201 Street

Exporters on the island nation of Mauritius have begun hoarding dollars in anticipation of a weakening of the Mauritian rupee. The central bank is expected to cut interest rates in order to stimulate the economy. The rupee fell as much as 4.9 percent to close at 34.1570 per dollar. The rupee has declined a total of seven percent already this year.

The Mauritian economy is dependent on tourism for the influx of foreign currency. The exporting of clothing, sugar, and textiles bring in additional foreign currency. With the global economy in a free fall, these cornerstones are no longer reliable. Reservations at luxury Mauritius hotels is falling and recessions in the US, Japan, and Europe are hurting the demand for exports.

The latest figures indicate that the country’s rate of economic expansion will fall from over five percent in 2008 to two percent in 2009. Analysts feel that this downgraded forecast by the International Monetary Fund is a sign that some sort of stimulus package will be needed in this island paradise. And that package will probably include a significant cut in the interest rate.

The Bank of Mauritius has already dropped its rate by one percent (the second time in less than two months). It’s anticipated that the benchmark Mauritian rate will be lowered by 50 basis points when policymakers gather on March 26th.

Mallorca, Spain has become quite a popular tourist destination over the years. Part of this has to due with the beautiful island, the beaches are pristine and the landscape possesses a tranquil peacefulness that many people from around the world are discovering. Aside from just the simple pleasures of walking along the beach or hiking, there are a myriad of options that are a bit more social and spectacular. There are many festivals and celebrations on this island that attract spectators, and locals, that occur throughout the year.

The capital of Mallorca is the city of Palma. The Domingo del Angel festival was once a very celebrated tradition, during the 15th and 16th century. This traditional celebration, that occurs on the first Sunday after Easter, as a day of prayer and hope for the poor, disappeared for a couple of hundred years. And then was held again for the first time since then, in 1982. It has been a popular and well celebrated custom ever since. The parade starts in the downtown area of Palma, near the hustle and bustle of shops, restaurants and the 5 star hotels Mallorca has to offer. There are prayers, dancing, activities for the kids, and feasts of traditional Mallorcan food. This festival, also known as Angel Sunday has become the most attended festival of the year. The following festival is the Night of Fire. This night of music and dancing and fireworks signifies the beginning of all of the festivals and parties that occur throughout the summer. It is also a highly attended event with live music, a lot of food and extravagant disguises and costuming.

On the northwestern coast lies Soller. Here, every year, an international festival of performing arts occurs. People travel from all over the world to perform with their own companies and groups as well as to collaborate from the other countries. This festival lasts for a week, with performances and parties continuing until late in the evenings. These are just a few of the festivals that occur each and every year and make Mallorca a very desired destination for those looking for fun vacations.

The name Sentosa means tranquility and peace. This is the name of one of the islands in the South China Sea. Just a quick trip from Singapore. Tourism has grown exponentially as people are starting to discover their opportunities for entertainment, or adventure, or just simply relaxing on the beaches. The historical significance of the island plays a large role in attracting visitors as well. During WW II a fort was built on the island and illustrates the depth and the affect that that war had not only on this island but all the islands including Singapore, as one of the British armies set up camp here.

Now though there are many resorts and luxury hotels Singapore to find what ever one may desire. These are set in lush gardens and vast orchards of trees. The beauty of this island is overwhelming. And while this remains a tranquil destination for relaxing, there are many options for entertainment and many activities to partake in for the whole family. Soon, more resorts will open and Universal Studios is building one of their famous theme parks. This is expected to enhance tourism from the island of Singapore and well as becoming a top destination for people from all over the world. The island is growing and growing, providing more each day.

The fort itself, Fort Siloso, has become a major attraction because of it’s historical significance. There are many parks to visit, one such park is the just for insects and butterflies. While some exhibits may tend to make some feel a bit ‘creepy’ there is wondrous beauty and much to be learned. This is a popular park for the whole family and just a great place to take the kids. And while the kids are playing with the bugs and the butterflies, mom and dad may find any one of the day spas a much more relaxing way to spend the afternoon, with aromatherapy straight from actual gardens to long massages on the beaches. Each part of this island offers much in the way of beauty and culture and is a ‘must see’ location if one is in this area of the world.

On February 9th, 2009 a car bomb went off in the downtown business district, near offices and restaurants and five star Madrid hotels. It was allegedly set by a separatist group from Basque called the ETA. The bomb was planted in a Puegeot that was was parked by a convention center in district of Campo de La Naciones. Remarkably, no one was hurt by the blast, as it happened at nine in the mornings. A person phoned the Red Cross at around 7:30 that morning and claimed to be a representative from the the terrorist group. They stated where and when the bomb was set to go off. The building, Ferrovial-Agroman, was evacuated by the authorities. As stated before, the blast did not injure any people in the area, just blew out office building windows and created many traffic jams in the downtown area.

It is believed that the attack was in response to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Spain, which was that the ETA was an illegal separatist group used as a cover for two previously banned political parties. The Democracia 3 Millones and the Askatasuna were prohibited from taking part in the general elections for Basque on March 1. The attack may have been aimed at a Spanish company that owns many British airports, Gatwick and Heathrow included, as the bomb went off in close proximity to the building that houses that company. The company had planned to build a train system, high-speed, that would connect the Basque County to France and to the rest of Spain.

Others have not been so lucky in past ETA attacks. For years this organization has been threatened anyone involved in the building of this railroad. Construction workers simply doing their jobs have been threatened, as well as the companies they work for. The ETA’s position is that it is being forced on the county by the cities of Paris and Madrid. Apparently this organization sees themselves akin to such environmental guerrilla groups as Earth First. They protest the waste of resources say that the building of the train will harm the ecology. Meanwhile, during the 40 years of protecting the environment they’ve accumulated a death toll of 825 innocent people, from the business in suits involved in the building of the railroad, to workers in overalls laying the rail.

With beautiful mountains and beaches, rustic vineyards, and a multi-ethnic population, Cape Town is hard to resist. The stunning tableau created by Table Mountain is the centerpiece of this cosmopolitan city. However, Cape Town if more than its natural wonders. It is a blend of colorful history, colorful art and architecture, and a colorful array of people, shops, languages, and food.

While the origins of human settlement in the area are lost in the mists of time, Europeans first discovered the area in the 15th century. Regular contact with Europe was established by the Dutch in 1652. The Dutch East India Company needed a way station for their ships heading to and from the Dutch East Indies. During these establishing years, the Dutch imported slaves from Madagascar and Indonesia. The gold and diamond rushes of the 19th century brought more immigrants. It’s no wonder many refer to the country as the rainbow nation.

Many of the galleries and markets in Cape Town offer eye-catching combinations of color in the art and crafts offered for sale. Fabrics, buildings, and signage add to this wave of color. Many of the best Cape Town hotels, restaurants, and shops also sport colorful facades and interiors.

The flora of the area is equally stunning. Table Mountain is covered in exotic flowers and plants and is the center of the National Park of the same name. The deep blue of the ocean and the sparkling beaches create an equally breath-taking vista. Vineyards offer their own simple beauty and the many animal parks and preserves give the wild kingdom the chance to show off their own colors as well.

Visitors to this exotic city will want to take in some of the historic and cultural landmarks such as the Rhodes Memorial,the Castle of Good Hope, and the South African National Gallery. Natural environments include the Kirstenbosch Botanicl Gardens, Table Mountain National Park, and he Koeberg Nature Reserve.

Eating is one of the greatest pleasures in Singapore. There is so much variety from many different cultures it is hard not to find a meal or snack that you will enjoy. Take your pick from Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Indian, Peranakan, Thai, Korean, and Japanese restaurants. Or visit one of the thousands of Singapore’s hawker stalls. Dining options range from five star restaurants to delis, to fast food and everything in between.

In Singapore there are many food festivals including the Singapore Food Festival in July. These food festivals are held throughout the year and many are close to the tourist areas hosting the best hotels in Singapore.

The Chinese food in Singapore differs by the origin of the cuisine. The food is rice or noodle based along with a variety of meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables. In China there are more than eighty different styles of cooking.

Indian cuisine in Singapore can be identified by the many spices which are used in the curry dishes. This can often be hot, but sometimes delicate in flavoring. The area of the city that should be visited is Little India. Here you will find cuisine from the north and south of India.

And where there is food there is entertainment – which of course go hand in hand. Singapore is the perfect place to visit if you are looking to sample many different types of food.

New York City is regarded by many as the center for art in the world. Home to countless galleries and artist studios, the New York art scene came to prominance in the 20th century and has continued to influence art trends, education, and criticism through the modern day.

Part of the reason the city is so important to the modern art world is the number of great art museums located here. Not only do New Yorks create, sell, buy, and critic art, they also preserve and exhibit some of the greatest works of art in the world.

The grandest of the New York art museums is undoubtly the Met. Officially the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it is one of the world’s largest museums, covering two million square feet. Founded in 1870 with a mere 174 paintings, the Met now has over two million works of art and hosts four million visitors a year. In addition to the most extensive American Art collection, it boasts the best Egyptian collection (except for Cairo) as well as impressive collections of European paintings and Islamic art. The museum also features costumes, photography, drawings, armor, arms and ancient artifacts.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is the premier collection of modern art in the entire world. It includes over 150,000 paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photographs. MoMA’s collection also covers architecture, design, illustrated books, film, and electronic media. It boasts some of the most famous works by modern artists such as Money, Van Gogh, Rosseau, Dali, Pollack, Warhol, Picasso, and Wyeth, amongst many others.

The city is also home to the world-renown Guggenheim Museum famous for its unique design, by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Whitney Museum of American Art features permanent and rotating collections of contemporary American Art. Other art museums of interest in New York include the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the International Center of Photography.

It would be easy to plan an entire vacation in New York around these museums, or even around one of two. The city has a number of 4 star New York hotels that are within easy distance of the museums or visitors can look into apartment-swaps, B&Bs, or other lodging options.

Sunday marks the end of the 7th Aero India, held at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore. An internationally-recognized aerospace exhibit, this Indian event showcases aviation’s best from around the world providing static displays as well as flight exhibitions. The first such event was held in 1996.

The event is organized by India’s Ministry of Defence and managed by the Confederation of Indian Industry or CII. This year’s events started on Wednesday with the final air show at 17:00 on Sunday.

The daily air show are the main attraction for the public. They feature aerobatic flights and simulated dog fights. Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra (India’s only gold medal winner) will co-pilot one of the F-16s. Other celebrities from India and the aviation community will be on hand. They will most likely stay at the luxurious 5 star hotels Bangalore.

Aero India will highlight the latest civilian and military aircraft as well as radar, avionics systems, engines, and cutting edge defense technologies. There will also be an emphasis on research and development as well as global product support.

The event expects to draw around 125,000 spectators and 50,000 industry representatives.

Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is one of India’s ancient cities. The modern city began as a cluster of villages located between the Pennar river of Cuddalore and the Pennar river of Nellore. The region evolved into a vital military, ecomonmic and administrative center as early as the first century C.E. Early dynasties to rule the area included the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijaynagar Empire and the Pallavas. The earliest inhabitants of the area, the Kurumbas, were reportedly conquered by Ilam Tiraiyan of the Cholas.

Chennai is home to several temples that are over a thousand years old. These include Thiruvotriyur, Thirumyilai (also known as Mylapore), Thiruvanmiyur, and Thirvallikeni (or Triplicane).

Christianity also has roots in Chennai. It is believed by many that St. Thomas, one of the original apostles, came to India in 52 C.E. St. Thomas Mount is where he supposedly preached and there is a church and museum near the cave where he was said to have lived.

Modern day Chennai began with the arrival of British merchants in 1639. The city became a British colony and was known as Madras. Colonial influences remain throughout the are, including historic sites such as Fort St. George. Other attractions in the city include the Government Museum which includes the National Art Gallery and Guindy National Park with its famous Guindy Snake Park.

Visitors to Chennai will find that this ancient land has evolved into a modern megacity. There are luxury hotels in Chennai with the conveniences, technology, and amnenities of contemporary life. While there are still open markets and bazaars, the city also has shopping malls with air-conditioning and designer shops. And though food stalls throughout the city offer amazing local favorites, Chennai is also home to modern restaurants, including a number of fine dining establishments and cuisines from around the world.

The island of Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands. The terrain of this island is diverse and the landscape is varied . This diversity and variation of the mountains, the beaches, and the plain account for the range of Majorca’s agricultural production.
Along the Northwestern coast lies the Tramuntana Mountain Range. The coastal side of the range gives way to pebble and rock beaches and many tiny villages. The mountains account for the source of Majorca’s fresh water supply. This water rushes down into the orange and lemon tree groves, as well as the olive and almond trees and on into the wineries producing the sweet grapes of this region.

To the East of the Tramuntana Mountain range lies the center of the island, the plain known as Es Pla. Es Pla sits on top of an abundant underground water source. The water is brought to the surface by windmills. Combined with the flat land and good soil, this area has become the island’s main source of agricultural production. This region, similar to the mountainous region of the Tramuntana’s, contains a large amount of olive and almond groves.

Majorca has 554 km of coastline. The productive land of the island all gradually forms the bays, the beaches and the coves. This area is a favorite for sunbather’s and scuba diver’s alike, featuring many 5 star hotel Majorca accommodations. Along the water fig trees and pines forests grow. The Bay of Palma is on the southwest side of the island and provides a sanctuary for the rare reptiles, birds and marine life native to the island and to the surrounding water.