Company Affair

There are many spectacular vacations ahead of you in a lifetime, and there are many places to see.  One of the things that happens when you start to explore the world is that you do start to develop an unquenchable wanderlust, and start looking for any opportunity to look for new ways to get away.  It can be a very splendid place, this wanderlust, with days spent daydreaming, and nights planning, and all the while hoping the opportunity will arise again to head off on a new adventure.  There are always new adventures, too, because the world is constantly changing, and where you can’t set foot in the same river twice, the same can be said for a city.

It can become obsessive, and any time obsessive thinking starts to set in, it’s a good time to get back in touch with your essential nature.  This involves getting in tune with your own body’s rhythms, and that usually starts with the breath.  But there is so much in contemporary culture that tells us we have no time to catch our breath.  There is too much to do in a day, and there are always new trends and fashions, and it’s impossible to keep up, unless we can catch our breath and see that most of these things really don’t matter.  One way to combine the obsession for travel with the opportunity to catch your breath is through spending time at one of the world’s spa resorts.

From Cyprus to Ireland, France to the West Indies, there are wonderful places that mix gorgeous accommodations with contemporary spa experiences.  In Italy, you can enjoy all the amenities of a luxury hotel, and combine it with visits to hot springs that have been around for thousands of years.  This is a way of mixing the complexities of the modern world with absolute simplicity, because water is elemental, and probably as elemental as you can get on this earth.  Mix a little breath in, and a little fire that’s a lust for life, and you just might find yourself in balance.

The luxury that you can read about in story books, where princesses and princes live in faraway castles, in exotic and beautiful lands, can happen for you on earth, when you visit Udaipur.  It doesn’t matter what age you are, the spectacular views will take you back to the sense of wonder you had as a child, when you first heard about such things.  Most people don’t get the opportunity to see the reality in their lifetimes, and even viewer get to stay inside the story book, and if this is one of your dreams, you won’t want to miss the chance to stay in a Udaipur palace hotel.  These accommodations offer all the fantastic amenities that other hotels offer, but of course, there’s a difference.

There is a sense of splendor and elegance here that never wears thin, where the inside is as gorgeous as you’d imagined, matching the images from books and films, and for a little while, it becomes your home.  It’s a great place to stay if you’ve come to Udaipur to see the city and visit all the local sights, and it’s also a spectacular place for those very special romantic getaways.  Traditional arts and culture are very much alive here, and you’ll have amazing opportunities to trace some of the roots for yourself while you’re in Udaipur.  There is plenty of popular music that you can hear, and you can also look into some of the best recordings of traditional Dhrupad singing.

It’s impossible to talk about this form without mentioning the famous Dagar brothers.  They have some of the most famous recordings of this traditional music, and are generally regarded as the most illustrious lineage playing this form today.  They were some of the only players to keep it alive after Indian independence, when the tradition of playing for the royal courts started to give way to more popular musical forms.  They are said to be the 19th generation of Dhrupad players, and contain a living history of the music in their own beings.

The actual history of the city of Mumbai starts around 1534 when the islands were captured from the Portuguese. This is when the city started its building from the first name Bombay city of trade to Mumbai city of service. Bombay is a group a seven islands that was occupied by Koli fisherman. The Sultan Muhamad Begada took over the islands from the Hindus. The Portuguese began to travel through the sea route near Bombay and led to the discovery of the islands by Vasco da Gama. The Portuguese made many attacks on the town until they finally got what they wanted in 1534.

The Portuguese went on to make the first settlement of the area. They built multiple churches and forts and set up home stead but they didn’t really know how to make the area really go. The British gained the islands when the Portuguese King’s sister married Charles II. Charles II leased the islands to the East India Company in 1668 and they were the ones who made the most of the area. They took it to a whole new level for the time. They took turned the town into a trading metropolis. They combined the their new docks with the British forts and created a trading post.

Now a thriving business town, Gerald Aungier, the Governor of Bombay, put the word out to the whole country to persuaded entrepreneurs to come and prosper there. Bombay grew to become the main headquarters for the India Company and so the town grew as well. When the 18th century came around they were ready to put in some more basic necessities, banks, offices, railway stations, homes and monuments. The railroad became a more efficient way to communicate.

Now the city is an international port and industrial center for all of India. It is also the home of some of best Bombay India hotels and the notable service they provide. The textile and trade industries have wavered over the many many years of this city so now they have the sites set on the hospitality industry.

What many people may not be aware of is the fact the there are one hundred and thirty-two islands which make up Hawaii.  Most people when considering a vacation in Hawaii think of the most popular islands, of Maui, Lanai, Oahu or Kauai.  Vacation packages are offered to all of the major islands and provide many opportunities for exploration, adventure and fun, while saving a bit on expenses.  It is very affordable to go from island to island checking out the major scuba diving and snorkeling sites that are located around the islands in the Pacific.

Kauai travel to Oahu is often done by boat or a cruise ship, thus enhancing the experience, on the water and island to island.  Each island has its own character and personality just as each of the dive sites have different things to offer.  The weather year round is perfect for the outdoor activities, and the waters remain warm throughout the year as well.  If you begin in Oahu, you never know what you will find under the sea, from coral reef to under water lava formations, from the remains of plane wrecks to age old ship wrecks.

Add to it all, schools of colorful marine life, and the home of a group of giant sea turtles.   The west coast of Maui is dotted with famous sites and offers calmer waters for those with less experience.  Off of the coast of the mainland of Hawaii, the waters are clear and offer most times, up to one hundred feet of visibility.  This is the perfect location for those who are interested in any kind of under water photography or filming.

From there to Lanai, travel deals are plentiful and easy to arrange.  Which ever of the Hawaiian islands you choose to spend time on or around in the waters of the Pacific ocean, you will be amazed at the beauty of the formations resulting from a history of volcanic activity, the lush landscapes on the islands and under the sea, the animal life and the warm spirit of the Hawaiian people.  So pick an island to start from, and take it from there.

There doesn’t need to be a reason to go looking for the world’s best seafood restaurant, because the quest alone sounds worthy of a long obsession, and worth the time to go searching.  There are many different places on the planet, different cultures with different culinary traditions, where seafood has a particularly excellent reputation.  Japan, India, and Malaysia are three countries that come to mind when thinking about the best place to eat seafood.  Fortunately, these countries all have strong populations of descendants in Singapore, and there are some local traditions here that add to the mix, making it one of the best places in the world to enjoy your quest.

It’s not just the cultural traditions that live here that add to the excellence in the food, although that’s certainly the big part of it.  There is also an extraordinary metropolitan and cosmopolitan feel to Singapore.  The island city state seems to be always at the forefront of art and culture, and the population is very well read in terms of popular and local cultures.  This love of art also finds its expression in the art of dining, and it’s a large part of the cultural display here.  Of course, there are also cultural displays that are billed as cultural displays, and one of the finest in the city happens in the fall, the Kalaa Utsavam, the Indian Festival of Arts.

This coincides with the traditional holiday, Keepavali, the Festival of Lights, and began as a three-day festival and is now 10 days long.  There are many different art forms presented at this exquisite festival, with music, dance, theatre, and works that fall somewhere in between all of these.   Traditional and contemporary work is also featured, and again, sometimes these blend in fantastic ways.  Everything happens at the Esplanade, and it’s something for visitors of all ages.  One of the biggest attractions for 2009 is Swaagat Samaroh, where the Aakaar Puppet Theatre will introduce guests to traditional Rajasthani puppet theatre.

I have only a few minute on the Internet, so I’ll make this brief. I got my first chance to beach it in Valencia and it was so calm and relaxing. I got a good does of peace-of-mind. I go to go to the beach twice and I got my running on the beach, which was a better run than on the streets.

I’ve witnessed several cultural traditions in this city. The other night, I heard all this loud banging noise out in the streets. I was up in my room at one of the 5 star hotels Valencia has, and I just had to step out on my balcony to see where all that noise was coming from. I saw about a dozen men dressed in some kind of medieval Spanish costumes and they were holding these enormous guns. I was a little a taken back by the sight of big guns, but I didn’t panic due to the fact that there were people lined up the street watching them. They were firing them off periodically and seemed to shoot straight up in the air. Later, I found out that this display was in commemoration of their victory over the Moors.

Today, I witnessed hundreds of people marching down a street with musical instruments. I didn’t find out what that one was all about. The rest of my time here, I spent getting to know the locals here and making friendships instead of doing the usual sight seeing thing. I also met, Germans, Australians, Canadians and a few Americans. There was this huge rugby tournament happening, so everywhere I went, besides the cultural traditions, I ran into all the fans. One guy invited me to see a couple of games with him in this Irish pub, and what can I say, I now love rugby.

I’ve gained some interesting cultural insights from all the people I’ve met and I’ve gained a lot more friends. Tomorrow is my last day here in Valencia, I’ll be heading to Salou to meet new people and to make new friends.

Steve was holding his response letter from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in his hand when he walked back from the mailbox into his family room. His mother peered around from the kitchen and when she looked at him she knew right away what was in his hand. She put down her dishrag and pulled out a chair for Steve to sit in. Knoxville was his top choice and he was extremely nervous about opening the letter. His mother knew this and she also became nervous. She had great confidence in her son, but felt for his state of nervousness, as most mothers would be inclined to do. Although it was a year it ago it seemed like yesterday that they had flown out and stayed in one of the hotels Knoxville to tour the university.

Finally Steve handed his mother the envelope and asked her to open it. She hesitated a moment and finally did. A tear slid down her cheek as she looked up from the paper. He had done it, he was accepted. Steve felt pure joy and excitement while his mother’s response was a little more bittersweet. Without doubt she was excited for and supported of Steve, though she was also a bit sad that her son would soon be leaving home and the state of Wyoming and was about to start his own life as a man.

Steve was interested in Knoxville not only for the great program that it offered but because he loved bluegrass music, which is something that the city was known for. Steve had played the fiddle since he was six years old and his grandparents had wanted him to get into classical music, though his heart and fingers naturally gravitated toward country and bluegrass. He could not wait to hit some of the festivals and clubs that would feature great bluegrass musicians and had every intention of playing at some of them once he arrived there. His mother would definitely have to fly out to see him play on a Tennessee stage.

A beautiful city on the river, Brisbane is one of Australia’s true gems, and it’s one of the gems of the world as well.  With its rich urban culture, offering a steady stream of fantastic arts and entertainments all year long, it’s becoming a world class city that has something to offer even the savviest world travelers.  There is a recent shift in the city toward a wholly cosmopolitan sensibility, and this has made it a major destination for global culture.  There is also a certain edge to the city that is entirely charming, hearkening back to a time when manners and civility really mattered.  It does matter here, and in fact, hospitality is an art.  You can see this in action particularly in the hotels.  Brisbane offers some spectacular lodgings, and can make you feel right at home, in an exciting city.

It also has a lively and complicated history.  Being strategically located on the eastern coast, it was a major stopping point during World War II, and an estimated 1,000,000 U.S. soldiers passed through here.  In late November, 1942, there was a famous battle fought in the streets here, and came to be known as the Battle of Brisbane.  The actual events here have been contested, and there may never be a definitive account of what happened here.  But it seems as though a very intoxicated U.S. soldier was stopped by the Australian soldiers, and a series of misunderstandings escalated into an all-out brawl between the troops.

Thousands of people were involved, and three shots were fired, with one casualty, and a lot of injuries.  This was commemorated by the Irish punk rock group, the Pogues, in their first album, Red Roses for Me.  This song, The Battle of Brisbane, was one of their signature instrumentals, and has been plays countless times in the band’s continuing history.  Significantly, in accord with the uncertainty of the events, there are no lyrics, just a ramble of chords that make up an ironically upbeat tune that sounds like a drunken street brawl, and marks Shane MacGowan’s lifelong interest in Australia.

For my budget when needing a California vacation I usually find my self a better deal on a hotel room in Irvine than I can along the coast. Maybe it is just me but it seems to work out that way frequently. The savings make up for not being right on the beach, but it doesn’t really matter with Irvine’s proximity to the beach. I book my room at Irvine hotels and use the money I’ve saved to have more fun.

My buddy that usually goes with me and I like to hang out at Huntington Beach a quick drive down the road from Irvine. We usually hit the beach early to steak out a spot for good people watching and get an early start on the enjoyment of the sun and the surf.

Staying in Irvine is also a great alternative to staying in Anaheim for amusement park going. Several times we have headed up to Bush Gardens or Sea World for the day. The drive isn’t bad and we never run into problems getting around.

Irvine is centrally located to access areas in southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego. For us it has become the perfect summer get away from the hot and dry deserts of Arizona. By the time July is turning into August the heat has just about seared out brains and we need to get out for a cool down.

Last time we were out we went down to San Diego one day. I had not been that way for some time. The scenery along the coast from Irvine down is so beautiful and of course very different than the deserts I am use to.

We are already talking about next years trip and what we may end up doing once we get out there. It is all good fun and nice to talk about, but we usually end up doing something completely different than what we planned once we get there.

Home Hot Tubs and personal spas used to be considered something that was strictly in the domain of the extreme wealthy and posh. In recent years this trend has veer far from that norm and it has become very common for hot tubs to be found in homes across the nation. And this is true for many countries. In addition the types of uses and reasons for purchases has also increased in recent years. This is in part due to the increase in features and options available as well as the diversity of models and accessories.

One of the growing interests in hot tubs corresponds with an increase in health awareness and healthy lifestyle changes and adjustments. One of the greatest threats to most people is stress and it is well researched and supported that stress in one of the main causes of heart disease and other health related issues. And in today’s increasingly competitive professional world, avoiding stress is as easy as avoiding traffic. Hot tubs are an excellent source of stress relief and many people purchase them for this reason alone. It is a great way to calm down and refresh yourself after a chaotic day at work and it is also a nice introduction to what will become a busy stressful day. Aromatherapy scents are a common and easily accessible hot tub accessory and greatly enhance the relaxing effects of a hot tub session. Choosehottubsdirect.com is an excellent resource for this and other accessories.

In addition, hydrotherapy techniques are used for increasing numbers of ailments and supplementing a therapeutic medical ritual with a home hot tub is an excellent option. It is highly recommended that before transferring a hydrotherapy exercise to one’s own home and self supervision, the needs and circumstances are discussed with a health care professional. At no time is recommended that purchasing a hot tub will replace professional medical care and doctors should always be consulted before making a major health care change. However, it cannot be emphasized enough that stress and worry is extremely destructive to your health and any steps, particularly the benefits and pleasure of a hot tub, you can take to reduce stress are good.

Visiting Jakarta means tempting relaxation and leisure, a concept most working people in the United States either do not understand, or do not accept.  However, once experienced, the city will leave an impression, perhaps even change one’s own view of what is important and what can be let go.  Whether it is calm walks through the city, partying all night, shopping sprees during the daytime, or lounging at the pool at one of the luxury hotels, Jakarta will provide what it is one is looking for.

While urban and cosmopolitan, Jakarta remains steeped in a history.  The port helped the city to become one of the major trading centers, the Ciliwung River linking Jakarta with merchants from Mallcca, Palembang, Madure, South China and the rest of India.  Then for many years the port fell under the control of first the Portuguese, then the Muslims and finally the Dutch.    This contributed to the mix of cultures and the diversity of the populations that exists today.

Artifacts and antiques are a plenty and many can be found in the museums and even in the market places.  Shopping then, is one of the many activities a tourist can spend hours taken part in, from the street markets of the downtown district, to commercials shopping malls, there are many different places to spend the day on an exotic shopping spree.  Other forms of entertainment include live theater and movies, as well as discos, jazz bars and night clubs.  The nightlife in Jakarta leaves one filled with options.

The rise in the popularity of Western movies and music, has resulted in a growing number dance and hip clubs.  The young and vibrant of Jakarta dance the night away, and should you have the energy, this is one of the venues wherein the real spirit of the city can be found.  In all, there are many ways to find the feel of the city of Jakarta, through the restaurants or the the sporting events, the markets and the museums, the city will offer itself up to any traveler wishing to learn and to experience it, so head to Jakarta, and enjoy a trip filled with fun, relaxation, and leisure.

I finally made it to New York!  After a very long flight, and a crappy film on board, I landed in New York. I caught the train and then the subway to 72nd street and walked to my hotel Central Park in view and checked in. I’m glad I didn’t have to far to walk, the heat was on high.

After I unpacked, I wandered around the top half of Central Park, I was trying to get to the bottom, which I thought would only take about 20 minutes, but I ended up walking in circles, I felt like that little child you always see in the middle of a park crying, except I didn’t cry, well not in front of anyone. Gave up on the park and went walking around, chatting to anyone I could strike up a conversation with. Eating food at all the street vendors I’d come across, good stuff. It’s definitely New York, I really liked all the escape ladders on the buildings, they’re really cool and all the building themselves are wicked. Yellow taxis are everywhere, it’s almost a sea of yellow when I look up or down a street.

A few things I’ve noticed: A man feeding his dog milk with a baby bottle. Squirrels in the park are as tame as a domestic animal. They won’t run off and they helped themselves to my popcorn. There are tons of restaurants that have been used in film where the lovers are photographed with each other. Central Park is crowded with people jogging, running and skating, which for the life of me, I can’t figure out why they are in this kind of heat. Can’t walk Central Park down 5th Avenue in 20 minutes. I feel like I’m living in a Donnie Brasco movie and all the females sound like Rosie Perez. It’s fun really, kind of like Brixton, but so much not a bad thing. It’s really hot. Buildings look like they’re from the film ‘The Goonies’ and ‘Big’.

Next on my list: check out all the art museums and the music scene. That starts tomorrow.