TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

10- TOPAZ LAKE, ONTARIO

This last choice, perhaps the least well-known of the list (to wild swimmers anyway), is one of our journalists' picks. She headed off to Ontario a couple of years ago but the memory still lives strong! The lake is situated within an island in the Killarney Provincial Park in the Canadian province of Ontario. Secluded and not too frequented, the emerald-coloured lake under the equally impressive big blue sky is the perfect place to come for a wild swim full of colour. Surrounding the lake are the quartzite hills that make Killarney one of the most famous and appreciated corners of the province. You can catch a boat from one of several locations, including the Killarney Mountain Lodge.

The park which surrounds the lake is a paradise for those who love hiking with countless trails and varying landscapes encompassing forests, mountains, bogs, lakes and cliffs. Canoeing is a popular activity in the park and there is also a camping ground and education centre.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

9- LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA

Formed by the melting of the Behinj glacier, Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's top attractions and it is no mystery as to why. 

The famous lake has a romantic of the Zaka Valley to the west, Bled Castle to the north, the Karavanke Mountains in the distance and the Julian Alps right round. At the centre of the lake stands Bled Island, the country's only natural island, accessible by pletna, a traditional boat. Measuring 1.3 miles by 0.8 miles and deep to 30m at most, the lake is a hugely popular destination throughout the year. In summer visitors can relax on Castle Beach, dive into the 23°C water (thanks to the thermal springs on the north east side of the lake), row and hike, while in winter one can skate on the frozen lake as well as ski on the surrounding slopes. The lake's island is home to the Church of the Assumption whose main attraction is its bell which can be rung by visitors to grant them good luck. Also in the area is Bled Castle, a 16th-century edifice built on 11th-century foundations as well as Osojnica Hill, a great point from which to contemplate the lake from above. Another way to experience the lake is to complete the easy 3.7-mile circuit around it.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

8- FAIRY POOLS, ISLE OF SKYE

Scotland is a great place for wild swimming with countless lochs just waiting to be dived in. There are no laws in the country restricting swimming in these bodies of water so you can take a plunge in pretty much any of them. One of the most accessible and most beautiful destinations for wild swimming is the Isle of Skye, and more specifically Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle. Just south east of the Glen Brittle Forest, the glen follows the River Brittle whose mouth is at Loch Brittle. Its source is the Allt Coir a'Mhadaidh which runs off the Cuillin Mountains and through the gorge to form a series of pools. Some of these are as still as can be while others are agitated by the falling water, but what they all have in common is deep blue water which would not look out of the place in the Indian Ocean. In order to access the site one must drive along mountain road and through the conifers before heading up on foot along a trail which may require some decent footwear. Surrounding the pools are dramatic slate mountains as well as walking and hiking trails. But be warned, temperatures never get warmer than bloody cold!

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

7- JELLYFISH KAKE, PALAU

Isolated in the Pacific Ocean and part of the Micronesian group of islands, Palau is a tiny island nation of 250 islands with a population of just over 20,000. Famous the world over for some of the most spectacular diving on the planet, it is also blessed with around 70 marine lakes, isolated bodies of seawater connected to the sea only by channels through the surrounding limestone rock.

Several million years ago rock islands were formed as the land mass moved up creating craters. Then, around 12,000 years ago the sea levels rose high enough to start to fill these craters with sea water giving us these marine lakes. The most famous is Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau) on Eil Malk island. Thirty metres deep and meromicitc (meaning that it has several layers which don't mix, including hydrogen sulfide at 15-20m deep) it is known for its population of golden and moon jellies. The lake is their home essentially because they got trapped in there! As a result of being isolated, they have pretty much lost their sting for lack of predators and have a very particular migrating pattern which follows the sun's arc. They need the light to nourish the algae-like organisms which live in the jellies' tissue and from which they extract their energy. Although you can swim and snorkel in the lake, SCUBA diving is not allowed as the bubbles produced can hurt the jellyfish. You will need a pass to access the lake which can be bought on the main island. Other activities to keep you busy while in Palau include zip lining, kayaking, 4x4 driving, nature watching and of course relaxing on the heavenly beaches to be found nowhere else in the world

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

6- ERAWAN WATERFALL, THAILAND

Situated in the national park of the same name, the 1,500m Erawan Waterfall is one of the most dazzling in Thailand, if not Asia. The park is located in the west of the country in the Tenasserim Hills in the Kanchanaburi Province. The seven-tiered cascade feeds into the Mae Nam Khwae Yai River and is named after the white elephant that carries the Hindu god Indra - the falls resemble the three-headed beast, known as Airavata in Hindi. There's a pool on each level with some being more suitable for swimming than others. It takes several hours to climb the 1.2 miles to the seventh tier and generally speaking it gets more challenging the higher up you go. The water, which falls over the limestone cliffs, is home to many fish although it is completely safe to swim with them. Elsewhere in the park, four fifths of whose 212 square metres are covered in deciduous forest, one can spot some magnificent wildlife including white-handed gibbons, crested serpent eagles, king cobras, greater brook carp and Siamese hares amongst others. There are also several caves to explore throughout the national park. Beware of travelling here during the Thai New Year as you risk being crowded out by locals who've travelled to celebrate at this natural wonder.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

5- LAKE LUNGERN, SWITZERLAND

Sitting at 750m above sea level, Lake Lungern is located in the highest part of the central Swiss canton of Obwalden. So pure that you can drink the water, this body of water is one of the smallest in our selection measuring just 1.2 miles by 800m (at its widest) and 0.8square miles. At the southern end of the lake the quaint village of Lungern, made famous by its underground shooting range. However it is the northern end which you will have to pass through to access the lake as it is the only opening through the magnificent peaks which surround the water. Lepidopterists will be delighted to hear that one of the highlights in the area is a butterfly trail of 9.6 miles featuring 100 varieties of butterfly.

In addition to the usual pursuits of swimming and cycling (there is a cycle path around the lake as well as numerous others), visitors can enjoy the traditional architecture of the hamlet of Obsee, take a cable car between Lungern and Turren and relax after a long hike in Schönbüel with a yodeling brunch! For something a little less strenuous catch the train running between Interlaken and Lucerne - one of the country's finest train journeys.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

4- DARK VIEW FALLS, ST. VINCENT

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is considered by most as a honeymoon type destination, which is certainly true of the Grenadines, while St Vincent is a great place for adventure holidays. Made up of the island of St. Vincent and several islands (the Grenadines) the country is situated in the Lesser Antilles chain in the southern Winward Islands in the Caribbean. Most people will be familiar with the islands of Bequia and Mustique, but the main island also has lots to offer. On the west (Leeward) coast you will find waterfalls and rock pools. Two hours' drive from Kingstown, on the west of the island, the beautiful Dark View Falls are worth the detour. Close to the town of Richmond, the falls are easily accessible and only a 10-15 walk from the car park (10 of which is uphill). Make sure you are aware that the bamboo bridge is actually closed (although not cordoned off); there is a badly signposted but sturdier bridge along the river. There are two pools which make up the spectacle; the lower receiving water from 33m above and the upper from slightly higher. Also in the vicinity are Trinity Falls and Falls of Baleine each more difficult to access and open intermittently so check before heading out.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

3- LAKE CHAMPLAIN, VERMONT

This next one is not as quaint as some of our other favourites on this list, but it is to be found in one of our favourite parts of the world: New England, United States. Beautiful year-around, it is blessed with idyllic scenery and some of the friendliest locals you could meet.

Lake Champlain, which is almost exclusively in the US state of Vermont (the northern end creeps into the Canadian province of Québec), is not only a beautiful body of water, but the whole region is the perfect place to spend a holiday any time of the year. The mighty Adirondacks, is a long, slithery natural freshwater lake measuring 125 miles by 14 miles at its widest and is 490 square miles. It was discovered in 1609 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain and boasts a total of 80 islands as well as a number of lighthouses. The three main cities on its banks are Burlington (the largest city both on its banks and in Vermont), Colchester (also in Vermont) and Plattsburgh (New York). With several great beaches on its banks, there are also lots of activities to enjoy on and around the lake, whatever the season. In summer you can soak up the sun on the sand or go cycling, fishing, canoeing, kayaking or hiking. When it gets a little chillier you can go ice fishing and skiing (winter), leaf peeping (autumn) or wine tasting along some of the many routes. As for the town of Burlington, it's a lively place, being the home of the University of Vermont, and is full of restaurants, bars, shops as well as being a very creative hub.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

2- WASTWATER, LAKE DISTRICT

Wastwater, sometimes referred to as 'Wast Water', is located in the Lake District and at 80m is England's deepest lake. Found in the Wasdale Valley, 61m above sea level, it measures 3 miles in length and 600m in width. It is surrounded by several famous peaks including Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and England's tallest, Scafell Pike. Another unique feature of the lake's surrounds is the screes - millions of fragments of broken rock rising from the lake to a height of 200m. In fact, the views are so beautiful from the lake that in a 2007 ITV television programme, the view from the south west end of the lake was voted as the nation's favourite.

Close to the lake, which is owned, like Scafell Pike, by the National Trust, are several villages including Wasdale Head - home to St. Olaf's Church, one of the smallest in the country and a remnant of the Norse farmers who arrived here in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Ravendale and Eskdale steam railway and Muncaster Castle, home to the World Owl Centre, a maze and, according to some, a ghost, make up the area's top attractions. Campers are welcome and there is also a youth hostel close to the lake.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

TOP 10 WILD SWIMMING SPOTS

1

- LAC D'ANNECY, FRANCE

Located in the Haute-Savoie department of the Rhône-Alpes region of France, the Lac d'Annecy, 30-odd miles from Geneva and around 40 miles from the Italian border, is the third largest in the country and the second largest of glacial origin. Today the lake, which is 18,000 years old, is fed by seven tributaries as well as an underwater source and is known as the purest in Europe thanks to the strict environmental regulations put in place to protect it. 

Measuring just under 24 miles in perimeter and sitting 447m above sea level, the body of water is surrounded by mountains, the highest of which is La Tournette, which rises to a height of 2,351m and looks like an armchair. Frequented all year round, in the summer visitors can bronze on its supervised beaches and bathe in the 24°C water as well as go cycling along 25 miles of cycle paths as well as do a variety of water sports. In the winter, the area is popular with skiers, whizzing down the surrounding slopes. But it is also the lake's surrounds which attract visitors from afar with quaint villages brimming with history. Several chateaux in the vicinity form the Route des Ducs de Savoieand the area is especially renowned for its cheese cuisine (reblochon), as well as with chocolate (roseaux filled with liqueur) and white wine (Apremont, Roussette). And if you happen to be in the area soon, there is a cross-lake swim taking place on 15 August and which is open to everyone.

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk

BIZPARK COMMERCIAL ESTATE

KAWASAN NIAGA TERPADU, MODERN DAN MULTIFUNGSI

 

Kota Bandung merupakan kota metropolitan terbesar di Jawa Barat sekaligus menjadi ibu kota provinsi. Kota ini terletak 140 km sebelah tenggara Jakarta, dan merupakan kota terbesar ketiga di Indonesia setelah Jakarta dan Surabaya menurut jumlah penduduk. Dalam kurun waktu 10 tahun terakhir , Bandung dengan pesat dipenuhi oleh berbagai macam industri kreatif seperti distro, factory outlet, dan tempat kuliner yang kini semakin menjamur dan tersebar di beberapa titik kota Bandung. Hal ini membuat masyarakat menyadari bahwa Bandung memiliki potensi yang besar untuk dijadikan sebagai lahan wirausaha.

Grup Ciputra melihat potensi yang sangat besar untuk mengembangkan kawasan niaga terpadu, modern dan multifungsi di kota Bandung yaitu Bizpark Commercial Estate. Kawasan ini dibangun di area seluas ± 40 ha dan telah dikembangkan dalam 2 tahap masing-masing seluas 11 ha dan 7 ha. Bizpark Commercial Estate telah menjadi kawasan pergudangan terbaik di Bandung yang pertama dan satu-satunya yang mempunyai konsep design multiguna  yang dapat digunakan sebagai tempat penyimpanan, kantor,showroom, tempat produksi bahkan tempat tinggal yang didukung infrastruktur yang prima.

Pengelolaan di bawah Estate Management yang profesional dengan sistem keamanan selama 24 jam yang dilengkapi dengan CCTV dan one gate system dan juga kawasan bebas kuli bongkar memberikan kenyamanan dalam menjalankan usaha.

Lokasi Bizpark Commercial Estate sangat strategis dan bebas banjir, hanya berjarak ± 500 meter dari pintu keluar Tol Kopo tepatnya di Jl. Raya Kopo 455, Bandung Selatan dan dapat dilalui oleh kendaraan besar selama 24 jam.

Sejak dipasarkan dari tahun 2011, Bizpark Commercial Estate, nilai harga tanahnya terus meningkat dan berkesinambungan sehingga telah mengalami kenaikan lebih dari 100%. Disamping itu permintaan sewa atas gudang multiguna ini sangat besar dengan imbal hasil sewa per tahun mencapai 5% dari nilai investasi. Investor mendapatkan capital gain dan juga mendapatkan imbal hasil sewa yang memuaskan sehingga Bizpark Commercial Estate menjadi tempat yang paling menguntungkan untuk berinvestasi.