World Venture Travel

Australia is a place where many adventures unfold, and many dreams come true.  Of course, there are dreams that don’t come true here, but they always lead to something else that’s probably more interesting anyway.  There are many exciting festivals and special events that happen in the larger cities. and Adelaide is certainly among these.  It’s a planned city, with a grid based on Philadelphia in the U.S., and its progressive ideals in the 19th century are still unfolding today.  It has one of the more multi-cultural populations in Australia, and because of this there are splendid choices for different varieties of cuisine.  There are also all the cultural influences reflected in the art forms, making it a lively and vibrant scene.  When planning a vacation in Adelaide, boutique hotels offer something exquisite.

Boutique hotels generally are known for their unique character and attention to detail.  Their size is usually smaller than the chain hotels, so the service is much more individual, offering more to fit your needs.  There is a gorgeous sense of hospitality in Australia anyway, and in these hotels, it is almost an art form.  Adelaide knows art forms, too, and art lovers will find a feast of attractions here.  There is everything, from live music to theatre, opera and dance, installation and new media art, to satisfy everyone’s taste.  If you’re lucky enough to be traveling here in late February, then you’ll no doubt hear a lot of buzz about the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

It began in 1960, and is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the world.  Like the city itself, the festival hosts everything, covering most of the disciplines in the performing arts, and also including forums, a late night series, and many outdoor events.  This is autumn in Australia, and the weather is rather nice, so it’s a splendid time to visit and see what’s new in the art world.  The festival has attracted many prominent theatre and performance specialists and professionals in its organizational ranks, including the revered director Peter Sellars, who served as artistic director for two years.  It also attracts some of the finest performers in Australia and the world, and spawned its own fringe festival.

Last summer I went for a long road trip, I really like to drive and live in the south west United State so there is a lot beautiful open spaces and gorgeous scenery to be seen. A friend had told be about a natural hot springs in Ridgeway, CO called the Orvis Hot Springs. Ridgway is located just over the peaks from Teluride, CO. The property is beautiful, high in the Rocky Mountains on the western slope of Colorado. The drive there is stunning, the scenery changes, elevations changes and scenery make the tow day drive I planned on taking there seem like it really was no time at all. The route I took was out of Phoenix to the north and east to the city of Globe. Then north through the San Carlos / Apache reservation up to a place that only gets mentioned on some maps, Witch Wells, AZ. There I headed east into New Mexico through the Zuni reservation. There it is north through Gallup and Farmington, New Mexico into Colorado. The road was wild, 9 percent grades up and down for 20 and 30 miles at a time! It was an experience.

Once getting to Orvis I was ready to soak in the spas and take in the messages offered there. It was an amazingly relaxing experience and one that has made me think I need to find a way to get a  good hot soak at home. Then I found out there are portable spas! Looking into it it is much easier than I cold imagine. There are models that can fit nearly anywhere. Many don’t require any special plumbing or electrical hook ups and on top of it all it is portable! So when I move from here and buy my own place it can go with me. I can not wait to start getting the benefits of a spa at home and with prices starting at under one thousand dollars I will be able to save up the money fairly quickly and avoid having to finance it.

I woke up so stiff this morning after all the fall yard clean up we did yesterday. Cutting back the perennials, pruning the trees and raking up the leaves, I am not getting any younger that is for sure. Glad to have gotten done what I did and it all looks very nice again, how ever I am paying for it now. After a cup of coffee and a little breakfast it will be time to get in to the hottubs. I am so glad I had one put in earlier this year. It has been such a pleasure.

After getting the hot tub I began seeing all kinds of information on how beneficial hydrotherapy is. Soaking in hot water has all kinds of health benefits. These are people that have experienced relief from chronic head aches. Some people say it has relieved back pain they have had for years. People suffering from arthritic conditions state their joints do not hurt as much and they experience more mobility after soaking in a hot tub.

Apparently the combination of the hot water and the massaging action of the jets create a massage like experience. The heat helps dilate the blood vessels and increases circulation thus decreasing swelling and aiding in the elimination of toxins from the body. The messaging effects of the jets release tension in muscles and relaxes them, thus creating balance with in the body. The combined benefits create a body that is more relaxed, less stressed and reduced in pain. Many people state that soaking in their hot tubs in the evening is so relaxing that they fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and sleep better after soaking in their hot tub. I have seen reports stating people with insomnia have found relief and experience better sleeping after soaking in their hot tub before retiring.

A visit to Spain is an exciting proposition.  One of the most stylish countries in the world, with an impeccable sense of how to make every moment just a little more vivid, and a little more splendid, Spain leaves beautiful footprints in the memory.  There are all sorts of exquisite places to visit here, but when looking for accommodations in the league of 5-star, Barcelona hotels just might be the best in the world.  One of the world’s great financial and cultural centers, Barcelona really knows how to do it.  We’ve chosen some of the city’s best, so that you’ll know you’re getting the cream of the crop here.  Lovely nights and heavenly days await you.

Barcelona nights begin much later, by the way.  It’s not unusual for things to get started around midnight, and go until the sun comes up.  So be prepared ahead of time, or, you could spend your first night here getting to know the hotel, relaxing in its splendor and sampling its many amenities.  When you’re ready for a hearty and exciting night on the town, Barcelona is always open.  There are a stunning number of clubs playing every kind of music imaginable, so the choice is wide open for your tastes and pleasures.  If you happen to be looking for some fantastically edgy, rough and ready triphop, then keep an eye out for Julz Barcelona.

With influences as varied as Led Zepplin, the Beastie Boys, and Portishead, Julz is in a fine position to make a splendid career for himself.  His style is unusual and compelling, and he moves with spectacular shifts in rhythm based on the mood of the crowd.  He is also one of the participants in the much-anticipated The Festival, where all of Europe’s artistic splendor will be showcased, coming in 2011!

For many years people have been sharing the meals with each other in the beautiful outdoors.  Food cooked on grills just tastes better, and there is something cozy about sitting around a warm fire with family and friends.  In recent years however, as people become increasingly more health conscious, questions have been raised about the links to grilling meat and various forms of cancer, most commonly colon and breast cancer.  It is when the protein in meat heats up, carcinogens get released.

Some people have thought that this occurs only when the meat is charred and that by scraping off that char, they would be removing those carcinogens, but this is not true.  Once they are there they cannot be removed.  However, there are many ways in which one can go about not having them occur in the first place.  One thing that scientists have discovered is that when grilling hamburgers, flip them often.  By grilling over low heat and flipping the burgers each minute or so, the levels of the chemicals fall drastically.

Marinades play a large role in reducing the chemicals as well.  It is best to water down thick, store packaged marinates, as using them full strength will many times serve to triple the levels.  If one mixes just half a cup of soy protein into the meat, this will lower the toxicity levels by ninety five percent.  Another item one can add to ground meat to lower the HCAs is vitamin E.  Just one capsule from the vitamin bottle mixed in will lower the levels more that seventy percent.

And while some may not find this particular taste appealing, mixing in a cup of the dark antioxidant rich fruits such as blueberries or cherries into a pound of hamburger, more than ninety percent of the levels will be suppressed.  These fruit burgers may not be all that for many people, so garlic, sage, and rosemary are a tasty alternative, and again the levels of the chemical carcinogens will be reduced when these herbs are added into the mix.  Barbecue islands in outdoor kitchens have made these preparations easy and quick.  It just takes a little bit of work to make the cooked meat safe, work that results in more savory grilled foods anyway.

What an amazing place Goa is! Due to its location ion the Arabian sea along the northern end of the coast on the west side of india. This region has been traveled through and traded with for many thousands of years. This region shows evidence of human in habitation for centuries BCE, was a trade route to the far east for Arabian explorers and traders. Through the ages Goa has been settled and visited by many travelers from the west. In the 16th century Portuguese explorers came to the area. They established settlements in the area, the architectural influences in the area still exist today. Vasco de Gama, the largest city in the state of Goa, shows much of this Portuguese influence in the old town area of the city.

Being located on the warm Arabian see this is a favorite tourist destination for many Europeans from the north. Warm days and warm water make for an endless variety of activites that can be done at the beach, in the water, on the water or even under the water. Beaches can be crowded at the height of season however the number of beaches and getting a little off the beaten trail you can find some solitude easily. Your hosts at any five star hotels Goa can help you out with information on finding a more quiet spot if that is what your looking for.

The rugged hill sides jutting up from the coast make for beautiful scenery and are dotted with many small towns and villages to explore. When taking a day from the beach driving into the hillsides where the cool breezes blow through the lunch tropical vegetation. Drives along these roads offer glimpses of beautiful scenes of the beaches and ocean below.

Done with the beach and hillside exploration, there is night life, dining . dancing, night clubs abound to keep the tourists happy and busy all night long. Goa is becoming more and more popular destination all the time. It’s clear why!

Whenever one buys an item or a service online, there may be apprehension.  After all, one is sending their money or giving their credit card information to a stranger, in hopes of getting the item, or the quality, that is promised.  This can cause many people to miss out on either selling or buying, something they want or need to sell and buy, due to the factor that one really just does not know for certain what one is going to get for their money.  It is a different form of commerce and trade, one that in the coming years will surely only continue to grow.

So how does one know that they are dealing with reputable people, either sellers or consumers?  This question arose years ago, when Steve Barbarich bought a spa over the Internet.  He had those same concerns and apprehensions that everyone has, but unfortunately for him, those fears were realized.  When he purchased the spa online, he was not informed about the size, and unfortunately it would not fit through the door of his home.

When he called for assistance, the customer service agent replied in brief and uninformative answers.  Basically, he received no help, and no concern from the company he was dealing with, the company in which he had given his money.  This created the financial burden of knowing that one has spent money on something that is of no use, he had to figure out what to do with the massive bit of porcelain and acrylic sitting in his front yard.

So with his experience on the one end of bad customer service, he decided to start his own company.  A company that would ensure that the products they sold were what people wanted and expected to have delivered, and one that would ensure the utmost pride in customer service and customer relations.   Especially in today’s economy,  people are expecting to get what they pay for.  And that is exactly what one will receive when they are doing business with Barbarich.

There is a certain thrill about traveling to new places, where the cityscape is unknown, and there are multiple languages, and the smells of exotic food coming from apartment windows and local restaurants.  It is one of the great pleasures of getting immersed in another culture, where every step creates the space for a new memory that you can savor for years.  There are many new experiences on the way, and things that can’t be planned for but have to be revealed when you get there.  There are a few preparations you can make ahead of time, however, and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hotels can be the center of the journey.  Where you sleep becomes the one constant in your exciting new adventure, and here we’ve selected only the best hotels, so that you can save the guesswork on lodging and use the time to daydream.
Kuala Lumpur can be like a walking daydream, with a splendid mix of cultures and traditions living together in this gorgeous city.  KL is one of the cities where the idea of an exotic tropical city originates, and there are plenty of natural vistas and urban adventures to soothe every traveler’s palate.  In the city, the very first thing that visitors see, and that everyone thinks of, is the Petrona’s Twin Towers that really defines the skyline.  This is a splendid piece of urban architecture that also defines Kuala Lumpur in many ways.

These buildings are not only very useful, being the home for many businesses in KL, but they are also rather intriguing to look at.  This gives an austerity to the city, and adds a sense of grandeur and possibility.  It also means that the raw materials of urban life don’t have to live in a cold, steely realm, but can be transformed into a work of art that is visually pleasing as well as maintaining a practical use.  Urban architecture is, in a sense, a way to put a human mark on the cityscape.  In KL, these towers are also a source of national pride, holding the record for the world’s tallest buildings between 1998-2004.

I was on a business trip to Jackson, Mississippi. It was my first time visiting the South and visiting Mississippi. My company made reservations for me at one of the quality hotels Jackson is known for. I decide that while I had some down time, no business to conduct that I had enough time to do some site seeing. Since it was my first time in the south, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to be able to experience what I’ve only read about.

Jackson is Mississippi’s largest city and it’s really very cosmopolitan. The was an unbelievable amount of culture here. I checked out the Museum of Natural Science. I was so amazed with just how well established and well funded this museum is. It was totally fantastic. The exhibits were superb. They even had a 100,000 gallon aquarium which house well over 200 species of native aquatic life. The greenhouse was huge, 1,700 square feet, which not only had plants, but creatures like the alligator!  I was really impressed with the quality of the museum.

My next stop was to the Jackson zoo, It was so different than what I’m used to being called a zoo. The various animal life was stunning and unique. For some reason, they have figured out how to make the animal not looked bored and captured. Their collections of big cats was wonderful. I like the elephants and the assortment of exotic beasts. Jackson Zoo needs to be experience to know what I’m talking about.

I did check out Jackson’s nightlife too. I found the clubs to be exceptional, to exceptional. I was having too much fun, I almost didn’t wake up in time to make a business meeting, but luckily, the people I was meeting the next morning were with me the night before, so they ended up running a bit late, so I didn’t feel so bad. But, fortunately, staying out late made the business meeting go quickly and beneficial. I made a sale!

I love the fall in New York. It is the beast time of year in my opinion. Winter for obvious reasons is my least favorite time of the year. The cold is bad enough, but the cloudiness and endless days without sun shine are what really get to me and the fact that this can start in October and not end till May in a really bad year winter can be grueling to get through. The spring is beautiful and the budding trees and the flowers are wonderful. But I still think there is nothing like a clear crisp fall day in contrast to the stagnant humid still days of summer. I recommend the fall to my friends when they talk about visiting New York. So yesterday I got a message from a friend in the south west coming in at the end of October. I got him a great room at a five star hotel New York City for the time he will be here. Mid to late October can be the perfect leaf peeping time of year. Here on the morning after the first nights of frost the tress will go from green to yellows, reds and fiery oranges over night. A spectacular display of color that isn’t rivaled anywhere in the world. On a good year the trees will ablaze in color and last for a week or two. The rolling hills are a wash with the golden colors of fall. I would enjoy this spectacle more if it didn’t for tell of the coming winter and cold and perhaps I would not dread the on coming of winter so much if the winters were not so long here. But that I won’t think aout right now since fall is on the way and cool crisp days are on the menu for the time being.

To my amazement, in my early days of studying in Madras, were I choose to learn in the home of Krishanmacharya instead of staying at any wonderful hotel Madras as plenty of, because this way, my learning became intimate and personal. Even though, I desired to stay in luxury at a Madras hotel, I would’ve missed out on so my subtleties if a follow my desires for comfort. I learned that the purpose of the asana was to enhance and participate in the breath. The asana was not there for its own sake. My teacher taught me that the ancients, the elders, perceived the breath, not the heart pulse, to be the most critical function of the body. What I found to be so magical about what I was learning about breath is that I can intentionally take charge in and develop an underpinning depth of my life. The other critical functions of my bodies system will then become strengthen, which includes my heart and vascular system.

Breath is asana. Breath is my guide to the asana. I was taught to carefully choose a selection of asana movements for myself to ensure that the breath I use strengthens without any struggle whatsoever. The reason for this is the great power of my anatomy will be used to move the breath, it moves easily as I contact my depth, my source. I let my breath be my Guru. I learned forward bends and twists help facilitate the exhalations, and if I arch my back this in-turn helps my inhalations. I was already and advanced asana practitioner when I moved in with my teacher. I learned the structuring of the whole body around my breath will form bandhas, bandhas are the channels of my life force. Asana is hatha yoga. Ha and Tha are sun and moon respectively, strength receiving, which is performed by inhalation and exhalation. This is vital, because strength that isn’t receiving can become destructive to itself and others. So, what I learned the most is in strong asana, I should see that the joints and muscles are soft enought to receive the inhalations.

Ironically, now in the present, I teach hatha yoga, not in my home, but in hotel conference rooms and lobbies. I find that by teaching just the basics to anyone who wants to learn that it’s better to start them in a group situation. Then, and only after they’ve taken one of my basic teachings, can they even consider coming into my home to become a private asana student.

The great city of Seville, Spain is over 2,000 years old, and has as interesting a history and important role in social progress and cultural evolution as the years that validate its significance. It is the capital of the Andalusia region of the southern part of Spain, and also serves as the artistic and cultural capital. This and its natural beauty, numerous landmarks and major entertainment options makes it extremely attractive to the tourists who stay in the Seville hotels. And with all of these incredible features, it is extremely unlikely that they are even aware of the great plague outbreak that occurred there in 1649.

The Great Plague of Seville proved to be one of the largest instances of outbreaks of the dreaded disease in much of greater Europe. It occurred from 1647 to 1652 with the height of its devastation being reached in 1649. Plague outbreaks were common in European countries during this time period and the centuries before it. It had been incorporated into common social occurrences and semi-regular expectations, and most cities had standard protocol for when they would occur. Often major public gathering spaces, such as theatres and enclosed festivals would be shut down until further notice.

The seventeenth century was a particularly difficult hundred years for Spain in regards to the plague. It was first struck by the disease at the turn of the century with the plague of 1596 to 1602. This one began in Santander and spread through Castille and Madrid before arriving in Seville at around 1600. The last major plague of the century began in 1676, almost 25 years after the great plague, and lasted until 1685. Unfortunately, this meant that some of the lucky survivors of the great plague were there when it struck again, and were not as fortunate the second time around.

There are great luxury resorts located throughout Singapore and the surrounding region that accommodate the many tourists and business travels it receives every year. Also many of these and some of the best Singapore spa resorts are located along the Marina development area. These resorts offer great views and excellent opportunities for shopping and experiencing the height of Singaporean culture. Major entertainment facilities such as the Esplanade are also located in this area, as are some of the best restaurants. The Suntec City Mall is one of the main attractions in this area.

The Mall was originally opened in 1995 and added a whole new level of shopping experience to the area. Even the design of the complex was developed to enhance the experience of the patrons. It was designed by Tsao & Mckown Architects with a focus on the Chinese art and geomancy of feng shui. It features a beautiful bronze Fountain of Wealth and it is this balance of water and metal that is believed to create or pave the way for success. In addition, the complex is looks like a left hand when it is viewed aerially, and the fountain stands out like a golden ring in its palm. It provides an incredible and often unexpected visual spectacle for air travelers or aerial city tours.

Some of the major fashion stores that are located in the mall include Guess, Polo Jeans Co, Mango and Raoul. The major sports tenants are Nike by B.I.R.D., the Adidas Concept Store, Golf House, and the Royal Sporting House. Toys are Us and Harvey Norman are two of the major mall tenants. There are also many hobby and craft stores, beauty stores and services, and many other features. The food and dining options are almost endless and feature stores from some of the major world franchises. Ben & Jerry’s, Subway, Ichiban Boshi, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut are just a few of the many selections.

I have some history with South Africa. A few hears back, I was in South Africa listening to a presentation given by a Native American about growing up as an Indian, during the presentation, a retired ranger came in. He was crying quiet hard, and, well to make a long story short, he said he knew he was an Indian reborn in South Africa. He was Caucasian. He continued with his story and thought that by becoming a ranger was the closest thing he could do to honor his former life. The Native American let him finish telling his story. All his life, this ranger, had followed the teachings of the Grey Owl and had worked to protect the rhinoceros and the wilderness.

 
The ranger told our Native American presenter that he was the first Indian he had ever met and that he wanted to send a message back to the States. His message was this: If the Native Americans do not get back to their true spirituality, then they are doomed. He said, we are all destroying the world, not only socially and politically, but religiously too. We have all these ‘written’ religions, and walk the words on paper, but we’re destroying the world in the process. But, back in the day, the Indians walked their spiritual path in their every day life, they lived it through ceremonies and in everything they did, every step they took, every breath they breathed. He said, we can once again preserve that which honors life and bring it back out into the world, so the rest of us might be able to change in enough time to save earth.
 
It was really heart-breaking to watch him cry as he talked to all of us that day. He then just turned around and left the building. Our Native American presenter then turned back to us and said ‘That said it all’, and our session was over earlier than expected. But, as I headed back to one of the South African five star hotels, I couldn’t stop the rangers voice and his story playing over and over in my thoughts. His words and heart-felt emotions really sparked something in me. All I know is I hope I can make a difference and become a steward of earth instead of her destroyer.

For the savvy world traveler looking for an exotic island retreat, and opportunities for countless exciting adventures, and want the luxuries allowed by five-star hotels, Phuket  is the place to be.  It has long been a hotspot for tourists, drawn in by the mystique of its people and attracted by Thailand’s charm.  There are always fantastic parties with people from all walks of life, including movie stars from all over the world.  It also has its share of family fun, offering attractions that are educational as well as fun.  Our hotels are selected for their uniqueness, and for their consistently high level of service and hospitality.  The features that are standard for hotels that meet the highest expectations of the industry are all here, but with distinctive extras that make them truly exceptional.  
After a delicious night’s rest in our sumptuously decorated rooms, and a fine meal prepared by our world-class chefs serving the best of local and international gourmet cuisine, there are all sorts of stories waiting to unfold for you and your family in Phuket.  There are many wonderful sight-seeing tours, as well as a host of urban attractions such as shopping, people-watching, and city walks.  In the evening, you may want to try one of the many excellent restaurants, check out one of the popular dance clubs, or take the family to see one of the shows such as the Phuket Stunt Show.  There are a number of truly excellent performers showcasing their stunt abilities here, from all over the world, including Thailand, North America, and the U.K.  
This exciting extravaganza is open six nights a week for most of the year, but check with your concierge to be sure, as it sometimes closes during the low season.  This is a 75-minute dazzling display of human dexterity and skill, where the performers test their limits in front of the eager crowds.  The show features some incredible feats with a high level of theatricality.  There are many water-themed aspects to the Phuket Stunt Show, as is fitting for the place, with a Pirates of the Chinese Sea theatre event, and a synchronized diving show which features one of the highest high dives in the world.  There is also a great deal of comedy, to make for a very merry circus-style atmosphere, along with pyrotechnics, and a host of other surprises.  It’s a treat!

When traveling to the capital city, Canberra, Australia, hotels are plentiful, and the choice is often difficult.  Our hotels offer luxury and an experience in accommodation that will refresh your mind and body.  With a sumptuous blend of comfort and contemporary amenities, your stay here will place you in the center of your own world.  It is also very possible to escape from the problems of the world here, and immerse yourself in another culture entirely.  Our hotels are designed to refresh and rejuvenate, and offer something for every member of the family.

Canberra is a fascinating place.  The city itself was designed by Chicago architects, who won a competition to make the best plan for Canberra when it was under construction in the early 20th century.  Now it has really come into its own, and has a lively, cosmopolitan scene, offering wonderful distractions by day, and splendid attractions at night.  Canberra has its own local heros of the art and music world, but it also attracts some of the most interesting traveling shows in Australia.  One fine example of this is the Nick Cave exhibition at Canberra’s National Library.

It might seem like an unlikely place for fans who know Nick Cave, but it is certainly a fantastic opportunity to peek into the mind of one of the true musical geniuses of our time.  Those stopping by to see Nick Cave: The Exhibition are in for a treat.  For fans of the artist, the exhibition is a collection of notes and photographs, painting a portrait of his creative process.  It is also an exhibition paying homage to the creative process itself, and offers an unusually complex glimpse into the way inspiration and experience manifest themselves in art.  For art history aficionados, this is a superb installation of ephemera, acknowledging the shifting nature of reality.  It is also prepared by none other than Nick Cave himself, ironically making an art work out of his incredibly creative life.

Of all the iconic areas in New York to find a hotel, Central Park is undoubtedly among the highest on the list.  It should be, of course, because this park, designed as a gift to the city, has become one of the major landmarks in a city where everything tries to be a landmark.  This sprawling patch of green is the only sign of nature among one of the most urban areas on the planet.  With outdoor concerts in the summer, and an amazing visual treat when snows hit in the winter, Central Park holds a special place in the hearts of all New Yorkers.  Our hotels here offer luxurious accommodation and stunning views, a combination that’s awfully hard to beat.  There are world-class chefs preparing meals, top designers making an ambience that will refresh you spirit, and a sense of hospitality here that is absolutely sensational.

This is New York, and in the city that has everything, you should have the best.  It’s all possible here.  The city has attracted the best minds in the world for a long time, drawn by the promises of the possible.  In 1961, New York’s Greenwich Village was a magnet for young artists from all over, and saw the arrival of the vagabond Bob Dylan.  It was here, in these formative years of Bob Dylan’s life, that some of the most important inspirations for Dylan’s music found their roots.

He lived here with his first long-term girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, and she graced the cover of one of his most formative albums, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.  New York City in those days had already established itself as a cultural meeting ground for countercultural refugees, and it proved a rich and exciting place for the young Dylan.  Today, there are walking tours available, for fans to trace some of the more enigmatic New York spots, and see the geographies of a particular dreamer whose influence will be felt for many generations.  The roughness and cheap rents that Dylan knew here might be long gone, but the energy is still here, in the pavement, and in the soil.

I was attending an international conference concerning water and I was really impressed with just how many nations showed up to discuss how the source of water is changing in their countries. I got my first ever glimpse of an actual representative of the famous Zulu tribe  . They were also discussing just how water is important for their land. He said the land is a healer in South Africa , and if for some reason they become displaced somewhere that they hope it’s near water or a river, because, he said, water is a healer.

Then we were shown a video message from, apparently, one of South Africa’s most well known healer, and his message was that Zulu’s are taught to respect those around them, the earth, everything on this planet. But, they are moving away from old traditions and must begin to return to their traditions. He continued to say that this is how we will heal our world.

The entire conference was focused on how to accomplish the task of healing earth, even if the ice is melting. It was brought up that ice is relatively easy to melt compared to the ice of the human heart.

Then, that evening after I had dinner at a restaurant in one of the luxury hotels South Africa has, I returned to the conference to hear a special message from the Dalai Lama’s  official representative, who said that as we enter the new millennium, this will be a good time to walk as human beings. We must work for a more compassionate and peaceful world and where ever we see an opportunity to benefit others, we should do so without thinking about self interest.

The conference ended with all the nations coming together in a huge circle, we had to go outside to accomplish this, and send out prayers and gratitude for the earth to be able to heal.

We strode along the elegant Marine Drive checking out the mansions on the way to the beach. This was Maumbai? The city, despite a teeming throng of untold millions, has streets like this, where you can see the imprint of the British Empire.We liked the colonial energy of the other Victoria Terminus, and we were here for the food, the architecture and the museums. Lisa wanted to shop, it is the epicenter of Indian fashion, and we would to that, but first we should go to the cave of Elephanta Island. We left by boat and set sail. The history of the place is quite remarkable, dating back to 600 AD as a Hindu holy site, where they created the carvings in the cave. Lisa got into the spirit ans wore a flowing orange sari. We looked out at the just about vibrating city and said We aren’t in Flagstaff anymore.” We were dropped off and directed with the rest of the mass of tourists and we had to walk up a series of stair ways. Touts descended on us like flies and we had to bull our way through, and we were glad we did ans the caves were most beautiful. We loved the carvings, they were in surprisingly good shape.

We headed back through the stall gauntlet and back to Mumbai for dinner. This city, known for its stock market riches  and Bollywood movies, is known also for its food. Ask at the hotels in Mumbai and they will tell you to avoid the street vendors, but we had some of our best treats eating hot food from the street, including volcanic vindaloos that had me sweating even more to a nice lentil cauliflower dish with white Basmati rice.

Macao is the product of cultural exchanges between China and the west for more than 400 years. In Macao you will find an interesting mixture of architectural styles; a mixture of European, European influenced and Chinese architecture sit side by side. The oldest and most historic section of Macao is concentrated with the European style of architecture. In the mid 16th century Portuguese settlements began to be established in the area. This beginning 500 years of uninterrupted contact between the Chinese and the west. This is how Macao became an international trading port. Macao became the gateway in which the Chinese exported their goods and were able to look out onto the world. These trade relations changed the course of history and the world. Silks, pastas, foods and spices came out of China for the first time and were introduced to the European world. For about 300 years Macao’s location at the mouth of the Pearl River meant it maintained a unique position in the south China sea. This became challenged in 1842 with the establishment of Hong Kong. The mix of cultures and traditions were well established by this point. To this day the dual cultural experience of Europe and China can still be felt and seen in Macao. Not only the architectural styles, but also the variety of religious practices,cuisine and mix of languages spoken there. From your 5 star hotels Macau you can enjoy cuisines from around the world and fusions of cuisines unknown else where. You can experience churches and temples of a variety unexpected on the Chinese main land and see architecture that is unexpected in Asia. The open minded atmosphere that is a legacy of the free trading that has taken place here for centuries remains to this day and influences the culture and creativity of the people to this day.
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We we ready for beach duty here, the Langkawi hotels near the sand inviting us to go play on this chain of one hundred islands. The pristine beaches of Pantai Kok beach stretch around a wonderful bay. People apparently do not sunbathe nude here, which was OK with us,  as we explored this tropical paradise. We were eager to experience more of the natural beauty of the island and had heard of a tunnel that you can go in to see fish underwater. Well, it was easy to get info on this, and it is called the Underwater World Langkawi and there we saw penguins, seals, and got to walk through a fifty feet long tunnel ina gigantic tank that teemed with fish. It was truly spectacular. My favorite, though, was the ‘Penguinarium’ where you can see dozens of swimming penguins. I have penguin carvings all over my home in Calgary and loved to see the flightless birds winging their way underwater in perfect rhythm.As an educational center, the aquarium was a tremendous reminder of the often unseen world of nature and our place in it. Even more exciting was the poison snake exhibit, displays of venomous creatures, not just snakes. It is much easier thinking about conserving the natural environment having seen the great diversity on fragility of the under sea world, and is a must see. There was also, to our surprise, a fresh water fish exhibit, as well a coral reef display. Up above the tunnel, we could observe mammals and bird-life as well as certain snakes and animals like otters which were great fun to watch and very entertaining. We left the aquarium in awe of the riches of the island and the wonderful facility, unlike any we had ever seen.