World Venture Travel

This is going to be a big year for music fans, and like usual, the center of attention will be in New York City.  It’s difficult to argue for the city as the center of rock and roll, the way it once was, once upon a time.  There are lots of cities that can now claim to have spectacular histories of music, and a fair share of musical geniuses.  Cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, and Athens all have major legacies, and there are perhaps hundreds more all over the world right now with the same claim.  It’s a good time to be alive, generally, and this year will be a good time for New York’s luxury hotels, hosting some of the fans and the bands.

March will see the next round of inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the list of nominees is very impressive this year.  Lots of bands that have deserved the award for a long time are here: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, and Donna Summer all stand alongside the more novelty groups like KISS and ABBA.  Some people like KISS, but there are those who saw through their attempt to cash in on glam when they first started, and are still waiting for talent to make itself known.

So far, nothing.  However, this should be a banner year for the RHCP.  This extreme energy band that’s played a combination of punk, hiphop, and funk, has had a stellar run of it, with enormous downs along with many ups.  And lately, their work is marked by an unusually steady and welcome sense of balance.  Their new album is also due out this year, and it’s time that one of the more interesting bands from the other side of the country gets their contribution acknowledged.  They’ve often spoken our language and our rhythms, so their entry into the hall of fame would be a win for all of us.

Washington is an incredibly interesting state. That statement applies to its culture as well as its geography. The Cascade Mountains divide much of the state and the climate and geography is completely different depending on which side you’re on. The western portion of the state is more coastal oriented and cities like Seattle receive some of the highest percentages of rainfall in the country. Meanwhile, areas on the eastern edge of the state can be extremely dry throughout many seasons and a large number of people would be surprised to learn that some of the state’s eastern climate statistics are actually represented of Washington.

In addition, Washington has two major active volcanic mountains Mt. Saint Helens and Mt. Rainier. Mt. Saint Helens is located approximately ninety six miles south of Seattle. This volcano is one of the most famous in the nation due largely to the catastrophic eruption that occurred in 1980. The Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument was established as both a preservational aspect and to allow for follow up scientific study. Mt. Rainier is part of a national park of the same name. It is the most heavily glaciated mountain peak in the country’s lower forty eight states, with twenty six major glaciers. It also has thirty five square miles of permanent glaciers and snowfall.

Puget Sound is one of the most popular geographic features of the state of Washington and it is located just off the coast of its most popular city, Seattle, although the name itself refers to the general region surrounding the actual sound and this includes the land area surrounding Seattle. The sound is dynamic and complex estuarine system that connects major and minor waterways and basins. The Washington State Ferries system is the major transportation service for the surrounding islands and the Washington mainland. There are also sight seeing and tourist oriented ferry services. Wherever you are in Washington there is plenty of geographic wonders and beauty to keep you captivated. And the Washington hotels and luxury resorts are there to provide you with fabulous accommodations.

There are some who might believe that Austin has gotten less weird over the past few years, but they are in a minority for certain.  The wheel has already been set in motion, long before we ever got here, and some wheels start to spin spontaneously, and some are guided by ancestors that speak inspirations from a land far beyond.  It’s not the perfect time in history, nor is it the place, any place, to determine the weird no place and every place that Austin can be.  It’s one of those unspeakable energies that cannot be evaluated while it is performing is natural mystic magic but only is open for assessment later, much later.  All we can know for now is that Austin has hotels and they are lovely, and you will have a lovely time here.

It’s not the time to decide, or even guess, at the long-term effects of Greg Romero because it’s simply much too soon.  We can know for certain, however, that he was part of a series of coincidences here that caused the wheels that were already set in motion to spin just a bit faster, and a bit stranger, which means that Austin will remember him because he understood where he was when he was here.  This experimental playwright (among many other hats) has left footprints, and coming to Austin and looking at living memories reveals some of his day-glo traces over all the important sacred cows.

Not that Romero doesn’t like cows.  The deeply compassionate vision is elaborated in plays like The Most Beautiful Lullaby Ever Heard, and can also be found in public acts that move art backwards into dada while it moves into the great ceiling fan of the future, the one that will chop us all up unless we learn how to burp.  These acts include taking extremely small donations from large groups of people, and shaving his beard in public.  This is an electric word machine, with one conduit to pop culture, and one to the angel of history, and simultaneously stalked by Cajun pookas who know your mother.  His influences come from everywhere, and he brought them here with him, for a time, and now has gone to the four winds and scattered, or is perhaps in Philly, where it will be nice to meet him for a beer or a coffee sometime.

When I was a teenager living in Phoenix, Arizona, there was an amusement park known as Legend City; it wasn’t Disneyland, but it was a large park, with carnival-style rides and even dark rides, such as the Lost Dutchman Mine, where you’d climb into a mining car and roll on the tracks through a spooky Old West ghost town.  Eventually, Legend City shut down and became part of local history, but other cities managed to hold onto their older amusement parks, bringing them all the way from the 1940s and into the 2010s.  Joyland in Lubbock, Texas, is one such place. 
 
Originally, in the late 1940s, Joyland was known as the Mackenzie Park Playground, entertaining thousands.  By the 1960s, the park was on the decline, until Jimmy and Kate Dean purchased the park in 1973.  The Dean family owned a number of rides at amusement parks around the area, in such places Funland Park (Wichita Falls, TX), Cliffs Amusement Park (Albuquerque, NM), and Wonderland Park (Amarillo, TX).  They refurbished the park and changed its name to Joyland Amusement Park, establishing that this wasn’t the same old place with which people were familiar.  They began with thirteen rides; today, Joyland features over thirty rides and attractions.
 
The park is now operated by the second generation of the Dean family, and has become something of a west Texas tradition for the families of Lubbock.  Thirty-seven years ago, Joyland began with thirteen rides; today the park features over thirty rides and attractions, from a water coaster to roller coasters.  They have as well junior rides and carousels.
 
For whatever reason you’ve come to Lubbock — to view the Buddy Holly Center (Lubbock is, after all, the birthplace of Buddy Holly), to take a look at the Silent Wings Museum (a place designed to honor glider pilots of World War II) — stay the night in one of the many great hotels Lubbock has available for its visitors, and treat your family to a great little amusement park.

There are some things that are worth the risk, and sometimes the risking is even more important than any of the outcomes.  One of my favorite people in the world, a crazy Polish director who had a habit of wearing extremely long scarves, always talked about risk.  She said that it’s sometimes necessary to simply take enormous leaps, and then build wings while you’re falling.  She inspired me to keep pushing during times when I was convinced that the only thing left to do was give up.  She lives her life like she’s at a New York casino hotel, with access to the best of everything.

And every moment poses another series of possibilities for taking enormous chances, and for enormous successes as well.  Her definition of success was very different than most definitions, however, and depended on the level of experiment in any undertaking.  If something large was gambled, then it was a success.  We would often find ourselves in dark pubs after rehearsals, long after the other actors had left, talking about the theories of Witkacy, and wondering what might be possible right here, and right now.  The sense of hope and possibility was always extremely large and heavy on those evenings, and the next day was always followed by an equal share of despair.

We kept working though.  She had her projects, and I had mine, and every once in awhile our paths would cross and we would meet to confer.  I would run through the list of my daily confusions, which are always very large, and never hold up under any considered examination, and I would ask her if my version of reality made any sense, and if I could modify it somehow. She always had ideas, because she was a visionary through all those years.  She could offer a simple way of rephrasing something that could change the way it looked.  It was the power of invocation, because she had an alchemical way with words.  I learned how to risk from her, and everything that I’ve discovered since then is covered with a golden sheen that belongs to her alone.

My first impression of New York seemed quiet! The style of clothes the people were wearing seemed relaxed in comparison to London or for that matter all of the European major cities. Now, crossing the road in New York reminded me of Hong Kong where you have to wait or you’ll get honked at from every car. The taxi drivers are cool. I like seeing hot dog stands, pretzel stands and Halal stands at almost every corner. I saw tons of police either walking, on bicycles or on horseback, which actually made me feel very safe.
I did manage to cross Broadway to head up to Times Square with only one car honking at me. Then I went to Radio City Music Hall, where I just missed, from what I’ve heard, an amazing Christmas Extravaganza with special effects. I didn’t bother with Rockefeller Plaza, just wasn’t interested.

I really liked the fact that it’s virtually impossible to get lost in New York City, there are grid maps everywhere and they’re easy to understand. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the different New York accents. Can’t miss it really, most New Yorkers are a loud bunch. The ethnic mix here is worldly. There’s not a single country not represented here, and they all have their little areas of the city. I really appreciated just how diversified New York really is. I think all Americans need to come here and get a little taste of the world, that way they won’t be so paranoid about foreigners.

I booked my hotel on-line at this site: http://www.topnewyorkhotels.com, which, by-the-way is a top notch place, but I hardly ever used it, except to sleep; there’s just to much to do and see here in New York, and as you probably well know, the city doesn’t go to sleep, so it was especially hard to take any kind of respite in my hotel room.

I went to see ‘West Side Story’ on Broadway, and I thought the production was fantastic! It was a Spanish version, so it was a dream come true for me! After the show, I just had to walk around all night. New York is so totally different at night, the vibes different and people dress-up to the nines! Now, this is what I was waiting for! Let the party begin!

The city of Fort Collins Colorado has been voted one of the best places to live over the past few years. So come check into one of the nice hotels Fort Collins has waiting for you and see for yourself. The first incarnation of the military presence in this area was Camp Collins built along the Cache La Poudre River. It was built to help the Overland mail route during the Indian Wars in the 1960s. The river flooded the camp so they rebuilt in a better location long the river a few miles down at the direction of Colonel O. Collins who was in command of Fort Laramie in Wyoming.

With a well patrolled town on the road to the west, the settlers came right away. It soon turned from military fort to city as the settlers began to build schools, churches and agricultural farms. The original fort area can be found in the Old Town part of the city. The new town was incorporated in 1873. Agriculture was the main industry to the point that they built an agricultural college with the first classes held in 1870. Lamb was also a large industry in the early years of this city. It was once called the lamb feeding capital of the world. The next thing to come along in the early 1900s was the Great Western sugar plant built in near by Loveland.

Many businesses came and went as the demand of current times changed. The college built in 1870 is still a thriving college called Colorado State University.The city is centered and geared towards the students who attend this great university. This brings some great places to eat, good music to hear and great micro-brew beers to drink. Some of the brewing companies that have product shipped all over the US are the New Belgium Brewing Company, The Pateros Creek Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, one named after the city the Fort Collins Brewery. This is also a city of outdoor sports and festivals. So get out and enjoy nature while your here.

Folk tales and legends have a way with most of us.  They can catch the attention of most anyone, and children’s ears usually perk up when you start telling a story in the way it was meant to be told.  Even unfamiliar folk stories have a way of speaking to something in us, and they always sound so very familiar.  They may have that unusual mark of antiquity, where some stories bear multiple repetitions over time, or they may have worked their way into the popular imagination so that they indeed are familiar.  Perhaps we have heard a retelling from a distant relative, or we’ve seen a movie where the storyline is based on an original folk tale.  Traveling in the Rhine has that same uncanny sense, even without the folk tales, but they’re a splendid accompaniment to any journey here.

Cochem is one of the particularly interesting little towns, with a lot of history and a lot of mystery.  A castle that’s over a thousand years old, fantastic scenery, and a magnificent sense of the faraway are all available here.  It’s also spectacularly built for tourists, with a number of visitors coming through to taste the old world sensibility, as well as the hospitality.  Cochem’s hotels are terrifically equipped to provide all the comforts of the contemporary world, but in a wonderfully quaint setting.

It would be very much worth your while to pick up a copy of Wilhelm Ruland’s Legends of the Rhine before setting foot here.  It won’t help with any of the usual tourist attractions, but can offer a beautiful sense of the depth of folk cultures here.  Ruland lived and wrote between the 19th and 20th centuries, and the stories capture some of the inner life of the people who lived here, before the old ways of Europe had faded away completely into modernity.  The stories take place in multiple locations, and multiple times, but they all have that sense of existing somewhere in the olden days, and in Cochem, this time sometimes feels close again.

Yes if you find yourself wandering to the most western point of Europe you will be in Lisboa. So check out the hotels Lisboa has waiting for you and settle in for a little relaxation before turning back on your journey. This is the capital city of Portugal and is such a sunny pleasant place to be. It has as much history as many of the coastal port towns along Europe. The big claim to fame in the early years was the discovery voyage of Vasco da Gama as he returned to India. This was a city with an early air of culture. There were visits by so many explorers from many different countries. They came from South America, China, Macao, Inda and Goa. You may catch the adventures bug in this town created from explorers. There are some tours that can take you on the journey of the likes of Prince Henry the Navigator and of course Ferdinand Magellan.

As you tour through the city you will see all the influences of different times and cultures mixed in the architecture of the old buildings. Visit the Jeronimos Monastary, where Vasco da Gama is buried. It is a symbol of the wealth and power that Portugal had in the Age of Discovery. Inside this European Gothic monument you will also see the tomb of the poet Luis de Camoes who wrote about the glory of triumphs of Gama, and two other poets Fernando Pessao and Alexandre Herculano. Then there were also a couple of Kings like of course King Manuel and King Sebastiao.

All the voyages of discovery were protected as they came and went by the Belem Tower. It was the welcoming site of all who had been at sea for a long time. It was built by Fransisco de Arruda who was a known architect. It is a great place to check out an old Moorish style mixed with Venetian style architecture and decor.

Some of the best ghost stories in the world come from Singapore.  They have special organizations devoted to investigating the paranormal, and the belief in the spirits of the dead is fairly common.  It’s common among the cultures that make up most of Singapore.  From China, India, and Malaysia, there are many different traditions and customs that speak specifically to dealing with ghosts.  This is certainly not a hold-over from old-fashioned ideas at all, but comes from the world’s most widespread religion, ancestor worship, which is found in every culture, and on every continent.  Singapore is an exciting place to visit, anyway, but this is just one more reason to make time to get there.

It’s hard not to see why this is such an attractive place for world travelers when you get to stay in Singapore’s hotels, where hospitality and graciousness are everywhere, and there is such an exquisite sense of contemporary life at its best.  All the modern conveniences come with a spectacular sense of old-world world charm, to make for a lovely stay.  If you’ve come for a tour of its spooky side, try to arrange for travel during the 7th lunar month for the Hungry Ghost festival.  If you’re not looking for ghosts, however, there are still a couple of things to be aware of, just out of etiquette and respect for both the living and the dead.

During the Hungry Ghost festival is when most of the traditional practices are visible, but there are celebrations for the dead that can happen any time of year.  It’s nothing to worry about, as long as you use a little common sense and keep your distance, and be quiet when in the presence of things you might not understand.  For example, if you see plates of food laid on the ground, don’t step on them.  These could very easily be food offerings, laid our for the dead ghosts who are only allowed out of hell for one month out of the year.  It’s nothing personal, but there is bad luck for those who do decide to step on sacred food.  You know how you get when someone interrupts you at dinner.  It’s the same thing here.

Michael and Sally were finally able last summer to take their dream vacation to Italy, which they had always talked about doing. Well, they actually only discussed this wish with others in the last two years but they talked about it enough that it felt to friends and relatives like they had been wanting to do it forever. However, last summer the time had finally come and the two of them were going to spend a week and a half in Venice and the surrounding area. They made their flight plans and reservations in one of the hotels Mestre that is located on the mainland as part of the greater Venice area.

The two of them were almost like children in a fairytale when they arrived and were immediately captivated by the historic beauty and the mystique of the town are region. They had a nice little room that gave them a good view of the town Watchtower and they discussed visiting it over coffee and pastry on their first morning. They actually loved the little café they had their morning coffee in that day and while both of them were interested in exploring as many different places, including dining options, as they could when they visited other cities they thought they might enjoy their coffee and pastry there every morning.

The following morning they forced themselves to hold off on coffee or any food items until they had found a new place in the marshy region of Venice. They toured the city in a gondola and were struck by the romantic atmosphere they felt prevailed in the city. While they were there they knew they wanted to attend an opera performance as that was one of the main historic art forms the city is known for. And luckily for the couple there was a performance of Vivaldi’s La Silvia and they were able to get tickets for it. This truly is the most beautiful city in the world they both thought as they returned to their room that evening. And each morning they found a new café they loved as much as the one the day before.

Visiting Singapore is a habit-forming adventure, and there’s never been a better time to come and check out the latest happenings in the city state.  It’s like no other place on earth, with a fantastic array of attractions and events, and there’s something special for visitors of all ages.  People have been drawn to Singapore for a long time now, and it’s cosmopolitan atmosphere might explain some of the appeal.  The fascinating blend of cultures here makes for some very interesting and lively arts and cultural events, and as long as there are new people coming, there are new trends and styles coming from this unique place.  With all the galleries, hotels, and restaurants in Singapore, it’s a tourists feast.

Feast is a good word for anything that happens here, because it’s long history as a major port means that the relics of the spice trade find their way into the spectacular array of ingredients that are always available here, and always fresh.  The culinary activity here is very high, with lots of room for experimentation with taste combinations, and sturdy traditions that keep the same mouth-watering combinations that have pleased generations.  After a delicious meal, it’s always a good time to dance.  There are plenty of places to go every night of the year, and the culture is lively.  Music acts from all over the world come here to perform, and the audiences are very receptive.  You can see some of the best of this in one place if you’re here during ZoukOut.

This fantastic event is almost a decade old now, and is held annually in December.  Held at Siloso Beach, it’s one of the biggest festivals of dance party music in the world.  Here, you can experience the enthusiasm the Singapore has for dance music in general, but in a very distilled form.  This means that for fourteen hours, on three stages, artists from all over the world are playing to an unstoppable crowd.  It’s a very contagious kind of excitement, so prepare to be taken to new levels.

From the Delaware river to the Schuylkill river. From High, aka Market, Street to Dock Creek is the original plan of Philadelphia. This city started with caves dug in the banks of the river or a shabby hut in the center of the land area. The kettle swinging on a transverse between two poles above a home spun fire pit. The Swedish and the Dutch were the first to arrive here and meet the native people. The new settlers sure worked hard and fast to bring this town up to a better standard of living. The city grew and grew as it added on the “suburbs” of the early conception.

The first additions to the city areas were Southwark, Moyamensing, Northern Liberties, Kensigton, Spring Garden, Pen District and West Philadelphia. They were all pretty much one town built up side by side. From there there were other townships and settlements that grew from there. There were about 18 areas that eventually became a part of the “city of Philadelphia” as their streets connected and boundaries touched. In 1854 all of the settlements finally came together under one municipal government. The districts of the city are still marked from the original growth of the city, however, many of the unique markers of individuality have now disappeared.

Philadelphia went on to be the home of many of the founding fathers. There were many significant events that took place in Philadelphia that contributed to the United States we know of today. It was one of the largest original cities in the new world. In 1775 the Congress was in session in Philadelphia and the order of the day was to elect Benjamin Franklin to be the first Postmaster General of the United Colonies. He established a Pony Express which took mail from New York to Philadelphia two times a week. This of course grew to be a country wide delivery from the Hudson River to the New Golden Gate Bridge. One year later the Declaration of Independence was adopted and and read from the State House Yard by John Nixon. Now it’s time to check into a fine hotel, Philadelphia has many, and see the history for yourself.

Denise had wanted to go to New York and see a Broadway musical since she first saw a touring production of Beauty and the Beast when she was still a child. She was absolutely fascinated by the performances and the incredible costumes, however it was the amazing and elaborate set that really intrigued her. She wondered how much work it took to create such a thing and who the person that came up with the idea for it. She also loved the way the lights changed the colors on stage and how they were able to combine with the music to dominate the mood.

In the following years Denise discovered what set and lighting design for the stage was all about and suddenly she knew that this was exactly what she wanted to do with her life. At first she thought she would be a set designer but soon realized that it was actually the power of lighting that drew her in. She was amazed with all the illusions that could be created by light alone. She was sure she wanted to study lighting design be the time she was ready to think about colleges.
Denise applied to New York University and was accepted. She found this out two weeks ago and her parents immediately made reservations in a New York cheap hotel to visit the city with her before she moved. While they were there they toured the campus of course and also saw a production of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre. This was the moment Denise had dreamed about for years and just as she expected she was stunned by all aspects of the production but this time found herself intently studying the lighting design. She had waited all these years to be sitting in that seat and at that moment she began counting down the days before she could actually design the lights for her first Broadway production.

Taking a walk in a city allows you to fully see the sights, to meet the people of the city along the way, and to catch glimpses of the culture that you will miss by taking a drive through in a car, or even on a bicycle.  I did not get to know my city of Tempe, Arizona until I spent a year walking through it on foot.  In Baltimore, there is so much to see in the architecture, the gardens and the cityscape.  The best place to get a panoramic view is at the top of Federal Hill. This is a public park that in history was the site for the celebrations of the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Another option for such a view is the observation deck at the Top of the World.  This is located in the World Trade Center, and offers not only the view but a recorded presentation that outlines the history of the city.  A trip to the Fort McHenry National Monument will inspire, as this is the location where the successful defense of the city and the fort occurred, as well as the site for which Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the US National Anthem.  The Baltimore City Life Museum is located close by and offers a look into the life of Baltimore people more than one hundred and fifty years ago.  This is illustrated through the eyes of the John Hutchinson, a wheelwright and the original owner of the 1840 House.

There are many museums that offer glimpses into the past, but one neighborhood does that on its own, and that is the neighborhood of Fell’s Point. Here the past and the present coexist, and the result is a spectacular mix.  Here one will find a historic Baltimore restaurant sitting aside a modern and trendy clothing boutique just along the cobblestone street.  This is one of the oldest maritime districts in the country.  Every neighborhood in the city has something to offer, but Fell’s Point has to be one of the favorites, for tourists and locals alike.  So take some time on your next visit to the city, walk around, smell the roses, and immerse yourself in the history of this wonderful US city.

We decided to go to Mauritius to visit a friend of ours from London, but due to a bit of wrong information, like dates and numbers, he wasn’t even on the island when we arrived. We were determined to make the best of a bad situation, and not knowing much about Mauritius, we searched the web for information about places to stay and things to do here.

We finally settled on one of the five star hotels Mauritius offers, and we found the accommodations to be pretty nice and we even had a sea view. On our bus ride from the airport, we somewhat felt like we were in India, there was a large Hindi population prominent in the places we passed. Plus, Mother Nature wasn’t very kind and we walked into the middle of an anti-cyclone caused as a result of the change in seasons. We were hoping for beautiful sunshine and ended up with scattered showers and high humidity, and yes, we were still determined to make the best of the situation. We didn’t worry about the wetness as we were going diving anyways.

We were eager to get back under water, so we booked ourselves straight onto a double-tank dive. There was a dive center not too far from our hotel. The coral reef which surrounds pretty much the whole of Mauritius, creates a lagoon between the shore and the reef. The water here is still and turquoise green. Stunningly beautiful. The visibility is amazing, we got up to 25 meters in some areas. We saw many of the same fishes we saw in Tofo, but also saw a huge Moray Eel. We could tell, though, that global warming has really taken its toll on one particular island, there is now only approximately 2 meters wide of beach and it looks nothing like it does in the photos. Still, we were glad that the weather managed to sort itself out and let us have the rest of our stay in Mauritius a wonderful experience, despite a disastrous beginning.

We just returned to Cape Town from a 3 night stay at Cape Cadogan. Our room was very nice, unique really. It almost felt like a piece of art. We had a small terrace so when we opened the terrace doors we’d get nice fresh air. The breakfast was abundant and we had a good variety of wonderful food to choose from. In the evening there were snacks, like nuts and chocolate. We took full advantage of the free Internet. The staff is what stood out the most to me. They were extremely attentive, friendly and helpful. We were always greeted by the manager everyday. Our hotel was one of a select few boutique hotels South Africa has to offer and it was so peaceful and lovely, we’ll go back there if and when we return to South Africa.

Being back in Cape Town was a joy. We love it here, the city is very cosmopolitan. There’s still a stark contrast between the upper-class areas and the shanty townships. No matter where we went in Cape Town, the view of Table Mountain was majestic. When we got back, it was a nice sunny day, but the next day was shrouded in fog and it rained most of the day. The next day, we drove to Hout Bay, where there is a school in which we volunteer for when ever we are back in South Africa. We spent the entire day there, doing what ever was necessary. The next day, the sun was shining again, so we took a taxi out to Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Today, we walked up Table Mountain, it’s a steep climb and it took us a little over an hour to reach the top. A stunning view of the city and the surrounding mountains and bays. We decided to be brave and ‘abseil’ back down the mountain, well not down the entire mountain, only a portion. Table Mountain has the world’s highest commercial abseil. It’s kind of like skydiving, but not a scary. Just don’t look down over the edge or you won’t do it. It’s a 1000 meter straigh drop. After that, we took the cable car back down the mountain. As we looked out at the magnificent view of Cape Town, we both wished the city well and that they resolve the extreme contrasts of lifestyles.

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.

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.

As one of the centers of contemporary democracy, Virginia has a fantastic history.  This is where some of the most important events in the formation of our political system occurred, and it is still a lively center for new historical events, that will have to wait to be written.  The contributions of Native American, African, and European civilizations and cultures have all added to the formation and continuation of Virginia’s spectacular legacies.  Today, it’s a place to see historical sights, enjoy a stunning array of natural wonders, and to see how cultures are enacting themselves artistically in the world right now.  There’s a lot to see and do in Virginia.  Luxury hotels are a great way to begin your journey here.

You’ll very likely get used to the sensational feeling of splendor when you fall asleep and wake up in the sumptuous surroundings.   The accommodations are designed to speak to Virginia’s complex history and contemporary sensibilities.  You could spend all your time here enjoying the amenities of the lodgings, or even hole up with the one you love and enjoy the solitude, but there’s an awful lot to see outside the hotel walls too.  If you’re looking for a night on the town that might include some dancing in an urban setting, look out for Richmond-based Joanna O. and Jessie Split.

They’ve been playing together and apart in the tri-state area for over ten years, and have a great wealth of knowledge between them.  They’re also fantastic dj’s, with a wealth of beats and musical sensibilities, and are able to move shows in multiple directions.  Together they started a new venture, Turnstyle Soundsystem, a boutique that sells vinyl and streetwear, and they are always busy making important contributions to the soundscape at large, as well as putting a lot of time and energy into lifting the local flavors into something that’s delightful.

Sea turtles are a beautiful species for their mild nature.   Many, many, many years ago, there was a vast expanse of turtle species on the earth, but due to hunting and environmental problems, they have been vastly reduced.  About seven species exist today.   Further, each one of those species is thought to be in danger of extinction.  Though the girl turtles might hatch 100 eggs or more, a majority of these little hatchling turtles do not survive because the eggs have often been used for food, of because the turtles are young and rather defenseless to predators—both natural, sharks, and unnatural, boats—many do not survive for many hours after their life began.

Lanai travel deals afford amateur marine biologists the chance to see these dwindling creatures.  People possess the opportunity to see the leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles.  All three of them are indigenous to the islands, but are more likely to spot the green turtle species.  It is the most prevalent among the islands.   Their diet consists mostly of plants.  Seaweed and algae are a popular form of sustenance for them.  Most of their life is in the ocean.  They prefer to be coral reefs or other rocky and rough areas that are near to the coast line.

The turtles from Hawaii may come back from over hundreds of miles of ocean to lay their eggs there again.  It is believed among the scientific community that these animals go back to their birth place in order to give lay their eggs.  Most of the beaches that the turtles go to lay their eggs are in the northwest parts of the islands.   Whoever their mate is for the season will typically come along for the long journey home.   When they get back to their home and on the beaches again, these creatures actually start to cry.  It is an internal mechanism to rid their body of all the slat from the water that they have accumulated.  It also helps them to keep out the sand.

The female green turtle can take as long as a night or more to lay her eggs.  It is a difficult effort due to the fact that they have only their flippers to dig a proper nest.  Though they might come back to check up on the nest, the fragile eggs are mostly on their own.  Kauai travel or Oahu vacation packages are an easy way of seeing the little creatures hatch.  There are places that offer chances to see the turtles hatch and offer even more information on this beautiful species.

My girl friend is such a fanatic for Halloween. She likes other holidays, but Halloween is her holiday. She always goes all out with the costuming and decorating. She is so into it that on our way home from the Halloween event we just attended she is talking about what she wants to do next year and what costume she is thinking about making.

Being very creative she always designs makes and sew all her own costumes. Some years we bar hop to all the contests and usually she wins them, these years have help pay for her costuming. Other years we go to parties at friends, haunted houses where ever we end up. This year I have a surprise fro her, I am going to take her to New Orleans for the weekend. I found us a nice room in luxury hotels New Orleans French Quarter. We will be there from Friday morning through to Sunday afternoon. Fortunately Halloween is on Saturday this year so it won’t require taking any time off work for this trip and it will fit into her schedule without any problem.

Saturday night we will go on a haunted walking tour of the French Quarter. I know she will love that, being in New Orleans on a haunted tour on Halloween! I do not know if it gets any better than this, at least for her. I’ll have to break the exciting news and tell her the surprise latter today so she can get things together over the next couple days before we leave.

This year her costume is going to be perfect for New Orleans, a Louis the IVX courtier, perfect for an evening in New Orleans any time of year but particularly for Halloween. This will be a year she long remembers and might be best getting on thinking up something to top this.

There are many things to do in Austin, Texas that are free of charge and many of them involve the beauty of nature, and if one is in the city at this time of year, they will have the experience of the perfect weather for outdoor fun.  Zilker Park is one of my favorite places of the city.  There I once rented a canoe and had a floating picnic, rode in a miniature railroad car, and of course, saw a great live show at the bandstand.  Others were playing either soccer or volleyball on one of the many courts that are located throughout the park.

The best of Austin hotels are located near by, and it is easily accessible from all parts of the city.  The botanical gardens of Zilker are located within the park as well and take up just over twenty acres of land.  Upon entering one will find that the gardens are sectioned off.  There is a rose and azalea garden, as well as a succulent and cactus garden, the butterfly garden and the herb and fragrance garden.  These are all laid out amongst waterfalls and ponds filled with lily pads.

Outside too, are the deep Eddy Pools.  This is a place to go when you want to swim in waters naturally occurring from the artesian well.  There are deep areas to the large pools for those wishing to dive, and shallow areas for those traveling with children.  There is also access for those in wheelchairs, but it is best to call ahead to be certain that there will be staff there to assist.

The Austin Duck tours was fun, and kind of funny.  This is a guided tour that will take you throughout the city to the locations of historical importance.  The vehicle for the tour is the funny part.  It seats forty five people, and is an amphibious military vehicle, whatever that means.  It was just big and kind of silly looking.  Regardless of the means of exploring the city, one really must get out into nature, especially when visiting Austin, Texas at this time of year.

About three years ago my husband and I took a vacation with two other couples to India. We all had such an amazing time even though each of us had our own main interest and favorite attraction, landmark or activity. However, the one thing we all agreed on was how great the food was. We all loved it and tried to plan as many full group dinners as possible. This doesn’t seem like it would be easy, since we were all interested in different things, but it was so important to us to spend time together and we loved the food so much we decided it was worth it to plan around.

The city we spent the most time in was Mumbai. We all stayed in one of the Mumbai hotels and love the accommodations. While we were there we mixed dinner and breakfast plans and sometimes we all met for one meal or the other. Lunch was the only meal that we did or own thing on since we were all in various places. My favorite meal had to be North Indian tandoori and though I wanted to try everything, I ordered this regularly. One of the women with us is a vegetarian and all of the places worked out well for her. She had cashew nut with vegetables most of the time, though she too wanted to try as much as she could.

Everyone tried something new and in general we shared our food. My husband loved the kabobs and seafood was popular with most of us. The one thing we all did together in Mumbai occurred on our third day there. We had all had breakfast together and two people, I don’t remember now whom, brought up the local film industry. I didn’t realize this but Mumbai has largest film industry in India. The local industry is referred to as Bollywood and two people from our group brought this up. It sounded incredibly interesting to my husband and me and we all decided to tour the studios that day. Overall, we loved our trip so much and had such a great time that at the end of it we vowed that we would do it again in ten years.