201 Street

There are some searches that have possessed the minds of seekers since the beginning of time. For nearly everyone, the endless quest for the Holy Grail is somehow connected to love and money, and these are inevitably the most elusive. The Fountain of Youth, however, has always been somewhere lurking at the center of all these things, holding the promise of an eternal energy, where one has the time to find what they are looking for.

Scientists have been rather determined to prove that no such thing could exist , whether it exists on a mythical plane, like the fountain Ponce de Leon was looking for, or the metaphorical one where one can reverse the aging process. The idea is still very powerful, and sometimes contemplating it can lead to a feeling of being refreshed, energized, and perhaps most importantly, hopeful.

One can get these same effects by contemplating their own garden fountains . These can add an extraordinary touch to any garden, because their beauty speaks for itself. At the same time, they do hold the same mythical promise that the imaginary fountain of youth holds. Water does have a certain regenerative power. It’s the source of life, and it’s also the element that resonates most with the human being, because the cells are water. There are moments of solitude when one can find that inner source that really is the energy of life.

It’s a question that inevitably comes up for anyone who’s thinking about visiting San Francisco. Is Haight Ashbury still like that, the way that it was, back in the 60s? Of course, the answer is mixed, and depends largely on who one might be asking. There are some who say it can never, ever be like that again, that it was one golden moment, and it’s closed forever. Still others will argue that it’s even more like the 60s than the 60s ever were.

One look around at the Haight Ashbury Street Fair that happens every June, and it certainly seems to be the same. Or at least, there’s people who look like the ones in the old photographs. But there are some very marked differences, and the main one might be that there’s a whole lot more that one can buy nowadays.

There’s plenty of memorabilia from what some would consider to be the golden moment in human culture, posters, flyers, and artwork, and a very lovely collection of trinkets. But even this isn’t new to the hippie scene, when early on into the Summer of Love in 1967 , people were already starting to complain that it was all getting much too commercial.

There is a lot more to see in the city than this cross street, and for five star hotels, San Francisco has plenty of excellent choices all over the city. However, it is pretty nifty to take a little trip, at least once, to the area. Today, there are plenty of things to do besides visit the historic markers, although that’s also certainly worth it. There are also excellent restaurants, and coffee shops where one can go to just be for awhile. It is a lot more expensive than it used to be, but after a quick look around, it seems apparent that there is a whole new generation of young people who are trying to make living simply work.

San Antonio Mission National Historic Park was our first sight to see during our short stay. When we entered the grounds, we passed many remnants of some Indian quarters built along the wall. In all the corners of the wall were the colonial workshops and this is where the Indians learned how to blacksmith, weave, do woodwork, make tiles and make bricks. The blacksmith shop had actual people working there and one of the smiths was a woman, which seemed to annoy my husband for some reason, but I thought she was very knowledgeable. She informed us that the iron used in the mission came from Spain, so back then, they were very careful when it came to using the iron.The walls of the mission were made of mortar and stones dug up from right under the mission, and most of the stones where of a limestone base. There are still some of the original walls standing because they were made from cooked stones and mixed with water and mortar, which made the walls rock hard.

Then we headed over to the church, which is famous for its elaborate doorway. We found that Franciscan friars still live there and one brother makes these very exquisite pieces of glass jewelry, which he sells to raise funds for the church. Then we drove to a functioning ancient stone aqueduct that takes water over a creek and into the field of squash, corn, grapes, melons, potatoes, and sugar cane. Very impressive. We then drove to the Mission San Juan Capistrano, then to one of the better preserved missions, Mission San Jose. But, what was the most fascinating part of the mission was the grist mill. The mill wheel was horizontal and it was under the mill house.

We finally got all missioned out, so we headed back into downtown where we had reservations with one of the luxury hotels San Antonio has to offer and checked-in for the night. We were exhausted, so we didn’t even go out for dinner, but instead ordered room service. Tomorrow, we will pick up our mission trail where we left off.

“The Star Spangled Banner”, the national anthem of the United States.  When the song plays, no matter where you are, in a Chicago pub or a Baltimore restaurant, there will be something that tugs you to your feet.  I had not thought of myself as particularly patriotic.  But one summer, I was sitting outside in San Diego, California.  We were at a performance of the San Diego Symphony for the Fourth of July celebration.  The music was great.  And then they played the song, the anthem.  As I sat there listening, the fireworks illuminating the sky, I got tears in my eyes, that made their way to my cheeks.  My college boyfriend looked at me with a question on his face.  I was a little punk rocker…”America this and America that”…we complained about America in our college days.  Many people complain about the country.  But when that music played it hit me, just what people went through in order for us to have what we have.

I imagined Francis Scott Key, just a man, just a lawyer who was setting out to rescue his friend, Dr. William Beanes.  Just a man held captive on a boat while the British attacked Fort McHenry and the Baltimore Harbor.  Everyone knows the story, about how through the blaze and the bombs, Key saw the the American flag, still flying above Fort McHenry while the smoke still hung thick in the air.  A man was really standing there seeing that, it is not a myth nor a legend but a truth, and that is what brought tears to my eyes so many years after the fact, sitting at a performance by a symphony in Southern California.

One man stood there and finished the last lines of a poem he had been working on.  He wrote it on an old envelope and gave it to Captain Benjamin Eades.  Eades later that night, climbed upon a chair in an old tavern and sung the poem to the tune of “Anacreon in Heaven”.  Before he was finished, the crowd in the pub was singing along.  That is why now, when the song plays, there is something that tugs you to stand.  It is not only the big history of the country, but the small history of one man who was just simply trying to rescue his friend from the British.  Everything was being blown up around him, and dirty and wounded and held captive on a ship, he wrote a song about a flag.  A song about a group of people who just did not give up.

Blinds may seem like a relatively new invention, with companies such as Next Day Blinds offering a variety of horizontal and vertical blinds, shades and shutters from a variety of wood, metal, and vinyl materials. However, Next Day Blinds and other similar companies are only expanding on a very ancient practice

Blinds come from the concept of blinding someone from seeing into a room or a given area.  The ancient Egyptians were among the first to develop blinds both for privacy and temperature control. They gathered reeds from the Nile River, strung them together and hung them over the window.  To try and cool the room down, they would have servants poor water over them, cooling the air as it came through the window.  The Chinese practiced a similar method with bamboo.  In fact, bamboo blinds can still be seen throughout Asia today.  Desert dwellers had a slightly different approach to covering their windows.  They would take wet clothes and hang them over the windows.

Even some of our more modern designs have their roots in ancient history.  During the 16thVenetians discovered the concept of the blind in Persia and then sold them to France.  Though the styles have changed over the last several hundred years, the concept of the Venetian blind is still the same.  During the 1950’s Venetian blinds were made using metal slates and strips of fabric to move them up and down; however, the 1980’s saw them change to vinyl, which was much quieter and aesthetically pleasing.   century

Even though are desires are the same—privacy and comfort—the styles have certainly changed.  Today, blinds and window treatments can be purchased in just about any style, color and design you could want.  They not only provide for our basic needs but for our more frivolous desires as well.

It’s not a new idea to harvest the wind to generate electricity; the wind turbine was created in 1888 by Charles F. Brush in order to do just that. Enough energy was produced with these early turbines to supply one to two homes. Today, large commercial scale wind turbines will produce approximately 3 megawatts of electricity or more and power up to 750 homes in the United States. A dramatic growth in this industry has recently popped up in the U.S., along with an increased wind power capacity of 27 percent. According to the American Wind Energy Association, an additional increase of 26 percent is expected this year. Enthusiasm for small-scale wind turbines is on the rise, too.

Residential wind turbines were established and commercialized around the 20′s in the U.S. and became very popular and wide spread, but then the Rural Electrification Administration extended electric lines to most of the remoter areas in the 30′s and 40′s, which reduced the necessity of wind turbines. The oil crises of the 70′s brought back a flurry of renewed interest in residential wind turbines and the power they produce, tax credits and incentives helped spur the industry, but those supports ended in the 80′s.

Now, in the new century, interest in residential wind power has rebounded. Recent growth in wind turbine companies attribute utility rebate programs and a growing need for cleaner energy technology. Many others in the wind turbine industry say the reason for the increased number of financial incentive programs is to help reduce the very high initial costs associated with purchasing and installing a wind turbine. Another factor in the increase is because people simply want to do the right thing concerning the environment; they are looking for way to make a difference.

So, these days, there are hopes with the residential wind turbine industry to the passing of legislation, which would establish a federal tax credit for people who purchase a wind turbine; an immediate benefit to taxpayers and will aid in driving down the price of wind turbines to due an increase in manufacturing.

We were driving along the controversial road, after we checked out of our Borders Hotel, where a sign was destroyed because it said ‘Welcome to Scotland’ even thought the sign wasn’t on the England-Scotland border, it was farther south in the City of Carlisle. We read that the two women who posted the sign were shocked by the damage. We wanted to meet with the two women to find out why they were shocked.

When we stopped off in Carlisle we asked about if any could point us to where these women lived.  No one really knew, but one person filled us in on what was going on with that controversial sign. He told us that the two women even were receiving threatening emails. We asked what did these women expect with a sign saying ‘Welcome to Scotland’ when it’s nowhere near the Scottish border?

Apparently, it was a statement for the England Arts council which didn’t fund an Outdoor Art Festivals, but apparently they did get funding from Scotland. But, what was really controversial about the two women who posted the sign  and why they are receiving threatening emails, is because they believe Carlisle should be a part of Scotland because they believe they’ll receive more support for their artwork from Scotland.

It was obvious to us that the locals of Carlisle think these women are nuts. It’s not the 18th century for Godsakes! Scotland and these two women can no longer try and claim parts of Northern England for Scotland. In defense of these two women, though, they said the sign was a piece of art to promote the art festival and it shouldn’t have been destroyed. I do have agree that if the sign was apart of the art festival, it should’ve been left alone, but I bet they failed to write on the infamous sign, ‘property of the Art Festival’.

My colleagues and I were having a discussion about the space race, or the lack of it when we were standing in line to get Event Tickets for the next Nasa Shuttle launch. It seemed to us that Europe has not pulled its weight when it comes to sending people into space like the Russians, the Chinese and of course the United States.  But, to be fair to Europe, it’s been almost 50 years since Russia’s Yuri Gagarin made the first orbit around earth. Still, we thought, at least Russia has that to boast about, what’s Europe got?

Europe needs to enter the playing field. We figured that they have to eventually get into the race; we figured they surely can’t stay completely out of the manned flights forever, can they? Europe does have the Europe Space Agency, ESA. It even has a module on the International Space Station, plus sent out astronauts into space as passengers on other spacecrafts, no their own. Budget isn’t the issue either for Europeans to launch their own manned spaceflight mission. It’s a matter of willingness politically.

There are companies in Europe which make space launchers that will carry items such as satellites into space and could possibly make a lunar lander if they choose to do so, but apparently, right now, it seems more viable to focus on sending paying tourists into space which will be outside the government funded space programs. My friends and I though believe Europe needs to be cautious when it comes to space tourism projects due to the financial crisis the whole world is experiencing right now and wait a while for more investments to flow in, but all the same, Europe really needs to get with it and send rocket men into space.

The town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the county of Northumberland,  Northumberland England is steeped in history, of turbulence and military significance.  This is reflected in the many monuments and historical buildings located throughout.  Many of these are extremely interesting sites to visit when one takes a Berwick holiday.  There are two military fortifications that are still standing, one is Elizabethan and the other is Medieval.  In 1926 Edward the First built the walls when he had successfully captured the town.  The walls are no longer standing but remains are visible when one reaches the northern end of Berwick.  The ruins of the Berwick Castle are also visible from this spot, close to the railroad station of current times.  The platform for the station was built in fact on the site that was the Great Hall of the castle, where the King of England met dignitaries and officials of Scotland.

The Elizabethan fortifications are still standing.  These were constructed during Queen Elizabeth the First’s reign, between 1558 and 1603.  Sir Richard Lee designed the walls, and drew from architectural styles of Italy at the time.  These walls were built to protect the town against gunfire, although the occupation ended shortly after the walls were built and the were never used for their intended purpose.  Another site one must visit is the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity.  This was built during 1650-1652.  This is an example of Puritan styled architecture and was just one of the two churches constructed in Great Britain during those years.  This church sits next to the Guildhall which houses a museum on the top floor.  The rich and turbulent heritage has had lasting effects, one of which has the football team of Berwick playing in the Scottish league.  This is a town filled with diverse examples in architecture that reflect the times in which construction was taking place, and is a wonderful location to go for long walks as this region is famous for the beauty and the abundance of the bridges which cross back and forth across the river.

Madrid is known throughout the world for its many diverse aspects and historical significance. It is an incredible Spanish city, full of culturally unique elements and is progressive in the arts. It is one of the major theatre centers in Spain, and it has an international reputation. It is also a popular tourists destination, and many people who plan a European Continent exploration, will put Madrid on their destination list. The best Madrid hotels are excellently suited to contribute to a great holiday in this great Spanish city. They also serve as entertainment and resource centers and can assist with transportation access and landmark directions.

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, it is also the largest city. This contributes to its global recognition and perspective. It is the third most populated municipality in the European Union, following behind Berlin, Germany and the greater London area in England. The Madrid Royal Palace is one of the most amazing architectural spectacles of the city, and is one of the greatest attractions for tourists. It is the official residence of the King of Spain, though the current King Juan Carlos and the royal family choose to live in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, which lies on the outskirts of the city. The sight of the palace dates from a fortress that was constructed in the 10th century. There are city tours available and they offer the perfect opportunity to get an overall picture of the city and information on certain buildings’ histories and current as well as past significance. Many tourists choose this as a starting adventure and decide from it which areas and attractions they would like to later visit more closely. Many of the tours begin at the historical
Plaza Mayor, which is the city’s main square. Some of the sights that are explored include the Teatro Real, which was built by Queen Isabel II. It was remodeled and opened as an opera house in 1997. Another popular point of interest is the Puerta de Toledo. This quarter encompasses much of what is considered to be the Old Town, and offers a great reflection on the history of the city.

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.

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.

Travelers who are experienced in moving around the world understand how important it is to fine excellent 5-star hotels.  Macau is an excellent destination to find places with fine accommodations, because it is such an interesting place.  Our hotels offer something that truly compliments this luxurious climate, with its luscious sub-tropical temperatures that moisturize the driest of skin.  There is a real sense here of living in an otherworldly heaven, with its gorgeous natural settings and rich urban landscape.  It is one of the most densely populated places on earth, and life here is meant to be lived socially.  There are plenty of amenities here to keep one refreshed and rejuvenated, but there are also wonderful things to see and do in town, where there is always a bustle of human activity.

Night life is excellent here, with some of the best casinos in the world, and a long tradition of catering to the desires of tourists and travelers.  There are also wonderful sights and attractions to see during the day, that offer splendid entertainment for the whole family.  If the timing is right, you might be here in time to see the Hungry Ghost Festival.  Held in the seventh month, and popular all over China, in Macau it is particularly fascinating because of the size of the population, and the weather.  The thickness in the air, and the thickness of human presences here, make for a particularly haunting time.

The tradition of the Hungry Ghost Festival is to honor the spirits of the discontented souls, the ones who died without a proper burial, or without a lineage to remember them, or who died by mysterious means.  It is a particularly spooky time, and there is plenty of excitement, with burning joss sticks and paper money, large celebrations for the dead, and traditional meals cooked all over to appease the restless spirits.  It’s an excellent time to get in touch with the cultural traditions of Macau, and really connect with the place, and its own haunted stories.

This past week, the people in New York celebrated Gay Pride along with other major cities that celebrate during the last week of June such as Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle.  Many celebrations took place in each of the five boroughs as well.  This year the celebrations were particularly fantastic as this was the fortieth anniversary of Stonewall.  This year five major events took place, along with the smaller events happening throughout the city.  Many traveled to celebrated the anniversary in the city wherein the riots occurred and the 5 star New York hotels were entirely booked.  The opening rally was on June 20, 2009, then following throughout the week was PRIDEfest, the parade, the Dance on the Pier, and finally the Rapture on the River.  Each of these events took place in the Village, close to Chelsea.

Bryant Park hosted the opening Rally, which ran from 2 to 6.  Many local celebrities spoke at the rally, including one of the New York Senators, Tom Duane.  Local poets and actors performed and spoke to the many who were in attendance.  Two dances were held, one on Saturday at Pier 54, and the final dance of the week long celebration was on Sunday, also at the Pier 54.  This particular dance came about during a time when gay friends were not able to dance with each other, or show affection without fear of being harmed or injured.  This is in a way, a protest of dance and music has become tradition, and celebrates how far society has come.  This is the gathering place once the march is over, where those in attendance dance throughout the night to live music and fireworks displays.  The PRIDEfest did not take place in 2007, as there was a dispute over issues related to parking, but this year many street entertainers, vendors, artists and organizations had their booths set up on Hudson Street and many attended the gathering that ran from 11 in the morning until 7 o’clock Sunday night.

Every city has its legends.  Many people visit sites in hopes of catching glimpses of legendary ghosts, as in the haunted hotel of Jerome, Arizona USA, or legendary monsters, as in the Loch Ness Monster of Scotland.  Cape Town, South Africa is no exception.  Many of the roads surrounding Cape Town and the rest of this region are trenched in myths of ghostly beings, and festivals surround the appeasement of such spirits so that they will behave less evil.  Two legends of Cape Town are the Flying Dutchman and the Lady in Grey.  The ghost of the Flying Dutchman is said to be just of the shores, an can be reached by renting a vehicle from any one of the Cape Town car rentals.  The Lady in Grey haunts the Castle of Good Hope which is in the center of town.

The legend of the Dutchman starts with Captain Hendrick Van der Decken.  Hundreds of years ago, the Captain had unloaded his cargo from his ship, “The Flying Dutchman” and was set to get back out to sea. The weather had become terrible, when weather in Cape turns bad, it turns very bad.  The crew begged the Captain to put off the trip for a night, however he insisted that they continue.  The Captain and his crew left Cape Town, and entered the eye of a hurricane.  As they sailed into the fierce storm, he strapped himself to the wheel so as to not be thrown overboard.  As he cursed the heavens, the storm ended, the ship took on a red glow, a ghost boarded the ship and all of the members of crew dropped dead.  Many claims have been made, that to this day, the Captain is still seen trying to sail around the Cape of Storms.

The Lady in Grey is one of many ghosts seen regularly at the Castle.  She appears to be weeping as her hands are always to her face.  Some have said that they have even seen her across the way at the Government House of Cape Town. Although there is no specific legend surrounding her appearances, recent excavations have uncovered the unidentified skeletal remains of a woman, and since that time, she has not been seen.  There are many more ghosts in the Castle however, and thrill seeking tourist travel to these locations in South Africa in hopes of catching glimpses of the ghost of South Africa.

Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands and it is the southernmost of the Illes Pitiuses group, which includes Ibiza. The tiny island is approximately 19 kilometers long. In the past it has only accessible by ship from Ibiza and is located about 3 nautical miles from its neighbor. The major villages of the island are Sant Ferran de ses Roques, La Savina, El Pilar de la Mola, and Sant Francesc Xavier. Tourists staying in one of the hotels Formentera in these villages, will certainly appreciate the spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea, and the quite calm of the island.

In recent years, regular lines from the Spanish mainland have enhanced the amount of tourism the island receives. It is still quieter than its club hoping neighbor, but is becoming more and more attractive to tourists each year. Formentera has some of the most pristine and clear beaches to be found anywhere, which makes it perfect for the numerous water sports that are available on the island. Some of the more popular sports include scuba diving, swimming snorkeling and boating. Another popular activity is sunbathing on one of the island’s beaches, some of which permit it to occur in the nude.

Just to the north of Formentera is the tiny island of Espalmador. It is separated from Formentera by a shallow sandbar. During low tide it is possible to wade across the sandbar and reach the other island. This is a popular spot for yachts to stop as they travel back and forth from Ibiza. It is also possible to take a day’s ferry trip to Ibiza, which is a much more popular island, and is internationally famous for its nightlife scene. The many clubs on Ibiza offer patrons live bands, djs, pool parties and more. The only thing a tourist will want to keep in mind is that they shouldn’t try to swim back to Formentera if they miss the last ferry out for the da

Udaipur India is a beautiful and full of amazing architecture, as well as natural scenic wonders. The rich cultural heritage plays an essential role in the overall dynamic of the city. By night, the cityscape is breathtaking and by day it is thriving with numerous attractions and points of interest. Tourists staying in a hotel in Udaipur will find little time for relaxation with all the possible sights to visit and experiences to pursue. However, that doesn’t mean that the luxury accommodations provided by these hotels won’t leave their guests amply refreshed, invigorated and ready to start their day’s adventure.

One point of interest any tourist will not want to miss is the City Palace. This incredible spectacle is a collection of palaces that were built at various times from 1559. Incredible views of Jag Niwas, the Lake Palace Hotel, are provided on one side of the balconies, and the other side shows panoramic views of the city. The main entrance of the palace was built in 1725 and consists of a triple arched gate. It gives the feeling of stepping into another world, as one enters this incredible mass of architecture. From the main entrance there is a series of gardens and courtyards and corridors with overlapping terraces that great the visitor.

One of the gardens, the peacock courtyard, is an incredible display of mosaics painted on glass that decorate the walls. This area is perfect for quiet contemplation of the palace’s beauty and rich history. Also along the way is the Suraj Gokhda, which is where the maharanas of Mewar would present themselves when in need of confidence restoration and peace. One of the palaces in the collection was built in memory of a beautiful princess who poisoned herself to prevent a war between her many suitors. Most of the areas in this complex have unique stories to accompany their displays of art, and collections of relics.

Thailand is full of cultural landmarks and is rich in the related heritage and historical aspects associated to it. One of the most attractive aspects to tourists is its multitude of Buddhist temples and monuments. The oldest of these, as commonly believed is the Phra Pathom Chedi in the small town of Nakhon Pathom, located approximately 60 kilomters South of Bangkok. It is the highest stupa in the world, reaching 120 meters in the air. The name of this monument is loosely translated in English as place of first worship. The world stupa indicates a large mound that contains Buddhist relics that are typically associated with a saint or the Buddha himself. Tourists staying in one of the hotels in Thailand are attracted to this and other religious landmarks.

The Phra Pathom Chedi has had an extremely interesting history throughout the centuries and is first mentioned in the scripts in 675. The Chedi was rebuilt at the same site during the reign of King Mongut. It is this stupa that still remains, and replaced the one that existed up to 2000 years ago in its place. There are six royal temples that are believed to be the highest and the temple that houses the Chedi is recognizedand  one of them. There are many beliefs associated with this Chedi and one of them is that anyone who demonstrates the ability to strike all of its bells will receive special recognition from the gods. The site of the Chedi is a major destination for Buddhists and also tourists who are eager to experience Thai culture.

The National Museum of Phra Pathom Chedi is housed here. In it can be found some of the oldest and most rare artifacts of ancient Thai culture. It has also become a major center of archeological research and history preservation. It has many sacred relics and one of them is the Phra Ruang Rochanarit. The sculpture is recognized as one of the best examples of a bronze Buddha statue that was created in the Sukhothai style. The design of this style depicts the Buddha in the pang silo kao and parlay-lai postures.

Of all the fascinating cultural and arts opportunities tourists are interested in experiencing when visiting India, a planetarium show is not at the top of the list. However, the Nehru Planetarium is an exception to the rule. Not only is it a fascinating place to tour, it offers a unique astronomy presentation that should not be missed. As part of the Nehru Centre, it has state of the art equipment and is as entertaining as it is informative. This is one place that tourists who are staying in hotels in Mumbai should not miss. One thing they may want to keep in mind is that the Planetarium is closed on Mondays and they should schedule their trip accordingly.

The Centre was inaugurated in 1977 by India’s Prime Minister Indira Ghandi. Throughout the last 30 years, it has grown into an incredible astronomy and space science educational center. It has presented over 31 programs and they have been viewed by over 10,000 astronomy lovers. It is currently playing its 33rd sky theatre program titled Conquest of the Moon and the Secrets of the Sun. These spectacular programs are primarily intended for educational purposes though they are fascinating to watch and many people come simply because they enjoy the show.

In 2003 it replaced its Carl Zeiss Universal Projector with new Digistar 3 equipment. The Digistar is a bank of 8 computers that have the newest database of the sky loaded into them. The computers relay the digitized information to the six high-resolution video projectors that cover the whole dome. The universe is brought to life in this Planetarium whose shows make the audience feel as though they’ve left their home planet. Some of the other programs that have been viewed at the Planetarium include trips through the solar system, escaping a black hole and testing the limits of the universe. Astronomy is endless in possibilities and for every answer there are infinite more questions.

With a total length of 34 kilometers, he Zuari River is the longest river in Goa. It originates in the Western Ghats at Hermad-Barshem. In the interior region it is referred to as the Aghanashani. Its cerulean waters flow Southwest through the talukas of Tiswadi, Ponda Sanguem, Quepem, Mormugoa, and Salcete. There are many beautiful riverside areas for tourists staying in Goa hotels to have a picnic and enjoy their afternoon. The also have the option of booking a river cruise.

The Mandovi Rivers along with the Zuari form the backbone of Goa’s agricultural industry. With the construction of the CumbarjuemCanal, which links the two rivers, they have the capacity to enable ships to reach the iron ore mine interiors. The waters of both of the rivers flush out into the Arabian Sea at Cabo Aguado. Vasco da Gama is the port city that lies on the mouth of Zuari River.

The Arabian Sea is a beautiful body of water that forms a specific region of the Indian Ocean. India lies on its East side, Pakistan and Iran are on its North side and it is bounded on the West by the Arabian Peninsula. It has a maximum width of 2,400 kilometers and a maximum depth of 4,652 meters. The Indus River of Pakistan is the largest river to feed into the Arabian Sea. It has two important branches, which are the Gulf of Arden in the Southwest and the Gulf of Oman in the Northwest. The Gulf of Arden connects to the Red Sea through the straight of Bab-el-Mandeb. The Gulf of Oman connects to the Persian Gulf. There are other smaller gulfs including the Gulf of Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch, which lie on the Indian Coast. The Sea has constituted major trade routes throughout history, and has connected various cultures. Sailors have used the seasonal monsoon wind to carry them across its waters.

Listening to a Mexican radio station as I drive down a lonely two lane road in the middle of the night reminds me just how isolated I truly am and how driving through what seems to be a foreign country. But it’s not a foreign country that I’m driving through, it’s Death Valley and I’m driving through it in the middle of summer. All by myself, no cell phone and no spare tire. One would call it suicidal, but I call it a necessity. I do take this trek, and it’s usually always summertime, but I take this trek in the middle of the night so I can park my car way off the road, get out, lay on the hood of my old Toyota Tacoma truck, ‘Little Taco’ I named her, and look up at the immensity of the Universe.

Before I make this trip, I always wear the beautifully dyed silken scarf my father bought for me from a Singapore Boutique Hotel when I was about six years old because it was cold outside.  Why wear a scarf in the heat of the desert? Why drive out to the middle of nowhere? These are questions my husband asks me every-time I make this trip to the hottest desert in the world. He knows why, I’ve told him over and over again, it’s just that he chooses to not understand. I ask him to come with me and then he’ll know the why, but he refuses, as he puts it, to be a crazy person.

It’s my grounding, my ‘put-it-all-into-perspective’ and my therapy. No words of wisdom, no psychoanalysis, no prescription drugs can make me as whole and as at peace as when I look up into the night’s sky. No thinking required, only an opening of the minds eye. A serenity that no words can describe. I find the reasoning that my husband gives as to why he won’t go with me a lie. I figured out that he knows I need to go alone cause when I come back, after a nights stay, he knows he’s seeing a transformed me, one that he loves even deeper every time I come back.

Raj came running into my office all sweaty and seemed to be in a panic. He couldn’t talk he was so out of breath. I told him to close the door and take a seat on the chair in front of my desk. He did. As I waiting patiently for him to catch his breath, I reached behind my a pulled out a cold bottled of water from my sub-zero frig and handed it to him. He opened it and took a big swig. I sat down on the leather sofa next to him.

Raj is known for his dramatics, but the state he was in right now appeared to have some authenticity about it, so when he finally caught his breath, I asked him what’s going on. He look at me in horror. ‘Raj’, I said, ‘tell me, it’s okay.’  He stood up and started to pace the length of my office. The distress on his face made him look like he aged 50 years over night. ‘Meg’, he said. ‘Meg, we’ve been exposed’, and he plopped down next to me on the sofa.

‘Exposed?’, I asked. ‘And what do you mean, we’ve been exposed?’

Raj laughed at my question, ‘Meg, don’t pull that on me, this is serious.’ he said. Okay, so he was right. I knew what he was referring to, but I was hoping he was just teasing like he usually does when we’re together. Raj and I have been meeting secretly at Rajasthan Luxury Hotels , we’d meet everyday after work and keep our rendezvous a secret from our respective partners.

‘They know, Meg’, he said. ‘They know what we’ve been up to,’ he puts his head in his hands and begins to rock back and forth. I put my arm around him and tell him that it will be okay. To not worry and think this the end of the world. He looked up at me like I was an idiot. I laughed and moved the hair away from his eyes. ‘Raj’, I said, ‘We’ve done nothing wrong,’ I say with a calm voice.  ‘We’ll be the laughing stock of the whole office,’ he said as he put his head in my lap. ‘Playing Yahtzee is nothing to be embarrassed about, Raj,’ I said. ‘I bet, if anything, we’ll have to refuse everyone wanting to play with us.’  Raj, once again just gave me a look like I just dropped in on this planet and didn’t know Adam from Eve.

Walking on the dirt path along the river with Johnny Cat, my old tired washed up alcoholic friend of 30 years, talking about this and that, nothing really important cause of his addle-mush-brain caused by all the drinking he has done over the 60 years of his life. His dad gave him his first Pabst Blue Ribbon beer when he was just 8 years old. Johnny Cats drinking steadily increased from that day on.

I take him on these walks once a month when I can get away from the half-way house where I live temporarily until I can get on my feet and function again. I wish I could stay at one of the better NY Hotels and treat myself to a spa or do some shopping while I make the time to visit Johnny Cat. But, I’m broke and in debt, so I stay at a two-bit flea joint not to far from the VA Medical Center where Johnny Cat is kept. He’s lucky he served in the Vietnam War. At least, if not the best of care, he is being taken care of and has 3 meals and a bed.

As we’re walking, I slip him a pint of Jack Daniels I bought with the last couple of bucks I have from this month disability check. Johnny Cat looks at me like how he used to look at me when we would meet at our favorite dive bar. A look of appreciation and gratitude for a wonderful gal not only to drink with, but someone who understands him. His eyes lit up for only a few seconds and he looked at me fondly then they went back into that other world where I have no existence and no access. Mush-brain does that, but not so mushy that he forgot how to down the brown liquid comfort, empty all the contents in the small pint like it was only a shot then toss the bottle into the river. He never forgets how to drink.

I turn him around and we head back toward the VA Care Facility. I hold him up for the most part and tell him that I’m keeping my promise. A promise I made him before his mind went completely addle. We made and agreement that no matter how awful his state of mind was, no matter how difficult it might be, that I must always manage to bring him alcohol. Anything I could get my hands on and enough for him to at least feel the buzz. I swore to my love that I would not fail him. Johnny Cat, my muse, my Bukowski like bar-fly buddy. No one will ever match up to what we had together. Our understanding and love for the libation.

I return him back to the lobby of the VA and watch him stumble back inside. He doesn’t turn to look at me, I know he doesn’t even remember that he was just with me. I’ve kept my promise with Johnny Cat for 6 months, so I know that somewhere, hidden in the darkness of his memories that when he licks his lips to still get some taste of the alcohol that he will know he is loved.

For their amazing record of providing luxury, Mauritius hotels are regarded the world over.  There is no comfort quite like it in the world, being in the world’s most relaxing hotels in the world’s most laid-back surroundings.  Beach, restaurant, or dance club, the choices are plentiful and easy.

The island attracts a wide variety of travelers, among them some of the world’s most glamorous celebrities.  The island has its fair share of famous citizens, too.  J.M.G. Le Clezio is one of these.  Having won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2008 Le Clezio is one of the most important authors writing in French, and his work has been translated into many languages.  Born in Nice, his father is from Mauritius, and his paternal ancestry here dates back to the late 18th century.  He has dual citizenship in France and Mauritius, and considers Mauritius his “little fatherland.”  He traveled extensively when he was younger, living in Nigeria for a time, and continues to travel to this day.  He spends his time between Nice, Mauritius, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the U.S.

The works of J.M.G. Le Clezio are very dense, high in word-play, and explore very intense themes such as insanity and globalization.  It is described by the Swedish Academy as characterized by “poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy.”  His writing integrates the many cultures in which he has lived, and many seemingly-contradictory ideas and practices, to give a view of the contemporary human being that is at once very fraught and very compassionate.  Le Clezio has also lived in parts of Latin America, writing on indigenous cultures, and also is an expert on Michoacan.  He has likewise written a biography on Frida Kahlo.  His writing in the last two decades has been dominated by a leaner prose style, and the same concern for cultural survival, and is extremely critical of colonization, both in the historical legacies from France as well as the interior effects of colonization on the minds of the colonized.  He has three daughters, one from his first marriage.

India is a land of many wonders. It has some amazingly beautiful scenic aspects as well as its tremendously rich cultural heritage. While the natural landscape beauty is enduring and resonates with the culture, much of the architecture is also incorporated into the country’s splendor. Throughout the country there are multitudes of temples that reflect the historic aspect of Indian society. The Parthasarathi Temple and the Sri Kapaleswar Temple are among them. Tourists who are visiting the country and staying in a hotel Madras have the opportunity to see these temples in person.

The Parthasarathi Temple, meaning literally the charioteer, is one of the oldest temples in Madras. It was originally built in the 8th century by Pallavas. Hundreds of years later, in the 11th century it was rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Kings. The name is featured in the sacred Indian epic Mahabharata. In it the Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. In the story Lord Krishna was a philosopher, and a good friend and guide to Arjuna or Patha. The temple is dedicated to the many incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and Krishna, who is his main incarnation. One of the more spectacular features of the temple is its colored pyramid shaped top.

The Sri Kapaleswarar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located in Chennai. It was built in the style of Dravidian architecture and sculpture. The temple is enormously famous for its magnificent sculpture, and the incredible story behind it. It involves the saint Gnanasambandar who sang to bring a girl who had died back to life. Also at the temple are the bronze carvings of 63 Shaivate saints. The statues are carried in procession during the Aruvathumoovar Festival held in March or April of every year. One of the most intriguing aspects of the temple is the ancient Punnai tree that is located in its courtyard. This is one of the oldest trees in Chennai. The courtyard is a sacred space and only Hindus are allowed to enter the inner area.

Carnival is one of many festivals and celebrations that take place in Goa every year. Though it is one among many, it definitely stands out in its popularity and spectacle. It takes place prior to Lent in March or late February and is truly a one of a kind event in Goa. It’s tradition dates back to the 18th century when settlers from Portugal brought it with them to the country. Since then, the traditional European based holiday has fused with Indian culture to become a unique style of carnival, though many of its elements haven’t changed. The event includes numerous parades and floats and takes place over a three-day period. There are other forms of entertainment as well including dance and drama. Festival food is available and integral to the fun of the people who are lining the streets for this huge party. Carnival is a great time to be visiting India and tourists staying in Goa beach hotel can expect to have a great time. They may want to know that a common etymological definition of carnival comes from two root words carne, meaning meat, and vale, meaning good or goodbye. What this literally means to participants is that it’s time to enjoy the meat before Lent and the fasting that will accompany it. What is also means is a time of great revelry and abandon.

Early morning risings will be easy when guests awake to the sounds of bagpipes and cymbals playing up and down the streets. They can either go down to the street and enjoy the parades up close or watch from a window in their hotel room. What they’ll see is plenty of musicians who are colorfully dressed behind the instruments. Crowds gather early in the streets to watch these performers and floats pass by. Many people join in and run along with them. Tourists and residents alike enjoy the spectacularly elaborate masquerades that are intended to accompany the live bands every night. All of the activity fills the streets completely and often leads to enormous parties that last throughout the night. Another popular nightly activity is the elaborate balls that are held in various clubs. On the final night of carnival there is the grandest ball of all at the Clube Nacional. One of the highlights of this final evening is the traditional Red and Black dance. The importance of carnival is not lost on the Goans. They love the holiday and begin preparations for it in December, months before the festival will occur.

In 1974, Professor Bill Waldren began a relationship with the island of Mallorca that spanned three decades.  For thirty years, he and his team of scientists and archaeologists studied the Beaker people and their religion.  The people on the island supported the work of the scientists, including members of the staff the five star hotels. Mallorca was home to this puzzling culture for 1,200 years in the Age of Copper.  Some have believed throughout the years that Britain was perhaps introduced to metal work by the Beakers.  And while there is scant evidence elsewhere, Dr. Waldren uncovered a wealth of artifacts and evidence within the hills of Son Oleza, on the island of Mallorca.  He questioned the relationship of this specific area of Mallorca to the ancient religion of the Beakers and to the idea that this was a sacred place for them to worship.

There is a valley that is created when the hills from one side of Son Oleza, meet the hills from the other, which is seen very clearly when one looks towards the horizon line.  Aligned with this divot on the landscape, is a hollowed stone which appears to have been created deliberately.  Many of these stones stand in the sanctuary of Son Mas, in the Deya region on Mallorca.  And astronomy comes into play, as the Southern Cross constellation, when visible sits in the night sky to the right of this divot.  Michael Hoskens was an astro-archaeologist working with Waldren and he states this alignment is not a chance occurrence.  This constellation is believed to have had religious significance to these early inhabitants of Mallorca.  Over the centuries the constellation would have moved, dropping closer to the horizon live when, by 1700 B.C. part of the constellation, the star on the bottom, would have become invisible to the naked eye.  It was close to this time, 1700 B.C. that something seems to have occured for, with evidence supported by radio-carbon dating, the activity stopped abruptly and did not resume for close to four hundred years.

Pollensa is a town just outside of Alcudia on the Balaeric Island of Majorca.  This town, originally named Pollentia, was founded in 123 B.C. by a leader of an expedition out of Rome, Quintus Caelcilius Metellus.  This expedition had taken over the island during that time, and what remains now, exists in a small area in Pollentia, also including the residential neighborhood of Portella.  Archaeological digs have uncovered many houses, a few streets, a central square and a Forum.   Along the square, a building that housed a cult was found, the Capitol Temple.  And the time period of the wall that had surrounded was built about 400 years later, during the 3rd Century.  Not much of the wall has survived.  And just outside of Pollentia, a 2,000 seat theater was built by the Roman’s as well.  This dated back to the 1st Century.  History states that this Roman rule of Majorca begin to decline by the end of the Fourth Century as a result of the invasions by the Byzantine and Vandal armies.

The ruins have been known about since the 16th Century, however they were only just recently excavated, beginning in the early 20th Century.  This is in part due to the confusion in the names of the town.  Thought had been that the current site was located within the ancient site. Close to the time of the tourist explosion that brought many travelers to support the local businesses and to stay in the best hotels, Majorca began to be uncovered and discovered.  Three scientists led the excavation in 1957, D. Woods, M. Tarradell and A. Arribas.   They made many discoveries and have been carrying out the excavation campaign on an annual basis.  A couple of important finds where several bronze coins and the bronze bust of a female.  These have led scientists to the conclusion that during the time of Roman rule, this was a very refined and wealthy town, with links to Northern Africa, Hispania and to Rome.  The Monographic Museum of Pollensa is free to the public.  The discoveries that have been made on the island of Majorca can be found within the museum, as well as the history of occupation and settlement that spans the last 2000 years.