Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine September 2016 | Page 127

Travel | Copenhagen © Tuala Hjarno; Christian Asling / Visit Copenhagen; Musicians at Nyhavn; © Claes Bech-Poulsen / Restaurant AOC A beautiful summer’s day in Copenhagen. A tourist poses for a photo at Nyhavn on the waterfront. Musicians at Nyhavn. Yet, surely it’s practically impossible not to be happy if you live in (or visit) a place surrounded by water. Copenhagen is bisected by canals and sprawls over numerous islands, with water views at almost every turn. Sailing boats skip, seagulls shriek, the salty breeze brings a glow to your cheeks. This is a city married to the sea. A pedal along from the Little Mermaid, Nyhavn or ‘new harbour’ (which is actually three centuries old) feels like a fishing village. Come down here for an afternoon coffee or an evening drink at tables that front jauntily coloured wooden houses, and watch boats bobbing in the water, and you’ll have yet another moment to smile about. Second to water is the city’s greenery. When the sun shines, everyone is outdoors – on beer terraces and benches, on sailing boats and roller skates. But, most of all, these city folk love their parks. Everyone hangs out in flower-filled King’s Park or the Botanical Gardens that lie around Rosenborg Castle, where they feed the birds or admire the palm trees that soar in the glasshouse. Even Assistens Cemetery is considered a park: people picnic and sunbathe and attend rock concerts among the tombstones. If you have kids, they can run off their energy in Fælledparken, the city’s biggest park, with open, grassy areas for impromptu football games, strolling or lying back and looking at the clouds. And though it’s 20km north of the city, you’ll get a nice urban escape at Dyrehave, which used to be a royal hunting ground, and where deer still wander. Even better, it’s right beside Bellevue, one of the best beaches in Denmark. The clever thing about Copenhagen is that it manages to have all the assets of a big city – great art, a noted underground music scene, world-class dining – while still retaining the relaxed air and charm you’d expect of a small town. That’s true even in the city centre, but to understand the spirit of the Danish capital merits exploration of its neighbourhoods as well. The districts of Vesterbro and Nørrebro in particular have emerged in recent years with a newfound confidence that sees new immigrants mix with students, artists and coffee-drinking hipsters. Though they lack specific sights, they offer great street markets, delis, ethnic eateries and cafés, and eclectic boutique shopping. Live-music venues are hopping at night, and so are the cocktail bars and microbreweries. Just more reason to celebrate a city of considerable satisfactions. 125 5 Senses – Taste RESTAURANT AOC The New Nordic cuisine of Denmark and other Scandinavian nations is rightly famous. Restaurant AOC doesn’t just offer great taste and the beautiful plating you’d expect of Nordic-influenced French food, but an entire sensory experience that takes in smell and sound, too. Two-Michelin-star chef Søren Selin offers multicourse set menus that might include sea scallops, lobster and venison. The restaurant’s location in a 17th-century whitewashed cellar adds to the minimalist appeal. www.restaurantaoc.dk Kuliner Nordic Baru di Denmark dan negara-negara Skandinavia amatlah terkenal. Restoran AOC tidak hanya menawarkan hidangan Perancis Nordic yang lezat dan cantik, tetapi juga melibatkan seluruh pengalaman sensorik seperti aroma dan suara. Koki berbintang dua Michelin, Søren Selin, menawarkan set-menu yang terdiri atas kerang laut, lobster dan daging rusa. Lokasi restoran yang terletak di gudang bawah tanah abad ke-17 ini menambah pesona minimalisnya.