy art of Koranic verses. The 34-meter high central dome is surrounded by smaller domes and semi-domes to distribute the heavy weight of the main dome, and all of them are supported by 4 huge pillars (called "elephant legs"). The marble niche which shows the direction of Mecca, called Mihrab, is aligned with the axis of the mosque. On the right of Mihrab there is a marble Minbar, the pulpit where the Imam goes up and gives his sermon. On the other side of the mosque, to left corner, there is the sultan's lodge where he used to pray in private away from the crowd.

The mosque is covered with rugs as a general tradition in any mosque, thus people have to take their shoes off before entering. It's permitted to take photos inside and use flash without any problems. The mosque is generally open to the visitors during the day, but closed for a short time during the prayers. If possible, a small donation is accepted at the exit of the mosque, which is used for repair and maintenance works. During the summer nights, light and sound shows are organized in the park next to the mosque.

The Most Favorite Place I Have Never Visited (In Fantasy)

“The Moors”

One of the fantasy places I really want to visit si The Moors. The Moors are an enchanted forest kingdom that appears in the movie Maleficent, home to Knotgrass, Thistlewit and Flittle and the Fairies and all other creatures. It was formerly ruled by Maleficent, and later by Aurora.

Background

Once the Moors was a place where Maleficent lived a peaceful life throughout her childhood, many extraordinary creatures inhabited this magical land. The forest is blossomed with colourful flowers, many rivers and lakes and tall mountains. The border is marked by tall statues that stand outside the forest and it is not as far from King Stefan's Castle.

Stefan visited the forest many times as a child and became close friends with the fairy Maleficent.

Unfortunately, the Moors became under the threat of an invading army from the human kingdom led by the ruthless King Henry. Maleficent rose to become the land's fiercest protector and after she suffered a betrayal and the loss of her wings, she claimed herself as Queen of the Moors and concealed the Forest Kingdom from the rest of the world surrounding it with a wall of giant thorns.

The Moors was eventually restored to its wondrous beauties and after Maleficent took down the wall of thorns, she passed on her crown to Aurora making her the new Queen of the Moors.