Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Key Largo Matey Lost at Sea

Leisure, Travel | Posted by admin
Feb 08 2010

With coral reefs, everglades, and limestone just beneath the surface, the mysteries of Key Largo are larger than what meets the eye.  This is a place that can teach one to live in the moment, because when one is living in the here and now, one is one with all of the things in the world that celebrate oneness.  It’s wonderful to feel such oneness in Key Largo, and to enter into this world where one is always at oneness.  For places to stay in the oneness, this link can get you on your way, and the rest is adventure, and if you happen to like Bertie Higgins as much as I do, then please take some of my words as a a cautionary tale.

If you happen to fall in love, and find yourself dressed like a pirate and staying with your loved one, also dressed like a pirate, be careful when you are on a ship.  This is common sense for some, and certainly for me now, but at the time, we figured we were safe at sea, because the sea was our home, our mother, and we were her eternal orphans.  We did have it all, and we had a plan to pillage and plunder, and live off the fat of the land, along with the fat of the places we plundered.  But the stars were different than we had imagined, and the stars had far more complicated plans for us.

We were not exactly pirates in the technical sense.  We had little plastic eye patches, and she wore a plastic peg leg and folded her leg under it.  We weren’t on our own ship, but more like a cruise ship, or perhaps better to call it, a canoe.  We sang that song over and over, and talked about what we would do when we got our first booty.  We loved life so dearly back in those days, or perhaps it’s better to say, that weekend.  Spiced rum was our love potion, and spiced rum is what done her in.  It’s hard to balance in a canoe.  It’s hard, sometimes, not to fall.  I don’t know if she is still angry with me for rowing back to shore before she had a chance to surface,  but I know that she thinks about me, because people tell me that when she hears my name, she turns all the colors of the rainbow, like a parrot.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Theatre Department at Columbia University New York

Travel | Posted by admin
Feb 03 2010

Well, sure I encouraged Paul to apply to Columbia University and thought it would be great choice for him. Meanwhile, I really only considered the quality and reputation of the theater department and the importance of his graduate degree. I really didn’t think about the reality of his life there, well and that part is great. What I mean is, and this is sort of difficult to admit because it feels selfish, but what I didn’t really consider is how much I would miss him and how I kind of wish he had never been accepted. Well, now I’ve said it, but instead of feeling better, which I thought was supposed to be the case when you admit things, I feel worse and am slightly paranoid I’ve jinxed the relationship. Too bad I didn’t think to jinx his application before he sent it off. Oops.

Well, that didn’t take long. I just got off the phone with Paul who said he really needed to speak to me about something. Unfortunately, he also said he couldn’t do it now because he had to get back to the Riverside Theater but wanted to make plans for a long conversation tomorrow. Yikes, what does he want to talk about? I think he said they were working on a production called Black Snow, but why would he want to talk to me about that? Besides, I’m kind of sick of hearing about what a great program it is and all the cool people that are in it and the great instructors there. He seems so happy. He couldn’t possibly be thinking about quitting. And I visited last October and saw the production of Lifetime Fairytale. It really is a good program, I give it that. But if he’s so happy there, dang, I don’t want to think about it. Why’d he call me to tell me he wanted to call me tomorrow? Why didn’t he just do it?

Okay, I’m back, I just called the airlines and also possible hotel reservations. They actually have good prices right now and you can find great deals here. But back to my dilemma, I thought maybe I should try and fly out tonight because I can’t top worrying about what he needs to talk about. He’s getting the MFA in Dramaturgy and expects to be finished in three years. Is he already thinking about staying in New York after he graduates? He said he was going to move back to Chicago, and come on, there are plenty of theater career opportunities here. And I’m here! This is going to drive me crazy. I have to try and get some sleep though. If I’m going to get dumped I don’t want to be sleep deprived when it happens. I gotta go, I’ll check back in tomorrow after I talk to him.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Adventure in the Everglades of Fort Lauderdale

Travel | Posted by admin
Feb 01 2010

A show that I watched regularly for a few months, was “CSI Miami”, and in the opening credits the airboat careens through the swamplands with Horatio standing ever so perfect, in his suit and his shades, while the Who is blasting in the background.  One of the funnest experiences I had was when I was staying in one of the many luxury hotels Fort Lauderdale offers.  I thought that it would be bikini filled days and all night dance parties, something I was not thrilled with, but I was visiting a very good friend who had moved to the city so I was ready to “While in Rome…”.  However, he surprised me with a trip just outside of Fort Lauderdale, to the Everglade National Forest, and treated me to a high speed ride through the Everglades, on an airboat.

Not only are these rides exhilarating, but they are nature wonderlands, education mixed with excitement.  The Florida Everglades are unspoiled expanses of jungle, and swamplands, filled with creatures that for me, had existed before, only in story books and in the movies.  The natural habitat is truly one of the most beautiful and stunning in the world.  When I was young I would frequent the Phoenix Zoo, in the city I grew up in…Phoenix, Arizona.  The alligator exhibit there at once thrilled me and excited me, they were creatures so prehistoric, so powerful, and yet so still.

To see them in their natural habitat came close to blowing my mind.  Add to that the plethora of exotic birds and colorful fish just beneath the surface of the water, and I felt as though I had come to life in one of those story books of my childhood.  These animals were not part of my everyday life, I knew that they existed somewhere, and to finally be in that “somewhere” was simple breathtaking.  I spent one week in Fort Lauderdale, and I did the requisite bikini beach day, and the all night dance party, but I could not stop thinking about my trip on the airboat, careening through the Florida Everglades wearing my cool shades and being amazed at the natural world that had surrounded me.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

No More Gridlock in New York

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 29 2010
We were at JFK airport, when we asked the car hire employee for a van big enough to seat 8 people, plus their luggage, and you should have seen the look on the clerks face, she really was surprised. We were at a car hire in New York City http://www.newyorkcitycarhire.com. But, she then smiled and said they have plenty of different kinds of vans and that she’s sure she can accommodate us. We were really happy with the vehicle we got, it fit all of us, our bags and it had a navigation system.
 
It took us a while to get used to how the navigation systems works, but once we got use to it, it really came in handy. No matter where we wanted to go, it gave us the directions and the best route to get there.
 
It was late in the afternoon, but getting our first glimpse of the Manhattan skyline made us all excited. Then we ran into a traffic jam, it literally took us hours to get into midtown. We weren’t sure if we’d make through the Long Island Express way, we felt all trapped and wondered what could tie-up traffic like this? We couldn’t figure out how New Yorkers put up with this day in and day out.
 
When we made it over the East River and the wind picked up and a tremendous thunderstorm broke over head. We were all laughing at just how hard New York was making it for us to enter the city.
 
We really thought when we left JFK that we had plenty of time to find our hotel, unpack and maybe, just maybe see some of Manhattan before we had to be at our programed performance at a private Birthday party, but instead, because of the gridlock, we had to go straight to the place where we were performing. Not a good first day in New York City. We hope tomorrow, when we plan to take the SUV to Brooklyn, that we won’t run into any more gridlocks like the one we hit today.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Air Supplies Indianapolis Airheads

Music, Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 27 2010

This is going to be a great year for Indianapolis.  The city that has a midwestern heart and a cosmopolitan outlook always has something interesting and new going on.  There’s always something very exciting for the locals as well as travelers wondering what’s happening in this city.  Tourists often come to Indianapolis and find that the luxury hotels are truly world-class, and all the hospitality and style of the city are displayed here in the lodgings.  There’s a lot to enjoy in a fine hotel, but in Indianapolis, there’s a lot going on in the city as well.

This February promises to be even more exciting that normal, when Air Supply comes to Muncie.  In a time of so much 70s and 80s retro, this group often gets lost in the shuffle, being in between the decades and steadfastly refusing to belong to any.  They still record and play together, too, which means there’s never a big pr campaign for a reunion tour.  They’ve played a lot of places outside the U.S., including a show in Cuba a few years ago that drew a stunning crowd, but it didn’t necessarily make the new here.  But despite all these reasons, the long time fans from here know that we’ve been all out of Air Supply for awhile, and we really are so, so lost without you.

Thirty-five years is a long time for any band to be together, and Air Supply coming, this will be a great chance for fans from here to give Graham and Russell another listen.  They gave us some tremendous moments when we were growing up, and it was the perfect thing to hear after your love life went sour, and you found yourself thinking out loud and falling out of touch.  We’re eager to see them be exactly what we always wanted.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Flipper in Florida

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 25 2010

Traveling in Florida means never being bored by what you might see next.  You’ll find it easy to travel, just by renting a car and making some quick arrangements to to stay at very cool hotels.  The state is stacked with unusual sights and attractions, such as the Coral Castle outside Miami, a 2.2 million pound rock structure built by a single man, a Latvian immigrant named Ed Leedskalin after being jilted by his 16-year-old fiance in the first half of the 20th Century, or Dinosaur World, a park filled with 150 dinosaur replicas, in Plant City.  Two hours to the south of Miami, you may add to these, the final resting place of Flipper, the dolphin best known for its role in the 1960s television series about a park ranger, his two sons, and their dolphin.  If you’ve never heard of the show, neither its two movies and eighty episodes, nor any subsequent remakes, you may want to know you’re living well outside American popular culture. 
 
Flipper is a stage name and the dolphin was actually named Mitzi.  She lived fourteen years, from 1958 to 1972, and is buried at the Dolphin Research Center, an organization dedicated to public awareness and education about dolphins, located about two hours to the south of Miami on US1 at Grassy Key, an island in the middle of the Florida Keys.  On a regular basis, Mitzi would communicate with the ranger’s sons, disarm poachers, and laugh and walk backwards on the water on her tail; okay, the last bit she actually didn’t do.  Like most of Hollywood, a few effects are best done by others.  Mitzi had a stunt double, a male dolphin who performed the tail-walking.  Apparently, it’s a trick not every dolphin can manage, although the show would give you the impression that it’s a common activity.
 
In the 1960s, the Dolphin Research Center existed under a different name: Santini’s Porpoise School.  Here, Milton Santini, who pioneered dolphin training, was responsible for training Mitzi and was chosen to star in the original movie.  You can visit the center, which is open daily from nine a.m. to five p.m. (although it’s a wise idea to call first to make certain: 305-289-1121), in order to take a tour of the facility and pay your respects.  Just look for the dolphin statue at mile marker 59.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Gettysburg Sensations

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 19 2010

Everyone who is interested in the events of the Civil War need to make the trip to Gettysburg. There are plenty of quaint hotels around Gettysburg that will put you close to the site were the Battle of Gettysburg took place. The town has also put together some great museums filled with artifacts and stories to help get a good understanding of what took place in this historical city. There are plenty of tours one can take to get the most out of your experience. If you decide to go on a self guided tour then try getting a CD of the history of the area to listen to while you visit the sites. There are plenty of tour companies ready to take you on a guided tour. I am not usually one to take these sort of tours but this might be the best way to go. They have double decker buses and also tours of the Jenny Wade house. Maybe one evening you would want to try the candlelight tours of the city. What a thrill to get the haunted stories in the darkness of the night.
Make sure you add the Dobbin House Tavern to your list of places to eat. It is the most famous restaurant in town so you may want to get there early. This restaurant is the old home of Reverend Alexander Dobbin who lived there in 1776. This building has been restored to its best authenticity. From the seating and the decor to the outfits the staff wears you are sure to feel like you are back in the 1776 days. So make sure you go and eat some authentic 1776 period recipes by candle light and enjoy the ambiance.
Many of the buildings around town are original and restored. From the bed and breakfast homes to the old hotels as well as many shops and restaurants you will find yourself in many historical places that have a few stories of there own. Come and see where great men such as General Robert E Lee and Major General George Gordon Mead fought each other in this famous battle. See where President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address to the people who lived through the battle and the winning northern army.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

The Pig & Whistle Pub of Los Angeles

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 18 2010

When I lived in Los Angeles, a great night out was spent usually, at least some part of the evening, at the famous Pig and Whistle Pub in Hollywood.  That is one of the great things about the city of LA, whether you are living there or just spending time in one of the fabulous LA hotels, the boundaries of the city are hard to discern, and in one moment you will be in LA, the next moment Beverly Hills, and the next moment Santa Monica.  And for a city in the Western part of the country, LA is rich with history.

The beginning of the “Golden Era” in Hollywood, began in the 1920′s.  This was once a sleepy Southern California suburb, LA, but soon became the movie industry capital of the world.  Many people traveled from far and wide to set up studios along the now famous strip, Hollywood Boulevard.  This was a time of magnificent glamour, in the dress, in the architecture and in the life styles of the residents of Los Angeles.  It was during this time that the Pig and Whistle opened their doors, in 1927.  There is an incredible courtyard, an out door patio that is extremely serene, even given the fact that it sits in the middle of a town that is all about the hustle and the bustle.

Originally, the front door of the Pig and Whistle, was just to side of the entrance of the Egyptian Theatre, a spot where names of old such as Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, and Clark Cable were seen attending the premieres of the their newest movies.  This is the kind of history we are talking about, the traditions and the stars of the long ago beginnings of Hollywood.  Yes, there is style and there is grace in Los Angeles, and the current incarnation of the Pig and Whistle stands testament to the that, from the hand painted tiles to the carvings along the walls and the ceilings.  Should you find yourself in Los Angeles, find your way to 6714 Hollywood Boulevard.  Grab a pint, and sit in the history, sit in the same chairs wherein the Hollywood stories began.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Wonderful Winter Land of New York City

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 12 2010
We wanted to rest on New Year’s day, but we decided to take on New York City with very little sleep. We headed out of one of the top New York City hotels and it was snowing a little, it was only 32 degrees and the wind wasn’t blowing, so it wasn’t so bad to be out, especially since we layered our clothing. We once again caught the Gray Line bus not far from Ground Zero and really enjoyed the heated tour and this time we learned about Chinatown and all the different tenements on the East side. Next, we got to tour the Waldorf, which was incredible, but we thought our hotel was just as good and not as expensive.
We got off the bus and walked six blocks to Grand Central Station and that’s when we really began to miss the heater bus tour, it was cold! The wind was picking up and it was going right through our layers of clothes. We had lunch at one of the dining areas at Grand Central Station, we went for pizza…again! It was just okay, not like the pizza we had last night. Next, we decided to brave the weather and check out Central Park, as we were walking towards the park, we saw a Gray Line and hopped on board. We totally took advantage of the heat. We hopped off at Central Park and took a nice winter stroll, even though the weather was turning, there were tons of people in the park; especially at the ice-skating rink. There was a stand serving hot apple cider, so we bought the largest cup they had.
It was getting colder by the minute, so we headed back via subway to our side of town – Tribeca and back to our hotel, but we passed a pub on our way that looked quite fun, Reade Pub, so we dropped in and had a really good hamburger and fries. There was a really good musician playing, so we stayed and listened to him play until sometime past midnight! So, much for taking it easy after New Year’s Eve!
We were so glad our hotel was not too far away, because by the time we left the pub, it was 20 below! Burrrrrrr……

Tags: ,
No Comments »

Winter and Summer Sports in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 11 2010

Michael could hardly wait to get to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He had only been there once before and that just happened to be in the summer. The town was relatively quiet at that time and he was there because his good friend Jim invited him on a kayaking trip. He had a great time on the Yampa River and though he was a skilled kayaker, his friend Jim was much better, even in an entirely different league, Michael found out. The reached Charlie’s Hole, which Jim had assured Michael he could handle and it turned out he spent more time upside down and under the water than above it. At least he was able to make good use of his rolling skills. Meanwhile, he was so exhausted from the afternoon adventure that he just didn’t have it in him to go out to the clubs with Jim, who ended up staying out most of the night.

Michael laughed a little to himself as he remembered that trip. This time, however, he was visiting Steamboat Springs in November and not only was he a much better skier than kayaker, but he was also meeting his girlfriend Janet there instead of Jim. All of these aspects pointed to a fabulous weekend and Michael couldn’t wait to enjoy it. As soon as he arrived at one of the hotels Colorado he found Janet waiting at the fireplace in the lobby. She looked beautiful as always and the two of them wasted no time getting their gear and heading for the slops.

It was a beautiful clear and crisp afternoon and Michael felt like showing off a bit. He had never before been skiing with Janet and he was extremely confident he could make an impressive jump. She asked him not to and said it looked pretty dangerous, which only further encouraged Michael. And, as you are likely to be guessing at this point, Michael was on his way and seemingly out of nowhere another skier lost control and propelled right into Michael. They both went down and Michael ended up with a broken leg. Back at the hotel he and Janet were sitting in front of the fireplace drinking some hot chocolate when Janet joked that she would have to hit the clubs alone and Michael only considered the irony.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

History, Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 28 2009

Amsterdam is famous across the world for many of its contemporary cultural aspects that are either illegal or considered to be taboo in many other countries and regions. This alone draws millions of tourists to this capital of the Netherlands, though it is definitively not the most significant factors of the city. Amsterdam also has an incredibly interesting history and has many cultural attractions that relate and testify to it. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, which is located in the city centre also happens to be the oldest in the world and serves as one of its icons. The Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum are two the most popular visitor attractions in the city and many of the tourists who are staying in one of the luxury resorts or best Amsterdam hotel visit both of these landmarks during their visit.

The Anne Frank House is now a famous museum that is located on the Prinsengracht where Frank and her family once hid during the Nazi persecution surrounding the second world war. The actual hiding place of the Frank family is in the back of the building that now honors it. The purpose of the museum is to preserve the hiding place, known in Dutch as the Achterhuis, as well as to display various items related to the family and the period. The museum also serves to highlight and demonstrate all forms of discrimination and persecution.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam contains the largest collection of paintings and drawings in the world from Vincent Van Gogh. The main exhibit in the museum also serves to chronicle the life and work phases of this great artist. Some of the highlights in this exhibit include one of the Sunflowers paintings, for which he is most known, as well as The Potato Eaters and Bedroom in Aries. The museum also houses extensive collections from the 19th Century.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Penn Museum in Philadelphia

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 16 2009

If you’re looking for an American city overflowing with history, you would certainly do well to investigate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  But if you wanted to move past the typical places Philadelphia is famous for — the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and so on — you should check out the Penn Museum, also known as the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, a place chock-full of exhibits about the past and present in Pennsylvania, as well as the Americas in general, and even examining worlds distant in time and place, such as the gold of ancient Troy.

Presently, this winter, there are a number of interesting materials on display.  Start with the exhibit, Fulfilling a Prophecy, which explores the past and present of the Lenape in Pennsylvania.  It discusses how most people are under the impression that all but a few elderly Lenape people had quit the state by the 19th Century; however, the truth is that many stayed secretly, and that some Lenape and Europeans married and had children in the 1700s, continuing their traditions in hiding, only now, some two hundred years, coming forward to tell the story.  The exhibit contains photographs and dolls, jewelry, ancient masks, and other art forms from the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania.

Over in the Americas collection, amongst 300,000 objects, you may see a waterproof parka made from the throat lining of sea lions from 1905, or a Pomo basket made of quail feather, beads, shells and plant fiber, from the same year.  The Americas collection at the Penn Museum are amongst the largest, with collections that range from North and South America, in an attempt to document the history of human habitation in this region.

Other exhibits include His Golden Touch: The Gordion Drawings of Piet de Jong from the Gordion site in central Turkey; the Goodlands: Young Photographers Inspiring Hope in North Philadelphia; and Painted Metaphors: Pottery and Politics of the Ancient Maya.  It need not take a lot of money to see these exhibits; just make a reservation at a Philadelphia cheap hotel and come investigate the less traditional side of the city.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Singapore Great Views and Theatre Near Marina

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 08 2009

Dennis spent a week in Singapore last month due to an unexpected business meeting he was asked to take part in. He worked in the technological field and his company was in the major process of adding a top client. They sent Dennis as one of their top designers and asked him to prepare a presentation in a relatively short time. Dennis was a strong company oriented person with strong work ethics and a major interest in furthering his career. However, he thought of the last minute meeting, especially as it was going to occur on his daughter’s second birthday was nothing but an inconvenience and point of frustration.

That is, he thought that until he actually landed in Singapore. It seems that from the moment his plane touched down, Dennis was fascinated with the city and by the time he checked into his room at the business hotel he was in love with it. And yes, it happened just that fast and it was not the result of jet lag, which never produced this response in him. The plane had landed in the late evening and he thought the night skyline of the city, well the view of it he had while landing, was absolutely incredible and romantic. One of his first thoughts was that he wanted to bring his wife Judy there the following year.

He spent three days in extremely intense meetings and on the third day he had his big presentation. Dennis wasn’t the slightest bit nervous and just had the feeling that the entire even would go well. The next day, his fourth day there he had the entire day off and he headed straight over to the Singapore Marina, which he had heard was incredible. And it was. The views of the bay were beautiful and he had lunch in a quite little seafood café. He walked along the Esplanade and noticed some of the establishments there. At this point he was he wanted to make a return trip with Judy and he made a mental note for them to attend a production at the Theatre By the Bay, which was an Esplanade venue. He also found a great stuffed dolphin he decided to take back to his daughter.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Hot Phoenix Summers Attract Tourists While Residents Head North

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 01 2009

Living in the desert can be interesting and the residents of Phoenix are more than aware of that fact. Phoenix achieves some of the highest temperatures in the country and endures a large amount of days of temperatures that reach above one hundred degrees. And while these statistics sound somewhat ominous at first, it is interesting to know that in the last have of the twentieth century Phoenix continued to be one of the nation’s fastest growing urban areas many people are attracted to this weather. In addition, it has one of the highest rates of return residents, which means that a large percentage of the population that moves from Phoenix will eventually return.  Phoenix is also a popular destination for tourists. Guests staying in one of the best Phoenix hotels in the summer will be able to testify to the extreme heat, though they will also be able to testify to the beautiful sunsets and if they’re lucky they’ll experience the pleasures of a summer monsoon.

Something that residents and visitors to Phoenix both appreciate is the layout and structure of the Valley cities and communities. The streets and avenues are laid out in a grid and navigating through Phoenix and the surrounding cities is extremely simple. This is particularly beneficial because the geographic area of the Valley is one of the largest urban regions in the nation and most people drive thirty miles or more per day and sometimes one way. Because Phoenix is so hot for many of the months out of the year, the residents frequently feel a need to get out of town and out of the desert. This is possible by driving to the northern part of the state. Smaller cities like Sedona and Prescott are popular destinations. They also get hot in the summer but not to the extreme that Phoenix does and they are a pleasant relief from the intense Phoenix sun. Flagstaff, Arizona is further north and not part of the desert. It is also a popular weekend destination for hot city residents.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Cellist Zoe Keating in San Francisco

Music, Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 01 2009

San Francisco is full of amazing cultural elements and city landmarks. It is absolutely beautiful and one of the major cities in the United States. In addition, there are many great artists, actors and musicians that are based there and also a number of iconic performance establishments and museums. Cellist Zoe Keating is just one of many performers that is based in this great American city. Tourists who stay in a San Francisco hotel may have the opportunity to see her perform live while they are visiting.

Keating was born in Ontario Canada to an American father and an English Mother. She began playing the cello at the age of eight and while she almost immediately loved the instrument and knew she would spend a lifetime playing it, she was not particularly interested in pursuing a career in the classical music field, such as playing for a symphony orchestra. She does appreciate and even play classical music, but has always seemed to have her own agenda and performance orientation. She studied cello at Sarah Lawrence College before moving to San Francisco. She is well known for playing onstage while recording herself and playing it back in loops. This gives the audio quality of sounding like up to 16 cellos are playing at once when it is all Keating.

She is also a composer and has written the score for films. Keating collaborates with other artists and has performed with Rasputina, the all female cello based rock band. On more than one occasion Keating has toured with musician Imogen Heap. In fact, Heap is one of her standard contemporary tour partners. In addition she has worked with Amanda Palmer and performed on the album Who Killed Amanda Palmer. Keating has been featured on television programs and frequently performs in the San Francisco area.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Singapore Psychedelic Melancholy

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 30 2009

Singapore is a place for instant nostalgia, it would seem.  It has a fabulous culture, and is really a big conglomeration of cultures that spread out in multiple directions, and it’s endlessly fascinating.  Trying to find common threads is like trying to find the world’s first potato, where it surely must have existed somewhere, but it began so long ago, and the road to get there is so convoluted, that it’s impossible.  But it’s extremely interesting to try.  Trying to find common links between things in a place as complicated as Singapore is splendid fun, because the links all reveal something even more fascinating than the thing you set out to discover in the first place.

By the time you realize you’re fascinated by something else altogether, the threads of that original search might come through, and remind you of what you were looking for.  Its impossibility is something that can cause a melancholy, a splendid melancholy that just is, and for no good reason.  This sentiment runs through a lot of the popular culture forms here, and it also runs through most things that have a semblance of style.  And there’s certainly a lot of style in Singapore.  Boutique hotel accommodations are particularly magnificent in offering a sense of style that combines an old that never was with a new that never will be, and it’s so splendid that it will no doubt be copied somewhere down the road.

Singapore is ahead of the future even when it lives in the past, and that might be why it’s always too late to mourn Dorian Roach & the Cruzers.  The psychedelic rock band that was quoting the 70s has already left, the members gone off to promote new projects.  There was something extraordinary in the sound, and there was something visionary in the facial hair, and it would be nice to thank them for re-introducing it as soon as it left before it got too popular, and at times we are melancholy enough to wish for one more song by Dorian Roach.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

The Opera House in Sydney

Music, Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 24 2009

If you were to ask, who won the highest honor in architecture, the Pritzker Prize, for the year 2003, you probably wouldn’t be able to provide an answer; however, if you were asked to describe that large building constructed like a series of billowing sails in Sydney, Australia, you’d probably do much better.  The answer to the first question is Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect, and, of course, the answer to the second question is the Sydney Opera House, which he desgined.   Only a few years ago, in 2007, the building was declared an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Utzon’s designs for the building were chosen in 1957; however, the construction would not be complete until 1973, sixteen years later.  Since then, the Sydney Opera House has become synonymous not only with Sydney, but all of Australia, and a major destination point for tourists everywhere, from those traveling on the cheap to those staying at the fine luxury hotels Sydney has to offer.  The building itself is 605 feet long and about 388 feet wide, covering nearly 5 acres of land, with an expressionist design of shells made from concrete, covered with tiles of in a pattern of chevrons numbering one million fifty six hundred thousand and six!

There are five venues contained in the building, so the name Sydney Opera House is a bit of a misnomer.  The structure contains The Concert Hall (on the West side), and the Opera Theater (on the East side).  Other smaller venues beneath the Concert Hall include The Studio, the Drama Theatre, and the Playhouse).

The Concert Hall seats 2,678, and provides a home for the Sydney Symphony.   It also contains one of the world’s largest organs (10,000 pipes!).  The smaller Opera Theatre seats 1,507 and provides a venue for the The Australian Ballet, as well as Opera Australia.  The Drama Theatre contains 544 seats, which the Sydney Theatre Company utilizes, as well as the Playhouse, which holds room for 398 patrons.  The Studio is changeable, and depending on the configuration of the room, can hold as many as 400.  One of the many famous spots in Australia, the Opera House is well worth your time to be one of the theater goers in those seats!

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Evil Balloonist

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 23 2009

Way back in the day, before all the modern means of transportation and communication, there was a daring soul. Way back in 1858, most of us can not relate, to the shock and awe of the very first balloon flight lifting off the city of Melbourne Australia. On February 1st, back in the day, the very first hot air balloon lifted up into the air and made it successful flight. What people back then must have been thinking. When you realize that back then, it was literally horse drawn power. People still did a lot of walking.

This was the start of aviation really. Everyone always talks about the first airplane flights but what about the early balloon and zeppelin flights. It took another 50 years for engineers to create airplanes. Richmond, where the balloon took off from, is a rural area of Melbourne. Back then it was really rural, before the town hall tower went up. Before the St. Ignatius spires, the Dimmeys and even the trains and trams where ever built there. Back then the best attraction of the area was the George Coppin’s Cremome Gardens and the Pantheon Theatre. Ok so there was also a Pub. Can’t live without the Pub or the zoo or the bandstand or the lake. But on that day, it was the magical flight of a hot air balloon that captured the towns attention.

It was Mr Coppin that encouraged Charles Brown and Joseph Dean to Melbourne for the big flight. He threw in his personal, homemade muslin balloon called Australasian. It took some work to get it to the launch site in Richmond. They had to blow it up with coal gas at the city gasworks, Batman Swamp in west Melbourne. Then they had to get 30 men with a horse and cart to walk it all the way to Richmond. I wonder if they stopped for a rest at one of the five star hotels in Melbourne for a rest. Probebly not. But history of the city was made when they took off and landed 25 minutes later on Plenty Road. Weeks later Charles Brown took another flight that landed in Collingwood, and was mobbed by a crowd of people who thought it was evil for a human to fly.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Conservatory Garden in Central Park New York

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 23 2009

Jill had recently moved to New York City to pursue her career in publishing. Ultimately she wanted to develop her own magazine that would cover regional lifestyle choices and highlight local artists and establishments. It was going to be something of a tour of obscure location in the United States, and while she was extremely excited about the idea, she knew it would be at least five years before she could even think about drafting an original version.

She had visited the city a few times in the past and most recently with her good friend Karen at which time they stayed in one of the boutique hotels New York. The trip was for Jill to find a place to live and for Karen to experience the city as it was her first time there. So, they included in their trip a stop at all the major museums and landmark attractions, as well as seeing a Broadway play. Jill thought about that trip recently on a busy afternoon when she wanted to escape from everything. She found employment in New York, which in itself was an incredible feat, but even that was incredibly competitive once she arrived at her first publishing company.

So, that afternoon, all Jill could think about was finding a spot to be alone. She laughed at the idea, even her apartment had a roommate. As she walked past Central Park, something she usually just went right on by, she looked out at the beautiful greenery and her feet seemed to guide her out into its openness. And while she was definitely not the only one in the park, the soothing waters of the fountain calmed her nerves. And as she looked around at the other people, they too seemed like they had left the city for a moment and were in some magical wonderland. She found her way to the Conservatory Garden and thought how lovely it would be to take a nap right there on the ground. This became Jill’s private sanctuary in New York and would often go there in the early mornings to do her yoga.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

How to Do Yoga in Jakarta

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 17 2009

With a remarkable sense of mystery that speaks to the heart of Indonesia, and a sensibility that is absolutely contemporary, and extremely hip, Jakarta has a thousand rhythms working at once.  It’s fascinating to discover that each of these rhythms is contagious, too, and there’s often an overwhelming sense of being connected to an enormous energy.  It’s quite lively and completely uncontrollable, and part of the trick of enjoying it is to give yourself over to the experience.  This is an old travelers’ trick, and it always pays off splendidly when you’re in a place as fantastic as this.

One of the largest urban areas on the planet, there are many things to see in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Hotel accommodations are plentiful, and there is a huge variety that reflects the place, offering something to please any taste and any budget.  Staying somewhere that the sense of luxury and solitude are high can be important for the daily dose of rejuvenation that helps you to meet the landscape with the right amount of balance.  If you’re looking for more balance than a good night’s sleep can bring, and you love yoga, then you’re certainly in the right place.  Jakarta has a number of gyms where you can find classes, and there are also studios here that can help you to reach a higher plane, with some local flavor that offers a taste of some of the things that are hidden here.

One of the more popular studios is Jakartadoyoga.  They have a great schedule, with classes that are offered at all times of the day.  There are local instructors as well as guest instructors, and they offer a splendid line of workshops for continuing practitioners.  They also host retreats here, for people looking to get away to Indonesia with the main purpose of developing the yoke with more clarity.  It’s certainly worth the effort, although it might be more enlightening if it’s effortless.  They focus on the philosophy more than the physical strength and muscle tone, which is refreshing, and there is a wide range of ideas on health and healing.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Night Life in Manila

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 16 2009

Hotel! Manila! Philippines! That’s where people are starting to show some interest. If you find yourself in Manila you will quickly learn it is all about the night life. Better come prepared with a list of clubs to check out. The scene is like any other big city down town party. A playground for the young adult who wants to bounce from club to club filling the streets with a laughter. They are all dressed to the hip hop style as if they are from an American down town scene. The interesting part is that they are Filipino and the rap they create has Tagalog in it. Tagalog is a language of the Philippines.

Hip Hop is thriving in this city 10 million strong. It is apart of the young bringing in the confidence and energy to an otherwise frayed city. Manila is less travel than some of the other Asian cities but it turns out to be one of the more exciting places to check out. Sadly, the political struggles and corruption of this surviving city has kept the tourists away lately. There has been some terrorist activity keeping visitors at bay.

Just because the western world hasn’t been visiting as much doesn’t mean the people of Manila aren’t taking in the western culture. Hip Hop being such a strong force in this city they have added their own flair. You can hear local artist rap in Malay, Spanish and Chinese. However, the American roots of the local Hip Hop scene remains intact.  One of the best places to take in the night life is at the Fort Bonifacio.  This is now a rather slick development that used to be a former U.S. Military base. Loose all your worries on the dance floor at the Embassy nightclub. There is a dress code because you will see some local celebrities. Oh and don’t bother going until midnight or think your going home before dawn.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Open Mic Nights in Portland

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 12 2009

Wes had been wanting to start an alternative rock band for years. He had just turned 22 last month and decided that it might as well be now or never. He had been heavily influenced by some bands that his parents listened to while he was growing up such as REM and had even written some of his own songs. He just never seemed to be able to get the right group of people together to work with him. Now that he was 22 he decided he needed to forge ahead and maybe even start playing in clubs by himself. He also decided he needed a change of scene. He felt haltered by the town he grew up in and wanted to see more of the world. Then suddenly one moring he woke up and realized what he needed to do. Wes was going to move to Portland, Oregon and he was going to do it by himself.

He booked a week’s stay in one of the best Portland hotels and brought his best friend Tim with him to check out the city and find himself a place to live. It didn’t take Wes long to find a small apartment he liked and could afford and he put down his deposit. That left the rest of the week for the two of them to hang out and experience the city. They went to Dublin Pub for their Monday night open mic and had a great time. Wes decided that he would be back there and sign up to play once he was in town. The next night they went to The Secret Garden Pub and found out that the performers there actually competed to win a full show at that club. Both Wes and Tim like the place and had a good time so that was one more spot Wes put on his list. He also found a regular songwriter’s night at Artichoke Music and became more certain than ever that he had chosen the right city when he decided or rather instinctively knew he should move to Portland. Tim loved it too and decided he might like to move there as well, but Wes told him he had to wait until Wes was completely settled in and established because he needed to venture out and exist on his own for a while. Tim didn’t have a problem with that as he thought it would make it easier on his own move.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Karen Finley Presented New Work in New York

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 09 2009

New York City is known for a lot of great cultural landmarks and elements and its theatre and performance scene are one of, if not the most prominent. Guests who may have stayed in one of the top New York hotels in September and/or October may have been lucky enough to attend the limited run of Karen Finley’s new work Karen Finley: The Jackie Look. The show was scheduled to open September 19th at the Off Off Broadway space The Country Club and closed late last month on on October 24th. Finley is well known, and sometimes feared, for her bold depictions of society, private life and her sometimes controversial methods of performance. In The Jackie Look Finley applies her perspective to the iconic look of Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis and analyzes concepts of femininity and the demands being the First Lady can place on a person.

Finley has a long history of solo performance and a somewhat controversial career. She has been hailed as some as a healing social element that exposes archetypal myths and hypocrisies, and others have condemned her as inappropriate and deviant. What an amazing ability to balance between the two and maintain her perspective and performance intentions, without being sucked into the dangers of labels and warped self belief.

One of her most remembered historic moments by the mainstream population is the notorious NEA grant dilemma of 1990. During this year, complaints by Senator Jesse Helms and other political and religious conservatives put pressure on the government supported arts endowment agency. Four active NEA grant receiving artists were declared as creating works that were indecent, and Finley was one of these. The other three artists were Holly Hughes, Tim Miller and John Fleck. Due to the political and social moral pressure, the artists had their grants revoked and have since become known as the NEA four.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Ballet and Chamber Music in Sydney Australia

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 03 2009

Trey and Ashley were getting ready to go have a nice dinner and then to the ballet. They hadn’t taken a vacation together for years and finally Ashley’s mother insisted that she and her father take the twins for a week while Ashley and Trey went somewhere. The twins were now three years old and were absolutely adorable. They were full of energy though and more than a handful. They were also a complete surprise. The couple had been told that they would not be able to have children and suddenly four years ago Ashley found herself pregnant. On top of that they soon found out that they would be having twins.

The excitement was coupled with a sense of concern and worry. However, the two of them got through the experience and so did Tony and Carrie, the twins. Meanwhile, the Ashley and Trey had to cancel plans to go to Sydney, Australia the summer that Ashley was pregnant and that vacation seemed like it was being put on a permanent state of hold. Both of them were completely excited and grateful when Ashley’s mom insisted on the plan though they had never been away from the twins for that long and were also worried.

However, as they sat there in luxury accommodations Sydney Australia they were simply excited and having a great time. They had always enjoyed ballet, the theatre and symphony performances though they were almost ashamed to say they hadn’t seen anything in the last three years. Tonight, however, they were going to the Australian Ballet at the Sydney Opera House. The company is approaching its 50th Anniversary and while Trey and Ashley won’t be there for it, they can certainly celebrate now. Ashley is so excited that she’s afraid she won’t be able to eat, Trey however, could eat a kangaroo he’s so hungry. The couple is hoping to be able to attend a performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra before they leave but aren’t sure if they can fit it in. Trey played the violin in college and they both enjoy chamber music.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

The Quiet Beauty of Kerela

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 02 2009

Kerela is a small city surrounded by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.  These cities are located in the southern region of India, close to the Arabian Sea.  This is one of the most beautiful areas in the country, if not of the world.  The waves of the ocean, the fertile lands and pastures, give the city a sense of peace and, of spiritual creative energy that stirs the imagination, that is backed by a culture of Dravidian traditions, one of the richest of India.  When visitors leave the city, they are often moved to use poetic words and phrases to describe their experiences.  The people of Kerala, the ocean, the geography, all have described as the kinds of things that moves the heart to keep beating.

The climate is humid, with tropical rains, but fairly moderate temperatures.  What is noticeable from the shops to the Kerela resorts is that peaceful extends to the rest of the world as this is one city that defines the eco-tourism.  This is one aspect of the Dravidian belief system, that the earth and all of the creatures on it should be cared for and protected.  The citizens value education, and culture and this too has formed the people of the city, their hearts and their souls are driven by all things good.  Taking a trip to Kerela will refresh the tourist’s heart and soul as well.

Alapphuza beach one of the beaches that borders Kerela and the Arabian Sea.  The sand is a silvery white and is surrounded by groves of palm trees.  One of the best places to find a spectacular view is located just about the beach in the old lighthouse.  This is open to the public and the observation deck provides a panoramic opportunity for stunning photographs.  Bekal Beach is just as serene.  Other beaches that have become known throughout the country as the most beautiful are Marari Beach,where one will find many spice markets and shops, and Kovalal Beach with is relatively uninhabited and quiet.  In all, a trip to Kerela will leave one feeling more at peace with life, and may even inspire some to pick up a pen and write poetic verses.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Green Day in Brisbane

Travel | Posted by admin
Nov 02 2009

Being in Sydney over 3 months, this last leg of our Australia trip seems to be going fast, even though we have 2 more months to go! Today, we headed down to Surfers Paradise and then on to Byron Bay, and then come back to Brisbane for another whole week.

We haven’t really seen too much of Brisbane yet, even though I appears to be really nice. Two days ago, we just decided to hang low and stay in our room at one of the Brisbane boutique hotels . Then after only napping for about an hour, we went out and found a bar right in the city center and the Grand Prix was playing on the huge screen. After having a few drinks and watching the Grand Prix, we, still had pretty much of a lazy hazy day. We walked about the city a bit, grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to our hotel for the night.

Yesterday had more happening. We hired a car and drove to the Glasshouse Mountains and then on to The Big Pineapple. The Glasshouse is a series of volcanic plugs formed when the lava cooled. Captain Cook named them, he thought they resembled the glass foundries that were just outside his home town of Yorkshire. As for the native Aboriginals, these mountains are extremely significant and have something to do with Dreamtime. They named the plugs, Tibrogargan, Beerwah, Ngungun and Coonowrin. I think I like Glasshouse Mountains better.

After a short hike in the Glasshouse National Park, we drove north to the Big Pineapple, it’s definitely a tourist destination and Queensland has turned it into a theme park. It’s free and we went inside the pineapple and there’s a shop inside, naturally.

We drove on to Sunshine coast and drove all along the coastline, which takes us back to Brisbane. We made it back in time to go see Green Day and Simple Plan perform in concert. What a nice way to end a day.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

India Has Beautiful Beaches and Great Cultural Heritage

Travel | Posted by admin
Oct 28 2009

Bob and Carole have been avid travelers since the youngest of their four children left home for college. They spend at least a month in a new country every summer and each summer they argue over where they’re going to go. The first year was the worst due in part to the newness and freedom of the whole thing and also because they both felt just a little displaced without having a house full of kids to look after. Just a year ago they argued over whether or not to visit Spain or Germany and each of them was passionate about his and her chose.

Oddly, as this summer approached it was not so much the country as to the specific region within it that they would visit that caused the most discussion. Bob and Carole agreed that they would love to visit India, but the country is so vast and diverse that each of them thought of different regions to explore. And as each one stated their argument and new city was brought to mind and put on the table.

It is actually pretty easy to see their difficulty. Carole was extremely attracted to Goa and was eager to spend her days on the beautiful beaches for which it is known. Bob liked this idea but was more attracted to the urban aspect of one of the India 5 star hotels in Delhi. He was also extremely interested in visiting some of the beautiful temples in and near Delhi as well as the historic forts that are found there. At about the time Bob was extolling the significance and intrigue of the Red Fort Carole suggested they spend their time Mumbai where they could visit the Jehangir Art Gallery as well as the Elephanta Caves, which she was eager to explore. Ultimately Bob got to have the final word because he reminded Carole that she ended up getting her choice last year when they went to Berlin.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

4 Star Hotel Upgrade Makes Us Happy

Travel | Posted by admin
Oct 27 2009

We just got so luck to be upgraded to a four star New York hotels today. We had a horrible time getting here. Seemed like everything that could go wrong today did and I thought a couple of times we were not going to be making the flight and getting to New York today.

It all started this morning when I got up to find the cat had thrown up all over the living room carpet the night before. It nearly made me sick as I stepped into a big pile of it in my bare feet on the way to the kitchen to get some coffee. Well off to a great start I thought. I know the cat knows we are going away today and this all his plan at some revenge! Well after cleaning up the mess I was running a little behind, but not bad everything else should be OK.

Well then the next shoe fell. When I went out to put the bags in the car to head to the airport the back passenger tire was flat. Flat to the ground, dead flat, no hope in pumping it back up so there I was changing a tire before heading to the airport. I got that done and got myself cleaned up from changing the tire, got the bags in the car and headed to the airport. Now we are running a little latter than I like.

Arriving at the airport we got the car parked after some delays in traffic and now it was less than an hour before the flight takes off so I was thinking we just might not make it if something else goes wrong.

To make a long story short after a brief scare that we forgot the plane tickets, but did find them we go on the flight and made it to New York as planned. The we get to our hotel where we have our reservations and found out they had given our room away. Even tho we had reserved it with a credit card. Well after some arguing and the desk clerk making phone calls we find ourselves in a beautiful 4 star hotel a nice upgrade from the previous hotel and at no additional expanse to us.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Traditional South African Food

Travel | Posted by admin
Oct 22 2009

When traveling through South Africa, there are many choices when it comes to restaurants that type of cuisine.  In the larger cities you may find some very great Chinese places as well as Indian and Italian.  Anything from sushi to a MacDonald’s hamburger and french fries.  But to go to these restaurants often, is a shame, because many of the flavors and the dishes exotic to the Western palate are just to incredible to not experience.

It is my suggestion to find a traditional restaurant, either in the local market, in someones private homes, or in one of the best hotels.  South Africa chefs do often open up their living rooms to tourists and prepare home cooked meals that are full of flavor and spice.  This may not be suitable for everyone, unless you do bring along your sense of culinary adventure.  Some dishes–which will even make some South Africans turn away, include fried grubs and caterpillars, crocodile meat steaks and the heads of goats and sheep.  This is however part of the traditional food in some areas and things like this are eaten throughout the week.

Some of these “strange” food ingredients are used only for certain occasions and celebrations.  But be certain that there are many more less adventurous ways of eating in the country.  One of the staples in the country, for road trips, back pack excursions and rugby matches is something similar to beef jerky.  This is salted and dried meat called biltong.  Babotie is much like Shepherd’s pie, and the traditional South African Barbecue is called Braai.  This is made using a meat sausage made by hand called Boerewors.  Many tourists find this BBQ quite suitable to their palette, their mindset, and often times come back for second helpings.

Through history, the food and the recipes were influenced by what could be hunted, or farmed each day.  But with the travelers who have been coming through the country in the early trade routes, such as the Dutch East India Company and the spices brought from Java, to current times and immigration and tourism, there are have been many factors that have shaped the food of the country.  It would do one’s soul good, to stay away from the MacDonald’s, and go with the local food of South Africa.

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

Spinner Dolphins on Big island Vacation

Travel | Posted by admin
Oct 21 2009

A top sight of big island vacations is the spinner dolphin.  Also known by its Hawaiian name Nai’I, it has anywhere from about forty-five teeth to about 65 five teeth that are actually quite sharp.  It likes to eat squid, lantern fish, and shrimp among its diet preferences.  They hunt their prey in schools, employing that Flipper screech to locate various members of their group during a diving expedition.  They usually only go deep in the ocean for their food. The deepest they go is around three thousand miles.   Otherwise, these dolphins usually stay nearer to the surface of the water along the chains of the islands in Maui or Kaui.  Vacation packages to the islands are worth their expense because of the chance to see these dolphins.  Watching them come twirling out of the water is a fantastic sight, an absolute must for anyone who comes to Hawaii.

The reason for any dolphin’s popularity, not just the spinner dolphin is playfulness of this species.  They quite loving among their groups and play a lot.  The morning is their typical playtime.  After their fun time, they will take a kind of nap, which really more like a rest, together.  It is not only because they are affectionate, but also for practical reasons.  If they stay together, sharks are less likely to eat them during this period of time when they are vulnerable.  The actual sleep they get is not at all like the kind humans experience.  For one, only small portions of their brain are turned off.  They are not totally unaware.  They also during this rest time keep their whistling down.  As a result, their eyes are very important to them.  For this reason, the dolphins stay in very clear and clean bodies of water along the islands coasts.

The spinner dolphins in other areas do not come up to ships anymore because they have been hunted so viciously.  However, in Hawaii, they have been respected for many years, and have become a kind of emissary species for the island.  For about eight hundred years, the native people of Hawaii have known of these good-natured creatures.  Travel to Oahu or any other island is part of what had made Hawaii a memorable place by their welcoming flips in the air.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »