World Venture Travel

This morning I heard about the first Dubai Literary Festival ! I knew it would be only a matter of time. I’ve noticed in the last five years, Dubai has managed to launch a film festival, an art festival, a film festival and now a Literary Festival. I’ve never been to one before, but I can only imagine that it will be one of my favorites since I’m an avid reader.

I read that amongst the writers there will be Margaret Atwood, Frank McCourt, Paulo Coelho, Khaled Al Khamissi and Anne Fine. I can contain myself. I can’t imagine that I’ll actually get to meet all of my favorite authors in one place. I heard all the Luxury Hotels Dubai UAE will be participating alongside the main sponsors the Emirates Airline International . Apparently, Literary festivals are becoming increasingly more popular in countries looking to attract a niche audience of a higher quality of discerning visitors.

Less than four weeks after the announcement from the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature at London’s Book Fair last April about the newly formed Literary Festival in Dubai, 22 authors committed themselves to attend. Initially, the EAIFL thought it would be a challenge to get the big names to attend, but now they are wondering where to fit in all of them. The Literary Festival is definitely on track at playing a key role in the UAE’s burgeoning cultural scene.

The EAIFL focused on two key elements for it’s first annual Literary Festival, education and literacy . Basically, education is the main reason they decided to hold the festival because for students, whether they are in elementary or attending a University, the chance to get close to world-class authors can be a momentous event. It can be an experience of a lifetime, one they never will forget. As for the literacy aspect, which is a very real concern, they feel this festival will push back boundaries that will enable the eradication of illiteracy. Children will be encouraged to take up reading for fun and not just because they have to. Children will be able to meet with all genres of writers and be able to ask questions or acquire insight about the book they are at the moment reading.

I can’t wait. This festival will transform not only myself, but all of my fellow Dubai who attend.

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, by August Wilson, is currently playing at The Lincoln Center Theatre in New York. It was recently nominated for Best Revival of a Play at the 2009 Tony Awards. This production was directed by Bartlett Sher, who was also nominated for Best Direction of a Play. In total, this production received 6 Tony nominations including those for Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in Play. It won 2 of the awards and they went to Roger Robinson for Best Performance and Brian MacDevitt for best Lighting. Tourists who were in town for the Tony Awards and consequential celebrations stayed at best Manhattan hotel to catch some of the pomp and circumstance of the evening.

The play was originally produced on Broadway in March of 1988 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It ran for 105 performances and was nominated for Best Play in that year’s Tony Awards. The script is the second installment of Wilson’s decade by decade chronicle of the African American experience, The Pittsburgh Project. It was staged by Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut before it moved to Broadway. The play is set in the 1920s and deals with the lives of freed slaves. It deals with post slavery racial identity issues and on a more personal level it addresses the struggles of self-discovery and expression.

The play is a drama though it is deals with some supernatural elements such as possession and it incorporates music into the action. Most of the characters either play an instrument or sing. The dialogue in the script is an essential component, well, this actually true for all plays, however in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, the dialogue’s structure is a representation of the character’s spirit. Each of the characters has a specific rhythm to their speech and unique patterns. The dialogue is also reflective of the specific accents that each of the characters would have.

Cape Town South Africa is an extremely interesting city, and is exceptionally rich in cultural heritage and its historical significance. It also has a vibrant arts and entertainment scene. There are many historic landmarks and great scenic views, which attract many tourists to this beautiful town every year. Because of these diverse elements, Cape Town is the most popular tourists destination in Africa. Tourists flock there each year and stay at the best Cape Town hotels.

The Castle of Good Hope is one of the city’s most prominent historical landmarks. It is the oldest building in South Africa, having been built by the Dutch East India Company sometime between 1666 and 1679. The cast was built to replace an older establishment that had been built from clay and timber by Jan van Riebeeck when he arrived at the Cape. The original intention of both buildings was to serve as a supply replenishment station for ships as they passed up and down the coastline.

The inside of the caste housed living quarters, various workshops, a bakery and a church. It was almost a village unto itself. The walls were painted yellow because this lessened the extreme heat. There was also a wall in the interior that created a protective barrier for the citizens in case of an attack. One of the most interesting aspects of the caste is the Kat Balcony. It was designed by Louis Michel Thibault and contains sculptures by Anton Anreith. It was built in 1695 and was later reconstructed into its current form sometime between 1786 and 1790. There was a gated entry added in 1682, which replaced the former entrance by the sea. There is a bell tower that was added in 1684 and is the oldest in South Africa. In 1936 the Castle of Good Hope was declared to be a national monument.

International travelers looking for five-star Dubai hotels will be pleasantly and consistently surprised.  One of the world’s hotspots, guests here usually return, which speaks very well of the hospitality to be found.  The hotels really are outstanding, with an exquisite attention to detail in design, and a generous dose of old-world charm.  This is a magnificent place to begin a journey here, and a place to make a beautiful temporary home.

There is so much to do in Dubai. With its lovely beaches, first-rate shopping, with spectacular new shopping centers as well as old marketplaces, and sumptuous nightlife, Dubai’s reputation is well-deserved.  There is a fascinating trend in the past few years toward intellectuals and artists who are making this their home base.  Some of the most interesting galleries in the world are here, some built into existing structures, some created from the ground up.  But there is no doubt that the governments vision to make this a creative capital in the world market is helping to change the face of the global art market.  Art Dubai is one of the initiatives that is causing an interesting stir.  A sort of central point where contemporary art in the Arab world is displayed and discussed, Art Dubai is an annual festival, where galleries show works by local and international guests.  The deadline has recently opened for the next round of submissions.

The vision here is very inclusive to the global community, and still maintains a dedication to promoting artists from the UAE.  One of the initiatives under Art Dubai, Contemporabia is a fascinating week-long event that is more or less simultaneous, where curators, critics, and artists gather to discuss important issues in Gulf Art today.  The considerable attention to art production and critical discussion from this region is suggesting a remarkable shift in the art world generally, and it begs it to continue to open its doors to the notion of a global culture.

Of the many forms of art the city of New York supports, and has supported over the years, the live shows, the theater and the opera have long been a draw for the residents of the city and the tourists alike.  All the businesses of the city support the arts, from the NY hotels to the markets on the corner.  This tradition has given way to Manhattan becoming the home to the most theaters and opera houses in the country if not the world.  The houses put up not only opera, but musicals, comedies, drama and symphony performances, as well as offering up one of the most extensive schedules of opera one can hope to find.  As stated previously, the businesses of the city support the arts, and in turn the people living within the hustle of this city, working everyday in the factories, the offices and high stress-level jobs of the Fortune 500 companies and Wall Street, are given many opportunities through the NY City Opera, the NY State Theater and the Metropolitan Opera House to relax and enjoy some of the best that their city has to offer.  These shows provide spectators the escape and the entertainment of the city’s best performers.

Many visiting the city, can find last minute tickets at the booth in Times Square.  This is true for most of the shows and perhaps more so for the “Phantom of the Opera“, one of the biggest hits in New York City opera history.  Adapted from the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the famous English composer, this work has been produced throughout the world many times over, and many times in New York City as well.   These shows, as well as the Shakespeare performances in Central Park, the Dance performances in Radio City Music Hall, offer up a different side to the city, different from the business deals and the affairs of the companies that New York is headquarters for.  These venues offer some of the most popular and well loved works in the world.  In the case of “Phantom” this love story with its grand music, and spectacular visual effects has been a story of success, not just for the show itself, but for the success and history of theater and opera in the city in general.

Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has many natural and historic landmarks that contribute to the cultural heritage of the region. Tourists are attracted to many areas of India, and Bangalore is one of the top choices to visit. There are many entertainment and great dining options to compliment the luxury accommodations provided by the top hotels. Dinner in one of the many fine Bangalore restaurants is a standard beginning to a great evening in this city.

One of the major landmarks in Bangalore is also a prime functional building. The Karnataka High Court is located in its capital city next to the seat of its legislature, which is housed in Vidhana Soudha. The High court itself is situated in a red brick building known as Attara Kacheri. It is two stories high and was designed in the neo-classical style. Its construction was completed in 1868, under the supervision of Rao Bahadur Arcot Narayanswamy Mudaliar. It is interesting to note that there was an effort in 1982 to destroy the building, though it was preserved due to an instance on its ancient relevance.

The history of the High Court itself can be traced back to 1884. In this year the Chief Court of Mysore was established with three judges. It was declared to be the highest court of appeals. While there were various district courts and justices at the time, the establishment of the chief justice left the final word to the High Court. It was renamed the High Court of Mysore in 1930 and in 1973 it was given its present name, the High Court of Karnataka. The building is very attractive and inviting and often tourists who wish to experience more than simple entertainment aspects of Bangalore chose to explore this and other landmarks.

Udaipur, a vision in white. A lovely land around the Azure water lakes and surrounded by the lush hills of the Aravails and known for its superb museums. I didn’t have enough time when I stayed at a hotel in Udaipur ,to see all the museums Udaipur had, but the handful I did managed to visit were amazing and unique, like the City Palace Museum, a palace preserved as a museum. I entered through Ganesh Deori, meaning the door of Lord Ganesh . The Palace displays a large and diverse array of artifacts. There is a huge collection of armoury, weapons and, my favorite, a lethal two-pronged swords.

That same day I managed to fit in Ahar Museum, located about 2 kms east of Udaipur. It’s a cluster of cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar. About nineteen cenotaphs of Maharanas are creamated and buried there. The cenotaphs are not far from the Ahar Museum where they display a limited but very rare earthen pottery. The next day I made it to, which I didn’t think I’d enjoy but did and at the request of my husband,the Vintage Collection of Classic Car Museum. The collection is in the grounds of the Garden Hotel. It is comprised of a variety of classic and exquisitely rare transportation vehicles. Also, there are some vintage classics such as the Cadillac, the Chevrolet and the Morais.

After pleasing my husbands car fetish needs, we went to the Crystal Gallery to fulfill my love for anything crystal. The Gallery is located in Fateh Prakash Palace in the heart of Udaipur. It was created by the Maharana Sajjan Singhji. My breath was taken away with the beautiful precious crystal items on display which were purchased by the Maharana from all around the world. Even though we spent most of our time in the museums and galleries of Udaipur, we did manage to take in the beauty of this land of fairy tales, palaces and lakes.

Dance and music are dependent on the culture of Malaysia,  just as Malaysia depends on dance and music.  These two art forms are essential to the people of this country, and just as varied as the heritage, so to are these art forms varied.  Most forms practiced today have evolved from the earlier forms of fulfilling basic and ritualistic needs into complex forms taking from many different components of the culture to become what they are today and what they signify in the modern world.  For those traveling to this destination to catch performances or to participate in them, any Malaysian hotel will be able to offer suggestions and directions on the best places to attend the performances.

Many of the rhythms of the music, stem from many years ago when drums were a form of communication from hilltops to hilltops, before the modern conveniences of telephones and email.  All news was spread throughout the regions by a kind of Morris code of standard beats, warning of danger and other news, wedding and celebration announcements, where all delivered by the drummers on the hills.  Now these traditional drums are used often times to back up the music of the Gamelan.    Although a large festival occurs each summer in Kelantan, the Giant Drum Festival,   which celebrates the historical significance of the drums and the drummers, as well as just celebrating and honoring the music. The Gamelan originates in Indonesia, and is a string instrument that produces a very subtle tune.

The elegant dance form of Malaysian is called Silat.  This has origins in the choreography of martial arts.  Performances such as these are often times performed at festivals and weddings, as they are very celebratory in nature.  Another common site at festivals and on stage is the Candle Dance.  During these performances dancers hold lit candles and they perform delicate movements, and the candle flames twinkle and create mesmerizes visual effects.  There are many forms of folk dancing as well, that all the Malaysians participate in during festivals and parties.  And most of the theater performances in the country combine all the arts, drama, dance, music and comedy.  Any performance one catches while visiting will be sure to leave a lasting memory.

Many of us daydream of the perfect tropical island with balmy breezes and soft sand underfoot.  Just thinking about an island paradise helps take some of the stress away, but it never touches the real thing.  As a place that fulfills all expectations (and daydreams), it is no wonder that a Hawaii vacation has been a favorite getaway with travelers ever since they were discovered!  With its verdant hills and mountains, its azure waters, the many bays and coves that provide perfect romantic hiding places, and the many, many activities that are to be had, Hawaii travel is consistently alluring.  Whether it is a Kauai vacation, or a visit to any of the other amazing islands, there is no doubt that you will be thank yourself for fulfilling your fantasies!

Take the family or go with a friend or a loved one.  Book a hotel, a bed and breakfast, or go camping in one of the many beautiful parks where you can sleep under the huge stars that beam overhead.  Take a fishing trip or a helicopter ride to view all the islands from above.  Snorkel, scuba dive, surf, swim, or just laze the day away on a beach chair with a cool drink in hand.  Whatever you do, Hawaii  awaits you with open arms.