201 Street

Visiting Frankfurt is always eye-opening.  It has been one of the most influential centers of culture for years, and it saw some of the most remarkable minds of the 20th century living in its borders.  The legacy of this time runs very deep, and for many new artists working here, the mantle is necessarily enormously heavy.  It seems to make for great art, because it continues to be a place where some of the most exciting work in the world gets developed.  The philosophy of the cultures here that make art, that is to say, the counter-culture in general, determines some of its decisions in how systems and structures should be run.  This makes for some very exciting collaborations, and ways of conceiving work are always at the cutting edge.

Staying here is a uniquely splendid experience.  There is a sense of hospitality here that is genuine and exceptional, and there seems to be a conscious effort to always be stylish, and always enjoy the possibilities of the moment.  This certainly extends to the Frankfurt am Main hotels, where hospitality can be practiced without any kinds of pretense that it is anything else.  It’s lovely to wake up here, refreshed, and ready to enjoy some splendid meals, and take in some of the many attractions here.  Lucky travelers might happen to be in town when Tamara Grcic is mounting a new exhibition.

This artist works in a variety of media, and one of her most prominent forms in the global art world is sculpture.  She was born in Munich, and now makes Frankfurt her home, with occasional side trips to New York City.  She might be considered a mid-career artist, but the work always seems fresh and engaging.  Her Gaggiandre at the Venice Biennale this past year has caused another wave of excitement over this very prolific artist’s body of work.  She did some of her schooling in Vienna, which interestingly further strengthens the already deep connections between these two cities.

Irving Berlin and Sam H. Harris were friends.  Harris was a producer and in 1919 he told Berlin that if he could write a show, a musical revue, that Harris would find a Berlin a theatre to do it in.  Irving Berlin went and wrote and composed and what he came back with was “The Music Box Revue”.  True to his word, Harris built a theatre in 1920, at 239 W 45th Street, and named the theatre for the revue, The Music Box Theatre.  When the show opened in September of 1921, it as well as the theatre was a hit.  The run was four years, and every year Berlin wrote new editions.

After that, the theatre ran musicals, but began to run straight up drama and comedy plays.  Many famous actors and distinguished and notable playwrights have worked with the Music Box over the years.  In the 1940’s and 50’s Mike Todd directed the show Star and Garter.  The music was composed by Irving Berlin and the star of the show was Gypsy Rose Lee.  I Remember Mama was produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1944, and in the cast was a young actor making his Broadway debut, Marlon Brando.

This tradition has continued and many people have found that traveling to the city and finding the perfect boutique hotel in New York just around the corner, heading for dinner, and then heading to the show, is a great way to experience the not only the theatre, but the history of the theatre and of Manhattan as well.  So much of the history of the elements of New York, combine to make the whole.  In New York, everything is connected, this is not so in many cities of the United States.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, the plays and the shows were varied, from “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter to the Sondheim musical revue “Side by Side”.  In the 90’s the stage was graced by many actors such as Natasha Richardson and Julianne Moore in her Broadway debut, “The Vertical Hour”.  There are constantly great shows and performances taking place at The Music Box, and whichever one you choose, you will not be disappointed.

Baltimore has many exciting attractions that will surely put a smile on every visitor’s face.  The city is rich with culture and shopping, and has a fascinating history.  Visiting here is to see some of the heart of the East coast, discovering one of the oldest seaports in the U.S.  Baltimore has a bit of everything, and something to offer everyone.  There is a rich, urban culture here with some splendid traditions and experiments in visual and performing arts.  With this appreciation for the finer touches in life, it is no surprise that in Baltimore, luxury hotels are also spectacular.  We’ve selected our hotels for their excellence in style and service.  You’ll fall asleep and wake up in absolutely splendor, our rooms decorated with a sophisticated elegance that will also make you feel elegant.  And after a bit of rest, and perhaps a gorgeous meal served by our world-class chefs, it’s a good time to see the wonderful city.

The Inner Harbor is one of the most popular spots here, with excellent shopping, food, sight-seeing, and history.  You might want to take a tour, or take in a museum or two, as you find your way around.  People watching is fantastic here, as it is in so many of the cities on the East Coast, where people from all walks of life go about their busy days.  It doesn’t take long, however, to see that Baltimore is a rather interesting place, with many cultures and subcultures co-existing, and it seems like something interesting is happening here.  Check out the local clubs, and if you happen to see a band named Trockenesis, you’ll know that something is going on.

Their form is experimental, electronic music.  They play acoustic instruments like bent saws and dry ice, a lot of percussion, and a bit of voice, too, to make a sound that is altogether otherworldly.  They’re produced by Baltimore’s Ehse Records, an outfit that produces and promotes new styles in music, using all the latest technologies, so that the producers are as edgy as the artists, or at least coming close.  The music may sound like a lot of noise, but after a few moments of close listening, and you realize that Trockenesis is made up of musicians who are really incredibly good.  Their skill and innovation reinvent themselves in every song, and sometimes in multiple moments within the songs, taking the listeners on a fantastic journey.  Hearing the recordings is very nice, but live is something else.

I came to New York to participate in a weekend workshop that will teach me about Binaural tones or beats. Luckily, I managed to book a room at a New York cheap hotel that was not far from where the workshop was being held. I learned so much that I’ll be able to now offer my clients another healing and meditative alternative.

I learned that Binaual’s is an auditory process which perceptions arise in the brain independent of the physical stimuli. The brain which produces a phenomenon that results in a low-frequency pulsations in the loudness of a perceived sound when two tones at a slightly different frequency are played separately, one to each ear, using stereo headphones. I got to experience this first hand, and I must say, after just one session, I could tell a difference with how I felt and looked at my surroundings. A beating tone will be perceived by a person, as if the tow tones mixed naturally, out of the brain. The difference between the two tones and frequencies must be small, about 30 Hz for the effect to occur. If the two tones are heard separately, then no beat will be perceived.

The effect creates a brainwave synchronization or what’s known as the brainwave entrainment. It’s a practice that aims to cause brainwave frequency to fall in step with the periodic stimulus which has a frequency corresponding to the intended brain state, for example, to induce sleep. It depends upon a frequency following a response, a naturally occurring phenomenon where the human brain has a tendency to change its dominant EEG frequency towards the frequency of a dominant external stimulus. This stimulus will be aural and visual.

I was so amazed with the results that I ordered most of their CD’s that were created with he Atmosphere Dream Synch mode. The Atmosphere composition has been used in television like ‘Lost’ and in movies, like the ‘Bourn Ultimatum’ and ‘Transformers’. All my clients will now benefit from this form of meditation.

When you have arrangements for a boutique hotel in Singapore, then you know an adventure awaits you.  Singapore is unique in the world, one of the only sovereign city-states on the planet, with a sense of style and culture that is entirely unique, and extremely connected to global vibrations.  Our hotels are exquisitely detailed to offer an ambience that is relaxing and invigorating.  With fantastic meals prepared by chefs schooled in contemporary techniques and classical tastes, and a host of other sumptuous extras, you are sure to find a sense of well-being rarely experienced, and the magic of Singapore will await you.

In Singapore, there is an enormous array of attractions and distractions to entertain every member of the family.  From people watching to sight-seeing to tours, there are many fantastic ways to get to know the place.  Even a cursory glance will reveal a bustling metropolis, where the locals are extremely hip on the latest trends, and there is an artistic sensibility running through everything.  The visual arts are extremely important here, and Singapore has seen a boom in the past few decades.  Singapore has a culture that supports excellence in artistic innovation, and some of the most interesting artists today come from here.  Lynn Lu is an excellent example.

Born in 1974, she has a BFA from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, an MFA from the San Fransisco Art Institute, and is currently working on her doctoral thesis from the University of Newcastle in Australia.  Her work is based in performance and installation, and her projects are extremely thought-provoking, and visually quite stunning.  There is a sense of melancholy about her work, mixed with equal doses of humor and despair.  There are also sharp cultural critiques at work here, and the sharpness of thought requires viewing the work first-hand.  She has shown work at the Future of Imagination international performance art event, among many other venues all around the world.

The well known Nigerian founder of the anti-corruption agency, the ANLC-Association Nigerienne de Lutte contre la Corruption, was arrested over the weekend as he traveled across the capital city of Nigeria.  Maman Abou created the agency, known in English as the Niger Fight Against Corruption Association,  was captured in the city of Niamey.  Upon leaving the house of another member of his agency he was arrested by the Republican he was taken into custody by the Nigerian Republican Guard as he was switching taxi cabs.

Since Saturday, August 22, Maman has not been allowed to contact his lawyer, and he is being held without an explanation as to the charges that are alleged against him.  He is a leading proponent in the idea of transparency in government affairs, which calls for ethical government practices and accountability of those politicians in regards to the their actions.  He had recently attained the position of the Secretary General of a network of organizations that intend to preserve and protect Democracy,  this during times when politically speaking, the country of Niger is in turmoil.

He wrote a letter to the president of the country, Mamadou Tandja last month, calling upon the president to respect the laws that are intended to safeguard the citizens of his country, to guarantee that due process of law and justice will reign, and that the institutions of democracy would further support the accountability and transparency policies.  These policies have been enacted in many democratic countries, including the United States, as a way of ensuring honest and open and ethical practices among politicians specifically, but are put to use quite often in the business and financial sectors as well.  Many protesters were arrested in Niger over the weekend, they were protesting the changes Tandja was putting forth to the country’s Constitution, however Maman had not been part of the protest.

When it comes to four-star hotels, Mumbai is a veritable feast.  As one of the most exciting cities in the world, Mumbai has a fair share of excellent accommodations.  Our hotels are extremely distinctive, offering a sumptuous blend of innovation and tradition, with all the latest in technologies and design, but not skimping on hospitality, and all the qualities that will make your stay memorable.  Our hotels are carefully maintained with emphases placed on service and special features, to help relax the body and mind, and replenish the spirit.  Mumbai is a dazzling array of cultures and traditions, and your stay here deserves a place of immaculate repose, so that you are refreshed to enjoy the many adventures to be had in the city.

As one of the longest continually-inhabited cities on the planet, Mumbai has always been a magnet for some of the best minds in the world.  Artists and scientists alike are drawn to the city, pulled by the promises only a rich human energy can hold.  There is an intoxicating rhythm here, one that even a brief stay can reveal.  There are enormous distractions and entertainments, and the whole family will find something to love in Mumbai.  If the film industry is among your interests, then this is a gold mine.  Not only can one find movie stars and entertainers from all walks of life, there is a very sizable independent film culture.  This is attested to by one of the more interesting film competitions, the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short, and Animation Films.

This competition gives a special place for the other categories of movie entertainment, and categories that are often too overlooked by the rest of the industry.  The competition is open to anyone, will the call for entries posted in multiple locations around the world.  There are several sections for the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short, and Animation Films with categories for above and below 30 minutes, debut films, student films, animations, and short fiction films.  This is an excellent opportunity to screen films that fall outside of the blockbuster categories, and taste some of the hidden treasures from the global film community.

Traveling the world means sampling the best cuisines in the world’s greatest restaurants, and Bombay restaurants is certainly prepared to compete with any of them.  As Indian food is among the world’s finest in terms of taste and sheer visual beauty, dining out here is absolute pleasure.  Our restaurants sample the greatest of India’s cooking, from North to South, and demonstrate a stunning variety that will please every palate.  Indian cooking has a long and fascinating history, much like the country itself.  Where human habitation has such a long presence, one would expect the history of the food to mirror the history of the people.  There are long traditions in culinary expertise here, where centuries of experimentation have led to a certain perfection in some recipes.  Bombay also has an enormously diverse population, and this cosmopolitan setting gives rise to all sorts of innovations as well.

The curious diners will find themselves treated to a stunning blend of both innovation and tradition in our restaurants.  Food here is never taken lightly, as it is the centerpiece for all kinds of social functions, both public and intimate.  It is difficult, in fact, to look into any facet of life in Bombay without hearing about the food served.  Celebrity stories center around ceremonies and festivities where food is at the center.  One of Bombay’s premiere designers, Sangita Kathiwada often shows up at celebrity events where the cuisine is mentioned.  It is sort of a cornerstone of celebrity culture as much as it is of the daily culture.  This makes a good deal of sense when one considers that people look to celebrities for all sorts of cues to what the good life might consists of.  Besides the work, and the usual trappings of fame, such as houses and cars, the eating habits of the rich and famous come to play a part in the cultural myths that are built around stardom.

Sangita Kathiwada has a working practice that enters the culinary realm in rather unexpected ways, as well.  Her designs are shown all over the world, and she has started a non-profit that brings together rural artisans and urban designers.  In the way that recipes are often combinations of cultures, regions, and peoples, the realm of design is often valued as much for variety as it is for its taste.  Variety is a central feature of some of the best cuisines here, and one will find this reflected in our restaurants.

What an intriguing place with a history nearly as long as any place on earth. Known history of the area goes as far back as the 3rd century BCE. This area was a part of the Mauyan Empire back in the day. The ruler of this region at this time was Satavahanans of Kolhapur a Buddhist emperor. From around 580 BCE to 750 BCE the region passed under the control of the Chalukya Dynasty, an Indian dynasty the covered a very large area of present day India. For many years after this dynasty the area went back and forth under the rule of the Delhi and the Sultanate. By 1370 the kingdom was loosing control of the area and the area went under Harlhara I of the Vijayanagara empire. This continued to the latter part of the 15th century. when the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga governed the area. In 1510 Portuguese invaders gained control of the region this lead to the permanent settlement of Velha or Old Goa. Wars with neighboring rulers and the Portuguese continued for many years. The repressive religious policies of the Portuguese caused many to migrate from the area to Goans. In 1812 British began the occupation of Goa. In 1843 the capitol was moved to Panjim and by the middle of the 1800’s what is current day Goa was defined. It took until the British were out of India and the Indian army forced the Portuguese occupiers from Goa in 1961 that Goa came completely under control of India. Now it is India’s 25th state sitting on the Arabian sea with 5 star hotels Goa  (http://5starhotelsgoa.com) with views of the ocean. Goa is 1430 sq miles most of Goa is part of a coastal area known as Konkan  an escarpment coming up from the Western Ghats mountains that seperate it from the Deccan Plateau. It reaches an altitude of 3837 feet at Sonsogor. There are about 70 miles of coast line. Goa is a humid zone on the Arabian Sea it is hot and humid most of the year there. Most days are 95 degrees and the rainiest time of the year is early June. Winter is very short about mid-December to Feb. The nights go down to 68 degrees the days are about 85.

Australia, the word itself evokes many images and feelings and they are usually connected to the charming accents, kangaroos and koala bears. Who hasn’t listened with delight as an Australian speaks with that easy rolling accent? And aren’t we all fascinated by the adorable koala bears? And what about the kangaroos with their little joeys in their pouches? But obviously there is much, much more to Australia than that. Take for example the city of Brisbane. Located in the southeast corner of the Australian State of Queensland, on the banks of the Brisbane River, it is Queensland’s capital. With over two million residents it is the largest city in this state and is the third largest city in all of Australia. The name came from Sir Thomas Brisbane who was New South Wales’ Governor from 1821-1825. During World War II, Brisbane was General Douglas Macarthur’s SW Pacific Headquarters.

If you have the pleasurable opportunity to visit Brisbane, you won’t be wondering what you can do. With so many local attractions to visit you will have a terrific time taking them all in. There are a couple old buildings you won’t want to miss touring. They were built in 1828 by convicted felons. One, The Windmill in Wickham Park was used for grinding grain but was also a punishment for the convicts, as they had to work the windmill. The other is The Old Commissariat Store on William Street, which was the grainhouse. It was later used to house immigrants and also store records. Both buildings hold a lot of interesting history.

And of course you will be staying at any one of the wonderful hotels Brisbane has to offer. Your stay will be most enjoyable as you are pampered and spoiled by the friendly staff, love the accent, and don’t forget to check out the fabulous hotel restaurants for the savory cuisine. Australia, yes, the images and feelings that word evokes.

I no longer wonder where all the hippies went after the 60’s. They all ended up in the town of Glastonbury, England. I could smell the burning of inscent sticks even before I entered the town. Once in town all I saw was an array of arts and crafts,  mind/body shops and most of the people wore long dread-locks. Body piercing and unique clothing was a little updated, but very unusual. I really enjoyed wondering from shop to shop and gallery to gallery. Except for the hike up the Glastonbury tor, a natural hill rising about 800 meters, the town is a relaxing town to visit after being rushed through Stone Henge.

Our next stop was the city of Bath, where we had reservation at a Bath Hotel. It was our final night stop over and we planned a day to explore. Bath, by far, was my favorite place. I just fell in love with all the Georgian architecture, the white stone buildings which were terraced and 4 to 5 stories high. A very affluent city. The ancient attraction, 2000 year old Roman Baths. These baths were re-discovered in the 1800’s. They’re no longer functional, but you can take a tour and walk on the original stone flooring, around the perimeter, the Romans laid down 2000 years ago. Later, the Victorians preserved the site for future generations. I highly recommend taking the time to see the baths.

After a full day exploring sites and relaxing, we headed back to our hotel to look over our photos of the two previous days where we got to see the legendary birth place of King Arthur and home to Merlin. It was hard for us to believe we were actually standing in what was considered the ruins of a castle, however, our photo’s will always remind us of the mystery and myths of the Tintager ruins. Then, we re-lived our day at walking on 2000 year old stones with which Romans once walked.

Neil Simon is an American Playwright and screenwriter who has written some of the most commercially popular plays of the 20th century. He is often considered to be the most reliable hit maker in the country. Many of his plays have received considerable success in New York and he continues to be one of the most commonly produced playwrights in the world. Most of his plays are comedies though they often touch on serious social and personal issues. Another strong focus in his work is the Jewish American Experience. This is primarily scene in The Sunshine Boys and the Eugene Trilogy.

He was born in the Bronx, New York in 1927. His first Broadway production came in 1961 with his play Come Blow Your Horn. It opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre and ran for 678 performances. His second play, Little Me, followed shortly after and although it was not well received by audiences it did gain him his first Tony Award nomination. Since then, he as received a remarkable 16 additional nominations and has won three Tony Awards in his career. He also received the coveted Pulitzer Prize for his play Lost in Yonkers. Other well known and popular plays written by Simon include Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Biloxi Blues and The Goodbye Girl.

Lost in Yonkers opened on Broadway at the Richard Rogers Theatre in 1991. The production, which was directed by Gene Saks, ran for 780 performances. The cast included Mercedes Ruehl, Kevin Spacey, Mark Blum, Irene Worth and Jamie Marsh. The play is a coming of age story about a two brothers who are left in the care of their aunt and grandmother in Yonkers, New York. Tickets for theatre productions that go on to win Tony or Pulitzer Prizes always increase in sells and extended runs.

I realized, luckily, at a young age that purchasing Concert Tickets at $100 a pop and then spending the whole concert standing in the spewing line in the bathroom was really to crazy. I would spend even more money on wine or beer, a really fleeting purchase if one really contemplates it long enough, when I could’ve bought a concert T-shirt. Something that I’d wear for years and it would bring back fond memories of the concert, but then again, that would be a stupid purchase too.

Spending the $100, I realized, as I got older, was so I could get pushed on, pawed, crushed and mushed, all the while my good shoes would be wading through spilled beers, sodas and who knows what else. All I can say, is thank god I managed to make it to the middle-age and no longer need to go to live concerts. What is really funny though is when I drop-off my two sons at a concert, I see so many ‘not-so-young any more,’ people at those concerts. I guess they just don’t want to admit that they’ve gotten older and that they refuse to let the new generation have their moment in the sun.

I do have to admit though, I am going to the Bonnaroo, but that is open for all ages. It will be fun to see the different mix of people and to, probably for the last time, experience the concert subculture which this music festival will bring out from the woodwork. I know I’ll be somewhat envious when I see the younger crowd run through sprinklers and dance as if they have not a care in the world. But, hell if I’m going to miss seeing Springsteen! And that’s when I’ll shine and the little teenyboppers will be a little envious of me when I scream ‘Yay! Tune! Da Boss!’

If one is planning to travel through India, one must make a trip to Jaipur.  This is at once the capital city, the gateway to Rajasthan, and a great location to begin to discover the history and the many facets of the state and the attractions there are to see, to visit, and to partake in.  The city gets its nickname from the fact that most of the buildings are made of pink sandstone and stucco.  There are also quite a few modern structures such as the newly built Jaipur hotels, as well as some heritage sites and historical buildings.  It is quite a feast for the eyes.  It is a city where monuments meet the modern world.  There is a mystery to be found in Jaipur, and once one travels through the market places and the palaces, it is a kind of mystery that one can not discover the answer to, it is a mystery that will stay in ones memory.  The city is a mix of colorful buildings and colorful cloths, where motor cars are using the same streets as old men on camels.

While the city is almost three hundred years old, it is still a young city as far as the cities in India are concerned.  One of the early kings of the city had a request.  Being found of astronomy and star gazing, he simply wanted a city, that was graced with charm and beauty, where he could do just that, sit at night and watch the sky.  This is a city that is steeped in the epochs of history, tradition and royalty, and as such there are many palaces and forts that are set up high from the times when the city needed watching over.  There is the City Palace, which is the combined architectural styles of the Mughals and Rajput, which is now a hotel and there is the Palace Museum wherein one can peruse the photos of the Royalty throughout the history of Jaipur.  And of course, the king’s observatory is still there, standing testament to his belief in the importance of understanding the movement of the stars.

Jaipur hotels have many international guests staying with them, tourists on holiday looking for incredible treasures to found in the market places.  One of the most famous traditions practiced in the city is that of jewelry making and design.  There are many items of Indian work, that can only be found in Jaipur such as the bodla, the jewel for the forehead, the arm band and certain kinds of hair barrettes.  Many of the pieces are made with precious stones as well as the pearl of Jaipur, the Basra.  There are many styles of this handiwork, however two are the most popular and practiced and those are the Kundan and the Meenakari traditions.

The Kundan style of jewelry was inspired, as many of the traditions in other forms of artwork in India, by the Mughals.  This is the art of delicately placing fine stones into settings of either silver or gold.  They are held in place by finely sculpted pieces of gold leaf, not by claws nor clasps.  This is jewelry fit for royals, and as such many of the film actors and wealthy will travel to Jaipur to purchase these pieces.  Meenakari is a different kind of work, very colorful and very local to the artists of Jaipur.  The pieces are then put through a process of enameling to make them comfortable for the close contact with the wearers skin.  This is a very fine piece of work.

Silver jewelery is becoming stylish as contemporary fashions and trends have dictated and those working in silver have large numbers of customers at their stalls.  The styles have become a combination of modern fused with traditional designs, and have a bit of a trendiness aspect, very appreciated and sought after by the tourists.  When purchasing items from the roadside markets it is proper and expected that one would bargain over the prices.  However in the fine jewelery stores in the city, one must remember to ask for a receipt or business card with name of the shop and the artist, that states the weight and the price of the piece.

Phuket is a wonderful city in which to shop for art.  There are galleries that feature local works, as well as those exhibit arts from the entire region.  One of the best places to head if one is looking for a range of works and the most galleries, also conveniently located close to the finest Phuket beach resorts is Phuket City.  Along with large collections of galleries there are malls of antique stores and handi-craft markets.  One must really plan to shop the entire day in order to see all there is offered and as well as to take in some of the sights, for along the small hidden streets and in the alleyways, there are many treasures to found that may be over looked should one be in a rush.  Some artists have their studios along these alleys, such as the married couple, Watcharin and Jay-Da Rodnit.  Works to found in their studio include paintings in oil as well as mixed media works.  The small Sarasil Gallery features work of five local Thai artists, and the Phuket Fine Art Gallery focuses on exhibit the works of unknown artists of Asia and Thailand.  The pieces in this gallery range from the mythological and magical, to those that are modern and contemporary.

South Phuket has been growing in terms of the art world, and new open air markets are popping up everywhere.  Some exhibit works of fine art while others offer everything from garden supplies, such has handmade and painted flower pots to candles, fountains and lamps.  There is a family of wood carvers just up the street and one can find sculptures and figurines as well as interesting and delicate pieces of furniture.  And just walking through this area is an art exhibit in and of itself as many of the buildings are covered with murals and frescoes.  There are several galleries in the district of Nai Harn Beach, but the focus in the shops here is mainly on the elements of interior decorating and design.  In all, for those looking to purchase unique, exotic and finely crafted pieces of work, Phuket is one of the best cities in the world.

This city of Spain, Marbella is noted and touted as the playground and holiday spot for rich and the stylish. It is obvious when walking along the beaches, or in designer boutiques and luxury hotels, Marbella residents and those traveling there, are fashionable and they wear it well. This is not the sandy beaches filled with cut-off shorts or flip flops or beer bellies, this is for the well dressed and the very attractive members of the elite and the wealthy. Many on these beaches are scantily clad however, as is true European style. But surrounding the resorts and the beach hotels are expanses of unspoiled landscape and a complete absence of things such as run down hotels, or tacky restaurants. The beautiful sea and sand dunes, that is all. Many wishing to avoid the summer crowds and vacation to Marbella during the early months of the summer season, wherein most likely one will run into just a few locals on the beaches and in the shops and restaurants.

And speaking of the restaurants of the city, Marbella is well known for their standard of fine dining and cuisine, and throughout Spain has some of the finest in the country. One of the local favorites for fresh seafood and fancy dining is the La Perla Blanca. One will notice as they sit in the dining room, the chatter is of Spanish language, between the waiter and the customers. It is always good to seek out the restaurants and other establishments wherein the locals go. Many wishing for the more glamorous of areas may head to Puerto Banus. This beach is filled with billion dollar boats and the beautiful babes of the upper class. There are many small and quaint cafes along the beach where one can simply sit and soak in the sun while watching the yachts pull in and out of the bay. Many celebrities hang out in Banus, for the atmosphere and for the shopping. Many high priced and high fashioned boutiques line the streets.  Marbella is not for those vacationers adhering to strict budgets or looking for travel deals, this remains to be one of the few spots seriously catering to the wealthy of the world.

For those traveling with children, finding activities that are enjoyable for the kids, and bearable for the adults may be a challenge, however this is not so of the Southbank area of the Australian city of Brisbane.  Southbank combines scenic beauty, with culture, with fun.  There are waterparks, the Streets beach, the Wheel of Brisbane, and throughout the year the city organizes special activities and events just for the kids.

Aquativity is Southbanks interactive park, located just beside the public beach.  The waters here at the park are shallow enough to be safe, but provide a nice cool down in the middle of a summer afternoon.  There are fountains and jets for the children to play within, and while this is a fun park, a little bit of learning goes on to.  Tour guides will teach them about water, about the River, storms, clouds, anything that has to do with water and the environment.  The park is open on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Streets beach is one of the most popular spots in Brisbane, and as it the only mid-city beach, it is conveniently located close to more than thirty restaurants, cafes, bars and five star Brisbane hotels.  Streets is a man-made beach that is along the shores of the River of Brisbane.  There are beaches of white sand, creeks, and shallow swimming holes surrounded by exotic and tropical plants and flowers.  While this may not be a prime location for surfing as their are no waves or rip currents, this is the perfect spot for families traveling with children.  And located all along the beach are the Brisbane Ice Cream stands and carts, another of the popular amenities added just for kids, and some adults, wanting a bit sweet tooth cool down on a perfect summer day at the beach.

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse cities.  Set in amongst the age old architecture is a roughness, an edginess, and a style that is at once enigmatic and contemporary.  While this is a bustling metropolis, the daily life of the people is laid back and sedate.  Many choose to take the trains, walk or bicycle around the city, which is the perfect way for travelers and tourists to grasp the history on the streets of the city.  There are many various neighborhoods, each with their own personalities and character, filled with coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and luxury hotels.  Melbourne, Australia has some of the finest restaurants in the country, as well as a vibrant art scene, cutting edge fashion shows and performance art, as well as sporting events and a diverse range of festivals that occur throughout the year.

One of the best neighborhoods to wander through is Chinatown.  When one enters the district one does so under large archways and finds themselves on Little Bourke Street.  This street is filled with restaurants and the aromas of spices hangs heavy in the air.  Some of the most famous Chinese restaurants in Australia are on this small street, such as Dragon Boat and Shark Fin.  In amongst these sits Flower Drum, the Cantonese fine restaurant.  Many ingredients can be purchased along the street in the shops for ones own kitchen.  Once the sun sets, the bright lights come on, from the lanterns strung through the trees to the neon lights in the shop windows, Little Bourke is a sparkling and colorful wonderment.  This area is filled as well, with many bars, dance clubs and discos, and art galleries.  Many festivals are held in Chinatown and two most notable and enjoyable are the Asian Food Festival and of course, the celebration of the Chinese New Year.  Access to this part of Melbourne is abundant, and the trains and shuttle systems run everyday.

There are so many reasons why guests love our 5-star Mallorca hotels, and not the least of which is the dependable and excellent service 24 hours a day.  There is a wide range of amenities available, and each one has its own particular charms that help to emphasize its own twist on the local flavor.  But each one will have the outstanding features that are held up to the highest standards in the industry, and only available in 5-star accommodations.  Mallorca is a splendid place, being the largest of Spain’s islands, and your stay here is guaranteed to be unforgettable.

There are all types of diversions available to the whole family, and the island has an extremely vibrant social scene that is always running, day and night.  With excellent restaurants and cafés, bars and clubs, and a range of choices for shopping adventures, Mallorca serves up the usual with an unusual flair.  There are also amazing museums, where art and history weave together to make for an extremely pleasant afternoon for the mind and the senses.  Mallorca is small enough to have the warmth and hospitality of an island, but large enough to support interesting work that travels through the area.  One example of this is El extraño Museo Llonovoy, the strange Museum Llonovoy, Traveling Museum of Broken Toys.

The artist Miguel Ángel Juan has taken pieces of broken toys and put together over 370 original pieces of art, toys made from nothing.  The result, this Museum Llonovoy, came through Mallorca on its pass through Spain, and it haunts and amuses even in memory.  The exhibition itself, a room with small scenes mounted on wooden crates, invites the curious inside to a world that is directly taken from childhood.  Not just from the presence of the objects, but the artist’s skill in reconfiguring the pieces of toys in such a playful and consciously surreal manner, directly recalls the kinds of combinations that make sense in childhood.  It brings this back in a very direct and pleasing way, where psychologically complex associations are pressing against a background of innocence, making this a spectacularly comfortable world that is simultaneously nostalgic and absolutely fresh.

When looking for the perfect luxury hotel, Chennai, India would be a great place to begin.  Southern India is an excellent place to spend a vacation, with a beautiful location on the Bay of Bengal, and a large and lively urban population.  It hosts a wonderful music festival, and has an extremely vibrant theatre scene.  It is also the home of Kollywood, India’s Tamil film capital, where big budget blockbusters as well as smaller features, are made.  There is also a thriving industrial base, and its rich and complicated history make it a wonderful place to spend time.  The hotels are splendidly designed, with an eye toward international style, and guests can expect to experience a rejuvenation of the body and mind.

The Chennai Music Festival is, of course, one of the most exciting events the city offers.  Recently the government has teamed with the state tourism department and the music sabhas to attract more international guests.  It certainly is one of the most amazing festivals in performing arts in the world, where the city hosts many music and dance artists who perform for the month of December.  Performances are held in traditional music and dance venues, as well as sacred spaces, and also in makeshift performance venues.  It began in 1927 to honor the anniversary of the Madras Musical Academy, and has been held every December since then.  The entire city takes part, and art is in the air.

The festival is, by most standards for performance extravaganzas, very old.  But its roots go much further back than 1927.  Carnatic music, that is, the traditional music of South India, has always been played at this time in South India as a form of spiritual devotion.  The festival, as it exists today, is a much broader entity, and includes many different dance, music, and dramatic forms.  There are also different levels of experience among the performers, which make it very eclectic, and provides an excellent learning experience for the younger artists.  Today it attracts a wide variety of performers, such as Sriram Krishnan, who plays in the traditional Carnatic style.  This extremely important festival is an amazing opportunity to see the variety of old and new performance work, and to take part in an art event that envelopes an entire city.

There are 5-star hotels, and then there are 5-star hotels.  Chennai can convince you, more than any other city perhaps, what it means to meet the world-class standards of luxury and excellence.  Featuring exquisite design that merges the local color with international flair, and service that emphasizes a commitment to the tradition of hospitality, guests here are in for a rejuvenation of body and spirit.  Chennai is a fascinating city, with a lively urban center, and many natural and historic sights that are simply gorgeous and stunning.  There is a long tradition of arts here, with some of the greatest music festivals in the world, playing both classical European and classical Indian.

Chennai is also one of the world’s film hubs, being home to Kollywood.  It gets its name from being in the Kodambakkam district in Chennai, and is thus a merging of its first two letters and Hollywood.  Kollywood has a long and fascinating history, with silent movies in the early part of the 20th century, Tamil film companies opening in Madras in the 30s and 40s, and its steady position as a film producer for Southern India.  This makes Chennai an excellent place for star-gazing, and tourists here might catch a glimpse of upcoming actress Vijayalakshmi.

She’s one of many faces to contribute her acting talents to the very successful Chennai 600028.  The numbers in the title refer to the pin code of the place where the film is set, and the subject matter here is cricket.  The film is the story of two young cricket teams, the Sharks and the Rockers, as they spar off in the field and also in their daily lives.  Of course there is a love story, and several in fact.  It has some of the steamiest scenes on the Kollywood screen, and this certainly widens its appeal.  Chennai 600028 includes a lot of street slang, as spoken by the youth of Chennai, and this also gives it a certain raw energy, and demonstrates language in a state of flux.

There is a romantic dreaminess to someone when they think about the perfect Bali beach resort, whether there is a real memory or an idea of what Bali might be.  One of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, there are many ideas of Bali that exist in books and in memories, and the real place is as magical as any place could be.  The resorts are really splendid combinations of old world hospitality and new world innovations, and make for a travel experience that cannot be found anywhere else but here.  The sheer pleasures of an island life are here, along with the cultures that live on the island, some for thousands of years, and some are recent transplants.

Bali has a long history of contact with other cultures in the world, and 500 years or so with Europe.  There are many histories and anthropological works on Bali, many of which are based on misinformation.  One of the most fascinating stories of cultural misinterpretation comes from one of the most influential theatrical minds of the 20th century.  Antonin Artaud, French visionary, director, writer, and actor, among many other things, first came into contact with Balinese culture when he attended the Paris Colonial Exposition in 1931.  He wrote about his interpretations of Balinese dance, and eventually based one of his central theories on his interpretation.  Called Theatre and Its Double, this work explored a notion of the imagination that lives in a kind of shadow world, one which he perceived the dancers were speaking from.

The theory itself is extremely complex, and has influenced generations of theatre-makers and other artists, and is very useful for creating work.  However, Balinese dancers continued to dance, and speak, and write, and it has been coming to light for some time that Artaud’s interpretation was never put to the test of a conversation with a Balinese dancer, and it was not very accurate about what he was seeing.  Regardless of how this act of non-translation may have fallen on deaf ears if it had come from a lesser mind, today there are Balinese artists who acknowledge the genius of Artaud’s vision, and would like to combine it with a reassessment of how Balinese art might actually operate in terms of its real goals.  Work from the Bali Purnati Center for the Arts for example, give a fuller picture of Bali, and remind the European world that art here is from a living and breathing–and speaking–people.

When the first thing to go on the itinerary is the hotel, Manila, Philippines will make the world traveler very happy.  There is so much to offer in this city.  The hotels are exceptional, being a mirrored reflection of the place.  Manila, the largest city in all of the Philippines, is, in many ways, the Republic distilled into one vast, sprawling entity.  Over 14 million people live here, making it one of the largest urban centers, and, because of its place in the world, is also one of the most diverse.  There are tremendous cultural influences here, from the colonial days of Spain, the mixture of Asian cultures that come through (and often stay), other countries who have had a stake in the Philippines at some point in its history, and the indigenous peoples.  Its complicated history is a network of stories that are all worth knowing, and impossible to forget.

The stories work themselves out through the lives of the people, and the story of Filipinas in the diaspora is fascinating.  One story is being told through the life of Jessica Hagedorn.  This Manila-born theater rock star is enjoying an amazing career in the U.S., and her identity as a Filipina is central to her work, in an art form that is about identity.  Her most successful production in a history of successes is the theatrical adaptation of her novel, Dogeaters.  Dogeaters is a hyper-real and multi-layered tale of contemporary life, and one of its themes is the notion that dream and fantasy intersect with waking life.

This way of radically interpreting reality is a hallmark of Jessica Hagedorn’s work, and it speaks to a Filipina-American sensibility.  U.S. culture influenced her from a very young age, when rock and roll was playing on the radio.  This influence worked itself into her waking life in the U.S., where she has been the lead in a rock band.  She began her ride as an artist in the U.S. when the famous poet Kenneth Rexroth started to encourage her writing, and published her first work in an anthology he edited.  This is an interesting bookmark to a very prolific writing career, where, 20 years later, her anthology, Charlie Chan is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Fiction, would be published with great literary acclaim.  She has landed, and continues to make beautiful, abstract, hilarious, and profound marks on the earth.

The humpback whales migrate along the coasts of Australia every winter.  During this time there are many locations along the beaches that are equipped with hydrophones, which allow whale-watchers the opportunities to listen in on the mysterious communications between whales, and viewing decks which offer the best possible views of these creatures as they make their way.  Along the Western coast of Australia, some of the best spots to catch these creatures, that at one time were close to extinction, are the Bay at Geographe, Albany and Dunsborough.  In Albany there is an educational site as well, that offers lectures, seminars and guided tours out onto the ocean making it possible for tourists to not only enjoy the landscapes during this season, but allows them the opportunity to partake in one of the most significant aspects of the journey, which is the mating season.

And during the more temperate months of April and May they are seen regularly off the coast of Southern Australia.  All in all, there are six months out of the year that the coast of the continent is surrounding by the whales in the Atlantic Ocean.  Many travelers spend many months during this season, traveling via land along with the humpbacks.  South Australia is a wonderful location to catch the breeding and birthing.  And many cruises are set up to coincide with the various aspects of the life cycle.  From the coasts of Ceduna, one can watch the whales as they do the slow motion acrobatics so famous in many of the photographs.  This is a perfect opportunity for those would be photos, as in Ceduna there are viewing platforms situated such that the whales come so close one can literally almost reach out and touch them.  Boats also head out each day from the whale sanctuary, Head of Bight.

Further along in the season one can watch the births of the calves from Victoria and from Sydney.  In both locations, the whales are present in the waters for many weeks at a time as the newly born calves nurse and gain strength to continue on with the rest of the heard.  During this time, the adolescents and the older males stay further out to sea, and the resorts of Victoria and the luxury hotels Sydney operates often schedule cruises in order to give those a chance to take amazing looks as the last months of the feeding time are carried out in these locations.  One is able to catch incredible glimpses from the land, such as The Gap, which is located in the southern portion of Sydney.  This is a wonderful experience for those choosing to travel to Australia in the winter months.

Long before the Singapore of today, before the best Singapore hotels and resorts and restaurants, there were immigrants setting up on the shores of the Singapore River.  This small area of the city was soon transformed from a tiny fishing town, to an international seaport, to a destination for modern travelers.  There are various times in the river’s history, from the Pre-Colonial days, to Colonial and past.  Tales of legends lay heavy on these shores, and modern travelers will hear of them should they spend just a bit of times, walking along the water and checking in with the local pubs and cafes, where the elders tell their stories.

Stamford Raffles founded Singapore during a time when many of the business men, the merchants and the fishermen had yet to become what they are today, the forefathers of a great nation.  Lifestyle was meagre at that time, but built the legs of hard-work that the prosperity of the country stands upon today.  The MerLion stands testament, at the river’s mouth, of the hard work and the dedication of the early inhabitants and immigrants of Singapore.  Bridges now criss-cross the river, fro the simple as in the Ord Bridge to the elegant in design such as the Anderson Bridge.  Anderson is located in the historic district as well as is the Cavenagh Bridge.  This one was built in 1869 and leads up to the Empress Palace.  This is the location now of the Victoria Concert Hall, named in honor for Queen Victoria and is the home of the Singapore Symphony.

Many mosques sit along the banks of the River, two of which are visited regularly by tourists are the Omar Kampong and the Tan Si Chong.  Also close to the mosques are other historical points of interest such as the House of Parliament and the three Quays, the Boat, the Clarke and the Robertson.  These memorials and historical landmarks also draw many visitors each year, and there are many seminars and lectures given at the museums along the river, describing and defining each of the locations particular part in the history of the country.  Many choose to take in the sites by walking along the bands, while others take advantage of the boat tours that take place all day long up and down the river.

The Royal National Park of Sydney is easily accessible by public transportation.  There are currently four train stations that will take one to the destination, well as ferry boat services and large car park lots.  The Park is also located to any of the best Sydney hotel one chooses to stay in during their trip, making the transport to the Park a non-issue, there is no excuse for one to miss out on this incredible venue of Australia.  For those wishing more outdoor-sy accommodations, the Parks welcomes caravans, campers and back packers and is also home to a hostel for youth near Garie Beach. This Park, is the second National Park established, in the history of the world, coming in second after the Yellowstone National Park in the western United States.  Open every day, saving those when the danger of fire is extreme, the park offers a wide variety of landscapes, hiking trails and walking paths, and the varying ecosystems of the rich and lush rain forests to the wind blown mesas.  When planning a stay in the Park is is best to plan for all kinds of conditions.

While staying in the Park, one of the most fabulous ways to experience nature, is by taking one of the many horse-back tours throughout the site.  The rides are short, about one hour in duration, and will allow travelers to relax atop a trusty steed, and make their wary across the clear creeks, and enjoy the wildlife of the rain-forest.  Another ride, a bit longer clocking in at just about two hours is the Waterfall Ride.  This is an exciting tour for nature lovers and photographers, giving one the opportunities to shoot such formations as the overhangs of sandstone and outcrops of rocks and boulders, along the bushland and the pristine waterways.  Natural fauna and flora abound, as well as the thick, lush forest of the indigenous trees and wildlife.  This is a relatively small park in Australia, but has so much to offer that anyone traveling to Sydney should make the effort, the easy effort, to at least spend one day hiking the mountains and taking in the sunshine.

Barcelona is one of the most worldly famous cities in Spain, and is probably the most popular, or at least one of the most popular Spanish destinations for tourists. It has an interesting history, and much of it is incorporated into the contemporary cultural aspect. It has incredibly beautiful historic buildings and the overall atmosphere of the city reeks of its amazing and diverse past. There are architectural styles from various time eras represented in the city. In fact, some of the Barcelona Spain luxury hotels exist in historic buildings that have been adapted into resorts.

The center of what is considered to be the old city of Barcelona, now known as the Gothic quarter, has many incredible buildings that represent the time period. A large number of the buildings date back to Medieval times, while some of they were constructed as far back as the Roman period. Walking through the streets definitely gives one the feeling of traveling through time, and also makes one aware of the timeliness of the city. Many of these buildings are recognized as World Heritage Sites so they are protected and will always be preserved. Antoni Placid Guillem Gaud i Cornet, commonly known as Antoni Gaudi was a renown architect from the modernist period, and designed some of the buildings.

Gaudi was born in 1852 in Catalonia and is most well known for his unique designs and highly individualist style. It is believed that he was born in a small village, though the actual location is not confirmed. However, it is known that both of his parents’ families came from coppersmiths, and it is acknowledge that this early exposure to the vast elements in nature that are responsible for this as a major component in his work. He studied architecture in Barcelona at the Escola Tecnica Superior d’Arquitectura. Many of the buildings he designed are in Barcelona.

Ibiza is a beautiful Balearic Island off the coast of Spain. It is well known for its beautiful beaches and also its infamous club scene. It is an extremely popular tourist destination from people all over the world, as well as for those from the nearby islands. Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and also the most heavily populated. In addition, it receives the greatest number of tourists every year. The tourists as well as residents, travel to Ibiza to enjoy its diverse and well-known party club scene. The clubs themselves play host not only to djs who spin top dance music, live musicians who play original as well as cover songs, they also sponsor and participate in local festivals and various parties. The Ibiza opening parties scene is as infamous as its clubs and tourists as well as locals attend them in the hundreds.

The clubs themselves are becoming well known for their themes and events. Many of them feature a particular dj on specific nights and they have their own followings. It is not uncommon to see a completely different type of crowd at the same bar on two consecutive evenings. Some of them offer specific themes, such as pool parties. Most of them consider an evening’s theme, dj or other performer as part of a party. Some of the major club parties are Mondays with Cocoon in Amnesia. We Love Space is also popular in the club Space. Space promotes itself as being the best club in the world, and many will support the argument that Ibiza itself has the world’s best clubs.

Es Paradis is the second oldest club on the island, with Pacha being the oldest. It opened in 1975 when owner Pepe Aguirre established it in San Antonio. Es Paradis and Pacha are partially responsible for ushering in the age of clubs to this previous quiet community of fishers. Since the mid to late 70s, clubs and bars have sky rocketed in numbers on the island, and with them so did the number of tourists. El Divino is a club that has an interesting history. When it opened in 1992 it allowed only a select group of patrons. It was only later that opened its doors to the general public.

Spain is full of beautiful cities and scenic wonders. It is a diverse country and its geography reflects this. Valencia Spain is one of its cities that is full of cultural heritage landmarks, architecture and art. It is also a popular tourist destination and the luxury hotels Valencia provide the top accommodations to make their vacation that much more spectacular. It is the third largest city in Spain, and has many diverse attractions, including a dynamic entertainment scene and various festivals that are celebrated throughout the year.

The Fallas Festival is a great example of prominent events that occur in Valencia, and while it is an essential cultural aspect of residents, it is also popular with tourists. The festival itself is oriented toward honoring Saint Joseph. The Falles refers both to the name of the festival, and also to the monuments that are created to celebrate it. It translates into English as the torch, and there is good reason for calling the festival this name. It takes place during five days and nights, and during this time people run through the streets carrying lit Falles. It turns into a major, all encompassing party, with restaurants serving food on the street and opening their doors wide for patio service.

Valencia offers more than this festival of course, and tourists are awed by the cultural aspects and beautiful architecture of the city. One of the interesting bits of trivia about the city is that is known as the origin of the famous Spanish dish Paella . It is rice based and usually features fish. It consists of vegetables, beans, meat and spices among other ingredients. Tourists often consider this to be a standard national dish, though it is actually regionally oriented, which Spaniards acknowledge. There are different types of Paella, though seafood Paella is one of the most common and popular.