World Venture Travel

There’s an extraordinary sense of culture in contemporary Cape Town, and a scene that’s as lively and complex as its own history.  Having been host and witness to some of the most amazing and astonishing events of the last two centuries, Cape Town offers plenty to inspire artists and intellectuals, and also offers a number of extremely important lessons for anyone coming to visit.  There are some fantastic history museums here that speak quite articulately about the past, and it’s a great way to introduce young people to South Africa.  There are all sorts of other attractions and events, making it one of the most amazing places on earth for visitors.  There are plenty of ways to stay in style in Cape Town.  Five star hotels offer the highest standards in the industry, providing real luxury accommodations.

Spending time in the lap of luxury can always make a day sweeter and a night more heavenly, and sometimes, when the weight of history is too hard to bear, getting away from it all with fabulous amenities, luxurious spas, and fine dining served by world-class chefs offering magnificent servings of international cuisine, is a good way to find your way in to a beautiful state of suspended reason.  It’s one of the great gifts of history, and Cape Town has many ways of opening and closing fascinating and exquisitely designed doors.  But one sure way to enter into a new moment is through music, and when you find yourself rested enough to enjoy the moment at hand, the hand might point to the town.

If you like electronica, and who doesn’t these days? you’ll very likely come across the musical stylings of Goldfish.  The duo who began here just a few years ago has already found themselves as key players on the world stage for making new experimental beats for people who want to dance.  History and its twin sister amnesia can both be found dancing to the music of Goldfish, where the forward motion of events turn into a rhythm that can only be followed by a body in a dark room where the lights flash occasionally, and the moments of clarity in the sound point toward a way in to a moment, and in a single moment, all that came before can be remembered on a cellular level, and South Africa might be whispering for the first audible time.

We finally arrived in Sydney, the first leg of our journey is over, and it’s time to get back to reality. We need to find work before we run out of money. We didn’t spend too much time deciding on accommodation Sydney Australia has plenty of, and we selected the best one for the price from the Internet service at the airport. We waited for our complimentary pick-up from the airport to the hotel and we got there in about 45-minutes.

We decided to go out and explore the area, Kings Cross that is, and we realized that we just left the relaxed atmosphere of New Zealand for the bright lights of Sydney. The streets are full of clubs in the Kings Cross area. After an night on the town, hitting Australia with a bang, we decided the next day that it would be best to get down to business and make some money instead of spending it. So, the next day, we checked out of one of the best hotels we’ve stayed at and made our way to a quieter area of the city, Glebe. We stayed at a Glebe hostel that was located near Blackwattle Bay. The hostel left little to desire in accommodations, but we had to start saving.

We went for a few walks and did some people watching. Then we spent a few days sorting ourselves out, like buying phones, getting a bank account set up, buying decent clothes. We always thought Australia as being warm, but right now it’s 18 degrees and it’s getting cooler as the days go on. We’re now doubting if this was the right place to settle, we were starting to think Brisbane might be a better option, warmer anyways. We spent a few more days here, exploring the city, seeing all the usual tourist sites and we even treated ourselves to a dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Now off to Brisbane, and yes, spending more of our reserve to do so. But, we really don’t like the cold.

Our driver, Vijay, recommended that we hire a guide for the tour of Jaipur and it would only cost us 550 Rupees. So we took him up about his recommendation. He drove us to Hawal Mahal and that’s where we arranged for our guide. We said goodbye to Vijay and went to hand him a tip, but he wouldn’t take it.

At Hawal Mahal, known as the Wind palace is Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark. It was used by the royal women in the 17th century to watch the general public of the city behind walls with small windows. At that time, there were no veils and women weren’t allowed to go in public. So they had to watch life from inside a building. The reason it’s call the Wind Palace is when the palace was in use, there were fans attached to the windows which made the palace look like it was flying.

After Hawal Mahal our guide drove us through the Pink City located in the old part of Jaipur. Everything there is painted pink. Our guide told us that in 1876 the King of the time had the entire city painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales, King Edward VII. In India, the color pink represents hospitality. Today, they still are not allowed to change the color.

Our next stop was the Observatory, Jantar Mantar. Here, our guide explained how each instrument was used in the olden days to calculate the time, the day and the position of the sun. There were other instruments that worked out the zodiac sign of all the people born in Jaipur. Jantar Mantar hosts the biggest sundial in the world. We found the whole observatory amazing, and we were really glad our guide explained everything for us.

Our final stop for the day was the City Palace. It has a mix of Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. Inside, there is a museum that showcases the costumes of the Kings and Queens of the era. All of them were original clothing that were well preserved. Also, within the City Palace, is the Armoury Museum. Daggers, guns of various sizes and gun powder flasks. In addition to that, the palace hosts the world’s largest single piece of silver. It’s a 345KG Jar, which held sacred water from the Jamuna river by the Jaipur King as he travelled to England.

Our guide was nice enough to take us to one of the five star Jaipur hotels where we were staying without extra charge. We asked him to have dinner with us, since we felt like he had become our friend, but he said his wife would kill him if he missed dinner again. We said farewell and headed up to our room and ordered room service. We did so much today, we had no energy left to go anywhere else for the night.

New Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world, in terms of both age and activity, having seen flurries and flurries of human activity over the centuries.  There doesn’t seem to be any rest for the angel of history here, as time continues to turn ever forward, and the rhythms of human energy continue to spin in the direction of a momentum that has been established long ago.  There are many opportunities to jump into the middle of things and become part of the sea of people, and contribute to the culture of Delhi, even if you’re only here for a short time.  Participation in a live art event can make enormous differences in the lives of the artists and audience, and sometimes it’s impossible to gauge the d1egree of change while you’re walking through the waking moment.

Sometimes the waking moment is simply not awake for you, and the things we see and do can only come back at a later time, and on some days, in New Delhi, four-star hotels can provide the perfect amount of rest to gain a sense of what it might be like to wake up, and then make plans to wake up later on, much later.  In the meantime, there are plenty of distractions for the mind, and art can be the exact brand of chewable food that the brain needs in order to work through any problems, and no problem is urgent in New Delhi.  It’s a new place with an original heartbeat, and on the days when it seems impossible to tap into this stream, there is a moment to wake up and see art.

There is a lot of interest in new art here, and some of the more bold new works are getting some attention.  The work of the young sculptor, Krisha Murari has been attracting a lot of attention, and ironically for the art world, getting a lot of new sales.  The work is spectacular, taking the human form and adding animal elements, to speak to a biological view that simultaneously connects science with the spiritual.  The figures of Murari have a place in the here and now, but there is something eternal and ethereal going on, suggesting that the digital and the mythical can sometimes find themselves speaking together, articulating a world that only artists can dream up.

Kate and Kevin were planning on taking a vacation to New York and also traveling a bit up state during their stay. They didn’t mention all of their intended destinations to their friends at a dinner party and when Kevin said that they were looking for a quality New York city car hire company they were surprised at the odd stares they were receiving from everyone in the room. They soon found out that everyone in the room thought it was ridiculous to rent a car to drive around New York City when they could easily take a cab or the subway. Not to mention the fact they all questioned their friends’ abilities to drive in the city.

Well, Kevin and Kate didn’t appreciate the doubtful attitudes about their driving. Meanwhile they mentioned that it is always better to have a car available to you in large cities and the actual rental of a car would occur when they wanted to drive over to Brooklyn and also to take a trip upstate. They felt a little indignant at having to justify their decision to their friends. As soon as the couple mentioned that they may be driving upstate, their friends were suddenly beaming with numerous suggestions of places they must visit.

Among them were the Catskill Mountains, which ironically was already on Kate’s and Kevin’s agenda. They had romantic plans for a wine and cheese picnic in a secluded spot in the lush green plateaus of the mountains. Another person suggested visiting Woodstock, which had a particular novelty attraction, but there wasn’t anything going on at the time that interested them so they decided to skip it. Another person suggested the Poconos and yet someone else advocated for visiting the Kaaterskill Falls, which of course sounded beautiful. By the time they left for home that evening both of their heads were spinning and they were suddenly very anxious to reach the peaceful solitude of the Catskill Mountain plateaus and a bottle of wine.

There are many interesting aspects associated with the city of Boulder, Colorado, yet one of the most popular features is related to a television show that aired over twenty five years ago. This of course is Mork and Mindy, the popular comedy that starred Robin Williams and Pam Dawber. In the series they played the title characters and they lived in Boulder. Most of the tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the hotels Boulder drive by the house that was featured in the opening credits and represented Mindy’s house in the show as part of their Boulder experience.

Mork and Mindy was a spin off of Happy Days and was created by Gary Marshall. In Happy Days, Mork visits the earth for the first time and captures Richie Cunningham. He plans to take Richie back to Ork, the planet from which Mork originates, and use him as a human research specimen. Fortunately for Richie, Fonzie foils the plan. However, luckily for Mork his character was so popular that he was brought back and earned a new series in which he was the star. Mork and Mindy was set in the present day, while Happy Days took placed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was set in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The series is primarily responsible for launching Robin William’s prolific film career. He is one of those rare actors, particularly twenty years ago to make the successful transition from television to film. He has won numerous awards for his film work including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Good Will Hunting. He was previously nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Good Morning Vietnam. Pam Dawber has also enjoyed a successful career in both film and television. She is most known for her television work including her other major series, My Sister Sam. An interesting fact about Dawber is that most of her acting fans are not aware is that she is an exceptionally talented singer. She is a soprano and has a four-octave range. She was able to make use of her voice in a 1980s production of The Pirates of Penzance in a production by the Joseph Papp New York Shakespeare Festival.

However, you get there — a two hour train trip from Margoa, or a hired taxi or bus or even motorcycle — it’s worth your while to find your way to the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world.  These falls may be found on the border of Karnataka and Goa, India.  They plunge down about two thousand feet into the forests of the Western Ghats.  The view from above will take your breath away.

It’s a magnificent spot, set in a rich green forest, criss-crossed with many streams, and is a complete change from the beaches and market places.  When you arrive at the park entrance, there will be two fees: to enter the park, as well as for your transportation inside the park.  You don’t really have an option here; I would NOT recommend walking.  The 4×4 transport may be a bit tight and the roads might be somewhat rough, but you won’t regret the view it gives you into this flora and fauna of the area.  Inside the park, you may catch a sight of enormous spider webs, the size of dining room table tops, stretched out between the trees.  Didn’t see any of the spiders that could spin such webs, but I was looking for them.

Once you’re at the site, a quick walk over stones, leads you to the falls themselves, one of the highest falls in India.  This is also the habitat of a very engaging and bold monkey.  If you want to feed the monkeys, the guides sell bananas and nuts — but, be careful, these mischievous creatures will try to just take whatever they like.  I really liked the infant monkeys, too.

You can swim at the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, too, although the water can be really cold.  And be certain that the water is calm wherever you swim.  If you more adventurous and a good climber, you can go up to the head of the falls — a path that takes you through all the bushes and around boulder and through water.  About two hours later, after a hard climb, you’ll be at the top.  Generally, though, the area around the falls is a great place to picnic.  You should plan to spin the whole day there, after which time you’ll certainly be wanting to find any of the luxury hotels goa has to offer.

With the growing technology associated with hot tubs and their features and accessories, the maintenance and care for a tub has become increasingly simple and affordable. Much of what used to be tedious and time consuming can now be completed with the touch of a button or a simple visual check. Chemicals are safer and more user friendly and the optional features that are available make hot tub protection and storage easy and even attractive. This is just one of the areas in hot tub technology that has made owning them easier and more affordable. Developments in model designs and entertainment accessories has also reduced the cost of many of them and has tremendously increased the level of fun they provide.

A spa cover cap is a quick and easy option when the tub is used frequently but the owners wish to cover it when not in use. Solid covers are still available and are more convenient and easy use, however the cap is still a convenient nightly alternative. Many hot tub owners have both available for their tub’s protection. Outdoor solar showers are also becoming popular and it can be a great feeling to rinse off in one after an extended dip in your hot tub or pool. They are even great for a quick break and relief from a long day of outdoor chores.

A spa caddy on a hot tub has become an almost indispensable feature for many people. They are convenient to attach and provide the prefect place to store snacks, drinks, remote controls, sunglasses and books. Whatever a person wants to take into their hot tub with them, other than a rubber ducky, will need to have a dry and secure place to rest, the spa caddy is perfect for this and many people can’t imagine their hot tub without one. Most of these features mentioned have related to the function and care of the tub, though they also contribute to the enjoyment of it. There are many lines of accessories and features that are strictly oriented to entertain and amuse. Whatever the reason for a hot tub purchase, there are options and accessories that will make complete or accentuate the experience. A company like choosehottubsdirect.com has all the information and products a consumer could want.

My flight to Bangkok was excellent, I got to see the Himalayas and I even recognized Mount Everest. When I left Kathmandu, the weather was cloudy, but the mountains managed to poke their heads out. I flew on Thai Air, what a great airline, even as a passenger in economy. The flight crew treated me like I was in first-class.

Bangkok is so much bigger than I thought. The temperature was 90 degrees, which is quite a change from Nepal and Tibet, plus not as hot as India, but close. I shared a taxi ride with a couple of guys from Israel. I met them at baggage claim and they were headed to the same place as me, Khao San Road. If you’ve seen the movie ‘The Beach’, Khao San is mentioned as the center of the backpackers world. But, the road is teeming with hotels too, some of the best hotels in Bangkok Thailand as a matter of fact. The road is also full of food stalls, clubs, bars, neon lights and tons and tons of people. It’s quite a scene. Both sides of the road are filled with distractions and wonderful delights for the traveller and visitors alike. What’s amazing is what they can fit into a small stretch of street, it only takes five minutes to traverse from one end to the other, that’s if you don’t stop and eat, drink and shop.

My hotel was next to a dance club, so I didn’t know I’d be disturbed with the bass vibrations rattling my walls and windows all the way into the wee hours of the morning. Fortunately, I was so tired that I slept through most of it. While I decide which beach to hit and when to head on out to Malaysia and then onto Singapore, I’ll do a 3 day trip into the jungle only a few hour away from Bangkok. But now, it’s time to eat my way to a beach.