Echo has been here, once or twice, and her footprints leave white powder tracks.  She can only be found right before it rains, then, and it rains a lot more here than most people expect.  I came to New York to look for her, like so many others, and I came to find her in a mirror at the bottom of a body of water that I will not name here.  It’s in a park, though, and it’s smaller than you would expect, and smaller than rain.  For all the unlikely places where I found evidence of my own twin, New York business hotels have been the most inspiring to me.  If I can find her here, I will find her anywhere.

There is only one night, out of a thousand and one, where I found a mention of her sister.  That was the most exciting clue I’d ever gotten, and I have not seen nor heard any signs of life since that one night.  It look like this.  I am deciding to dress up as if I were Kilgore Trout, going incognito into a room filled with all of my fans.  I don’t recognize a thing, but neither can I see a thing.  My glasses are dark, and mirrored, and worse, mirrored from the inside.  I have to see myself so that I can feel okay.  I have been terrified of disappearing ever since we met.  She’s not an easy lover by any means, and hard to hold her close when she is always unseen.

That’s these days, though, there was a time when things were different.  But today, it’s not different, and I’m looking at my reflection again in the bathroom mirror.  I have to check for myself wherever I go, because I do have a tendency to disappear.  There is someone I know, someone I think I’ve seen before, standing behind me, and he is telling me that her sister is supposed to be coming in tonight, and she might sing.

I tell him that I did not know she had a sister.  He tells me her name is Rhodia.  I never expected any of this, not on a rainy night in New York.

I’m in Manhattan for the first time in my life, what a fantastic place. I had my first taste of the subway system and it was an unpleasant taste, but at lease the cars are air-conditioned. I usually have a good sense of direction, but the New York subway system threw me for a loop. I did manage to find the right station that was not too far from Allans office in midtown. Allan took me to lunch with some other Human Resource guys who were a stitch! We had sushi, once again, a first for me and I loved it! Raw fish! Me! Ha!

Allan managed to take the day off, so he took me to see Grand Central Station, the New York Library and a small little bar where the waitresses were corsets. The temperature was almost 100 degrees, so we did our best to hide from the heat. But, he did have to take me out on the street to see more of NYC and all the skyscrapers. My neck, I feel, is permanently stuck arched towards the sky. I’d never seen buildings so tall. I know I definitely looked like an out-of-towner, but I couldn’t help but look up all the time. The sheer height of the buildings is truly stunning.

We ended up at Times Square and I was again went all ga-ga over all the huge advertising signs. The shimmery shiny billboards were way too much for my mind to take in. I was overloaded, then all of a sudden my mind snapped and all of a sudden I was back to normal again. I must have looked like a total country bumpkin for a few minutes. We stopped in some shops just to cool off, but that’s when the sales people take full advantage of their air-conditioning and try to make sure you don’t leave without buying something. Luckily, Allans a pro at just walking out of shops without a purchase, I just followed his lead. We walked a bit more downtown and came across Macy’s. Allan told me that these department stores are a big deal here because there aren’t shopping malls like the rest of America has, like Los Angeles for example.

We made it back to the subway all sticky and hot. He took me to one of the New York luxury hotels where he had made reservations for me and where we preceded to each take a shower once I checked in. Allan had a previous engagement that night, so he bid me farewell and said he’d meet back up with me tomorrow.  I flopped on the luxurious bed and marvelled about America, especially New York. What a cool country. What a fascinating place!  Too bad New York’s my last stop, I will be daydreaming about my wild six month tour for years and I’ll refer to them as the best time of my life.

The Centennial State, Colorado, has seven other states along it’s borders. It has Utah on the west border, Wyoming to the north along with parts of Nebraska, Kansas to the East, and then along the south you can enter in from Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. This state has so many types of terrain from sand dunes on the east side to high mountain tops of the west side. Deep forest lands and prairies on the north side and high desert mountains on the south side of the state. It is truly a wonderful state to spend time in no matter when you go.

Visitors can pick one of the many hotels Colorado has waiting for them to start their journey. They can find their way to the top of Mount Elbert which is the highest peak standing at 14,440 feet. Or they can find themselves at the lowest point of 3,281 feet. The climate ranges in temperatures from four below in the winter depending on where you are to ninety six degrees in the summer, which also depends on where you are. Be careful if a thunderstorm arrives. Colorado is a leading state in deaths by lightning. I suppose that is the price to pay for being so close to the clouds.

There are some Ancient Pueblo Native ruins left in the hills of the mountains. The Ute Nation was the Native Americans that stayed around the area. The Arapaho Nation and the Cheyenne Nations moved further west. But there are still some points of interest to see from the Native American communities. You will find plenty of art festivals featuring their work in baskets, blankets and jewelry. It is rather interesting if you take the time to learn about the state, how many times it was turned over. The U.S. gave it up for the purchase of Florida from Spain in 1819 with the Adams-Onis Treaty. Mexico got it when they won independence from Spain but then gave it back to the U.S. after the Mexican-American War which was laid out in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo in 1848. Then of course the Mormons of Deseret staked their claim to the area. But that area is now called Utah. It is a fascinating state with many things to do and discover.

I vote moving into one of the Saas Fee hotels for a whole season. If I run out of money than I will just have to wash some dishes. Anything to be able to walk outside and say to myself,”Wow, How did I get here?” It would be like living in a dream every single day. No matter what sorts of troubles there were in life there was always a breath taking view to make you feel better. I am sure you could meet the locals in like a day so there could be a kind word or two from them as well. Yup! With all the mountain activities to do how could you get bored. Think of the great shape you would finally be in if all there was to do was hike and ski and breath.

Make your rounds to some of the other neighborhoods to branch out your friendships. Near by you have Saas-Balen, Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell. From any of these little towns you can find your self doing all sorts of activities. The local glaciers on Dom and Allalinhorn keep the winter sports going all year round. Which is fine with me. I am the odd ball who like winter most of the year. Visitors can take part in some skiing, snowshoe trekking, ice climbing and canyon climbing. There are plenty of lifts to get you to the start of any down hill experience.

What do you do in town itself? Well there is plenty of restaurants and nightclubs to go grab a hot tot-tie in. There are even some modern restaurants like the highest revolving restaurant in the world. There are lots of ways to get around but you wont get to do it in a Ferrari. There are no cars allowed accept the garbage trucks. But never fear you will be able to catch tram or small electric vehicle to get around the area. If you really do decide to move to Saas-Fee you can go back to school. There is a great European Grad School here too. Well, I’m in.

Thirty miles outside of Boston, you’ll find Pawtucket Falls and the site where Pennacook Indians lived, fishing and growing crops, but when settlers from Europe arrived, sometime in the late 1600s, there was a need for more food than what the local means of agriculture could provide, so eventually two canals were built, Pawtucket and Middlesex, opening the path for various glassworks and mills, both saw and spinning.

The city of Lowell was founded in 1820, but begun by Francis Cabot Lowell, when he turned created power from the waterways and turned the textile industry on its head.  Boott Mill was the first textile mill Lowell built, and it’s now a part of the Lowell National Historical Park, where a number of these early days have been preserved for future visitors.  Lowell is also considered the first American factory town; when the Great Depression hit over a century later, the area fell on hard times, but today, there’s a number of sports teams and revitalization to the old mill buildings.  Lowell has had a rebirth as a tourist town, a national park, and a city filled art galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

If you make this place a vacation destination, you’ll see that the hotels Lowell offers its traveling public are among the best available, and you’ll find great views of the Merrimack River.

The museums offer an excellent history of the lives of the people who used to work in the first factory town, but if you’re looking for Pawtucket Falls, you may not find exactly what you’re expecting.  The name of the falls means “Great Falls,” and the waterfall and rapids dropped 32 feet in under a mile; however, the falls impeded travel along the river and the new settlers to the area built the canals, which allowed Lowell’s residents to use hydropower, running the various textiles factories through a canal system.  In the 1820s, a dam was built at the head of the falls in 1820 and again twenty years later in the 1840s.  You can still see the work of that last expansion — a stone dam that channels much of the Merrimack River into the canal, which is why the Pawtucket Falls today are dry, although, when heavy water flow comes over the dam, the falls exist again, if only for a little while.

I didn’t know much about Tenerife, except I thought the weather would be warmer than London, not much of an achievement, but it is certainly welcome. Without doing much research before hand, I packed my bathing suit, tank tops, hiking clothes and plenty of sunscreen. I remember when I visited the beach in Mexico and got a not so desirable 2nd degree sunburn.

Tenerife is a very developed island, and despite the mega-resorts working their way up the mountain sides, there were plenty of places that still retained their natural beauty. I spent my first day relaxing poolside at my airport hotel, (fom swiftrank) under an umbrella and had almost a half a bottle of SPF 40 on my skin. I spent the 2nd day exploring Tenerife’s volcanic interior. The trip up the mountain not only gave me a spectacular view of the ocean, but also the various climates of Tenerife. While I was at the lower elevation, the terrain resembled the Arizona desert, complete with cactus and rocky, dry land. As I went higher, I suddenly found myself in the alpine country. I was surrounded by pine trees and the air was thinner. When I descended into the volcano, It was like the Grand Canyon meets Haleakala hardened lave rock formations. I spent only a couple of hours hiking around and exploring through the trails of Teide National Park. The parks prehistoric beauty was awe inspiring and it’s natural beauty was a nice contrast to the resort-packed beach front. It was a most refreshing day trip.

My third and last day here, I drove up the coast to Los Gigantes, it’s a town at the base of a beautiful rock cliff. I walked around town and watched the wildlife, mostly crabs and fish in the harbor. The cliffs were stunning. I then headed back to my hotel. I really enjoyed my weekend and I was so happy to have explored the other parts of Tenerife besides the poolside lounge chair. Spain was the perfect weekend get away for me.

Getting married in Singapore is easy and simple once you understand the requirements, rules and information for weddings and marriages in Singapore. Once you have these down, then it will be a breeze to pick a wedding venue Singapore offers its newlyweds.

Everything you need to know about getting married in Singapore is available on-line at the Registry of Marriages (ROM). Any marriage taking place in Singapore, and a few that don’t, must be registered with the ROM. Here are a few tips on how to do that:

First, choose your location: If you plan to have the solemnisation outside of the ROM, then you must choose your own solemniser. If you don’t know of one, you will find a list of authorised officiates on the ROM website; they all work on a voluntary basis.

Second, you need to file a notice of your intended marriage. To do this, you need a valid passport and you must meet the same eligibility requirements that citizens do. You will also need to include the details of your two witnesses in you application. At least one of you must have been a resident in Singapore for at least 15 days before filing a notice of marriage. Regardless of citizenship, this rule applies to all. The earliest you may solemnise your marriage is 21 days from the date of application and the latest is 3 month.

Third, when your application is successful, both of you are required to go to the ROM on the date and time specified, there’s usually three days before solemnisation, for verification of documents and administration of statutory declaration.

Last, your Solemensation: this is your actual wedding ceremony, the place where you’ll be saying you ‘I do’s’ and receive your marriage certificate.

Marriages that take place in Singapore are recognised in most countries, but it is wise to check with your embassy and make sure if it is legal in your home country.

One of the aspects that drew my husband and I to the notion of a wedding in Singapore, is something that we had held deeply in our hearts, and that is that through the four thousand years of the history of the city of Singapore, artists from various cultures have contributed to the one sole collective, the one sole-and soul-feeling.  That is the great respect and love that the Chinese have for nature.  This is reflected in all mediums of visual art, be it in the works on fine silk scarves, to the teapots, to the calligraphy on very delicate rice paper.

We discovered that the Yong gallery in the Singapore neighborhood of Chinatown had a collection of the works of a calligraphy master, Yong Cheong Thye.  We had our wedding in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. And since Singapore was our destination for our honeymoon, and we were already there, the honeymoon began before the wedding did so we were relaxed and standing in a garden of flowers and in love.  We did not have a large reception, just a brief gathering with a bit of food and tea, and he and I decided that for that night, we would take a trishaw tour through Chinatown, which was known to make a stop at the Yong Gallery.

We had to meet the master who had inspired our beautiful day, and we wanted him to be a part of that, a part of the rest of our lives.  We reached the gallery, still in our wedding attire,  which created a bit of attention.  We spoke to the master of love of expressing the deeper meanings of life through his art, of his days of training at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, about botanical gardens, nature, and true love.  He then took the time to create two red fans, one with my name and one with my husband’s, and as he handed them to us he thanked us.  Tears welled up in my eyes, I’m just like that, and we thanked him.  We made plans to come back the following year to see the master, and we headed out, headed out to the streets of Chinatown, and to the streets that will make up the rest of lives.

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.

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.

Vincent had been looking for an opportunity to get closer to his son Jeremy and when he found out that he would need to go to Nepal on a business trip, he decided that would be the prefect time. Vincent and Jeremy hadn’t been able to spend a great deal of time together since Jeremy’s mother remarried and Vincent got this new job. In addition, Jeremy seemed to be having a difficult time with his new step brother and Vincent wasn’t sure how his son and the step father were getting along either. It was important for Vincent to reconnect with Jeremy and make sure that he would get through this transition okay.

So Vincent approached Jeremy’s mother with the idea who was instantly reluctant though she almost immediately changed her mind and thought it would be a great idea. Vincent wasn’t sure what his ex-wife was thinking but he quickly made the reservations for Jeremy to stay with him at one of the Nepal hotels before she could change her mind again.

This idea turned out to be one of the better ones Vincent had all year. Jeremy was excited to go with his father and the two of them had a great time together. They enjoyed visiting the many Hindu temples in Patan and since both of them had an interest in history they discussed the medieval relevance of the city. They were also able to get out and see a great deal of the beautiful landscape of Nepal and took a helicopter tour of Mount Everest. Fortunately, Vincent had a light meeting schedule and he had arranged to stay an extra week just so the two of them could really explore the country. They were also able to have some intimate father son discussions and while Jeremy did not approve of his mother’s having remarried although he thought that his new step father was a nice man and had no personal issues with him. Vincent was happy to hear this and he and Jeremy made plans to get together, just the two of them, every other week.

With a spectacular market that goes underground and above ground, featuring fresh fish, fantastic treasures from someone’s distant uncle’s closet, and a real, down-to-earth and authentic apothecary, Seattle has some magnificent treasures.  And that’s just one location, the Pike’s Place Market, of which volumes have been written, and there’s still not enough said about it.  The Northwest is a fascinating place, with a feeling of being right in the middle of nature all the time, and Seattle has the added benefit of being one of the world’s coolest cities.  It’s a great place to travel, for business or for fun, and an elegant way to see the city is certainly at one of the Seattle Luxury Hotels.

With a touch of local hospitality that can only exist in a place where its green all the time, Seattle’s hotels will offer you a sense of cozy comfort that is both as familiar as home, and as elegant as any sophisticated city, all at the same time.  You’ll love the way the rain can help you fall into a splendid slumber, and waking up to the smell of the fantastic local coffee.  Seattle is one of the first cities to come into prominence for its caffeine consumption when it started offering lattes in the 1970s, and then when Starbucks opened here, the rest is history.  Coffee boomed in all directions, and the business took off for all the big bean names.  Seattle’s Best Coffee is another Seattle mainstay, that started in 1970, and was among the first in the area to roast their beans.  Torrefazione introduced their Italian coffee blends in 1986, and are still going strong.  Today there are an astounding number of coffee shops, and it’s really the ideal city to hole up in a cafe and write on your laptop while it drizzles outside.  European-style cafe culture landed in the U.S., and in Seattle, it’s a way of life.

Mumbai has all the color and vivacity of contemporary life in one place, and often in one moment.  Many worlds converge here, old and new, and continually intertwine in dazzling and often baffling ways.  It is one of the great urban centers of the world, and is also close to many of India’s great temples.  There is a palpable heartbeat here that is rather charming, and even contagious.  There is also a stunning visual sense to the place, from the buildings to the fashion, and this is reflected in a fantastic way in our 5 star Mumbai hotels.  Our hotels are carefully selected for their excellence in providing real, old-fashioned hospitality, with all the contemporary amenities to make your stay extremely comfortable, and many amenities that are particular to the place.

You’ll enjoy waking up every morning to the sumptuous and spacious rooms, enjoying a fine meal in our luxury restaurants, and perhaps even looking into all the splendid things offered by the spa.  Beginning every day with a sense of rejuvenation and calmness is a spectacular way to start your new adventures in Mumbai.  A fantastic way to get to know the place is through its art, and there are many different forms and media that are explored here.  In the realm of installation and performance, there were some strong players in the international art scene in the 1970’s, and there was a resurgence in the late 90s that still has not calmed, but in fact seems to be gathering a lot of steam.

Atul Bhalla is one of the most visible artists working today, and based in New Delhi, his work makes it to Mumbai very frequently. He is seen all over the world, but the work is very intensely focused on issues that speak to contemporary India.  He works in all kinds of media, painting and video, photography and sculpture, and his exceptional photo performances.  For Atul Bhalla, and for many other artists of his generation, the focus is on water, and particularly issues that examine sustainability and the sacred meanings of water that are particular to Hindu culture.  One of his most famous works to date, I was not waving but drowning -!, is a series of 14 images of the artist submerging in a river.  As his head disappears, we start to get a sense of his statement and aesthetic, and the effect is simply stunning.

My friends and I had such a great time on Spring Break last year it seems like it will be impossible to top on a future vacation. While on one hand this speaks to the incredible time we had and makes it seem worth it, though on the other hand it sounds kind of depressing to think that I’m twenty-two years old and the best time of my life is already behind me. My dad told me not to be so melodramatic about a trip and that if I actually had that good of a time, he thinks I might have engaged in extreme behaviors, some of which he probably wouldn’t have approved. So, his advice is to temper my exclamations about my experiences in Bali and just relax a bit because I should have one or two more good years ahead of me before everything starts to go down hill. I hope he’s being a little sardonic, and appreciate his efforts, though that doesn’t relieve my concerns about topping this last Spring Break.

So, the group of us, about twelve, stayed in three rooms in a great beach hotel Bali. You can imagine crowding four people, all female so don’t think it was morally adverse or anything, into a single room is already going to stir up trouble and that was just the beginning of it. We literally crawled out of bed at the crack of dawn, or even earlier, every day and headed out to the beach before breakfast. And sometimes, we had barely even laid down our heads before hopping back up. The entire island was absolutely beautiful and their were plenty of other tourists to keep things lively, although the locals were extremely friendly and seemed to enjoy the beaches as well, which makes perfect sense. Overall it was pretty informal and we generally at street side cafes and fast grills. It was great food though, and while I can’t describe it all, it was certainly a great time.

Visiting India is like a homecoming for many people.  For some, this is very literal, of course, and for others, it can feel like being in the place you’ve always dreamed about.  There are many things here that are like a dream, and this is certainly the case in Mumbai.  Bombay hotel accommodations are key to a pleasant visit, because this is the place you’ll be coming home to, and you should expect the finest in hospitality and comfort.  Our hotels are carefully selected to give you the best of everything, so that the remarkable design and style can lighten the spirit and rejuvenate the senses.  Resting comfortably in our spacious and lovely rooms, you’ll feel a sense of relief in body and mind, and this is a fantastic state of being in which to see the glorious city of Bombay.

It’s now called Mumbai, of course, but there are many who will refer to it by the older name, and it’s one of the most remarkable cities on earth.  It has a long history of human occupation, and you can see the presence of remarkable human intelligence in the old temples and the art. This gives a rather heady sense to the architecture and art of today, when it’s seen as part of a longer line of artistic development, and getting to know the city through its art works is always a splendid idea.  One of the local artists here who is absolutely worth getting to know is Vidya Kamat.

Her work is visually stunning and mystifying, and her images are often digital prints which are then re-worked and manipulated with more digital layers.  The results are spectacular, and often beautiful, and always evocative.  Her work is based in theories of self, constructions of identities, and history.  She holds degrees in Fine Art as well as Comparative Mythology, so the magnificent artistry is coupled with complex intellectual ideas about the core of who we are.  Centered in ideas of what constructs femininity and womanhood in contemporary society, particular Indian society, she uses her images to interrogate boundaries and to ask particularly relevant questions to a world in flux.

Grand Rapids is located on Michigan’s west side just about directly across Lake Michigan from the city of Milwaukee, WI. Grand Rapids is the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Michigan out side the Detroit area. Grand Rapids has many activities and events to keep you busy day or night, in town or adventuring along the river or on the near by Lake Michigan. Grand Rapid is a hidden gem in the state of Michigan.

Being on Michigan’s west coast meaning the west coast of lake Michigan there is easy access to the lake side beaches from anywhere in the Grand Rapids area. There are a lot of water activities to engage in beside just swimming. Para sailing, boating, fishing to name a few. Long summer days can be spent relaxing along the cool waters of the lake Michigan. If this isn’t to your taste or your looking for something to do in the evening, there is the city.

From hotels Grand Rapids you can find your way to the many cultural spots that Grand Rapids has to offer. The downtown area encompasses about a half square mile making it easy to walk to almost anywhere. Dining and shopping along the river walk is a fun and favorite thing for locals and tourists alike. early morning encounters with wild life as the city awakens or evening sunsets and moon rises are beautiful to experience along the river. Evenings can also include visits to one of the many theater and concert venues in the Grand Rapids city area.

For an adventure out side the city and to experience wild Michigan st its best a short drive north will take you to the Manistee National Forest. There are nearly a million acres of unspoiled forest land to be explored and experienced. heavily timbered in the 1800’s these forests and land have been protected since the establishment of the park in !909.

I woke up around 6am to go on a jungle trek, which turned out to be pretty fun. It lasted about 3 hours of walking through the forest and wetlands. I was tons of monkeys, and the endangered giant squirrel, which is the size of a cat. I saw huge spiders, dears, lots of lizards and the famous leaches of Kerala, too many leaches. I had about 20 of these little leaches attempting to get in my shoes, but thankfully I had on long trousers with the leggings tucked into my socks. Those little leaches were so fast, I really had to not only keep an eye on all the wildlife, but on all the wildlife trying to get into my pants!

I saw one girl on the tour with me, she was only wearing flip-flops and after the tour, I could see she had tons of bites on her and her feet were bleeding, but she didn’t seem disturb by any of it. I would’ve been freaking out. What was sad about the jungle trek, was I didn’t get to see any pythons or cobras, but I guess that’s better than literally running across them. Plus, it is a tiger reserve, and I didn’t see any of them, but again, that’s probably a good thing. Tigers are reclusive by nature, but it would’ve been grand to see one in their natural habitat.

I was staying at one of the best hotels Kerala offers and managed to get back to my room for a quick shower and later I posted some of my extra clothes back to the UK. But before I could post it, I had to get my parcel wrapped in material by a tailor, otherwise the postal system here won’t take it. After posting my un-needed clothes, I went on a ferry trip around the parks huge lakes. As I waited for the ferry, a family started talking to me, insisting on a photo, which apparently is ‘the’ thing to do. But, after that, every time I saw them they shouted my name as if I was someone special, famous, quite embarrassing really. The Ferry ride was great. I got soaked as it rained and it became chilly, but it was worth it, because I got to see dear and bison, I even spotted a turtle.

Tomorrow, I plan just to eat my way through Kerala and try every restaurants Butter Panner Masala. Yum!

Mallorca has one of the finest and longest reputations for stylish island luxury in the contemporary world.  As the capital of the Balearics, it not only offers the gorgeous climate and amazing beaches that draw so many people here year after year, it also has a splendid reputation as a cultural mecca.  It has its share of home-grown artists whose imaginations are sparked by the area’s natural wonder and fascinating people, and it also attracts artists looking for a place that has all the culture of a metropolis, but none of the hustle and bustle of a mainland city.  It’s a place that quite naturally takes to luxury.  Mallorca hotels are a world apart.  With pure Spanish style and international flair, they keep the guests happy.

We’ve selected our hotels based on their excellent standards for hospitality, offering a level of service that invites you to relax and enjoy the way your soul will start to feel refreshed.  After a little rest, you’ll be ready to take a spa treatment, or enjoy a fantastic meal, offering just a taste of the amazing dishes that are available here.  Perhaps you’ll want to see some of the city life.  The celebrities and the tragically hip will all make their way to the clubs and discos to dance all night to the latest techno music, and this is a wonderful way to get to know Mallorca, but there are many options besides this.  For the literary crowd, and it’s substantial here in this city that attracts artists from all over, one of the brightest spots is the Café Antiquari.

In the tradition of European cafés, this is a place where you can grab a quick espresso between stops, but it’s also a place where you can hole up for the day, checking e-mail or writing your new masterpiece.  And it goes on all night, too.  There’s a full selection of beer and wine, along with a menu that features tasty French morsels, in the style of the French owners.  Café Antiquari also offers live music in the basement, as well as showing local and international artist’s works in the upstairs gallery.  It’s a fantastic place to go to disappear, or to find new friends, and one of many exciting possibilities for your adventures here.