Archive for September, 2009

Viruss Barcelona

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 30 2009

One of the world’s most magnificent cities, Barcelona has been having another renaissance of late, attracting the attention of savvy world travelers looking for that perfect combination of nature and culture.  It’s auspiciously positioned on the Mediterranean coast, and carries centuries of identity as one of the world’s main ports.  This history of trade and encounter with other nations and cultures makes it uniquely attractive to travelers, because of its great track record for hospitality.  Guests always sense a spectacular feeling of comfort and excitement in Barcelona, Spain.  Luxury hotels are a splendid accommodation option for the most discerning guests.

Our hotels are chosen for their excellence in complimenting the best of Barcelona.  There is a distinctive cosmopolitan atmosphere, with an eye for sumptuous visual appeal and a gracious ambience.  You’ll enjoy falling pleasantly asleep in the gorgeous lodgings, and waking up feeling refreshed and ready to explore all that the city can offer.  There’s way too much to see and do in one day, or even a month, so a slow pace is recommended so you can catch some of the hidden details.  Every nook and cranny of the city seems to be imbued with a particular magic, and one that will keep you coming back.  There are all kinds of cultures here, as is true of every big city, but even here it’s done with a little more flair and finesse.  For the visitors who have a hankering for the post-punk of the late 1980s, there’s Viruss.

Viruss is one of many alternative clubs in Barcelona, and not necessarily the most goth or edgy, but it’s a good introduction to the local scene.  The bartenders are friendly, but with an interestingly punky twist.  The rather studied and illustrious djs play the hits from 80s and 90s alternative radio, like the Smashing Pumpkins, the Cure, Marilyn Manson, and Depeche Mode.  Viruss also has live concerts from exciting groups in the international scene, and a Halloween party that is truly spooky fun.  This is Barcelona’s version of an era, so take what’s in your imagination, and turn it up a few notches.

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Ma Faiza Discovers Her Own Goa

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 28 2009

India is one of the most enchanting places on earth, and Goa is one of its most enchanting cities.  With its legendary beaches that are absolutely stunning, and also very lively, its spectacular bio-reserves that offer a hint of the enormous diversity of the place, and its rich culture in the urban center, there is a heady array of possibilities for new adventures, all accompanied by the characteristically easy-going pace of Goa.  Spa Resorts are fabulously complimentary to the magic of the place, providing a unique experience for the rejuvenation of the body and spirit in a paradise on earth.  Our resorts are magnificent in charm and service, reminding you that life is a feast, and this vacation is your perfect moment to come back to your senses.

It might be the most difficult decision while you’re here to choose between a spa, a sauna, or a massage, but there is time for all of these.  A bit of relaxation, some rest, and a delicious meal, and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to begin your journey here.  On the town, you may want to do a little shopping and see some sights.  There are plenty of urban adventures like this in Goa, and you’ll soon find yourself enchanted with the place.  It’s impossible to avoid the music in Goa, and there’s very little reason.  The local traditions are very dynamic, and continue to evolve to make a contemporary music that is compelling and ethereal.  Pop music is very catchy here, too, but the music you’ll hear about the most is Goa trance.  This form evolved during the revolutionary phase in the 60s and 70s, when an influx of countercultural artists were gathering here to discover their own energies.  Combining their interpretations of the surround along with their own proficiencies in electronic music, trance was born.

It’s gone through many evolutions, and now they say that the best Goa trance is in Israel.  There are djs from around the world who play the form, including some who are from Goa.  Then there is the splendid music of DJ Ma Faiza.  Born in Africa, of Indian origin, and having made her way into the trance scene in London, she is now working more often in Goa.  After having met and partnered with Veet Sandeh, she is working with him on a new project, combining their styles to make a trance that is orchestral and vast, weaving the stuff that dreams are made on.  Goa is a waking dream.

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A Sports Car, Shrimp and an Ex-husband

Automotive | Posted by admin
Sep 28 2009

An ex-wife spent her first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases. On the second day she called the movers to come and get her things and then called a sports car for sale company to treat and enjoy herself. On the third day, she sat down on the floor in what was her dining room, lit a few candles, put on some blues for background music, and feasted on a jar of caviar, a pound of shrimp and downed a bottle of Champagne.

When she finished, she went to every room and she took off the end caps of the curtain rods and deposited a couple of half eaten shrimp and a tad bit of caviar inside the hollow part, then replaced the end caps and then went to the kitchen to clean up and finally move out.

All was bliss for the first few days, for her ex-husband and his new girlfriend when they moved back into the house. But, slowly, the house began to smell. The ex-husband and new girlfriend tried everything to air the place out, but cleaning and mopping didn’t stop the smell. Vents were washed and checked for dead rodents, carpets were steamed cleaned, air fresheners were used everywhere, exterminators were called in to set off poison gas, and they even replaced the very expensive wool carpet. Nothing seems to work.

The ex-husbands friends stopped coming by, repairmen refused to work in the house, they couldn’t keep a maid, so finally, they themselves couldn’t take the stench any longer and decided to move. About a month later, even after cutting the price of the house almost in half, they still could not get anyone to buy the smelly house. Eventually, even the Realtors refused to sell their house. The ex-husband had to borrow a huge amount of money in order to purchase a new home for him and his new girlfriend.

The ex-wife, about a half-a-year later, called her ex-husband and asked how things were going with the sell of the house. He told her about how, for unknown reasons, he can’t find a buyer, she listened politely and told him that she misses her old home and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back. The ex-husband jumped on the change to get rid of the smelly house and agreed on a price that was only 1/10th of what the house was worth.  The next day, the ex-husbands lawyers delivered the paperwork for her to sign.

A week later, the ex-husband and his new girlfriend stood smiling and relieved and they watched the moving company van take everything they own to their new house, including the curtain rods.

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Learning How to Change the Oil of Your Car

Automotive | Posted by admin
Sep 28 2009

I have never been one to partake in home automotive repair. The engines seem complicated to me and a bit scary to be truthful, there are so many moving parts that fingers may get caught up in.  My brother in law however, is a mechanic.  He can listen to the engine of a car and know immediately what may be wrong with it, no need for this man to take a look at small engine repair manuals,nor large engines ones either.  Although I’ve never seen him work on a bike, so motorcycle manuals may come in handy for him.

He has saved me a large amount of money over my years of owning a Chevy pick-up with more than two hundred thousand miles on the odometer, and while I do not think I’ll ever master this particular skill, I enjoy watching him work on the engine, and picking up little bits of information has it goes.  He has showed me recently how to change the my own oil.

While it is not pleasant to be under the body of a car draining out the old oil, it does serve to save money.  It’s all about do it yourself auto repair these days, and aside from saving money, when it is necessary to have a professional work on your car, you will be a bit more educated and less likely to be taken advantage of by crooked mechanic’s shops.

There are great deals out their to be found at places like Jiffy Lube, and sometimes it’s worth it just to pay someone else to take care of that dirty and greasy business, but there is something oddly satisfying about knowing that I can change my own oil.  And knowing for certain that I myself added quality oil and filters, just gives me a sense of well being.  It is the same feeling I got the first time I changed my own tire.  Let’s face it, to take off the lug nuts is no small feet for a girl with arms the size of toothpicks.

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My fried wants a hot tub too.

Health | Posted by admin
Sep 26 2009

Just got out of my hot tub! What a relaxing experience, it has to be one of the best investments if not the best investment I have made. There are so many benefits to hottubs all aiding in relaxation and sleep. I have seen so much information on what they call hydrotherapy, therapy using water. The hot water in the hot tub combined with the jet actions and bubbling all come together to make for a very deep relaxing experience.

I have been sleeping better since using my hot tub. I fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer after soaking for 30 minutes or more before bed. I also am having less pain in my neck and shoulder area with by directing the jets to those areas of my body and experiencing deep tissue messaging action to those tired muscles. I rarely miss a day any more in my hot tub, on the weekends and holidays I start the day with a relaxing soak and just about every night I end my day with the soaking and relaxing time in the hot tub.

Now that I have had one I do not think I will ever want to be with out one. The evenings relaxing and those mornings that I get to use it to make for very special occasions on a regular basis in my life!

I know a friend that is now thinking of getting a hot tub because of my raving about how much I like the tub and how relaxing I have found it to be and the fact that I am getting relief from  back pain and tension as well as general muscle aches and pains. I know they are thinking they need to be able to do it daily. On the occasion they can come over and enjoy the tub they are very pleased. I expect soon they will end up with a hot tub of their very one.

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Hot Tubs in History

History, Leisure | Posted by admin
Sep 21 2009

For many of us, we think of hot tubs as being a fairly modern invention and until quite recently was something reserved for the rich and famous. Hot tubs were a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. Actually hot tubs, in one form or another have been around for centuries. History has taught us about the bathhouses that were so popular with the Roman aristocrats. They were not only appreciated for the relaxation and health benefits from these hot baths, they were also a place for socializing with family and friends. This was usually a daily ritual. The ancient Chinese and Japanese were also great lovers of the hot baths, which were spa like. Cleanliness was also a symbol of prosperity as only the wealthy could afford the facilities of such hot baths. Even though many of the hot baths were functioning on a mediocre level, they were still a desired item, were still a status symbol.

Over the years, with the advancement of technology and more and more manufacturers, the hot tub has become fairly common among the general population. With this technology has come the knowledge to produce durable, well functioning units made of high-grade materials. Now, there are many, many different types and styles, makes and models of hot tubs. There are also many options and accessories with the modern hot tub. When production became streamlined and manufacturers were able to produce large quantities, the price came down and the hot tub was no longer just for the very wealthy. Choosehottubsdirect.com will provide further information. Now, more and more people are able to enjoy the simple pleasures of soaking in a hot tub, socializing with friends while easing away the cares of the day. More people today, just like centuries past, are realizing the health benefits found in the heated water of a hot tub.

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Social Networking Changing the Face of Marketing

Business | Posted by admin
Sep 21 2009

The growing popularity of social media and networking has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent times. One can hardly listen to a news story, watch a TV program or listen to the radio with out hearing about Twitter or Facebook. The explosion of this phenomena has been incredible and mind boggling. Facebook began with marketing to college students. A way for them to stay connected to each other close by or far away, the application became very popular across college campuses very quickly. The application was then discovered by the rest of the country. The number of users have exploded from tens of thousands of college students to millions and millions of users of all ages and from all over the world. Today Facebook boasts over three hundred million active users, fifty percent of which log on to Facebook at least daily and users over 35 years of age are the fastest growing demographic. This popularity has given way to many businesses such as Transglobe property management. More companies are using these networks to communicate to their clients, offer information to perspective clients and keep up with the quickly changing market place.

Along with Facebook has come a fairly new comer to the social media and networking is the micro blog site Twitter. Twitter simply asks the user what are you doing now? and gives the user 140 characters or less to communicate their message. Twitter too has experienced explosive growth in users going from hundreds to thousands to millions and now tens of millions of users of the application. Companies new and old are jumping on the Twitter band wagon. Twitter is a perfect platform to monitor what may be being said bout you or your company as well as a way to communicate now information, again Transglobe property management has jumped on the band wagon too. With the major demographic segment  using Twitter being between 45 and 54 years old what better way to target a market segment with the information you want them to see.

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Phuket Zoo

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 15 2009

Phuket Thailand is full of amazing scenery and spectacular geography. It can be quite amazing for a Western tourist to experience some of the region and ecology, which may be different from what they have known. It is also beautiful and has some of the most incredible views in Thailand. One way to experience all of these environmental offerings is by taking a trip to the zoo. The Phuket Zoo is an amazing place and is home to a great and diverse collection of species. Tourists staying in a Phuket hotel will have no difficulty gaining information on the zoo’s location, prices or animals at the front desk.

The zoo is incredibly intriguing in its content, programs and also its design. The buildings all feature Indian architecture and are sometimes as interesting as the animals themselves. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, though it certainly does contribute to the overall cultural experience of a tourist’s visit to the zoo. One of the intriguing aspects of this zoo is its many animal highlighting and participation shows. They are intended to both entertain and educate their audiences. In addition, one of the popular sections of the zoo is its Orchard Garden. This beautiful green and lush garden features thousands of colorful orchids including many different species. Thai families of orchids alone accounts for hundreds of the thousands represented.

Some of the shows featured at the zoo are the monkey and elephant shows. The monkey shows feature short tailed macaques who enjoy displaying their intelligence and talent through an assortment of tricks and performance skits. These shows run daily at four different times. The elephant shows run at three different daily slots and feature the elephants also showing off their enormous intelligence. Some of the skills demonstrated by the elephants include playing football, disco dancing and various balancing acts. There is also the opportunity to have your picture taken with them. In addition, some of the elephants paint, and the gift shop offers the opportunity to purchase some of their artwork.

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Hot Tubs, the Healthy Option

Health | Posted by admin
Sep 14 2009

Buoyancy and warmth, that is the main ingredient for helping with sore joints and muscles, or injuries that are caused by either strenuous activity or arthritis.  The warm water increases the flow of blood and thus, the flow of nutrients, by causing the veins and the arteries of one’s body to dilate.  Injured portions of the body gain a leg up on the healing the process.

In cases of arthritis, the soak in a hot tub is a safe way for the delicate bones to get a bit of a workout from the bubbles and the jets, all the while easing the pain that comes with being afflicted with such an ailment.  The same is true for those who experience sports or exercise related injury.  The water takes the weight off of the injured area, and allows one to build the muscles for support back up, without the fear of re-injury.

To find the perfect spa for one’s own needs, the website choosehottubsdirect.com is a great place to look.  Spas not only help with sore muscles and aches and pains, but they have also been shown to be beneficial to those suffering from diabetes.  A study was performed not long ago in Colorado, on a group of people suffering from diabetes.  The patients in the control group soaked everyday, for thirty minutes.

The average for the group was a thirteen percent drop in their blood sugar levels.  Not only did their sugar levels drop, but their blood pressure did as well.  The health benefits do not stop with diabetes, as people with other such ailments and diseases, have been given relief from the hydrotherapy of the hot soak.  Tendinitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Scoliosis and depression,  all have symptoms that are greatly relieved by soaking in warm water.

The water loosens the muscles and the joints, and gives a respite from the pain.  A good soak allows for the chance of a deeper sleep as well, further enhancing the healing and restorative aspects of that sleep.  Hot tubs were once a luxury of the wealthy, but nowadays they are affordable options to many, and such healthy options they are.

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San Antonio’s Gallistas

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 14 2009

There’s something about San Antonio that strikes a chord in the popular imagination, with its connotations of the old West, and sometimes even a hope that the wildness here is still strong.  The truth of the matter is that there is something very old here that still runs strong, but it might not be readily apparent to visitors.  The wildness still lives in the hearts of the people here, and is most easily visible through the art.  Culturally, it is an amazing place, with a confluence of traditions and innovations from many worlds at once, and there are more than enough attractions here to soothe every visitor’s imagination.  There is a splendid culinary tradition here, blending some of the finest tastes from Northern Mexico with Spanish influences, to make recipes that are served in a wide array of restaurants that will accommodate any budget.  While you’re here, it’s an excellent idea to try the mom and pop versions of Tex-Mex, as well as from the upscale restaurants, to get an idea of the range.  For those who prefer to travel in a splendid luxury, San Antonio hotels can offer fantastic accommodations.

Our hotels are chosen for their magnificent service and comfort, offering old world hospitality with all the conveniences of today.  You’ll be sleeping in glorious splendor, and eating some of the finest cuisine in town.  When you are rejuvenated, you’ll likely find yourself exploring the town.  San Antonio’s galleries are truly a gateway into the culture, and one of the most important, and beautiful, galleries in town is Gallista.  This gallery space is one of the centers in town to focus on new Chicano art, and has a superb reputation among the art communities as a place of great artistic distinction as well as tightly-connected to the community.  There are exhibits, special events, workshops, and a fantastic coffee shop, Gallista Cafe Fresco.

The man who started the gallery, Joe Lopez, is a real hero in the real West.  His watercolor paintings are evidence of his aesthetic, which is no surface connection to his subjects, but a deeply committed observer to life in the barrio.  Born there himself, and born with one hand no less, he paints from experience, and his gallery is a living testament to the experience as it continues to unfold.

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Somebody’s Daughter in Melbourne

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 14 2009

Melbourne is a city that keeps coming into its own.  It has a very active cultural scene, with innovations in live music, visual art, and theatre and performance, coming all the time.  It’s no wonder, with the water and the outback always near, providing a constant call for inspiration, and the liveliness of the city taking care of the rest, it’s really a splendid place for artists to live and work.  It’s also a splendid place for visitors, and when you’re traveling to Melbourne, luxury hotel accommodations are the way to go.  We put you in the center of things, with a fantastic mix that includes the best of the old and the new.  Hospitality is another one of the great forgotten art forms, and we’re determined to bring it back, to one guest at a time.

We’ve selected hotels based on their excellence in service and style, and you’ll love the sense of rejuvenation you’ll have.  We think it’s necessary to feel that relaxed, because this city is worth seeing with fresh eyes.  There is a cultural feast here, with new visual artists making new work that’s gorgeously classical, or pushing the forms in radical and fascinating new directions.  The theatre is like that, too, and it’s possible to see great shows that are top quality productions, and also see interesting new forms being created.  Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company might be a bit of everything.

They started working three decades ago, at Fairlea Women’s Prison, with the intention of hearing the voices of women in prison, and others who have suffered from neglect, abuse and violence.  It’s an enormously noble mission, which has at its core the intention to erase difference between people and communities through education and information, transmitted through a vibrant art form.  They’ve been extremely successful, and do really fascinating work.  The performances by Somebody’s Daughter are always tightly tied to place, with stories about human beings learning to understand themselves and each other.

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Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unveil the iPod Scam

Business, Economy | Posted by admin
Sep 14 2009

Money laundering happens.  And it is not just the big mythical sort of men like Al Capone or the Mexican Drug Cartel, it happens in small towns and cities across the United States, with people running small scams, small scams which add up to large amounts of money being laundered on a daily basis.  Anti-money laundering investigations are currently being conducted in just about every city, and one such case involved the prosecution of a man in Grand Rapids, Michigan just a few weeks ago.

Originally from Kalamazoo, Nicholas A. Woodhams recieved, on August 25th, a thirteen month sentence in prison.  He was also fined $648,568, which is to be paid to the Apple Computer Corporation, as restitution for a scam involving the iPod. He is also to pay the United States Postal Service just over $8,000.  Woodhams case involved money laundering and mail fraud.  He managed to guess serial numbers of the devices that were still under factory warranty.  He then went to the web site created by Apple for their return program, each time assuming a different identity, for a different “customer”, claiming to have a broken or a malfunctioning iPod.

During the time between March of the year 2006 and October of 2007, he managed to get the Apple corporation to send him more than nine thousand replacement iPods, which he received in a post office box he rented from the US Postal Service.  What did Woodhams do with these iPods?  He sold them, of course, at a fraction of the retail value offered in stores.  And not only that, when he shipped them to the people who ordered them from his website, he used counterfeit stamps and postage which he created using software on photo finishing.

This is what originally captured the attention of the Postal inspectors.  He laundered more than two hundred thousands dollars of the proceeds from his iPod sales through a Michigan based financial institution to a Missouri brokerage firm.  On top of the fines, the restitution and the jail time, he forfeited about 3/4 of one million dollars he had tucked away, his home, his everyday-use-car, an Audi,  and his race car, an Atom Two by Ariel, his motorcycle and more than five hundred thousand dollars in cash.  A brilliant scheme, that fell to the intense and the thorough investigative teams that are out and about right now fighting corruption on every level.

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Singapore trip

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 10 2009

This was the trip I had been hoping for fun, relaxing, informative and educational. When I booked my stay at this boutique hotel in Singapore and my attendance at the conference I has no idea what a great time I was in for. A gathering of energy workers from across the world and from man y different traditions and modalities were there. Arriving in Singapore in a sunny and clear day it was very welcoming and made me feel even better about the events coming this week. A good sign I thought. Checking in to the hotel went smoothly the staff was gracious and very welcoming. I was located near the waterfront where taking morning walks was very lovely. I like to get up early and walk around at sunrise it was a very nice time to be out and walking. Not too hot and the sun low on the horizon makes for very pretty sights. The city is quietest at this time of day, I enjoyed that too. The conferences and workshops were very informative. demonstrations and technique tuning were big items. Meeting people with the same interest and focus was a good thing too. Understanding the different traditions behind the work people from various parts of the world do. Many shanen and women of various indigenous traditions gave a series of talks on the work they do and the similarities in the different practices from all around the world. The evening were full of meeting new people and processing the information I had taken in. Still going over it all in my head and absorbing it all as I finish packing up and getting to bed before I fly out in the morning. Looking forward to getting home, sorry to be leaving Singapore.

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New York’s Hudson Valley

History, Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 09 2009

The Hudson Valley of New York state extend north ward from New York City to Albany. It is defined as any area in which the waters end up in the Hudson River. This include out to Binghamton to the west and into Connecticut to the east. The Hudson Valley is lush and green in the summer. The hills roll away from the river endlessly and hide in their nooks and crannies many small towns bergs and villages. Much of the modern history in NY centers around migration of the Europeans beginning in the 15Th centuries with the early explorers of Verrezano and Hudson. A beautiful way to see this history is by driving the roads up along the river. Many spectacular views quaint towns and villages and early US history are every where. Your boutique hotel in New York will have a lot of information on seeing the Hudson Valley. Going north from NY city there is Yonkers the first city established north of NY. The urban sprawl is continuous from NY to here but not too much further north the setting is much more rural and more forest. Old pre colonial towns dot the river banks. Today many are full of antique, curio, gift shops and galleries fun places to eat and explore. Many have B and B’s for a quaint place to stay. Accommodations can be limited in some towns so you may want to plan a head. Sitting by the river is nice it is about a mile wide in most places and is very deep the force of the river can be felt when down by the river. In Cold Spring NY is a pier where you can get out far enough to look up the river north toward the cities Beacon and Newburgh. Both have revitalized water front areas with fine river views and walk

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Brisbane for the winter

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 09 2009

The warm sun on my face that is a nice change of pace after the long cold wet weather we had been enduring back home. The pool at this Brisbane boutique hotels is the perfect place to soak up some of the suns rays and thaw out my aching bones. baking in the sun feels so good after not seeing much of the sun if at all over the past several weeks. Winters always seem so long and drawn out so heading to where it is summer while winter at home only makes sense to me! Getting away from work and the routine of being at home I can mindlessly lay here in the sun feeling the heat build up in my body. Rolling over I even to the heat on the other side of my body and then when I get just warm enough I roll off into the cool pool water. This process is repeated over and over as if I have a need to practice it this routine to perfection. With nothing more on my mind I am happy to lay here, following my breath and feeling the sun. This much needed winter break from the deprivation of light and warmth is welcomed. The doing nothing but being pampered by hotel staff is a choice instead of the usual parade of adventures, site seeing and activities. Perhaps this is a testament to my age but time to be quiet is more important than time to be active for me any more. Brisbane offers this relaxed atmosphere with plenty to do if you want to from early in the morning right through to late in the evening. I think tomorrow adventure will be doing the same as today only on the beach by the ocean instead of the pool.

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San Antonio River Walk

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 08 2009

The San Antonio River Walk is truly a shinning star of urban renewal and revitalization projects. The city once only the home of the Alamo and not much else anyone could think of is now the home of an exemplary revitalization project. By spending hundreds of millions of dollars San Antonio turned its river from area into the Riverwalk. Here you will find some of the best San Antonio hotels along with a lot of shopping, dining, drinking, meeting and playing all on the Riverwalk. Other than ever day attractions there are events held along the Riverwalk. In September there is the popular Dos Equis Pachanga del Rio festival offering culinary samplings from over 20 area resturaunts. This event is accompanied by the after party as well, you won’t want to miss it. While here you can take river cruises, visit the Natural Bridge Caverns where millions have seen the stunning natural beauty of these caverns and you can too. There are the Ripley’s Haunting museum, Gunniess World Record museum and the Tomb Rider 3-D tour. San Antonio is also home to Sea World, city tours, the Alamo, Spalshtown, Towers of America and more attractions to visit. The Riverwalk boost a number of galleries including, The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, Eclectic Gallery, The Briscone Wester Art Museum to name a few. Shopping include the 5 and Dime, Jake’s Place for gifts fro the entire family. And of course there is the Alamo. A must see since this is a world famous attraction. Originally built as a mission in 1724 and used as a fort in the infamous battle of the Alamo. San Antonio offers the old and the new the traditional and the modern all in a friendly and relaxing laid back environment.

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Singapore’s Read Bridge and Little India

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 03 2009

I have two favorite walks I like to take in Singapore, one is down the Singapore River from Read Bridge and the other is the walking tour of Little India. Both are within walking distance from any of the Singapore luxury hotels.

The Singapore River walking from the Read Bridge near Clarke Quay to the Cavanagh Bridge is my most favorite. Along the way is also Boat Quay and its boisterous pub and restaurant row, of course Clarke Quay is home to many restaurants and bars too. The walk is best done during the evening as the heat and humidity can be overwhelming during the day. There are pave walk paths down the river along with pedestrian tunnels to avoid having to cross the very busy streets of Singapore. Proceeding from Read Bridge, the bridges become more beautiful and elaborate, especially at night. First, Shaw Bridge, then the beautiful red lit Elgin bridge and finally the Cavanagh Bridge. I recommend making the walk a loop, starting at Clarke Quay and then around to Boat Quay and back. I believe the loop is around five to six kilometers, but this is only a guess.

My second favorite walk is Little India, I hope to offer you a glimpse of what makes this part of Singapore so fascinating. I walk past Indian temples on to the market, mosques, Chinese temples and a Christian church or two. These all string together. Every now and then I’ll take a whimsical detour and see something new and interesting. The walk can be as long as 3400 meters. So, I recommend taking a break somewhere in between and experience the food of Little India. There’s plenty to choose from and don’t worry if you eat too much, cause you’ll only end up walking it off, and eating some more.

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Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya, Hong Kong’s New Curator

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 03 2009

For all the necessary considerations for your travel arrangements in Hong Kong, hotel accommodations are perhaps the most important.  The hotel is the center of the journey, the place where you lay your hat and your head.  Hong Kong is a beautiful place to be spending any amount of time.  It’s one of the most metropolitan places in the word, with a wide diversity of culture and ideas.  Our hotels put you in the center of the city, making it possible to see all the things you’re interested in, as well as providing a luxurious calm to your stay.  We specially select our hotels to offer the best of the old and the new, with a rich tradition of hospitality blended with the best of contemporary furnishings and technologies.

After a delicious sleep in our exquisitely decorated rooms, and a fantastic meal served up by top chefs who specialize in all the intricacies of international cuisine, we recommend spending time getting to know Hong Kong.  There are countless possibilities for distraction here, with an exciting urban landscape with some of the best people watching in the region.  Fashion is worn like art, and gives a great way of looking into the local culture.  There are also excellent clubs for live music, and fantastic performing arts work here.  One of the most exciting changes to the local scene recently has been the appointment of Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya as the curator for Hong Kong’s Para/Site art space.

He began a three-year term in January, 2009, and will be an interesting figure to watch, in a very lively cultural space.  Para/Site has a great history in its short existence, presenting local and international work that is challenging and exciting.  Alvaro Rodríguez Fominaya will bring an impressive list of credentials, and art world contacts, with him.  He has done projects all over the world, in Spain, the U.S., Latin America, as well as Hong Kong, and it will be interesting to watch the work develop here.  He sees the art space as an active participant in the cultural landscape, and this will benefit everyone who lives here or comes to visit.

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Apeejay Media Gallery, India’s New Media

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 03 2009

The good news for world travelers is that, for a perfect heritage hotel, India has some splendid offerings.  There is no bad news here.  We have taken great care to make the choosing easier, but selecting only the cream of the crop.  Our hotels are specially selected for their excellence in service and design. providing you with a fantastic experience in lodging.  There is a high quality across the board, in all categories, so that our guests can experience a real sense of rejuvenation.  The hotel should be a haven, a center of the journey, and our hotels are selected for their staff and service, as well as their exquisite locations.  The lodging experience will be unique and absolutely splendid, to remind you of how sweet life can be.
India is a stunning country, where every larger city has an enormous array of activities and adventures waiting for guests of all ages.  There are always fantastic tours and sight-seeing opportunities, and India is the perfect country for people-watching.  It’s some of the greatest food in the world as well, and each region is very different, offering new dishes to please your palate.  Some of the best minds in art, medicine, architecture, and science, are drawn to India, and some of the best ideas in the history of the world were born here.  Today is an exciting time in India’s history.  In art, there are always new works to see, and old classical works to revisit.  Some of the art here is thousands of years old, and some is born at this moment.  Some of the more interesting evolutions recently has occurred in the digital realm, and for India, one of the best galleries to see digital work is the Apeejay Media Gallery.
This Gallery had most of its activity between 2002-2007, where it hosted a number of shows featuring some of the most provocative work by some of the field’s most provocative practitioners.  Since it is a very new form, relatively speaking, Apeejay offers a very necessary forum for artists working in digital fields, especially photography and video, to show their work in a critical space.  The works here are from all over the world, although the central focus is local artists, offering a very unique space in a world that’s starting to get hungry for video installation work.

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Cool Night in Johannesburg

Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 02 2009

I was hitting all the night time raves in Joburg when one of my fellow ravers mentioned that I should try something different after dark. He told me about a guided walk on the Melville Koppies . The tour begins as the sun is going down, because thats when the nocturnal bird, the nocturnal moth and spiders come out at the Wits Botanical Gardens.

I’m not sure why my fellow raver thought I’d be interested in nocturnal things, but I must admit it does sound intriguing. So, the next night, after I left my room at one of the Johannesburg boutique hotels, I checked out the Melville Koppies. The protected and fenced section of Melville Koppies was beautiful at sunset. The sun was just dropping over the western Koppies throwing off pink, purple and orange rays that reflected off the scattered clouds. Then all the hills that are full of song birds settle down for the night.

It was really great just walking amongst the veld in the heart of Joburg, being able to look out over the city skyscrapers, and the sparkling lights of the suburbs. The sky seemed brighter from the koppies, and the full moon rose flooding the veld with an intense light, a light that helped me see the path really well.

In some places, the guide, which was a bummer, lead me through a miniature forest full of indigenous trees and shrubs. Scattered throughout were areas of scented geraniums. When we reached the bottom of the Koppies, the Westdene Spruit with its new bridge spanning across it, flowed through the forest of old trees like River Bush Willows and Stinkwoods. So, okay, I’ll have to admit, the raves aren’t the only thing interesting to do late at night. My fellow stranger raver seemed to know just what else I’d like to experience.

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Excited to be going to the Met

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Sep 02 2009

I first head opera in the Loony Tunes cartoons I watched as a child growing up. Not knowing the songs were just tiny pieces from giant works and not really caring. The tunes would stick in my head and run through my brain over and over again. I would hum them as i played and went about my business. Hearing an live from the Met broadcast one Saturday I heard the Barber of Seville. Early on the Figaro song is sung and I realize I know this from the cartoons I watched as a kid. I listened to the rest of the opera surprised at the number of songs and melodies I recognized. i had heard these tunes in movies, TV shows, commercials and who knows where else.  Now in my best New York City hotel I am excited to be getting ready to see my first live opera performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York city. I have viewed excellent opera in man y other locations like Santa Fe new Mexico where the magical summer opera has gone on for more than 60 years. Today a state of the art open air theater greets guests from all over the world from July to August to see operas designed, directed and preformed by hand picked apprentices world wide. The audiences come from all over the world too. The breathtaking views from the opera house at sunset set the perfect mood for an evening of opera viewing. Some productions are done with open backdrops, this leaves no back to the stage and the view goes out for 100 miles looking over the Sange de Cristo Mts. When darkness falls and the opera begins some evenings there are distant showers roaming the deserts and the flashes of lightening and rumbles of thunder become part of the magic of the Santa Fe experience. My experience at the Met tonight cannot compare to the open air festival of Santa Fe in many ways but seeing the opera performed by a company that has been in existence for more than 150 years.

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The Rate of Foreclosures Increases in the Month of July

Business, Economy | Posted by admin
Sep 01 2009

Recently there have been many ups and downs in the real estate market, and some of them are happening concurrently.  The purchases of homes by first time buyers, did show an overall jump nation wide during the month of July, however the other side of the coin is that some cities are experiencing that the loans for homes are failing at a terrible pace.  This was recorded also for the month July, and it is happening despite the many state and federal programs that were created to avoid the growing number of foreclosures. 

This leaves the economy severely affected as well as have extremely detrimental circumstances for the housing industry.  Records have shown that during this last month in various cities throughout the sunbelt, such as the Texas town of Denton, foreclosure proceedings have increased by seven percent during the month of June, thirty two percent higher than the numbers from last year.  This past month gives evidence that for every three hundred and fifty home owners, one has been foreclosed on.  This rate is keeping in time with the number of auctions, repossessions and default notices, and is continuing to escalate with the rising unemployment rate in the United States.  This is the third such jump in the past five months in the activity of foreclosures. 

This all comes at a time when the programs developed by the government have been created as the safety net for homeowners who are having difficulty, both the first notices of the default have risen in number as well as the actual repossessions that have taken place.  The tracking of these numbers began in 2005, and this last months jump has broken records, with more the three hundred and sixty thousand households nationally, going through foreclosure.  It seems that it is getting harder and harder for people to make their payments on time, as wages keep getting cut and many people are still continuing to get laid off.

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