201 Street

The capital of the province of Phuket is Phuket City (formerly Phuket Town, it was upgraded to a city in 2004). The entire island is a dream destination for many tourists, full of sparkling beaches, warm ocean waters, and exciting nightlife. Phuket the city is part of that reputation. While much of the island has been homogenized, Phuket City shows glimpses of the multicultural heritage of the area, offering a mixture of Malay, Indian, Arab, Chinese, and Portuguese influences, especially in the remaining examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture.

Few people come to Phuket for the culture. Instead they are there to have a good time. The city seems to run 24 hours a day as residents and visitors spend their nights at various restaurants, discos, and bars. The food in Phuket City is amazing, better than anywhere else on the island. Whether you’re dining at an upscale modern restaurant or a local noodle shop, make sure to sample local dishes such as khao mun kai (chicken and rice), kanom jiin (Chinese rice noodles with curry), roti (a Muslim-style pancake, and mii pat (yellow noodles).

Besides sleeping off the previous night’s fun, one of the prime activities during daylight hours is shopping. Phuket City has some of the best shopping in the region. Bargain hunters will love the variety of local crafts and clothing. Shops range from large department stores that offer a staggering array of items to shop houses that are over 100 years old. There are even night markets held in the city for those who can’t quite get up before sunset.

Unlike some of the more commercialized parts of Thailand, Phuket city offers a more authentic experience for visitors. So find a good five star Phuket hotel or a quiet, simple inn and get started on the experience of a lifetime.

Anyone planning a trip to Hyderabad in India, will want to take a look at Chowmahalla Palace. Tourism and business travel to the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is increasing as Hyderabad’s technology, biotech, and software industries are fueling rapid development and expansion of the city’s offerings. Whether you’re attending one of the many world conferences now being held in the city, working with any of the developing industries, or simply exploring the rich history, architecture and arts of Hyderabad, take the time to look at the Palace.

Construction on the Palace began in 1750 under orders of Nizam Salabat Jung and comprises several palaces where the Nizam could entertain royal and state visitors. Chowmahalla wasn’t completed until 1869. In Urdu, the name translates literally to “Four Palaces.”

The palace grounds include two courtyards, the Bara Iman & its mirror image the Shishe-Alat, gardens, fountains, the Durbar Hall *Grand Khilwat) and the four main palaces: Mahtab Mahal, Aftab Mahal, Afzal Mahal, and Tahniyat Mahal. The Palace was constructed in neo-classical style of architecture and is believed by many to be modelled after the Tehran palace of the Shah of Iran. The Clock Tower is located above the main gate and the Khilwat Clock has been in continuous use for around 250 years. The Palace was restored by the present Nizam at the beginning of this century. In January 2005 it was opened to the public.

Visitors to Hyderabad will find many other historic and cultural sites to explore while in the city. There are also all the modern day venues that one expects in a growing tech-friendly city. Stay at one of the five star hotels in Hyderabad. Shop at the many modern malls. Enjoy the incredible Indian cuisine offered in the city’s fine dining establishments. Relax at a trendy nightclub or bar. Just make sure to get a taste of both the modern and the ancient in Hyderabad.

Featuring a diverse and colorful cultural heritage, Barcelona is one of the most popular cities in Spain. As the capital of the Catalonia region, the city is a blending of Catalan and Spanish language and arts. Visitors to the city will find plenty of 5-star Barcelona hotels, incredible restaurants offering Catalan and other Spanish cuisines, and around two hundred different nightclubs, lounges, and bars. Barcelona is also home to some of the most beautiful architecture in Europe and a number of historic and cultural landmarks.

Montjuïc is a hill near the center of the city. The name translates to “Hill of the Jews” in the medieval dialect of Catalan, though it is also possible that it is a corruption of Mons Jovicus which is Latin for “Hill of Jupiter.” The island of Minorca and the city of Girnoa (also in Catalonia) also have their own Montjuïc.

The hill has been the home of a number of fortresses through the centuries. The last, the Castell de Montjuïc which was built in the 17th century and expanded in the 18th, still stands on the hill. In the 1890s, parklands were created by clearing some of the natural woodlands. In 1929 Montjuïc was the site of a World’s Fair and several structures from that event remain, including the Palau Nacional, the Magic Fountains, and the Estadi Olímpic or Olympic stadium. The latter was built to be the site of an alternative to the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but plans for the anti-facist event were cancelled with the start of the Spanish Civil War. Montjuïc did serve as the site of several events in the 1992 Summer Olympics including the opening and closing ceremonies.

Montjuïc is home to the famous Barcelona Botanic Gardens and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is housed in the Palu Nacional. Other museums on Montjuïc include the Catalan Museum of Archaeology, the Olympic Museum, the Museum of Ethnology, and the Joan Joan Miró Museum(Fundació Joan Miró). Montjuïc is also a park, and the largest one in Barcelona at that.

The top of Montjuïc offers breath-taking views of Barcelona and the surrounding regions. Many visitors take the Funicular de Montjuïc to the peak. The ride culminates as a aerial cableway and offers its own stunning views of Barcelona and Montjuïc .

Known for its beaches, hippies, and nightlife, Ibiza is one of the most famous islands in the world. Every year, millions of tourists flock to this Balearic Island in the Mediterranean Sea to enjoy the sun, sand, music, and food. In recent years the government of Spain has worked to change Ibiza from a hedonistic adult party island to family destination offering fun for all ages, similar to the way Las Vegas has worked to broaden its reputation.

The island is known for its beaches, from the popular (and crowded) Playa d’en Bossa with its shops, restaurants, and famous clubs, to the beautiful and secluded Atlantis which you can only find if you convince a local to disclose its exact location. Beaches on Ibiza range from family-friendly to party-hardy, from quiet places of relaxation to recreation spots to crowded with shops and restaurants.

Those seeking a more natural experience will be delighted to learn that much of the island is protected from commerical development. Cliffs, lakes, forests, and small islands offer amazing vistas as well as a chance to experience the flora and fauna of the island. The island is also home to small villages that provide a taste of more traditional island life.

Shopping on Ibiza ranges from small shops to the large Hippy Markets. The latter are a reminder of the large influx of hippies that descended on the island in the 60s and 70s when Ibiza was Europe’s answer to Haight-Asbury. Families will want to check out the water slide park and the aquarium that is housed in a converted smuggler’s cave. There are also train tours of the island, some of which visit the Caves at Can Marca. And, for adults, sampling the famed Ibiza is simple with the abundance of bars, clubs, and lounges on the island.

Of course, no visit to Ibiza would be complete without sampling the amazing food. Spanish cuisine featuring fresh seafood is everywhere and restaurants range from small beach stands to high-class restaurants at 5 star Ibiza hotels to rustic, country dining in the interior villages.

The most popoular tourist destination in Asia is easily the Thai capital of Bangkok. What began as a British trading port centuries ago is now the center of business, commerce, and finance for Thailand and the surrounding countries. As the city’s appeal to tourists of all kinds continues to grow, local businesses, such as the best Bankok hotels, restaurants, and retailers respond by improving their offerings and providing an amazing visit for all travelers.

Whether traveling to Bangkok for business or pleasure, visitors will find the city offers a unique blend of East and West. The modern architecture of skysrapers, the designer boutiques, and world-class restaurants call to mind westerncities such as London and New York. With over one thousand skyscrapers, Bankok has one of the most recognizable and modern skylines in the world.

But Bangkok still retains its Eastern heritage. Visitors can enjoy traditional Thai cuisine throughout the city and browse traditional markets and shops. Historical sites include the largest golden teak building in the world (Vimanmek Mansion Museum) as well as numerous palaces, temples, and mosques. The city is also home to the National Gallery Museum and the National Museum of Thailand.

Visitors may want to investigate the many parks in the city to get a feel for the flora and fauna of Thailand. Lumphini Park is the city’s answer to Central Park. Other public parks include Queen Sirikit Park and Princess Mother Memorial Park. The city also houses the Dusit Zoo, the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake Farm, and the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, Ocean World.

Twice a year the restaurants of New York have an opportunity to showcase their cuisine to residents and tourists alike. New York Restaurant Week is held every January and July for two weeks. Participating restaurants offer a special menu at a fixed price. These prices are usually deeply discounted from regular prices, which gives diners the chance to sample the variety of quality food available in the city.

Restaurant Week was established in 1992 as part of the festivities surrounding the Democratic National Convention. The program featured three course meals at a variety of restaurants for only $19.92. In addition to the delegates and other convention attendees, quite a number of New Yorkers took advantage of this program. Their support of this one-time event led to the establishment of Restaurant Week as an ongoing program.

Over the years, this Big Apple event has expanded to a twice-a-year event and now includes both lunch and dinner. This allows diners to sample both the summer and winter menus of participating restaurants. The meals are still three courses, not including tip and drinks, but there are now three levels of price: $24.07 and $35.00. Some restaurants have recently extended their participation from weekdays only to include Sundays.

Over 250 New York restaurants now participate in the program. The next dates for Restaurant Week are January 18-23 and 25-30, 2009. Given the popularity of the program, it might be wise to reserve a table if you’re planning to try out one of the more popular restaurants.

Drug rehab is a very serious matter. Whether it’s a friend, loved one, or relative the decision to commit this person to long term drug rehab is a life changing experience. Getting somebody to realize that they need help is no easy task. These discussions are often met with denial from the person needing help. It’s very difficult to see you have a problem although it may be very apparent to others around you. Often times the addiction directly affects those the addict care about most, but these are also the ones that are most positively affected by the recovery of the former addict.
The hardest thing to do is often convince the person that attending alcohol or drug rehab is the best thing for them. This is no easy task considering everybody always believes they know the best thing for themselves. Staging an intervention is often the way many individuals are told by those they love that they need to attend rehab. This can go either one of two ways. The individual will acknowledge those concerned and agree to go to drug or alcohol rehab or they will get upset and turn down opportunities to get help. Either way this is a positive experience as even if the individual does not agree to go to drug rehab, they will at least have it on their mind and know how much their loved ones care about them.