ANTHURIUM KENAPA MEMPESONA?

Sebagai salah satu genus dari keluarga Arracae, anthurium daun memiliki banyak keunikan. Daunnya, menjadi pesona tersendiri. Tetapi lebih dari itu, daun anthurium memiliki banyak macam bentuk, warna, tekstur dan ketebalan daunnya. Antara lain, bentuk daun, yang mirip berbagai alat dapur, senjata maupun sayur-sayuran.

BENTUK DAUN:
Yang membuat anthurium daun terasa mempesona, tak dapat dipungkiri adalah daun-daunnya yang lebar, dan lebat yang memberi kesan perkasa.

Dari segi morfologis (bentuk daun), bentuk daun anthurium ada yang berbentuk lanset seperti golok atau pedang, ada yang bulat, lonjong, bulat cekung seperti mangkok, atau piring; dan ada juga yang berbentuk bulat seperti sayur kol. Bahkan susunan daunnya pun masih bisa menggoda hati, karena bisa menyerupai wayang.

Gemulai daun tak kalah variatif. Ada yang lekuk daunnya mirip ular kobra, atau ular sanca bahkan ada pula yang mirip penari jaipong.

Beberapa jenis memiliki daun bergelombang, atau lekuk di bagian tepinya. Sehingga menyerupai keris atau alun gelombang laut.

Betapa pun tanaman Anthurium yang disebut prima, adalah yang memiliki daun-daun yang mulus. Artinya tidak ada yang cacat, baik sobek atau hangus oleh sinar matahari. Daun-daunnya pun harus tumbuh roset, dan kompak.

Susunan daun juga harus membentuk trap atau tingkatan; semakin tinggi tanaman, daun mudanya harus semakin lebar disbanding daun-daun yang tumbuh sebelumnya.

Daun-daun anthurium jenis ini bisa mencapai panjang antara 20 sampai 50 cm, dan lebarnya mulai dari 3 sampai 150 cm.

WARNA DAUN:
Daun anthurium, umumnya berwarna hijau. Ada yang hijau muda, atau hijau pupus dan hijau tua. Pada beberapa kasus, daun anthurium bisa bermutasi atau berubah warna menjadi warna di luar hijau, seperti kuning. Biru/ kebiruan atau merah. Ada juga ditemui, anthurium-anthurium berdaun varigata: warna daun seperti warna adonan cat dari warna hijau dengan putih atau daun hijau dengan totol-totol putih seperti anjing dalmation.

CORAK DAUN:
Tesktur daun-daun anthurium juga tak kalah memikat. Daun-daun anthurium punya urat-urat atau tulang daun yang menonjol, tak ubahnya seperti urat nadi pada tangan-tangan yang gempal menyiratkan keperkasaan.

Namun ada juga yang memiliki tekstur seperti kulit jeruk, atau jahitan pada celana blue jeans.

Pada spesies tertentu, tekstur daun ada juga yang menyerupai sayur sawi, atau daun jati; sementara ada juga yang teksturnya mirip seperti kulit ular.

Travel Picks: Nine of the world’s largest for travelers

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – For travelers keen on size, the BootsnAll Travel Network has come up with a list of nine of the world’s largest travel-related items.

This list was compiled by BootnAll Travel Network (http://www.bootsnall.com), a resource for independent travelers, and is not endorsed by Reuters.

1. World’s largest hotel – First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

Until recently, all the world’s largest hotels were located in Las Vegas, but late 2006 the First World Hotel in Malaysia has been recognized with that honor. Located in the mountain gambling resort of Genting Highlands, about 20 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, this 3-star hotel has 6,118 rooms in its dual 23-story towers.

2. World’s largest hostel – Danhostel, Copenhagen, Denmark

Determining the world’s largest hostel based on bed numbers is hard but the title appears to go to the Danhostel Copenhagen City (http://www.danhostel.dk) with 1,020 beds in 192 rooms. This former office building has 16 floors and a central location.

3. World’s largest swimming pool – San Alfonso Del Mar, Chile This new resort about 60 miles west of Santiago has been recognized as having the world’s largest crystalline pool by the Guinness World Records judges. It’s actually a saltwater lagoon that runs for over a full kilometer between the ocean and many apartment buildings that is under completion and covers 20 acres. It is 115 feet deep at one end, and holds 66 million gallons of water, which is about 100 times as much as a typical Olympic size pool.

4. World’s largest museum attraction – Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri, United States

This half-scale ship (http://www.titanicbranson.com) has only been open since 2006, and already more than 1 million guests have walked an elegant replica of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase, and stood on the mighty ship’s bridge. Your visit begins when they hand you the boarding pass of an actual Titanic passenger, and you check out the Memorial Wall to see if they lived or died.

5. World’s largest casino – Venetian Macao Resort hotel

The total casino space at this resort (http://www.venetianmacao.com/en/home.aspx) that opened in August 2007 is about 550,000 square feet, with 870 gaming tables and more than 3,400 slot machines to go along with their 3,000 suites and 1 million square feet of retail space.

6. World’s longest beach – Praia do Cassino, Brazil

Praia do Cassino (Cassino Beach) on the southern coast of Brazil stretches 152 miles from the channel that connects the Lagoa do Patos lake to the Atlantic Ocean near Rio Grande in the north to the border with Uruguay in the south. You can drive and park on it, so it also seems to double as a highway in places.

7. World’s largest airport – King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia(http://www.the-saudi.net/kfia/)

The actual airport of the site is only about 14 square miles, but it sits on a property that is around 300 square miles, making it more than 6 times as large as the entire city of San Francisco, and more than twice as large as second-place Mirabel International in Montreal.

8. World’s largest shopping mall – South China Mall

The South China Mall (http://www.southchinamall.com.cn) in Dongguan crushed all rival mega malls as of 2005 with around 6.5 million square feet of retail space and 7 different wings with themes of Amsterdam, California, the Caribbean, Egypt, Paris, Rome, and Venice, and, of course, an amusement park. Missing? Businesses and customers with few of the 1,500 retail spaces occupied in the suburban mall 70 miles north of Hong Kong.

9. World’s tallest statue of a turtle riding a snowmobile – Tommy Turtle, in Bottineau, North Dakota, United States As it’s hard to pinpoint the world’s tallest statue so BootsnAll instead chose a less controversial category. Tommy the Turtle stands 30 feet and he’s riding a 34-foot-long snowmobile just about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.

Top 10 islands in the Mediterranean

Craving a sun-and-sea summer holiday destination where you can also party the night away? Travel website TripAdvisor has come up with a list of the top 10 islands in the Mediterranean sea.

“All of these islands offer pristine beaches and their own unique features,” said TripAdvisor spokeswoman Michele Perry.

“Our travelers have identified the hot islands in the Med this summer, especially if you want sun, sea and dancing all night.” Reuters has not endorsed this list which was complied according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors.

1. Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus

Visit Aphrodite’s birthplace in the eastern Mediterranean. Beaches are the draw for many visitors to the island, but so is the nocturnal activity with Ayia Napa being the town to party in. According to one TripAdvisor traveler: “We would have to say the Troodos Mountains were our highlight. You will know what we mean if you take the journey. Breathtaking!”

2. Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece

Corfu features a lush green landscape and serene, white beaches. Visit one of the Venetian fortresses, or relax under an olive tree, before enjoying the vibrant nightlife. According to one TripAdvisor traveler: “Nightlife in Corfu should just be called morning life.”

3. Crete, Greece

As the former center of the Minoan civilization, it’s no wonder that Crete features a plethora of historical attractions including Knossos and Phaistos. Those in search of adventure on the largest Greek island can hike down Samaria Gorge for spectacular scenery. As one TripAdvisor traveler said: “Crete is an amazing place to explore ancient culture.”

4. Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

In the south of the Aegean Sea, Santorini features dramatic cliffs overlooking a stunning caldera. Watch the breathtaking sunset in Fira, then head to the bars and nightclubs for an all-night extravaganza, emerging in time to view the sunrise.

5. Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Perhaps best known for its nightlife, Mykonos attracts famous DJs and partygoers. Rejuvenate the next morning by strolling through the town and dining at a local taverna. As one TripAdvisor traveler commented: “Apart from the beaches, Mykonos is a place to dance all night long.”

6. Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Visit the party capital of Ibiza and feel honored by joining the thousands of revelers at Privilege, the largest club in the world. Besides the vast nightlife, check out one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as God’s Finger, a large rock at the entrance of Benirras Bay.

7. Sicily, Italy

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has the three Cs — culture, cuisine and calm. Laden with orange and lemon orchards, the countryside boasts spectacular natural beauty, great for relaxing. One TripAdvisor traveler recommended: “If you are in Sicily, go on the sunset tour of Mount Etna. You can see the steaming ground and smell the sulfur.”

8. Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

The largest island in Spain and part of the Balearic Islands, Majorca features mountainous terrain and beautiful beaches. Have a drink at the Abaco Bar housed in an old Majorcan manor house. As one TripAdvisor traveler put it: “Visit the Abaco bar — it’s hidden behind giant wooden church-like doors, but inside it’s a theatrical experience not to be missed!”

9. Capri, Campania, Italy

Off the coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula, Capri is an island of magical scenery. Take a boat through the not-to-be-missed Blue Grotto, a beautiful sea cave, apparently once used by Roman emperors as a personal bath. According to one TripAdvisor traveler: “The calm sea makes it easy to get into the grotto through the cliff wall, and the sun shining gives the water the most beautiful blue color.”

10. Malta, Republic of Malta

Steeped in culture and history, Malta also features beautiful beaches and secluded coves, making the island feel like paradise. Stroll along Dingli Cliffs, watching the sunset at the highest area in Malta or visit the impressive Hypogeum temple featuring the sleeping Venus of Malta at the entrance.