Bob Travel

There’s a spectacular sense of being dazzled that is particular to Singapore.  This unusual island city state is a fantastic location for tourists, offering the whole array of attractions that travelers expect in a world class city.  There are magnificent hotels, excellent shopping, and superb restaurants, from Japanese to Italian and so much more.  Its long history as a major trading port means that it has a great sense for hospitality, and an ability to treat guests to a wonderful time.  It is also one of the cities in the world where eastern and western culture mixes rather freely, and rather splendidly at times.  There is a great love of pop culture from all over the world, but of course, Asia in particular, and there is also a deep sense of high culture as well.

The port status is partially responsible for the cultural porosity, since it has been a place where cultures do come to meet.  Ingredients from all over the world are available here, which is one of the reasons why the food is so good.  There is also a sense of artistry that enters into the culinary world, as well as many other layers of society.  Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences are very apparent here, and there is also a very strong current of influences from Japanese society.  Some of the most splendid innovations in world pop culture come from the way Japanese pop is blended with Singapore sensibilities.  This is one of the reasons why cosplay in Singapore.

Cosplay is a contraction of costume play, and it refers to any public display of costume that is not specifically, or formally theatrical.  Nov Takahashi, of Studio Hard in Japan, is credited with coining the term, in 1984 at a science fiction convention.  Its close alliance with sci fi culture is still very strong, and most of the personas that people don come from Japanese manga.  It is sometimes seen as a frivolous activity, but it also seems to be extremely fun.  Kids who engage in cosplay talk about how they get to turn into superheros for awhile, and there is also a lot of gender reversal.  Generally speaking, it’s a way of making identity more fluid, and is absolutely fascinating to witness.  But more fun to participate.

The benefits of having a hot tub are numerous, and many of these are discovered as you start enjoying your hot tub with family and close friends. The health benefits are really very exciting, and there are so many reasons for going outdoors and enjoying a lovely soak. There is something particularly beneficial to the combination of hot water and moving jets, that improves circulation, gets the heart going, and may actually produce some of the physical benefits of aerobics. Relaxing as a form of exercise has a certain appeal, for sure, and portable hot tubs are the way to enter into these possibilities. There are also wonderful side effects that help the body to sleep more deeply, but to get these side effects, you’ll have to make it a part of your routine. It’s not difficult to consider the idea of pleasure at the end of every day.

There are also beautiful possibilities for entertaining when you have your own portable hot tub. For many people, the connection between the smell of the hot tub mixed with the smell of barbecue is heady and brings back terrific memories. And now the possibility of creating your own memories is right at your disposal. It’s also very convenient, because you won’t have to prepare very much, and there will be evenings when dinner gatherings might erupt spontaneously. There are plenty of social pluses to hosting a Summer grill and hot tub party, but there are also health benefits as well, and it’s possible to maximize the benefits by learning how to grill for health.

Grilling for health means being conscious of what happens in the cooking process. There are ways of preparing meats to insure that their nutritional potentials are unlocked, while also removing the carcinogens. Some of these methods are as delicious as they are health-conscious, such as adding soy, vitamin E, or garlic and herbs. Also, marinading the meat before grilling, in a thin sauce, and it’s much better if it’s homemade. There are extraordinary things that can be done with fruits and vegetables on the grill, and these are always healthy, grilled or not grilled. You can combine the benefits of moderate sun exposure, relaxing the body in very warm water, as well as healthy food with that special taste that only the grill can provide, and make for an extremely pleasurable experience on a lazy Summer afternoon. Good just got so much better.

There are some places that naturally attract the allure that commands a five-star hotel.  Goa, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, is certainly among them.  Our hotels will put you in the center of this place of natural wonder, where you can enjoy the gorgeous beaches, a lively urban center, and access to nature centers all at the same time.  Children of all ages will enjoy the special attractions that take place in the reserves, where wildlife of all sorts can be seen close up, in a setting that is as educational as it is entertaining.  In the midst of this fascinating paradise, our hotels add another level of pleasure.  Meeting the highest standards in the industry, you will find yourself surrounded by luxury, in the midst of natural splendor.  Life was never so good!
Goa has been a main attraction for a few decades now, experiencing a tremendous growth in tourism in the 1960s, when counterculture explorers came looking for enlightenment and beaches.  This was the beginning of a very strong party scene in Goa.  Though it is not everywhere, the parties can be easily found, and techno music can be heard until dawn at some of the more lively clubs.  Goa trance takes its name from a kind of pre-techno electronic music that combines modern musical technologies, altered states of consciousness, and local influences from classical Indian music.  The scene is strong enough that it is the subject of Venkat Prabhu’s next release, titled Goa, appropriately enough.
Prabhu, who directed the very successful features Chennai 600028, and Saroja, is one of the hottest Tamil directors working today.  This new effort will be a side-splitting comedy, by all accounts, and will take on the reputation of Goa in popular culture and give it some new twists.  In the style of sexy teen comedies, this is a story of young men on holiday in Goa, who get into a particularly perilous situation.  The film will star Jai and Vaibhav Reddy, among other top names, and will also star Sneha, in a role that was once being considered by Jessica Alba.  In the tradition of feature films being made in other locations, Goa is filmed in Malaysia.

For the adventurous traveler in Formentera, car rental is an excellent option, and a splendid idea.  Car rental will allow you the freedom to explore this amazing place on your own, at your own pace and on your own terms.  There is so much to see, and so many natural attractions, that the days will be much freer, and there will be more room for spontaneity if you can travel the island with your own transportation.  Island living is something else, an enviable way of life that embraces warmth, adventure, relaxation, and inspiration, and this is an excellent way to taste the island the way locals might.  The views on all parts of the island are stunning, and your own transportation means stopping as often, and for as long, as you like.

There are fantastic things to see all year long, excellent beaches and exquisite restaurants, more populated areas and areas that speak of another time, and all of these are suddenly accessible when traveling in a car.  There are also marvelous festivals here, and one of Formentera’s most successful festivals is Posidonia.  Posidonia began as idea in 2004, where artists and professionals wanted to hold a cultural festival with music, art, and performance, with an emphasis on ecology.  Because of Formentera’s natural beauty, they wanted to draw attention to its delicate balance, and promote environmental sustainability, so, with municipal support, the festival became a reality in 2008.

The festival’s newness is one of its primary attractions.  Visitors here participating in the Posidonia Festival can be part of the origins, and watch musical acts infusing the festival with a fresh and vibrant energy.  The three-day festival features some of the hottest musical talents from Barcelona, and also hosts a number of fascinating workshops, some suitable for all members of the family, as well as discussions, talks, live performances that include musical theatre and puppetry.  This is an excellent way to learn about environmental sustainability in the region, educating and entertaining all the members of the household.

People provide endless entertainment when being watched unknowingly so. There are so many great places for people watching. Malls and shopping centers, watching people look and make selections. Seeing what appears to be drawing them into one shop as opposed to another. The interaction between family members, friends and partners. The scene is ever changing and always entertaining! Watching people as they travel is fun too. Rushing thought the airport noticing the differences of behavior from the experienced traveler to the novice, the business traveler verses the tourist. All have a different look, a different demeanor and gate as the pass through the airport to their flight or their airport hotel. Busy streets offer more opportunity for people watching. I find it fun to see all the people how they dress and imaging what they are going. To work, to meet a friend, shopping, having lunch or just out for some air. It is always fascinating to watch the stream of  humanity go by. Over and over again I watch people, never getting tired of doing it. In upscale areas people are dressed nice and seem to need to act stiff and proper as if constantly being judged and watched. In areas of owner income people appear more natural, casual dress, doing what comes natural without care about who or if anyone is watching. Children are particularly fun to watch, they don’t care if they are being watched or not. Always spontaneous and honest. No filters through which their experience will be colored. It is just raw simple emotions and reactions to events right there and then. Running and playing learning about the things around them that they are interacting with. Always a learning experience to watch as well, learning to be as wondrous of life and the things around us as they are. Always fun, never a cost people is a great way of passing the time and have fun without spending a dime.

Canberra, the capital city of Australia is literally a city built within a park.  This city was intricately planned and designed, as very few of the cities of the world are.  Consequently, one will be constantly surrounded by the seasons, be it the gold and red of autumn, or the colors of the rainbow in spring and summer or snow capped mountains in the winter.  Quite a bit of the parks contain plants and trees indigenous to the country, so one has the feeling of being in the natural wilderness, even in the middle of a modern and thriving city with boutique shops, trendy bars, and hip restaurants.  Canberra also has many activities for children as well as a full calender throughout the year of festivals, celebrations and events.  artistic city as well, there are many musicians, painters, photographers and writers, that offer tourists a chance to view through the eyes of the local artists, the charm, the beauty and the history of the lovely, little city of Canberra.

The Canberra Museum offers visitors a look at the history and the culture.  The museum also offers classes for adults and for children, in the traditional arts and crafts such as pottery making, jewelry and painting.  One of the markets, if one is interesting in the shopping in the city, that features the artwork, including crafts and furniture is the Old Depot Market open every Sunday.    This is not only a great place to find treasures to bring home, but a great way to mingle and to feel the culture in a very alive and interactive way.  Many of the galleries and museums located in the city offer just that, a look into the way of life of the people who exist here.  Many exhibits and permanent collections offer insight into the political history, the character, and the transformation of the country from an unexplored outback to the multicultural and modern continent it has become.  And for the performing arts, the city is a buzz as well, with regular performances by theater companies, the Australian Ballet and the School of Music.  There is much to discover in this Australian city in the park.

Traveling in this economy is still possible.  Many businesses are offering discounts such as the airlines and the restaurants, and even in New York City one can find a good deal on a room in a hotel.  Central Park is one of the many locations wherein most of the fun to be had there does not cost a penny.  During any season one chooses to visit, there are activities in the park that fit the budgets of many of today’s travelers.  During the springtime and the summer months, the fountains burst into life and the flowers in the gardens bloom.  Sheeps Meadow becomes lush and green and many will spend the days sunbathing, picnicking, playing Frisbee, or keeping an eye on Pale Male’s next for the first glimpse of the hatching hawks.  There are many free concerts and theater shows in the Park during this time as well as the Summer Cinema Program.  For those traveling with children, one option is the Central Park Zoo, which is open to the public and admission is free.  And during the winter months many come to Central Park and ice skate at the Wollman Rink.
Other free or inexpensive ways to visit and sight see are a plenty.  Simply walking through Washington Square park can be a beautiful, and entertaining way to spend an afternoon, as around every curve of the walkway there is someone playing guitar, performing street theater such as mime shows or magic acts, as well as the drummers that produce incredible rhythms simply using their plastic tubs turned upside down.  A fifty cent ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a great way to catch incredible views of the Statue of Liberty as well as the New York City Skyline.  And for those who enjoy walking tours, along with so many of the neighborhoods such as the Village or Chelsea, one can take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  This is a must do walk for anyone, especially for those with an eye for photography and structural wonders.  And then of course, there is the quiet view of the entire island from atop the Empire State Building.  The best time for this excursion is at dusk, when the lights of the city are just starting to twinkle.  Traveling these days should be relaxing and stress free, and there are many ways to find those experiences, even in a city such as New York.

Many people travel to the state of Rajasthan because of the color.  Carrying the reputation as India’s most vibrant and colorful regions, evidence of this is all around, in the textiles and the crafts of the people of the state.  Markets are a fabulous venue for finding what ever it is one needs or wants, and the concierge at ones luxury hotels Rajasthan will have many options for one to choose from, and will often know the best spots to go for variety and for bargain shopping.  One of the signature forms of the artisans of this region is the art of block printing on the materials such as shawls, scarves, and clothing.  The blocks are finely carved works of art in and of themselves, a tradition that immigrated from Gujarat and then on through the other cities such as Jaipur, Pali and Barmer.  Traditional techniques involve the use of dye made from vegetables, however today, many of the artists do use chemically produced dyes.

The popular designs for this printing are those of animals, figures, birds and goddesses and gods.  This is an art form that requires attention to detail and accuracy and is known as one of the most arduous and time consuming forms of arts and crafts produced in the region.  The material is spread out flat, and the ink is applied to the blocks.  Enough ink must be on the blocks to allow the artist to make the continuous and interweaving patterns.  The ink prints are then usually covered in a wax substance to protect the integrity of the design while the material is being dyed.  The final stages involve the washing of the work, the sun drying of it, and then the ironing.  Some of the printers coming to the city have brought with them techniques and designs, and floral block prints are now becoming a popular design as well, in the markets throughout the state of Rajasthan.

Walking through the streets of Melbourne is a fantastic way to soak in the charm and the vibrant edginess of this Australian city.  The diversity surrounds one as the neighborhoods and the architecture, from a pre-colonial Victorian era Melbourne luxury hotel, to the trendy punk rock club just next door.  One of the most trendy, alternative and artistic neighborhoods is Fitzroy.  Much as in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago or the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, Fitzroy is where the bohemian cultures live and work.  There are many theaters and galleries located along the streets and this section of Melbourne provides most of the venues for the Melbourne Fringe Festival each year.  The festival runs through the entire month of September with plays, art openings and musical shows happening throughout the days and nights.

One of the most happening streets in Fitzroy, is Brunswick Street.  There are many quirky second hand stores, antiques shops and book stores.  Murals decorate the walls of the buildings, and the street is home to many artists, who often have the doors of their studios open and welcome those coming through looking at their work.  There is an open air market that takes place each Saturday, the Rose Street Market of artists, wherein one can find treasures amongst the works of more than seventy of Melbourne’s artists and clothing designers.  And of course, there are many bars, pubs and coffee shops, that are busy just about every hour of the day, and night.  One may find an all day breakfast restaurant in the neighborhood, and the nightlife is hopping.  Gertrude Street is famous for retro-clothing stores and contemporary art galleries.  Many speciality book stores are located on Gertrude, and there is here as well, many choices in restaurants and cafes.  Smith and Johnston Streets are a haven for vegetarians, as the variety of cuisine ranges from whole foods, to Moroccan to Greek and Mid Eastern.  This is also the Spanish sector of Melbourne, so the tapas and the flamenco shows are abundant.  This is one neighborhood that has quite a bit to offer in such a small area.

For those who are looking for a beautiful 5-star hotel, Majorca has something special in store for you.  Our hotels are situated in one of the most exquisite places on earth.  So not only are you sure of accommodations that meet the highest standards of the industry, you will also be spending time in one of the most coveted landscapes.  Our hotels have an excellent reputation for combining old-world hospitality with new-world amenities, bringing tradition and innovation together with precise Spanish style.  Majorca has a long reputation for travelers from around the world, and for centuries people have been coming here to ease both body and mind.  It has quite a list of famous visitors, and still attracts celebrities and artists from all over.

The night life here is really vivacious, and that in part would explain the appeal to the celebrity attraction.  The island is also one of the most picturesque islands on earth, and that would certainly help explain the appeal to painters.  One such painter, whose works might draw you in to Majorca faster than a photograph, is Malaga’s Jaime Rodriguez.  Currently a professor of ecology at the University of Malaga, his paintings are only a part-time obsession, and his other interest is in playing classical guitar.

One can find the work of Jaime Rodriguez through google’s paintmap project.  This is a way for painters from around the world to download their landscape portraits of places on the globe, and is a way to compliment images from google earth.  The result is a stunning and heady version of where we live as seen through hundreds of artistic visions.  His work on Majorca is made with rich swaths of color that make the street scenes really pop, to give them a distinct aliveness, yet also maintaining a feel for antiquity.  They are evocative of a kind of distant calm, provoking a yearning for something unattainable but almost in reach.  They also show an ecologist’s concerns, with subject matters ranging from windmills to buildings that fall out of use, and make the viewer aware of larger concerns while maintaining a quiet and seductive beauty, that is Majorca.

The weather was so wonderful for our short trip to New York City, so we checked into one of the Best Manhattan Hotels, and off we went on a bus tour of lower Manhattan called a bird-lovers tour of the East River and watched the Dominican National Parade on 6th Avenue. We got a great perspective of NYC from about 15 feet above the ground because to took an open-air, double-decker tourist bus. It really offered us a refreshing look at the City. I even recommend it to regular New Yorkers, it’s that fun.

We discovered new sights, colors, objects and even a different perspective. We giggled at all the different shapes of people’s heads from above. We were surprised to see the colors of leaves from inside the trees we passed and the variety of different shaped 2nd story windows. Plus, we didn’t have to view all the trash that’s on the ground. One guy almost got decapitated by a stop light, but he sat down just in time.

The double-decker took us in a giant circle of lower Manhattan. We could have taken the Upper Manhattan tour, but decided to see the Lower instead. We started in Mid-town and circled through the southern tip of the island. Our tour allowed us to get on and off as often as we wanted. It has 16 designated stops for a 24 hour period, so we were glad we started early to avoid all the crowds because the tops of the buses get full.

The Dominican National Parade was colorful and noisy. So lively and fun. There were tens of thousands of jumping screaming kids and cheering adults lined for 2 miles along the parade route on 6th Avenue. The Parade lasted several hours because of the many floats, and partly because some of the cross streets weren’t completely cut off, weird we thought. Are arms were so tired from waving at all the celebrities, politicians and other apparently important people, all of whom we didn’t know, but waved at them all the same. After the parade, we caught the double-decker back to Mid-town and conked out in our nice soft cool hotel beds.

To hold reservations for a hotel in Bali, Indonesia is a fantastic gift.  It portends a great deal of pleasure in the near future, where comfort and luxury are promised in a place where the good life is a practice and not an ideal.  The hotels here are excellent combinations of tradition and innovation, providing guests with cutting-edge amenities in an aura of island hospitality, where gracefulness is a value.  There are splendid opportunities to participate in activities that are fun for the whole family, and there is also a night life here that is really extraordinary.

Bali is an Indonesian island that has a long history of cultural diversity.  The contemporary Bali blends indigenous culture with Chinese and Indian influences, and this is evident in the performing and visual arts.  Visitors here should try to see some traditional and contemporary works of Balinese dance, as these styles are amazing spectacles that will stay in the memory for a long time.  One of Bali’s most famous dancers is Ni Wade Pujawati whose artistic credentials extend throughout the world, having performed in the U.S. and Europe.

Ni Made Pujawati was born in Bali, and used to sneak away to study dancing at night, until her family saw her perform, and then started to support her choice of life’s direction.  She studied at both the Indonesian Conseratory of Music and the Indonesian Institute of Arts, where she learned many aspects of performance, with a focus in dance.  She is currently based in London, where she operates her aptly named organization, Balinesedance, which is devoted to promoting Indonesian dance forms all over the world.  There are performances all over the world by Ni Made Pujawati, in Balinese and Javanese dance, as well as Balinese theatre.  Her work is increasingly more cross-cultural, and she works to make Balinese dance more accessible to “western” audiences.

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.

While there are many interesting cultural aspects of the island of Ibiza, it is extremely well known for its club scene and one of the main reasons it receives the great number of tourists it does every year. Of the four major Balearic islands, Ibiza is the third largest in size. However, the Ibiza night club and party scene is by far the largest of all the islands. In addition to he party and dj spinning dance music clubs, there are bars that feature live music, and even dive bars with sparkly populated local patrons, and quite restaurant bars that offer a fine dinner and drinks. Whatever one’s personal interest and persuasion, Ibiza’s dynamic nightlife offers something for everyone.

Some of the bars on the island are considered to be warm up venues for an all night crowd that will move on to attend a party or dance club later in the evening. These bars also attract people that just want a happy hour drink or two after having spent a day sight seeing or engaging in one of the numerous water sports available right of the beautiful beaches. In addition, most of the resorts have a lounge that is suited for a night cap or even works as one of the warm ups for those who want to get an early start before they even leave their hotel.

Bora Bora is one of Ibiza’s legendary beach bars. While there are numerous bars, nightclubs and restaurants that are either directly on the beach, or just removed from it, Bora Bora is certainly one of the most popular and famous. It features great music and is open early in the day, so beach combers can stop in for one or two in between snorkeling, swimming and surfing adventures. There is no cover at this bar, which also makes it attractive and allows people to come and go easily.

Beijing is an amazing and historic city in China. It also has the distinction of hosting the 2008 summer Olympic games. This is a time honored event that features the top athletes from all over the world. It was an extremely spectacular occasion, and featured entertainment aspects, as well as the sports. It was watched throughout the world, and many people traveled to China and stayed in one of the five star Beijing hotels in order to attend it. The opening ceremony was amazing and served as an appropriate introduction to this competitive and prestigious event. The winning star athletes usually go on to become major cultural icons in their own countries. This was certainly the case with Michael Phelps, the swimmer from the United States who won a record breaking 8 gold medals.

The Olympic Games occur every four years. There are medals awarded for the top three performers or teams in each event. This is an tradition that was first established in 1904. The first place winters receive gold medals, silver goes to second place, and third place receives bronze. At this time the Winter Games were also added due to the enormous popularity of the Summer Games.

London England will host the 2012 Summer Games, which will be the third time they have occurred there. The United States has hosted the games four times, the most recent being in 1996 when they took place in Atlanta Georgia. The modern games were established in 1894 at took place in Athens Greece. They were founded by Pierre Fredi wanted to support and promote international connections and understanding through competitive sports. These first games took place two years after Fredi established them, and included only 245 athletes, and only 14 countries. The Games no include over 10,000 participants from 205 nations.

We took a trip to Khao Sok National Park and spotted the best wildlife in southern Thailand. The trip was the easiest also, we aren’t in that good of shape, but my husband and I found the trip quiet enjoyable. We spent most of our time watching the monkeys play in the trees, we even spotted some tropical birds. A very comfortable adventure. We found the pace was slow and the main focus of our trip was truly the spotting of wildlife in some of Thailand’s highest mountains in the world called the Limestone Karst Mountains.

We were staying at a Beach Resort Thailand which was accessible to all the trips we wanted to take. Like south of Krabi, is Trang province. The journey is from one island to another. It’s relaxing and we noticed most of the tourist stayed in comfortable bungalows along the coast line. We found this to be another soft adventure and far from the crowds. Most of the islands are really not that visited by Westerners. It’s fairly underdeveloped, so it’s not much of a tourist attraction which suited us fine. The beauty of the islands, especially the limestone Karst cliffs and the headlands is well worth the trip even though it is underdeveloped for tourist.

But we were most please with the the bird sighting. Unbelievable and a very special treat. We spotted Hornbills, which are common here, but it’s the amazing amount of species of the Hornbill that we found astonishing. Like the Great Hornbill, the Bushy-breasted Hornbill, the Helmeted Hornbill and the Wreathed Hornbill. We didn’t have to be seasoned birder to enjoy the pleasure of birding in this tropical wonderland. But, not only did we spot birds, we heard and saw more monkeys, had numerous wild pig sightings, an elephant here and there, which we heard is uncommon to sight.

It’s  10 am Sunday in  Singapore and I decide to make a day of it. I first take a shower at one of the Best Hotels in Singapore and then dress appropriately enough which will suit any time of day. A nice summer dress with a jacket that can be worn or not, it depends on where I am.

First, I decide to have lunch at PS Cafe and order bacon and an egg with asparagus sandwich. I found to place to have a nice airy atmosphere which overlooks the greenery of Dempsey Road. Then after finishing one of the best slices of cake in town, I head for the Asian Civilizations Museum. I’m so glad I was wearing that summer dress because even before noon it’s hot. But, when I enter the museum, I’m so glad I have my jacket because the building is air-conditioned and it’s freezing inside. I got to see the collection of cultural relics and some of Singapore’s history. The highlight of the museum was the artifacts from Java’s early Hindu kingdoms, the beautiful Chinese porcelain and the Islamic art. I spent a good 3 hours inside and it was nice to walk off most of my brunch.

I went next door of the museum and ate at the exquisite Indochine which is right on the Singapore River. It’s a South-Eastern Asian fusion kind of cuisine. It was hard to choose what to eat, so many things sounded really good, like the shrimp and pomelo salad, the mussels with lemongrass or the French beef stew. I ended up ordering the spicy beef rendang and vegetables in a coconut gravy. Man, was I stuffed, maybe I didn’t walk off all of my brunch. So, I did some more walking and came upon Chinatown and I stopped in one shop offering to read my fortune and massage my feet at the same time!  My fortune was I’d meet a tall handsome man on my journey today. That sounded good to me!

So, I continued ‘my journey’ and headed on up to Mount Faber to take a cable car ride to Sentosa Island. The view over the sea was spectacular. Apparently, on Sentosa, I could play golf. Maybe that’s where I’d meet my ‘Tall handsome man’. I rented some clubs and went to the practice range to hit a bucket of balls. I spent well over an hour with no site of my handsome man. It was about dinner time and I was once again hungry. So, I took the cable car back and had a scrumptious dinner at East Coast’s outdoor seafood restaurant. Still all by myself, but then again, my waiter was a tall handsome man with a delicious smile. Alas, I still ended up coming back to my hotel room alone. All in All though, I did make a day of Sunday.

There is no question that among all the world’s 5-star hotels, Mallorca is in a class all by itself.  One of the most luxurious islands in the world, and home to one of the world’s most fabulous tourist destinations, Mallorca is famous for its incredible beaches and enviable night life.  The hotels are a reflection of the place, with amenities to suit any traveler, and a sense of elegance that is only found here on Spain’s largest island.  Guests looking to hide from the world and rejuvenate their senses will be well-rewarded here.

Mallorca has an amazing history, and some amazing people.  One of its current favorite sons is the young motorcycle rider, Jorge Lorenzo.  Although he just turned 21, the rider has already turned heads all over the world with his skill at riding on two wheels.  Born on May 4th, 1987, in Palma de Mallorca, Jorge Lorenzo began riding when he was just three years old.  He started competing at a young age as well.  In 1998, he won the Aprilla 50cc competition, even though he was only 11 years old.  The Spanish government gave him a special dispensation to compete in the 125cc race in 2000, which he also won, making him the youngest motorcyclist to win a European race.

He has since graduated to the 250 cc class in 2004, and 2006 and 2007 saw some of his most amazing wins.  He won world titles for both years, with nearly 20 pole positions to his impressive resumé, and in 2008 became the Rookie of the Year from MotoGP.  His reputation as a skilled rider is sometimes preceded by his reputation for spectacle, and a tendency to celebrate with an intense lust for life.  Jorge Lorenzo crashes well, and recovers spectacularly, and does everything with a panache that is unmistakably Mallorcan.

The Robeco Summer Festival of concerts, and the Grachten Festival are about to begin in Amsterdam.  Many festivals, music, art and culinary, occur throughout the summer months, and this is just two of many that will entertain locals and tourists staying in the five star Amsterdam hotels throughout the months of July and August.  The Dutch culture and the Dutch people are long known for their love and support of music.  Many musicians have come out of the Netherlands, and some of the best orchestras and symphonies have their homes here and perform regularly at the Concertgebouw, a theater known to be one of the best in the world for the acoustics.

The concerts scheduled during the summer months are often theme-based, with various series, even the smaller festivals, encapsulated under the same theme.  Often times the themes will include the birthdays or the anniversaries of the deaths of composers throughout history, with the focus being placed on their works.  There are also concerts specially designed for audiences of children, or high-lighting the music of international composers.  The music in this series is presented just about every night of the week throughout the months of July and August, beginning each night at just past 8 pm.

The Grachten Festival celebrates the music of the symphony and the opera, the classical side of the industry and the art.  In 2007, Nelly Miricioiu–famous opera singer, not only performed heart wrenching pieces each night, but also offered workshops and seminars.  Teaching and coaching the works of Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini opening up a world that may be unfamiliar to the general public or to young singers, along with the opportunities to witness these pieces performed each night.  Along with the classes, she spoke of her experiences, which is interesting to those wishing for a career following in her footsteps.  For music lovers around the world, this is one of the best times to be in Amsterdam.

In the past, hot tubs were considered expensive, a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford.  But in current times hot tub prices have come down as the advances in technology have made the manufacturing process more efficient and cost effective.  Prices range from very low, for the portable models, to moderate in the models that are installed into the ground or into thearchitecture of ones home.  This is making it possible for more people to enjoy the healthy effects that relaxing in hot tubs will provide.  For not only does it do wonders for relieving stress and easing the aches and pains of sore, tense muscles, there are proven medical benefits for those suffering from a wide variety of the common ailments of the modern world.

Hydrotherapy is fast becoming a treatment for physical and psychological challenges.  As mentioned previously, stress levels are reduced by soaking in hot, bubbling water, as well as those afflictions such as insomnia, anxiety disorders and chronic fatigue.  One of the forms of this kind of therapy involves soaking in water with the temperature between 90 and 94 degrees.  Each soak should be timed at between fifteen and twenty minutes only, and then a cool soak or shower is recommended, which serve to bring the rush of blood flow through the body.

This is a treatment for sprains and muscle tears as well, the hot then cold, then hot then cold serves to provide those injured areas with the blood flow necessary for faster healing times.  For sprains or issues dealing with the back, the water temperature should be raised a bit to around 102 degrees.  For those suffering a simple common cold, or those with the nerve disorder in the back, sciatica, no cool shower is recommended following the soak, just straight to bed for a restful and peaceful sleep.  There are many benefits to owning a home spa, and with such affordable hot tub prices, many people now can enjoy nightly rituals that will heal the body and the soul, and give one the energy to tackle the next day out in the world of work, and traffic and life.

When you think about home renovation you normally think about paints and what you can do to make the inside of your house sparkle and shine. Renovating your home inside could be as simple as purchasing a new paint color for some accent walls or trying out some new blinds in the master bedroom.

Something else that is normally the last thing to be thought about is the landscaping and what you will do with your outdoor living space. Because remodeling an outdoor living space can get quite pricey, you need to think about what you really want your backyard to have.

If you have a pool in your backyard, you may want to think about resurfacing it. It can be a lot cheaper than having a whole new pool made up for you. And if you have always wanted a spa, but can’t feasibly put it into the pool thinking about buying an above ground one.

Sites like the one of Steve Barbarich and choosehottubsdirect.com has luxury spas at great wholesale prices along with amazing customer service.

Also think about your outdoor cooking space as well. If you are person that likes to grill outside, you need to decide how you will encompass that into your new backyard. Do you want to have a whole outdoor kitchen unit built or just a simple gas grill or charcoal grill? It really depends on your lifestyle and where you are located in the United States.

The next thing you need to take into consideration is what kind of actual vegetation you want in your backyard. You need to maximize your space and properly use it. For example, are flowers really a good idea if your dog is just going to eat them? Decide if you want to put grass in your backyard or what kind of patio furniture you want.

It’s really all about making your space livable for you and your family.

The range of artistic venues in Madrid is vast, from the archaeological sites to the architecture of the Gothic cathedrals and churches, and the museums and the galleries themselves, this city showcases not only art, but the history of various periods as well.  The Madrid best hotels are located next to some of the Renaissance style architectural marvels of the world.  Just walking the streets of the city gives one a look into the styles of the cultures that have influenced the entire city over the years.  Much of the ruins that are still well preserved are the remnants of the two hundred year period of Arabic rule.  Many of the monumental structures and sculptures located in Madrid are the works of the Austrians, and one area of the city, is titled Madrid de Los Austrias due to the abundance of the work in the region.  This is one of the finest neighborhoods for sight-seeing exploration, as along with the main plaza there are many convents, churches and buildings that fill the streets with beauty and works of art from the Baroque time period.

There are many structures from the Neo-classical period of the eighteenth century, including the Sabatini Gardens, the Campo del Moro, as well as one of the most famous museums in the world, the Prado.  Located within the Prado are examples of some of the finest Spanish painters throughout history, such as Picasso, Goya, Velazquez, and Miro.  Located between two of the main roads in the city, the Paseo de la Castellana and the Gran Via, lies the newest district in Madrid, one filled with modern and avant-garde structures of some of today’s most innovative new architects.  The construction of this area has been taking place for the last one hundred years, and is now the center of activity, with many market places, eating and drinking establishments, theaters and hotels.  One can not fully appreciate the art of this city however, without entering one the three famous museums, the previously mentioned Prado, the Sofia Nat. Art Center, and the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum.  All the museums house not only the most famous artists of Spain, but those from around the world.  In all, the city of Madrid will leave one forever, with memories and insight into the amazing legacy and the world of art.

The city of Barcelona is home to many beaches, amazing architecture, some of the finest art museums in world as wells the top restaurants and night spot, and offers a variety of options for accommodation in the top Barcelona hotels.  The weather is temperate, with the Mediterranean offering relief when the summer temperatures get a little too warm.  If one is sensitive to the hotter weather experienced here, then the months of July and August should most certainly be avoided.  And while the humidity can tend to raise in a accompaniment to the raising temperatures, the beach breezes do offer relief and many of hotels are now equipped with air conditioning units.  Only one month during the year tends to cold in the winter and that is the month of February.  The rest of the year is filled with sunny mild days, and beautiful balmy nights.

Due to this fact, bicycling is one of the favorite past-times of the residents and tourists alike.  Many use the bicycle as their only mode of transportation.  Recently many of the roads and streets of the city have bike lanes added to the sides, providing more room and safer passage for those pedaling around town.  More plans are in the works for addition of bike lanes, as well as a project being undertaken to create more roads in general as the people of the entire country are taking steps towards healthier lifestyles, and environmentally friendly sets of wheels.  Paths run along the water ways for those wishing a more leisurely and scenic route, without the traffic and the noise, and a path the will lead one out of the city, for longer rides is just about completed.

For now, where the paths along the streets are not yet added, the cyclist must pedal with car and become adept at dodging the traffic on the busier city streets.  City planners have been taking additional steps to ensure that Barcelona becomes a more cycle friendly city.  During the weekday, commuters are allowed to transport their bikes on the Metro trains and during the weekend or holiday, and throughout the entire summer months of July and August, the commute is free from restrictions.  The city has also adopted the public bike share system that is becoming more prevalent throughout all the major cities in the world.  In all, similar to the towns with such moderate temperatures during the year, Barcelona is one of the best places for those that prefer and love to bike the streets instead of drive them.

The city of Spain that offers everything from incredible theater and dance performances, to live music and relaxation is the city of Seville.  Hotels are located close to many of the theme parks located in the city, creating a myriad of options for those traveling with children.  The Pavilions Theme park is quick becoming one of the favorite tourist destinations and promises hours of fun for the entire family.  The local bars and pubs offer perfect respite from the days spent in the crowded parks, and jazz is big on the music scene as well as the many restaurants and clubs wherein the famous nightly performances of the Flamenco dancers will entertain and inspire those with interests in world of dance and in the spirit of the traditional cultures and brightly colored, elaborate costumes.

Many tourists find themselves in the city over the Easter holidays, and quite honestly, this one of the best places to be during that time.  There are parades steeped in traditional and ritual ceremony that are not seen anywhere else in the world.  The Spring Fair coincides with the holiday and is held for two weeks just following the week of Easter.  This is an intense party that fills the streets with dancing, music and the feasts and cuisine of the region.  The parties are non-stop and the streets are literally filled twenty-four hours a day.

Another festival that surrounds religion and ritual ceremony is that of Corpus Christi.  The ceremony is filled with feasting, and originated more than five hundred years ago in the Barcelona.  The celebration made its way to the city of Valencia, then to Seville and now occurs throughout many of the cities in the country.  One of the most attended of the festivals occurs in the village Costa de La Luz, located close to the city of Valencia, in fact most traveling to this city fly into the airport in Seville, and then take a car for the short trip to the festival.  The entire region surrounding Seville has much to offer those wanted a taste of the traditional aspects of Spain, and festivals and fun happen all year long, there is never a bad time to travel to this city in Spain.

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.

Looking for the best hotels that rank up in the category of five-star?  Singapore has lots of options to keep the world’s most discerning travelers happy.  There is a splendid combination of old and new here that make for an exquisite and uniquely novel experience in accommodation.  Cutting edge contemporary design is coupled with details from antiquity, and this makes for a constantly unfolding sense of style that is hard to match in any other city.  Singapore is an extremely unique country, and its urban centers are concentrations of this unique energy, that make for a constantly interesting and vibrant cityscape.

There are artists and writers and intellectuals who haunt the streets here, making it a hotspot for urban culture.  Designers and fashion critics move together in concentric circles, commenting on culture and making culture.  And there are other individuals who work to make their lives a work of art.  One local who falls outside of every category and makes his own is Jeffrey Tan, the singing cabbie.  His cab is for rent for $35 an hour, and it’s not the luxury and style of his 4-passenger vehicle, it’s the driver himself who is the attraction here.

Jeffrey Tan sings.  He’s not like the cabdriver who sings to himself to a tune only he can hear, but his work is to sing for the passengers.  Sometimes billing himself as a kind of traveling karaoke bar, Jeffrey Tan can sing thousands of songs, in eight languages.  He specializes in keeping his passengers entertained, and has found a truly unique way to do it.  If you should get tired of his voice, he’ll plug into his state of the art karaoke machine and you and your party can do your own karaoke.  The possibilities here are staggering, and endless fun.  If your destination is often the journey itself, this might be one of those perfect details that make life worth living.

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.

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.

Visitors traveling to India will find the five-star Jaipur hotels to be exquisite in design and hospitality.  All your needs will be met here, for elegant food and intoxicating comforts, along with connectivity for the business-minded, and luxury for everyone else.  The city is one of the most popular visitor’s spots in all of Asia, and it may be a fine idea to take a break from the relaxation and rejuvenation, and see some sights.

The city is magnificent in structure and in form.  Vidyahar the architect of the city, designed it based on an eight-sided mandala (with one more side to reflect the planets).  The presiding deity of Jaipur is Govind Dev, one of Vishnu’s avatars, and based on the text the Vashu Shastra, this deity is located at the center of this mandala, a reflection of the arrangement of political power.  The mandala is a very old symbol, and to apply the symbol to a city was to arrange it so that the citizens would benefit from the flow of power represented in the structure.

A mandala is a very common but misunderstood symbol.  In simpler terms, a mandala is a circle, with designs decorating the outer edges.  These are very common throughout Hindu and Buddhist philosophies.  They seem, at first glance, to be very beautiful images that make nice decorations.  In essence, however, a mandala is a map for the soul’s direction as it passes from one plane to another.  To apply these principles, then, to a city, is to suggest that the citizens are inhabiting a divine place, and are making divine marks on their own journey through time and space in their daily lives.  These are some of the founding principles of the great city of Jaipur.

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.