Bob Travel » Culture

The Heritage Hotels of India

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:01:10 +0000

There are many historical buildings in the city of Jaipur. Many were at one time the residences of the various members of the Royal families, or houses of government. In modern days these structures become registered on the Heritage site, and many of these sites become locations for the heritage hotel. India has many such sites, and many are in the Pink City. The City Palace was once a complex, a bit like extremely luxurious condominiums of today, and the architecture shows evidence of the influence of the Rajput Rulers and the Mughals. There are monuments around the city and in the parks and gardens to these bygone kings and queens, many of whom may seen in the photographs collected and on exhibit in the Palace Museum. The Hawa Mahal is another location from the earlier times of the city and stands eminently in the Bazaar of Johri. This is said to be one of the coolest places in the city as the breezes have easy access through any of the nine hundred and fifty three windows in the structure.

There are many observatories throughout the city of Jaipur, as the early king was taken with the sky and the importance of the study of astronomy. Many of these were constructed by Jai Singh, with the most significant one being, the Jaipur Observatory. This designed with giant shapes of geometric patterns and curves, a testament to this belief in the need of an understanding of the science of astronomy. And although this was constructed hundreds of years ago, it reads as modern architectural designs of today. Amber Fort is another Heritage Site that is located on top of a mountain, easily accessible by car or by riding an elephant. The positioning of these building makes the best times for a visit during the morning hours when the sun is rising or at evening time as the sun is setting, as the light during this times is perfect for highlight the amber, the gold and the red hues in the designs of the building’s facade. These are just a few of the Heritage Sites in the city of Jaipur that must be visited on any holiday to the city.

The Heritage Hotels of India is a post from: Bob Travel

Ginkgo in New York

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:33:48 +0000

I came to New York just to see Central Park, oh and of course everything else in the 3-day I have here. Just on business, but I want to fit in as much as I can while I have the opportunity. I’m fortunate enough that my company put me up in one of the many Four Star New York Hotels
near Central Park.

I was amazed to find Chinese women in Central Park bending beneath trees. We I got closer, I could see they were gathering what seemed to be small plums. Me, not being shy, went up and asked them if those were indeed plums. They smiled politely at me and explained that the trees are Ginkgo trees which drop their fruit when ripe. I couldn’t believe it. New York has Ginkgo trees in Central Park? The ginkgo fruit has long been prized in China and I believe in Japan as a food and a medicine.

I was so fascinated that this tree is right here in New York and that these ladies knew of it’s precious qualities. I hung around them, like I can be a real bother sometimes, especially when I want to know things, and asked them all kinds of questions. They told me the Chinese name for ginkgo is ‘Bai-guo’, translates as the ‘white fruit’. They said it helps with digestion and improves circulation. They especially liked how it helps with the mental faculties of the elderly.

Then they really told me things I had no clue about. The ginkgo tree produces fruit by a mature female tree and the fruit really smells bad. They held one up for me to smell and it was like a cross between too strong of a cheese and vomit. Yeah, they were right! Stinks! So, these women can tell when it’s time to gather up the fruit, it’s when Central Park smells horrible. I think I’ll leave the picking to these wonderful women and try to find an area in the Park that’s not so smelly.

Ginkgo in New York is a post from: Bob Travel

Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:44:20 +0000

Barcelona is known for attracting both artists and tourists. It is an incredible global city located on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain. While its financial, entertainment and commercial trade industries account for its status as a global city, some of the incredible architecture of the city accounts for much of its fascination and attraction. Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who designed many of the buildings in what is known as the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. He is known for his unique style and was part of the modernist era. While he is not the only great architect to have designed buildings in the city, he is certainly one of the most renown and honored. The city’s buildings represent its diverse history and tourists staying in a Barcelona Spain hotel are often positioned in one of the historic buildings.

Gaudi was born in 1852 into a family with a long history of coppersmiths. Some of his designs in Barcelona include the lampposts at the Placa Reial and the Casa Mila. His individual style gained him early recognition and remains one of the reasons for his standing out through history. He went through many phases during his career and his later works are focused on religious themes and creations. He was a devoted catholic and late in life he abandoned his secular endeavors. The Sagrada Famila is considered to be his masterpiece.

The Casa Mila is better known as La Pedrera, meaning the quarry, and was constructed between 1906 and 1910. It officially considered to have been completed in 1912. It is located in the Eixample District of Barcelona, at 92 Passeig de Gracia. The building was designed and built for the married couple Rosario Segimon and Pere Mila. There was some conflict between city officials and Gaudi regarding the design and it was not strictly followed during the building’s construction. The owners were fined after its construction due to its having violated some of the city codes, such as height restrictions.

Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona is a post from: Bob Travel

Picasso of Malaga, Spain

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:23:56 +0000

Pablo Picasso is one of the most well known painters in history. His images are widely recognized throughout the world, and in his home town of Madrid, Spain, hotel walls, businesses and cafes are alive with the images of this son of the Spanish city. Many artists traveling through Madrid will often make the pilgrimage to the house in which he was born. This is now the site of the Foundation Picasso. On of more famous museums, housing much more of an extensive collection of Picasso’s work is located near by, the Palacio de Buenavista. This is one of the favorite locations of art lovers, fans of Picasso, and fans of modern art in general, located in the country of Spain. For not only are the images created by Picasso brilliantly colored and finely executed, the way that this man painted changed the course of the history of modern art. Picasso is considered as a true genius in the art world, and innovator of life.

When Picasso was growing up in Malaga, he was recognized by adults, including his father, as a young kid with incredible innate talent, a prodigy. His early work, much of it accomplished by the time he was still a very young man, is housed in the Museo de Picasso located in the city of Barcelona. His early drawings resemble and convey the three dimensionality and the details of sculpture. Picasso was somewhat of a young rebel, preferring to hang out in the cafes where the intellectuals and the working artist gathered rather than in school and art class. He later went to Paris where he fell in love with the works of his contemporaries, Courbet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Manet. Picasso was always one who appreciated, respected, and admired the works of the painters of his day, and although he was influenced by the work, he still succeeded in following his own path and creating his own unique style. His paintings now hang all over the world, in the museums and the galleries, however there is nothing so spectacular as the viewing of these works in the home town of the master painter who created them.

Picasso of Malaga, Spain is a post from: Bob Travel

Ravi Kumar Kashi, Bangalore Artist

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:20:04 +0000

For travelers looking for incredible four-star hotels, Bangalore has plenty to offer. With luxurious accommodations in a world-class setting, the sky’s the limit for relaxation. Room service is splendid and delicious, and guests will find themselves living in the heart of their own dream. A delicate combination of old and new marks the sense of style here, and the time here will be remembered for the sumptuousness of the decor. Impressive and also understated, there is a palpable sense of gracefulness that permeates the atmosphere here.

Bangalore itself is a fascinating metropolis. With one of the largest universities in the world, a technology sector that is extremely well-connected to all aspects of global culture, and a local population that is accepting and welcoming, yet still maintaining a strong sense of their own customs, Bangalore is a traveler’s feast. There is an urban core here that is strikingly local, but also oddly familiar. This kind of odd familiarity is at the heart of Bangalore artist Ravi Kumar Kashi’s works. Born in Bangalore in 1968, he still resides here, after having lived away off and on for a time. The sense of urban identity that is starting to define modern experience has always been present in his work, but his latest creations take this theme into another level.

He received his first degree from the College of Fine Arts in Bangalore in 1988. He has also earned an M.F.A. in Print Making from Baroda, an MA in English at Mysore, and, in 2001, studied handmade papermaking in Glasgow from a Charles Wallace India Trust grant. He has worked as a teacher in engineering, and is also working more and more as an instructor for visual arts. Although his work is shown all over the world, the paintings and paper sculptures of Ravi Kumar Kashi are shown extensively in Bangalore, New Delhi, and Mumbai. His work takes modernity as a focus, and adds some peculiar and wonderful twists. He says that he is extremely influenced by visual culture, as well as the culture of the everyday spectacle. Many of his paintings have advertising images as the center, but twisted and distorted to become comments on life in the world right now. His work has an immediacy and an energy that is distinctively his own.

Ravi Kumar Kashi, Bangalore Artist is a post from: Bob Travel

Dubai Culture and Clothing

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:42:01 +0000

Dubai is one of seven of the United Arab Emirates UAE and is the most populated city of the states or more commonly called emirates. It is located on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf of the Arabian Peninsula and borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. Islam is the major religious basis of the culture of Dubai. Mosques are found in every neighborhood throughout the city where locals attend prayer as often as five times a day. The Jumeirah Mosque is one of Dubai’s largest mosques and considered to be the most beautiful. It is modern Islamic architecture, the style being medieval Fatimid and is built of stone. Dim lighting in the Mosque casts an intriguing glow at night, playing up the artistic facets of this structure.

Native clothing of Dubai is well suited for the high temperatures in this area. The kandoura or dishdasha is a white, ankle length, loose fitting robe-like garment worn by the men. Their heads are covered for protection from the elements. Women wear long sleeved, full length dresses which are also called kandouras. Their dresses will usually have colorful embroidery and are worn with a black abayah which covers the entire dress. A shayla, which is a thin black veil that is worn over the hair, is worn by many women the majority of the time. Jewelry is also very popular with the women and a common accessory that is fitting for most occasions.

There are numerous, beautiful hotels where one can enjoy the hospitality of this area. One of the most famous Dubai UAE luxury hotels is the Burj Al Arab. The standard of excellence was established with the 1999 opening of this truly incredible hotel with its futuristic exterior design. With the many historic sites and cultural events as well as the future projects planned, Dubai is an interesting city to visit.

Dubai Culture and Clothing is a post from: Bob Travel

Mughal Emperors Buried in Delhi

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:46:26 +0000

Nasiruddin Humayun was the second of the Mughal Emperors who ruled parts of India, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was born in 1508 in Kabul, and succeeded his father in ruler-ship. This caused a bitter rival between Humayun and his half brother Kamran Mirza who would assume the ruler-ship of Lahore and Kabul. He was Emperor for a short period of time, though it was also an extremely significant and transitional era. He lost the kingdom at one point, as did his father, though he would regain it and the new kingdom would be even larger than before, spanning some one million square kilometers. His death left a substantial legacy for hisson Akbar the Great.

Humayun’s sister wrote a biography on the Emperor and characterized him as being extremely benevolent and lenient. He was known for his capacity for forgiveness. He was also portrayed as being extremely superstitious and had a great interest and fascination for the occult and astrology. Once he became Emperor, he reorganized the entire administration according to mystical principles and design. He also had the habit of shooting an arrow into the air. The arrow would have his name on it, or that of the Shah of Persia. Depending on how the arrow landed, he would interpret the results as indicative of whom was to become more powerful. Humayun was also known for his heaving drinking and consumption of opium pellets, after which he would recite poetry.

One of the stories that testified to his forgiving nature involves his youngest brother killing one of Humayun’s most trusted advisors, before leaving with an army headed to Agra. Humayun went his mother’s house and in her company as well as other women he swore that he would not hold a grudge against his brother and simply urged him home. This and other stories present him as a gentle and humane leader, and he was also known for his dislike of war. Humayun died in 1556 and his remains are in the Humayun Tomb in Delhi. This incredible complex of buildings is one of the city’s major landmarks and is visitedby the many guests staying in the Delhi five star hotels.

Mughal Emperors Buried in Delhi is a post from: Bob Travel

History and Art Represented in Delhi Landmarks

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:30:04 +0000

Delhi is an ancient city located on the banks of the River Yamuna in India. It is the country’s second largest metropolitan area and also ranks as the eight largest in the world. It is believed to have been continually inhabited from the 6th century BC or earlier. It should not be confused with New Delhi, which is the country’s capital and also lies within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. There are many landmarks, cultural traditions and art forms that are based on or representative of the city’s dynamic history. Tourists staying in the Delhi 5 star hotels are often struck by the incredible cultural heritage and ancient status of the city. The Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb are to landmarks that are extremely attractive to tourists.

The Red Fort became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. This is an incredibly beautiful building complex and showcases India’s high level of ornamental design and art oriented architectural style. The actual artwork contained there is a fusion of Persian, Indian and European styles and inspired the creation of the rich and colorful Shahjahani form. Because it demonstrates the long tradition of art significance, it is one of the most important complexes in India. The walls of the Fort have heavy stringed courses along the higher sections, though they are extremely smooth. The main entrance, the Lahore Gate, leads to the Chatta Chowk, which is a covered bazaar street. The walls on this street are lined with spaces for shops and stalls. Delhi Gate lies at the southern end of the street.

Humayun’s Tomb is a complex of buildings whose construction began in 1562. It was designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath and is located in Nizamuddin East. It is situated close to the Dina-panah citadel, which was founded by Humayun in 1533. The Tomb was commissioned by his wife, Hamida Begum. The Tomb contains the graves of numerous Mughal Emperors and was built from rubble masonry. It stands on an 8 meter high vaulted terrace and was the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome on a high neck drum. It is spread over an area of 12,000 square meters.

History and Art Represented in Delhi Landmarks is a post from: Bob Travel

Hard Hitting Kuala Lumpur

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:25:39 +0000

We knew we had arrived when we bumped into Kuala Lumpur; literally bumped. My husband and I left the Philippines flying with Air Asia. Previously my husband was extolling the benefits of travelling by air; it was after all our 8th flight, but this time, unexpected of course, we had a scary experience. The flight was almost 4 hours long, but right around hour 3 we were told to get ready to land at Kuala Lumpur. Well the cabin got all noisy with everyone wondering what was going on, my husband nudge me to look out the window and it seemed as we approached the buildings and trees and the countryside was unusually close. Also, we were coming in very fast. Then before we knew it, we hit the runway; we hit it near the end of the runway. We bounced a couple of times so hard we were thrown back in our seats from being bounced up out of our seats. Then the nose of the airplane rose and veered to the left. I was too stunned to scream. My fellow passengers must have been stunned also, because it was dead silent. Then, part of the interior structure of the plane came away and hit the people on the head in the row in front of us.

Someone from the crew ran from the back of the airplane to help out the struck passengers, but just as fast as this all happened it was all over. We were still moving down the runway, but at a very slow taxing rate. The aircrew was silent and their attitude was strange. My husband and I are well-seasoned travellers and we had hard landings before, but the crew always had some form of an apology or explanation, but on this occasion they said absolutely nothing.

As we headed off to one of the 5 Star Hotels Kuala Lumpur offers, we were somewhat apprehensive about our next flight with Air Asia and we were somewhat sore from the hard landing. So, we called ahead and arranged for our hotel to have a much needed massage ready for us in our hotel room when we arrive. A hard hitting massage sounds pretty good to us right now.

Hard Hitting Kuala Lumpur is a post from: Bob Travel

Spain’s Own Joaquin Sabina

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:13:09 +0000

Where in the world can one find the best five star hotels? Spain might have some answers, and if they’re not definitive, at least the search will be a true pleasure. Spain is one of the most romantic places in the world, from classical times to now. It may be the languages that are so enchanting, the island lifestyle that seems to dominate the country, or the intense conversations. There are also the heady pleasures that permeate the humidity like a welcome friend. Bullfights, red wine, rich and delicate foods, the land is made of myth and history.

Sometimes myth and history intertwine, like they do in the life of Spain’s celebrated singer-songwriter Joaquin Sabina. He is celebrated all over Spain, where most every local can sing at least one of his deeply poetic songs by heart, and he is also considered to be a treasure of the world all over Latin America, where he has toured extensively. Born in 1949, Sabina has become a true living legend. By the early seventies, he was already positioning himself as a political artist, with his intense opposition to Franco’s fascist policies. His father, a policeman, would ironically receive the orders to arrest his son, who was already becoming famous.

And very famous as a man who loves women, with several broken relationships already following in his wake. The formative years of his songwriting would see some 14 albums, and a very lucky break from CBS records. Some of his best-known albums are “Dimelo en la calle,” “19 dias y 500 noches,” “Yo, Mi, Me, Contigo,” and “Este boca es mia.” In 2001 Joaquin Sabina suffered a stroke following years of hard living, and he took a hiatus from performing, to follow three years later with “Alivo de luto,” a beautiful album that is deeply melancholy, terribly romantic, and lyrically complex, funny, and sad. In short, he’d come back from near death to live with gusto, and his recent tours are remarkable for the energy, gracefulness, and self-deprecating humor that guides his songwriting.

Spain’s Own Joaquin Sabina is a post from: Bob Travel