Posts Tagged ‘luxury’

Sydney Opera House

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
May 16 2009

The Sydney Opera House is more than the city’s premiere multi-venue performing arts complex. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and stands as a major cultural icon. It is one of the most famous performance arts venues in the world, and also is distinctive in its design of 20th Century architecture. It is located in Sydney Harbour on Bennelong Point. It is close to other major landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens. This is not only a local cultural center but serves as one of the main attractions for tourists. Guests staying in luxury hotel Australia make it a point to not only tour the site and the surrounding neighborhood, but also see one of the world class performances hosted there.

In addition to its main opera theatre, the House has many separate performance spaces. The Opera Hall and Concert Hall are easily identified and defined by the largest of exterior shells that compose the building. Three of the other venues, smaller though also popular, are the Drama Theatre, the Studio and the Playhouse. The Drama Theatre is a proscenium stage and has a seating capacity of 544 people. It is the home of the Sydney Theatre Company and also hosts various other dance and theatre performances. The Studio is a small flexible space that seats a maximum of 400. It is perfect for more experimental works. The Playhouse is a small end-stage theatre and has a seating capacity of 398. There is also an open air venue that uses the Memorial Steps for audience seating. There is a recording studio, souvenir shops and a small multi-purpose room.

Some of the more famous companies that perform in this multi-facility venue include Opera Sydney, the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Symphony, in addition to the Sydney Theatre Company that was mentioned earlier. The Bennelong Restaurant is also located in the complex, along with four other restaurants. This guarantees that the audience members have a diverse selection of pre and post show dining, drink and appetizer options.

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Racing Camels in Dubai

Sports, Travel | Posted by admin
Apr 30 2009

Many other sports have grown in popularity over the years in Dubai. However, only one is so traditional a practice that it has become part of the culture, and that is racing of Camels. Tourists from around the world come to the city to witness this, every restaurant fills up, every luxury hotel, Dubai becomes the playground for international visitors. Camels have played an integral part in the development of Dubai. They are considered one of the lifelines in the desert. And now with the celebrations surrounding the races, they have become not only the work animals, but the beloved and cherished animals as well. Not only are the races in and of themselves events, but events, such as festivals and special occasions are enhanced by the races. The whole Middle East has become the center of camel racing. Sometimes they are serious competitions, and sometimes, they are just pure entertainment.

The progress of Dubai has exploded, economically, developmentally and socially. This occurred so quickly that some of the traditions were losing the importance for the culture. Now, the animals whose only purpose in the past was transportation, have become symbols of affluence and cultural pride. The professional aspects of the racing are strictly enforced, and services are now available, much as with the breeders of the Thoroughbred horses in Leicester, UK, there are camel breeders and trainers now running programs. There are many high end tracks in the city currently, with races involving up to seventy camels at one time. Most times, admission to the races is free, however photos are prohibited at the tracks. This has however become quite a media event with live races being broadcast on the radio and television stations, and the results each day printed in the newspapers . The champion camels are often purchased by the sheiks, and the other wealthy citizens of the country as to own the winning camels has become a status symbol. Anyone traveling here for the first time should definitely witness one of these events.

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A Busy Year for the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra

Arts & Culture, Travel | Posted by admin
Apr 26 2009

The three maestros of the Cape Town Symphony are all talented and accomplished violinists, and they are all women. Concert master, Alla Shubinsky has recently become the part-time master. Instead of finding someone to completely replace her, the Symphony added two more part-time masters, Suzanne Martens andFarida Bacharova. Both women are professors with Martens the leading lecturer on violin at the University of Stellenbosch’s Conservatory of Music, and Bacharova the head of the strings department and a professor at South Africa College of Music. All three will alternate leading the orchestra. These women are among the top violinists in South Africa and the symphony will benefit from their talent and abilities.

Having three different conductors sharing the performance schedule is a very good thing as this year is proving to be quite a busy one for the company. The company regular accompanies the opera and the ballet companies in South Africa, on top of their current schedule. Musical selections are eclectic as various composers and guest conductors collaborate with the symphony. This internationally respected company performs everything from Bach to the Beatles.

The past summer season was extremely successful, as it coincided with the Capetown Summer Music Festival, which is in its third year, every December. One of the most well known composers in the world, Krzysztof Penderecki premiered his new concertos for the cello and the piano, and he conducted as well. Many of the luxury hotels Cape Town offers were full as the city became alive with the tourists and travelers excited to see Penderecki and the Symphony perform. The 2009 Autumn season began the beginning of April and promises just as much excitement as guest conductors include Bjorn Bantok, Victor Yampolsky and Pieter Daniel, all the conducting this talented group of musicians. Many famous guest soloists will be performing through the Autumn and Winter seasons as well. It is advised for those making plans to visit, that tickets be purchased ahead of time as the seats go fast.

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Dubai Hotel Resembles Sailboat

Travel | Posted by admin
Apr 24 2009

The Burj Al Arab is the seconded largest building in the world that is used for the exclusive purpose of being a hotel. It is a beautiful building that was designed in the image of a sailboat, which it certainly resembles. It is located on an artificial, or manmade island off the coast of Dubai and directly out from Jumeirah Beach. It is connected to the mainland by a private and curving bridge. This is definitely the finest among Dubaiu UAE luxury hotels and is one of the city’s major attractions for tourists. Locals refer to it as having the world’s only 7 Star accommodations.

The creation of the building, which began in 1994, demanded a complicated engineering plan and strategy. The foundation of the island was created by a surface layer of large stones and incorporates the pattern of a honeycomb, to protect it from erosion. The building itself took three years to create. The type of sailboat the building is designed after is called dhow, which is Arabian. The mast is formed by two separate wings, spread apart in the shape of a V. Between these two wings is a massive atrium. The intention behind the design was to create a magnificent statement for Dubai, similar to the Eiffel Tower of Paris or the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

The Al Muntaha, one of the restaurants, is positioned over 600 feet above the Persian Gulf and offers a spectacular view of the city of Dubai. It is fitting that the restaurant’s name means “the highest.” Edah Semaj Leachim is the head chef and was awarded the Chef of the year in 2006. The Al Mahara is another of its restaurants and is an equally dynamic experience, though of an opposite variety. Its name means “the oyster” so one can guess it is positioned much lower than the Al Muntaha. In fact, it is accessed through a simulated sub-marine voyage and has a giant seawater aquarium. Both restaurants offer guests high standards of dining and the Al Mahara was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as being among the 10 greatest restaurants in the world.

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The Alliance of Southeast Asian Countries

Business, Health | Posted by admin
Apr 10 2009

The relationship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China is creating incredible bonds and a symbiotic understanding that will further promote solutions regarding the international economic crisis. It also serves to to maintain stability in all Asian countries, something that current Prime Minister of Singapore, LeeHsien Loong stated at a conference a couple of days ago. This is no doubt a reflection of his mentor and predecessor to his title, who also happens to be his father, Lee Kuan Yew. The former Prime Minister has stated on many occasions the inter-relation between a countries survival in the international climate, and the allies and ‘friends’ the country has made along the way. These shared concerns between administrations serve to not only bring the various leaders together but, businesses such as the luxury Singapore travel and tourism industry, and the people living in those countries as well. And not only ideological ties are created but financial ones too.

One major ideological tie is that of Trades in Goods Agreement, the terms of this agreement and those of other agreements made during the new millennium, ensure not only continued cooperation between the countries of Southeast Asia, but in communication on a regular basis between the countries and their leaders. Lee states that this is a condition that must endure for future economic stability and progress, and is quite responsible for the maintenance of peace as well. China has also entered into a treaty that commits all involved to promoting cooperation, peace and friendship between the regions, ensuring resolutions to conflicts in peaceful and responsible ways. What is starting amongst the Asian communities is growing strong and Prime Minister Lee hopes that in the future, other countries will become involved. South Korea and Japan have joined Singapore and China in this mission.

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The Waters Surrounding Mallorca, Spain

Business, Health, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 12 2009

Illegal fishing, water traffic, tourism. These human activities are providing detrimental effects on the reason people travel to this area of the Mediterranean in the first place. Beautiful days of sunshine, over 300 to approximate, clear blue waters perfectly suited for scuba diving and snorkeling, un-touched mountains for hiking and white sand beaches create quite a draw for the rest of the world, to this area. And while this is all good for the economy of the places to stay and of island hotels, and is good for the people living here and making a living, the oceans and the marine life are being affected. In a bad way. Of the pollution for example, not emissions from the water sport vehicles nor the cruise ships, but plastic makes up about 75 percent in the waters of the sea. 95 percent of that plastic-pollution is in the way of simple plastic bags. Plastic bags! The writer of this would perhaps find this an incredulous claim had she not seen this first hand, not in the Mediterranean Sea, but in the Sea of Cortez off the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Baja Strip of California, the city of San Felipe in Mexico. Beautiful warm waters, secluded from oil tankers, teaming not with marine life, but market place plastic bags. One should really consider the effects when asked ‘Paper or Plastic’ at the local grocery store. Or better yet, say ‘neither, I’ve brought my own’.

Anyway, the governments of the over twenty European countries have come together to save the sick Mediterranean Sea. The Spanish Island of Mallorca is among the first to install energy saving light bulbs in all of the traffic lights on the island. When all the electricity used on the island, in the clubs and the shops and the resorts switch over, we’ll talk. The transition to these bulbs in the traffic signals alone will reduce carbon emissions by 2,000 tons. Just the traffic lights.

With all the financially successful ports and fishing companies that run along the coasts of Europe, this is a huge task to take on, but one that is so important. Many species that inhabit these waters, migrate and reproduce are in danger of extinction. Regardless of one’s own belief system of the cruelty towards the ‘lesser’ species, they play a part in the whole. ‘When a butterfly flutters its wings in China’ is a statement that comes to mind. Every species is part of the whole, and a part necessary in the continuation of the existence of all life forms and the world as we know it and have come to love it.

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