The city of Singapore originated in 1819 as a trading post and port for the spice route.  Over the years, it has developed into one of the world’s major cities, and it keeps evolving from the city center to the Singapore marina.  The Marina Bay lies near the southern section of Singapore and East of the city’s core.  Recently, in 2004, a man-made bay was formed, separating the marina from the open sea and creating a fresh-water reservoir.  The name “Marina Bay” is associated, largely, with the development around Marina Mall and to the area’s many restaurants.  Even more recently, in a bid to bring prestige to the area, the Marina Bay hosted car racing, specifically the Singapore Grand Prix, and a Formula One Race.

The Grand Prix races reach back in origin to auto races in the 19th Century, in 1894 France.  While beginning as a race from one town to another, it became a matter of endurance, not only for the car, but for the driver, too.  Competitive drive and creativity saw the speeds of the race increase, over 100 miles per hour.  In the early days of the race, this caused a number of accidents, but today the Grand Prix has become known as formula racing, and Formula One is the modern version of this century old tradition, using a specific type of car: a variety of open-wheeled, motorized sports vehicle that seats a single person.   Because of this history, the Formula One World Championships are all still named a Grand Prix.

The idea of bringing a Formula One race to Singapore started in 2007.  Emphasis was placed on the idea that this should be a night race, the first ever in the Grand Prix history, accommodating the audience in Europe.  Approved in May, the Grand Prix construction started in August.  A number of new preparations went into the race because of its night schedule: 1600 light projectors, affixed above the track.  The lights were four times as intense as a regular football stadium.  The night schedule also changed the rhythms and time of the drivers and race teams; they wouldn’t start work until the afternoon, then stay up until four a.m. the following day, waking up at noon, to repeat the process.

The race itself was considered a success by the international media, bringing attention to Singapore’s Marina Bay.  The first Grand Prix to take place at night drew an estimated audience of four hundred million people world wide.

Australia is a wonderful place for touring, where you can see a new country, enjoying the natural views and taking in the energies of a new city.  Sydney is not new by any means, but it often feels like it.  There’s always something exciting going on here, and something that travelers of all ages can enjoy.  It’s got an extremely metropolitan feel, while also being close to some of the most gorgeous natural areas.  It’s amazing, and it continues to unfold, so that those who return are often stunned by the new things to see and do.  It offers the best for travelers who are looking for the best.  Sydney hotel accommodations are a lot like the city, with a sumptuous sense of style and the contemporary, but with a great love for the classical as well.

The urban scene is truly spectacular, and it’s sometimes difficult to pull yourself away from the hotel’s fabulous amenities, especially when there’s food involved.  In Australia, the notion of eating like a hunter on a barbecue vacation is really rather overdone, when in fact there is an austerity when meals are involved, and quality certainly counts more than quantity.  It’s easy to enjoy time here, nonetheless, and eating is a fabulous pleasure, and the city life is another pleasure, and then there are many more pleasures after that even.  Like driving perhaps.  Or perhaps like driving while reading Gertrude Stein perhaps, but carefully, carefully.

Driving, and Gertrude Stein, and Sydney, seem to come together quite elegantly in the work or the mind of Heiner Goebbels.  The German composer was born in 1952, and has done the sound for a number of theatrical and musical productions and projects, and has planted himself firmly in the strange grounds between the cutting edge and the classical contemporary.  He’s done a number of projects in Sydney, and perhaps is best known, so far, for his Surrogate Cities, a work that speaks to the city, the city as a metaphor and the city as a real place.  Sydney, like L.A. in the U.S. is known for its car culture, and the musicians playing in the 2003 version of the project, composed in 1994, referenced this throughout the work, in a very lively, improvisational, and relevant piece of work that was not about Gertrude Stein, but could be, and should be, or perhaps not that even.

Madrid Spain has some different theories around how it was named. The legend says that Ocno Bianor who was the son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua, named this amazing city Metragirta or Mantua Carpetana. Others say that the city was first named Ursaria which means land of bears in Latin. Apparently there was a large population of bears in the area back in the day. The bears made their stay for all these years in a permanent logo. You can see the bear with the strawberry tree on the city emblem. The emblem has been unchanged since the Middle Ages. It is defiantly a historical gem.

Now, most people believe that the name of the city actually comes for the 2nd Century BC. There was a settlement along the banks of the River, Manzanares, created by the Roman Empire.  The name of the first village was believed to be named after the river it sat along, Matrice. At one point, the Germanic Sueves came to take over the territory, and the Roman Empire could not defend there claim so it fell into the hands of the Visigoths. They hung onto it until the 7th century Islamic conquest came.

The Iberian Peninsula once again had a name change. Mayrit it became, which is a combination of the Arabic word Mayra meaning giver of life and the Roman suffix (it) which means Place. This is were the modern name Madrid morphed from, the name Matrit. What is in a name? So many civilizations that have come and gone from this now thriving city. So much history that is left across the area. So many people who come from all over the world to stay in one of the best Madrid hotels and learn of the cities wondrous history.

The Beijing Opera is true reach back into ancient times. This Opera is considered the grandest in all of China. It is the largest and most developed. It is been giving hundreds of shows each year for a 160 years. It has been the true leader in Chinese Opera giving this dramatic art many of it’s first in repertoires and artists. There has been many influences that have made it to the shows. The main influence come from the Huiban  drama of the 18th century. They follow a rather strict guideline to how they prepare, organize and present each show.

These Opera’s are a combination of four different talents. All performers must be able to sing, speak, dance and do martial arts. All together, these mediums create the whole picture and convey the whole story being told. There are a few elements of the Opera. Sheng, Dan and Jing are some of the character categories that play. Sheng, is the name of the male characters, such as, Lao Sheng. Lao Sheng is the name of a male character who is middle-aged. Dan, is the female common name. Huadan is the little girl character who is the low society child. Jing, is the usually male characters who often play the villain or other unique role.

Lianpu, is the name of the dramatic face paint that this Opera is known for. It is called the picture of hearts. It is created to exaggerate the moods and emotions of the character so the audience will not have any question who the character represents in the story. There are particular formats followed in the face painting. The paint around the eyes, cheeks and forehead are often fanned out like butterfly wings. The colors used vary depending on who the character is and what they want to represent. Red means loyalty, Black means honesty, White signifies cattiness. There are many more names of the Beijing Opera, and one could spend a while learning about the many properties that make up this wonderful production. Learn a little bit and then check into one of the five star Beijing hotels and get over to the Opera house for a fantastic show.

Traveling in Australia is always a pleasure, and no matter where you come from, there is always a fascinating blend of the unusual and the familiar.  This is, in large part, due to its complicated history, where many civilizations exist simultaneously.  It’s also close enough to southeast Asia that there are reciprocal influences in art and culture that are visible all over the country.  Melbourne is one of its most vivacious cities, with a very appealing heartbeat that speaks of multiple cultures, and multiple ideas about the good life.  As a guest here, you’ll certainly find the good life in Melbourne.  5-star hotels are a fantastic way to begin the adventure in luxury.

The best hotels make it difficult to leave, because the amenities are so attractive and appealing, so you might want to factor that in if you have a particularly busy agenda.  It’s worthwhile to spend a day enjoying the spa, the workout room, the pool, the in-room entertainments, not to mention the spectacular food offered by the world-class chefs that work here.  You get the idea.  You and your guests will be very pleased, and there’s even more to see in the city itself.  With so much exciting energy here, and artists ready and willing to collaborate across borders, there are some excellent works that speak to local vision opened outward.  You can see some of the reciprocal influences between countries in the work of not yet it’s difficult.

This is intensely physical theatre with heavy doses of multi-media, and not yet it’s difficult has been presenting extremely interesting works of performance and installation to Melbourne since 1996.  Under the direction of David Pledger, the works are often company-created, or created in conjunction with the other companies they work with, to make provocative new works of performance.  Their recent Strangeland, with Korean dance-performance group wuturi, was an amazing investigation into the primal.  They’ve also worked with Malaysia’s Instant Cafe Theatre, among others, and have been taking their fantastic spectacles on the road.

After taking the night bus from Madrid, I finally arrived in Barcelona around 6am. The bus ride was decent and luckily, there were no snoring people on the bus! I walked to the Metro station and caught the car going to Verdaguer, which is the nearest stop to where I was booked at one of the Barcelona boutique hotels. I was greeted very warmly by the staff, which made me feel very welcomed and loved.

After I took a small nap, I rented a bike and went on a ride to the park that was near the Arc de Triumph. I feel bike riding is a good way to catch the atmosphere of the city. Barcelona is amazing. Later that night, I went to a concert being held in the streets, it was a Swedish band, the same band that did a beer commercial for Barcelona. I could barely move, the street was packed with kids, teenagers and their respective parents. After the concert, I heard about a place in Barcelona that has a spectacular view. It was stunning!

The next morning, I woke up a little later than I wanted to, but that didn’t stop me from walking around the city of Barcelona, while on my bike yesterday, I was many places I could just walk to. I walked the La Ramba, through very narrow streets. La Ramba was full of people. Tourists and locals alike, it was a really happening place. Then I walked the Board Walk to the beach and I walked to whole length. I just love Barcelona! Especially all the Gaudi architecture, it’s everywhere. I still wasn’t tired, so I went to the Square (can’t remember the name) and there were people building human castles! Crazy! Little children would climb to the top and over and then climb back down. I would be so afraid, but these children, about 5 to 6 years of age had no inhibitions.

Later that night, I went out to dinner, I ate at the Espanya Square and I’m glad I was sitting outside, because there were fireworks! I didn’t know the occasions, but then I didn’t really care, I pretended they were for me, it was Barcelona’s way of saying ‘Thanks’ for visiting us, come back for more.

Huntsville, Alabama is an interesting city with an interesting history and cultural heritage. One of the intriguing elements of this unassuming southern city is that it has been the filming location of various major films and independent features. One of these starred Christian Slater, Martin Sheen and Sharon Stone and is called Beyond the Stars. Huntsville itself was not the setting, but in fact it was the US Space and Rocket Center that starred in the film, though it was actually a stand in for NASA. The scenes that were supposed to take place within NASA were shot in the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center. And while many tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the hotels Huntsville are interested in visiting this facility, most of them are unaware of its Hollywood career.

Beyond the Stars was filmed in 1989 and was directed by David Saperstein, who also wrote it. And while it had three heavy weight star actors, it did not do overly well in revenues and remains on the obscure periphery of all of their careers. Martin Sheen has had a prolific film and television career and is well remembered and respected for his role of Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now. He is also extremely well known and appreciated for his more recent role as President Josiah Bartlet on the West Wing, which was a hit television series. Sharon Stone has been well respected in Hollywood for both her acting talent and incredible sexual appeal. She is also a successful film producer though most of her fans associate her with her roles from Basic Instinct and Casino. She gained greater public notoriety for her role in Basic Instinct though she received higher critical recognition for Casino. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for the film and one a Golden Globe Award. Christian Slater has worked on many films and is highly remembered for his roles in Heathers and True Romance.

There is a beautiful feeling that comes when you have time ahead of you in Langkawi.  For exotic getaways, this is one of the most spectacular, with gorgeous beaches and a host of attractions to keep you enjoying the place.  It’s difficult not to relax here, since the rhythm of the island speaks to a way of life that is based on the perfect moment.  The good things in life are always better when they’re enjoyed close to the ocean, and here is the perfect surroundings.  Island paradises always sound appealing, and there’s no better way to live the dream of enjoying the good life.  For accommodations, Langkawi hotels are really spectacular, offering hospitality and luxury at your fingertips.

The joy of being in a place where there is so much to enjoy is something that is wonderful and delightful all at once, and in Langkawi, the circular motion of the waves becomes something that starts to affect thought.  You might start to repeat yourself, and you might get to the point where you see that repeating yourself is actually very enjoyable, and somewhere around there, thought might slow down, and then the rhythm has really begun to get to you.  Taking it easy, taking a break, and finding yourself lost somewhere lovely, is a rare pleasure, and one to savor.  There are histories here worth knowing, and cultures here worth understanding, but first it’s necessary to change the pace of life, and get to know the ocean again.

The things that Malaysia is famous for all are offered here, all found here, with amazing restaurants that serve fantastic food.  With cafe lifestyles that speak of a here and now that have been forgotten by many peoples.  There is also the sense that the present has come, and there is a modern sensibility, and still, there are traditions here that continue to remind, to remind even travelers, that wonder and delight are the greatest things in life, and this is something that only the ocean can teach you.  It’s like a mother and a friend all at once, and it’s lovely to find time to enjoy yourself, by the sea, enjoying a new delicacy, in a new restaurant, and still be captivated by rhythms that are as old as the planet itself, and still so far ahead in the future, that meaning is lost, or at best, unknowable.

One of the main topics in any business training course or manual, is quality customer service.  This puts any company head and shoulders above the rest and maintains their success in the competitive world.  This is across the board, no matter the industry one is involved with, from restaurants to sales and marketing, this is just good business sense.  Quality care will make it very easy to attract potential clients and customers, as well as making it certain that existing customers and clients, remain existing.

When clients are satisfied, they remain with a company, they may spend more over time, and the relationship will have the opportunity to grow and deepen.  This will allow you to know what they need, and those needs will always be met.  This is much better than any radio or television adds, for happy people tell their friends, and one’s business will continue to grow.  When companies rely on phone conversations or the Internet, the personal touch can get lost, and without intending to do so your business may be seen as impersonal and cold.  It is best to meet with customers or clients face to face when it is possible to do so.

With proper sales training, one will learn that they should never make promises to customers unless they are able to and certain that those promises can be met.  This is true for services as well as products.  Consider the quality of the items that you are selling.  Higher quality items will continual meet the standards, the promises.  And if it is a service that is being provided, this service must be consistent whenever they walk through your doors.  In very rare cases will customers keep returning when they never know just what they are going to get.  And should an issue of dissatisfaction arise, the speed and the attention given to correcting the issue, will serve to allow as a chance to provide a solution, and this too will bring people coming back time and time again.

The skyscraper that takes the honor of tallest building in the world keeps changing, and it’s about to change again, this time in the UAE, with The Burj Dubai.  Once completed, this place will have nine hotels, three parks, nineteen resident towers, thirty thousand homes, and a man-made lake!  Curious about this architectural wonder, I did a search for The Burj and found an interview with the structural engineer, talking about the design and construction.  He said they had over-engineered the building, on the chance that the owner might ask them to make a taller building in the middle of construction.  Apparently, the owner did ask for a taller building, and now the final height won’t be known until the whole thing is finished.  The current height is around 800 meters or about 2,624 feet, over twice the height of the Eiffel Tower, which stands at 320 meters or 1,052 feet.

Dubai, though, is a city of skyscrapers, containing 54 high-rises taller than 591 feet.  The city has another 44 structures soaring above 656 feet.  There are only two cities ahead of Dubai in terms of skyscrapers, New York and Hong Kong, holding the title at 50 and 52 skyscrapers respectively.  However, Dubai is set to surpass both cities, with more than 80 skyscrapers above 200 meters or 656 feet.  On top of that, though, Dubai has ten buildings greater than 300 meters (or nearly a thousand feet).  These buildings may be used for office space, residences, and even a 5 star Dubai hotel.

In all of this, it’s the Burj Dubai that takes the title as the tallest freestanding building.  The stated goal of the owners is to build the tallest building in the world, and it’s well on its way to becoming the tallest man-made structure ever constructed.  Below that, Almas Tower, all 68 stories, takes the title as second tallest in Dubai, rising just above the height of the Eiffel Tower at 363 meters or 1,191 feet.  The building after that would be the Emirates Office Tower.  Fifty-four stories, 355 meters, or 1,163 feet.

It was so hard to sleep in! Even though I needed to, but it’s my first time in Singapore, so my mind and body had different ideas. My first impression of Singapore is just how clean it is. There’s virtually no trash on the sidewalks or streets. No graffiti. I over heard the conversation at one of the best Singapore restaurants, where I was enjoying dinner, that Singapore is known as One Fine City, and that’s because there are fines for almost everything, from jaywalking, chewing gum, littering, spitting and of course selling drugs. I’m glad I didn’t bring any gum with me! To be honest, I did see plenty of Singaporeans chewing gum, so hopefully, they are somewhat lax on that law. I also glad I’m not into selling drugs too, the penalty is death!

I was in Little India for dinner and what was really fascinating about the place, not just the restaurant I was at, but the entire area, was the smells. So many interesting smells. It reminded me about the fact that I haven’t been to India and I really would like to go. But, for now, Singapore is my first desire. I’m so glad I choose to come here first.

Earlier in the day, I was lucky to visit my first Temple on an important day. The Temple of a Thousand Lights was all a light. I felt like I was being transported into another world. There were so many candles, incense and music. What was astounding, at least for me, was that I was the only tourist. I’m not sure why, because the ritual was fantastic. They spread out food all along this fountain, looked like a curry, then the devotees would wash it off the fountain. Then I stood in line to be blessed. I got my very first red Bindi mark on my forehead and was wished a good life.

Afterwards, I visited more of Little India and found a Muslim Mosque. In order to go inside, I had to don robes, which they provided. There were plenty of tourist there! I think tomorrow I’ll have to check out Chinatown and I’m pretty sure I’ll also have the desire to visit Honk Kong while experiencing the atmosphere of Little China.

What can I say we wanted to go to New York City but on our budget I didn’t think it was possible. But my partner would not take no for an answer and he kept looking on line for anything he could find to save us money on a trip to New York City and he found it when he hit New York cheap hotel. The rooms he found were affordable for our budget so it looked like we might be on our way to New York after all.

We figured out the cost of the airfare and our hotel room and it looked like there was enough left over in the budget to afford the transportation from and to the airports. We will use the bus and subways while we are there and can always find inexpensive out of the way places to eat.

We have gone to New York on a budget before but this year is a little tighter then usual. We won’t be taking in any shows I expect or eating in any trendy or upscale places but we will be in New York for a few days and have a great time.

For free we can browse through the galleries of lower Manhattan and with any luck stumble on an opening and perhaps partake in some food and beverage gratis. While in lower Manhattan we will have to scour the trendy resale shops and thrift stores to see if we can come across some treasure that will need to come home with us from the city. Lower Manhattan is always full of interesting shops and surprises.

Even though the budget is tight I know we will have a good time. Staying off the beaten trail and looking for the out of the bargains will just add a new twist to the adventures we take to New York City.

When Ben and Andy visited Cape Town, South Africa they were greatly looking forward to many attractions, cultural landmarks and artistic experiences. What they were not anticipating was that one of their favorite aspects of their trip was going to be the food. Both of the men had eaten South African food before, though they had no specific expectations regarding the cuisine. They were both more focused on the sights they would see and the activities they would take part in than with concerns about what they would eat.

All of this changed however on their first day in Cape Town. They were exhausted and just wanted to grab a light lunch before possibly taking a nap. Unfortunately, or fortunately, however one decides to look at it, once they sat down in the cape side seafood café they were so taken by the aromas that they couldn’t resist ordering a large meal. Andy had a broiled cape lobster with a delicious green salad with a tangy citrus dressing. Ben had a stuffed chicken breast with vegetables and cranberry sauce. They didn’t realized they were as hungry as they were, but both of the men finished their entire plates and had desert. From that moment their entire focus switched and they honestly couldn’t wait for their next meal.

That ate as many different things and in as many different places as possible, and both of them agreed that their dinner at Aubergine was their favorite. That night Ben tried the Ostrich fillet with polenta and water lilies and Andy opted for the vegetarian lasagna with the Greek salad skewer. Of all the museums, attractions and performances that Ben and Andy visited and attended while they were in South Africa the best Cape Town restaurants where their favorite aspect of the trip. They have traveled since then and have always tried to find South African food as good as they had while they were there. It is an ongoing project.

Thailand’s largest island is Phuket.  There are many beaches that are pristine and serene, and surrounded by clear waters, which brings many people each year to the island for the purpose of scuba diving and snorkeling.  The rainy season lasts from May through September, and the numbers of tourists drops a bit, but the temperature remains moderate year round, and any time is a good time to travel and find reasonable rates on the 5 star hotels.  Phuket beaches, Karon and Patong sit on the west coast and are consistently the most crowded.

However if you explore you find that there are many smaller and more secluded beaches to be found that are perfect for relaxing, jogging or walking.  There are not many sights to visit on Phuket, and that is why there are some many activities on the waters and the beaches.  Most of what happens on the island happens out of doors.  This is what draws the people.  There are numerous places to rent scuba equipment and to take classes for certification.

Snorkeling and Scuba diving are also quite popular as the coral reefs surrounding the islands are magical sights.  Snuba diving is similar to scuba diving, except you are not weighted down with all of the heavy equipment.  The tanks remain on the surface of the water in a raft.  The snuba diver has a cord that is seven meters in length, which is still a great depth for seeing the marine life–the light from the sky will still reach down, but it is not deep enough for one to suffer the bends, decompression sickness, upon return to the top.  No certification is required and children who are at least eight years old are able to enjoy this type of underwater adventure.  This is a spectacular experience for someone who has always wanted to dive, but has not had the time for the certification classes.  The island of Phuket, a great place to take a dive.

Sydney, Australia is home to many theatres and many companies, and one of the most well known of both are the Belvior Street Theatre and the resident company of players.  In 1984 one of the most loved privately owned theatres was on the verger of demolitions, that was the building onBelvoir Street, the Nimrod Theatre.  Chris Westwood and Sue Hill founded the Belvoir Street Theatre in response to this, an out of their desire to see theatres that were owned by and run by people who loved the arts.  Amazingly enough, they managed, in just one short weekend to convince 50 friends to invest the money necessary for the deposit on the Nimrod Theatre building.  In the following 6 months more than five hundred people from the world of entertainment and the arts invested in the theatre.  The group of owners, which now numbered six hundred include Colin Friels, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, and Sam Neill just to name a few.  A contract was created that will protect the future of the building, protecting it from the consideration of the risks that may been taken, and stating that they would in no way affect the theatre and the shows that are produced there.

This is a unique example of an organization and of people who are dedicated and committed to the supporting the artistic and the dramatic community.  And as all things unique and innovative, the theatre and the company are considered to be radical by their peers.  The theatre does produce a variety of shows that many other companies may shy away from including works about the Aboriginal people of the country, contemporary music and performance art, works written by women and various interpretations of the classic.  This contemporary approach not only to the show being put up, but also to the way in which the business is run has served the company well.  The summer season is approaching and soon it may become difficult to find rooms at the 5 star hotels.  Sydney travel is wonderful travel, and with the season ahead at the Belvoir Street Theatre, one should book those rooms soon so as not to miss out on the opportunity to witness this amazing group of people, doing what love and loving what they are doing.