Bob Travel

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.

Because of it’s two National Parks and well over a dozen sanctuaries, Rajasthan is known throughout the world as the best viewing of wildlife. That’s why I have book a room at on of Rajasthan Luxury Hotels for a month. I’ve specifically would like to see a tiger in the wild. I’ve only seen them in zoos and they seem so lifeless and sad. I would like to see one in its full majesty.

I heard that Sariska National Park it internationally known for its tigers and I’ve read the latest data confirming that there are now 35 tiger roaming the forest. Of course, there are other predators including the panther, hyenas and foxes. Also there are the animals being preyed on like the chital, the sambhar, the four horned antelope, wild boar, nilgai, civets and the humble hare. I’m not too into birds, but the peafowl, the gray partridge, quails, white-breasted kingfishers, tree pies, grouses and the golden-backed woodpeckers are the forests resident birds.

When I arrived to Sariska, I found the landscape comprised of hills and narrow valleys creating the Aravali hill range. Sariskas topography supports a scrub-thorn arid forest perfect for the tiger. Dry deciduous trees, big rocks with ledges and tall grasses. The climate when I was there, I found to be erratic, it rained early in the morning, but only two hours later it became boiling hot with the sunshine barring overhead.

I didn’t get to see the tigers while I was there, but I did get to see the ruins of a medieval Temple of the Hindu God Shiva. The ruins of the Temple Garh-Rajor which was built in the 10th century and a 17th century castle build on a sharp hilltop at Kanakwari which provided an excellent view of Sariska’s avian inhabitants in full flight. I was disappointed about not seen a majestic tiger in the wild, but I did get to pet them in a tiger enclosure. Still it’s not the same, but then again I wasn’t on an elephant while walking in Sariska and from what I hear it the preferred way to see the tiger.

With beautiful beaches, incredible weather and a vast array of luxury hotels, Marbella is becoming the favorite destination for the rich and the famous, as well as the not so.  This village in Spain, some calling it the Spanish answer to St. Tropez, has gone through some changes, one of which is due to the previous mayor Jesus Gil.  Gil did what Daley in Chicago did, sponsored a massive project to upgrade the landscaping of the city, and the result is stunning.  And even though this has become a hot-spot for celebrities, there is still a side of Marbella that remains real, and down to earth.  Just walking throughout the alley ways and the back streets will illustrate that this is one town that holds onto and values their own particular individuality.

Orange Square is one spot that tourists will come upon during a walking tour.  This is said to be one of the most beautiful squares in the city, also home to the tourist office and the town hall.  Detailed maps are found here that will guide one on the rest of their journey of the streets of Marbella.  This area is also home to many art galleries, bistros, coffee shops and bars.  The activity in this square is happening day and night.  And should one visit at just the right time, when the trees and the flowers are in bloom, the colors contrasting against the blue sky will amaze and astound.  Many have chosen to make Marbella their permanent residence after a visit or two, especially those in the field of the visual arts, be they painters or photographers, once they leave they just think about coming back, and eventually just move here.

Coming off the square like spokes of a bicycle wheel, are smaller streets and alleys.  This area gives one the feel of being in tiny village, rather than a cosmopolitan city.  There are restaurants and local hangouts where one can strike up conversations with the locals.  Again, it is no wonder that artists find refuge, in the quiet and the creative inspiration, that is also located to a bit of action and life.  For all one needs to do should they desire a bit of modern interaction, is to take a stroll down the Avenida del Mar, where skyscrapers and classy nightclubs line the Costa, and the feeling in the air is celebratory and exciting.  In all this small town of Spain offers everything to the modern traveler, beauty and excitement, luxury and realness.

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.

Four-star Dubai hotels are stunning experiences in old-world hospitality in the heart of an utterly contemporary city.  Dubai is one of the global hotspots, attracting movie stars and entrepreneurs from all over the world.  The energy here is fascinating and contagious, with old markets and new shopping malls, and everything seems to be a recent invention.  There are many recent inventions, in this, one of the most populated cities in the Arab world.  Artists and intellectuals come here to re-invent themselves, and celebrities here come to hide from the definitions the world is creating for them.  The food and the culture are gorgeous, and the architecture is simply dazzling.

Locals and international visitors alike are caught by the range and imagination of architectural styles in Dubai.  First caught up by the visually delightful and seemingly impossible Dancing Towers, Zaha Hadid’s multi-use towers are extremely useful eye candy.  Now known as the Signature Towers, they serve as home to some of Dubai’s financial most influential financial organizations.  Likewise a stunning monument, the Burj Al Arab, or Tower of the Arabs, is meant to resemble a sail billowing in the wind.

These unique architectural experiments are not unique to Dubai.  What was a city less than one-tenth its present size just thirty years ago, Dubai has built itself up into something that is fascinating to behold.  As some journalists and cultural critics note, Dubai, the city, is able to construct itself and simultaneously define itself.  There are no controls over the growth here, because the city is literally in the middle of the desert.  There are no historical associations here, either, because human history has left very few footprints.  As a result, the architects and builders are free to move in whatever directions the culture might dictate.  So there are tremendously exciting works in progress, and interesting projects such as the Rek Jebel Al Jais Mountain Resort, which promise a unique opportunity for architects, and visually stunning new edifices for a new world.

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.

When I walked around Tenerife, I found that there are many examples of volcanic forces forming the island. I wanted, though, an inside view of the Cave of the Wind, Cueva del Viento. I’ve heard it’s an underground landscape where volcanic lave flows bored all the way through rock to form one of the longest recorded series of volcanic tubes in the world.

The tunnels have three main levels that are linked by fissures, odd chasms and off-shoots. Apparently, the lave came from Pico Viejo located on the eastern slope of Mount Teide. Approximately 27,000 years ago there was an eruption which added to later activities inside these tubes. I could clearly see the different layers of lava as well as some smaller tunnels in which water meandered throughout the caves.

My tour guide, which I arranged for through one of the 5 Star Hotels in Tenerife, explained that the drive to Cueva del Viento would be a steep 10 minute drive above Icod de los Vinos north of Tenerife. When we arrived, there was a visitors center in the center of the small village which was added after a 15 year closure to the public due to a re-vamping project was necessary for public safety. Right now, the tour into the tunnels is free, but that might change. I went well prepared with good hiking boots and an extra coat. I heard it can get quite cooler inside the tunnels.

Once inside, we were handed a helmet with a light attached. This light was powered by a waist belt that had a power-pack attached. I could see about 20 feet all around me with the helmet light. I wasn’t allowed, for some reason, to use my high powered flashlight. I wish my hired guide would’ve told me that before, I felt silly carrying it around. As we proceeded onwards and downwards, the chamber narrows to a tunnel. If you are even the least bit claustrophobic, I recommend not taking this tour. The roof is only maybe a half-an-inch above my head. I was surprised to see insects and small creatures, in the tunnels and watch out for spiders. All in all, I was glad to take the tour. Tunnels forms from volcano’s really are a world onto themselves.

There’s room for relaxation and for business in the amazing city of Dubai, UAE.  Hotel accommodation here is a glorious tribute to comfort and luxury.  Your stay will be a pleasure, thanks to the extremely knowledgeable and well-trained staff, who are keen on anticipating and tending to your every need.  This will certainly help to place a splendid center to your travels in the city.  Dubai city has many things to offer every guest.  There are shopping centers and festivals, and there are also some cutting-edge galleries that are worth exploring.

If you are looking for the newest of the new in visual arts, then be sure to allow time to see the Dubai Digital Arts Center.  Some of the more interesting new developments in digital culture are presented here, along with performances.  It is important to see digital arts grow as a force in the art world, because its ties to technology and cultural expression are very strong.  Dubai, a city that is growing and changing in constant and fascinating directions, is often on the forefront of global culture, and is a remarkable place to witness the shifts in creative thought that are currently at work, and will no doubt affect how the world expresses itself to itself in the years to come.

There are some interesting alliances too, that could only be forged in an artistic marketplace.  Digital artists working in their respective fields often have an advantage over other artists, because international access is always already available.  Works can be discussed, and even disseminated, across the world wide web.  There are more forms of digital art that web design, there is photography and graphic art, there is also electronically created painting, digital manipulations of existing art works, and endless possibilities for using digital manipulations, like sound and video, in live performance, among many other possibilities for the form.  Artists in these disciplines can also find linkages to other artists, because of the already existing access to global digital culture.  So it is not surprising, but always welcome, to see links between digital institutions and practitioners.  N3krozoft’s performance of Kasparov9000 was one of these welcome linkages, when artists from Russia and the U.S. joined artistic sensibilities to present a performance here about Kasparov and the computer Deep Blue, using electronic media to make a performance that was a fascinating blend of the digital and the live.  This is a precedent that speaks well of the global community and the next generation of artists and scientists.

I love Horror Films, no matter how many I have seen, probably over two hundred, I still jump with surprise and grab whom ever is sitting next to me in the movie theatre. One time, while staying at a New York Airport Hotel because of flight delays at La Guardia due to bad weather, I ordered up my favorite and classic Horror Film, ‘Wait Until Dark‘, starring Audrey Hepburn. I remember the first time I watched it in a movie theatre chain called the Rialto which circulates old movies and foreign films, I was 12 or 13 years old. I went with my best friend Chris. At first, we didn’t really know why we were there seeing a film that was made in 1967, except for the reason that Chris overheard this guy she has a crush on talk about it to his friends, saying how scary it was.

The film surrounds a blind Audrey Hepburn and her diamond thief of a husband, played by Efram Zimbalist, Jr. and a couple of thieves played by Richard Crenna and Alan Arkin trying to make friends with her, while her husband is away, so they can search her apartment for the diamonds her husband stole. As the movie was unfolding, Chris and I looked at each other wondering where the scary parts are and the horror. Then near the end is where the movie turns interesting, but still not scary, when all of a sudden something totally unexpected happens, I won’t reveal it here, in case you haven’t seen the film, but something totally unexpected happened and my friend Chris jumped straight out of her chair and screamed. It totally scared her so much, I had to yank her back down into her seat. That moment in the film scared the crap out of me too, but my friend Chris’s reaction was priceless. I was laughing so hard after that I almost wet my pants.

Ever since the thrill and amusement I got from watch ‘Wait Until Dark’ I’ve been in search to find that perfect scare. That absolute truly unexpected ‘boo’ that will have the same effect on me as it did on my friend Chris.

The times are changing in South Africa.  Last month, the first elected democratic President, Nelson Mandela promoted and supported Jacob Zuma, as he had previously done for Thabo Mbeki, his successor.  It is believed that soon, Zuma there will be a new outline for conservatism in the country.  One that supports the religious and the cultural roots of the people, which Zuma feels is being compromised by liberal Western values.  Some believe that Zuma is obsessed by power and control.  Stating that issues such as same sex relationships, and the death penalty, and the condemnation of those opposing ideas of the new government, are issues that Zuma intends to take control over.  In the cafes and restaurants in every Cape Town luxury hotel,  political analysts discuss these issues of their new president.  Some fear the the country will move backwards instead of forward.

However, Sipho Seepe,  a political analyst from Johannesburg states that this is just not the case. He states that there are many different groups of ethnicity surrounding Zuma at the moment, all of them leaders and that Zuma is not power hungry nor obsessed.  That there are issues of tribalism creeping into the politics of South Africa, and that the tension between the ethnic groups can become problematic is one idea that raises concern.  In the past racial tensions have been met with tribalism’s rise, and the concern is not just the tension between the blacks and the whites, but between all the tribes.  And although some of Zuma’s ideas about race, most notably his contention that English speaking whites are not truly patriotic, some believe that all the races will have an easier time communicating with and being represented by Zuma, that had been the case with his predecessor, Mbeki.  Time will tell regardless, if Zuma will follow in the footsteps of Mbeki, as some believe, or in the footsteps and with the compassion of Mandela,  as do others.

One unit of law enforcement has much to contend with.  This is a new unit formed in South Africa which will tackle issues of scandal and corruption, in the region of the continent which has the highest violent crime rate in the world.  The unit is being formed following the disbandment of the Scorpions, and elite and highly trained team of investigators that had been looking into allegations against the new president of the country, Jacob Zuma.   This disbandment was a decision made by the African National Congress.  When the unit begins to operate on July 1, 2009, the chief will be the former deputy chief of the province of the Western Cape, Anwa Dramat.   Until now, Dramat had be unknown, but will soon hold the title of the Director of the Priority Crime Investigations Unit for the country of South Africa.

While the Scorpions were successful in fighting crime and corruption, which proved beneficial for the people and the businesses such as the Cape Town, South Africa hotels and restaurants and resorts, they pursued the then presidential candidate, Zuma with a vehemence that angered many in the government.  This country has been struggling to prove to the skeptics and to the rest of the world that South Africa is safe to provide the venue in 2010 for the World Cup.  They must prove that they can get the murder rate under control, and that they are seriously going to put and end to the corruption and disarray.  Nathi Mthethwa, the Police Minister, is certain that the new unit will be successful in fighting crime under the leadership of Dramat.  For although he is not well known, he has a long reputation of resistance during the era of Apartheid, was once held prisoner at the concentration camp Robben Island,  and has been instrumental in discovering militants that were planting car bombs throughout Cape Town during the 1990’s.  This will be a new chapter for South Africa as they continue to rebuild and restructure their beautiful country.

Andrew Feinstein began his career with the South African government after returning in the early 90’s after his study at the Universities of Cambridge and Berkeley.  He had originally left his homeland in his early 20’s to avoid the draft.  He did not want to be part of the military regiment of Apartheid, which at the time was still involved in wars and fighting on the Northern borders.  When Nelson Mandela was released however, he threw himself into being a part of the transformation of his country.  He first joined the African National Congress,  Mandela’s party.  He was soon taking the lead in situations most crucial and linked to the power transfers that were taking place at the time.  He was an elected legislator for the province of Gauteng which included the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and was soon part of the Cape Town National Parliament.

His joy and optimism was short lived however, as the entire country was in need of restructuring.  While the leadership of Mandela did much to raise the spirit and the hope of the much wounded people of the nation, there was work that needed to be on the ground.  For in order for the country to survive, economic resolutions were necessary.  Industries such has business, tourism and five star Cape Town hotels would not thrive unless the inefficiency and the corruption Feinstein was noticing around him, were ended.  While he is an idealist, he is also very pragmatic, and is aware that for the people of his country of South Africa,   the government must be strengthened by what has happened throughout the tumultuous history, and stand up with a conduct that is ethical and accountable and open.  A government worthy of the respect of the Constitution created in 1996.  He said this is the most vital and important task for them currently.

The government of Mauritius unveiled a 6 month plan a few days ago, a plan to bolster the faltering economy.  The Minister of Finance stated that there must be a balance that will stimulate economic growth as well as controls on spending, in order to prevent the acquisition of a deficit that is in danger of hitting levels low enough to prove unsustainable for the island nation’s economy.  Growth on the island has continued at the rate of approximately five percent in the last four years.  Many companies had been thriving due to the immigration and to the tourism industry such as the five star hotels.  Mauritius relies however on business and trade from Asian and other European markets, which have not escaped the effects of the worldwide economic depression.  Inflation has slowed from almost the ten percent that it was at the end of 2008, to about eight percent the rate it is currently, and is predicted to fall to four percent by the end of the year.

Many businesses have begun diversifying in order to survive.  Once the economy had relied on the production of textiles and sugar, however the island has now begun to expand into the industries of banking and tourism.  This has resulted in Mauritius becoming one of the prosperous and stable economies in Africa.   And the forecast suggests that this will provide beneficial to the yearly incomes of Maurtians.  Tourism has been affected however.  Just about two thirds of those traveling to the island are from Europe, and during the past few months of 2009 the number of arrivals has fallen close to ten percent.  Stocks had fallen for the various hotel and resorts chains as well.  However, these two industries have been marketing aggressively with the hopes that this will soon change.  This island is the perfect vacation destination, with palm tree lined beaches surrounded by the beautiful Indian Ocean, and hopefully the second half of the year will prove to be financially more successful than the first half of the year.

Michael Light, a photographer known for his dramatic landscape photos of the desert of the American Southwest,  recently curated an exhibit at New York’s Hayden Planetarium. Not of his own photos however, but photos taken forty years ago by the astronauts of the Apollo Space Missions, 1967 to 1972.  Light was granted access by NASA to the master film and archives of these images and spent four years going through more than 32,000 powerful and incredible images.  He used digital imaging software to restore the quality of some of the masters, and spent a year creating files for these digital images.  He then spent three more years decided which images to include in the exhibit.  The process of digital imaging has resulted in prints on a large scale, and with unusually high and crisp resolution.  The exhibit was funded generously and made possible by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks.

The exhibit in New York is drawing photography buffs, and space buffs from around the world, and many are choosing to stay in the best hotels, Manhattan has so many options to choose from. ‘Full Moon’ is the title of the show and is divided into three different presentations.  These are ‘The Lunar Surface’, ‘In Orbit Around the Moon’ and ‘The Voyage’.  ‘The Lunar Surface’ section is full of photos that astronauts shot while they were standing on the surface of the moon.  Lunar landscapes that illustrate the perspective of the astronauts, bizarre and desolate however incredibly beautiful. The section of ‘In Orbit Around the Moon’, consists of the shots taken from the Apollo of the Moon, and are filled with the wonder that was theirs alone, being the first human beings to gaze at the moon in such close proximity.  And the third section, ‘The Voyage’ consists of images of the Astronauts themselves, the equipment on the craft, and many photos of Earth. This show is an amazing experience, and has been reviewed as giving human beings different conceptions of the universe and their place in it.

Number one in world-class luxury, Perth hotels are an adventure in style and hospitality.  Getting away from it all has never been easier, and never more rewarding.  The landscape opens up like the city here, constantly unrolling, vast, and fascinating.  Your stay will be made easier here, when the pleasure of the hideaway is equal to the pleasure of finding yourself among wonderful new friends.

One place to certainly meet like-minded, or high-minded individuals is at Perth’s internationally-acclaimed Revelation Film Festival.  Now in its twelfth year, this film festival has always prided itself on favoring ideas over films.  The sensibility is very marked in favoring the underground and the indie, and is indeed well on its way toward developing one of the most interesting film festivals in the world.  With short films, documentaries, features, animation and experimental works, there is something for everyone here, even though the organizers insist that the festival is not trying to be all things to all people.  With such a remarkably uncompromising vision, this is an extremely important cultural event.  Nurturing local filmmakers as well as tapping into some of the more significant international trends, the emphasis here is on the art of film in practice.  Discussions of film theory accompany the screenings, and there are also tangential events around the festival to showcase interesting experiments in visual arts and culture.

The Perth International Film Festival is also very keenly-geared toward youth culture and pop culture.  Some of last year’s entries focused on underground figures like Hunter S. Thompson and William S. Burroughs.  Underground in its origin as well, with the first festival taking place in a basement, the festival has grown incrementally each year, making it a rising success, and a force to be reckoned with in the film industry.  This is a festival where alternative visions and voices can find a place to be seen, heard, and discussed by some of the most cutting-edge filmmakers and critics from around the globe, and securing Perth as a vital place in the world’s art-making marketplace.

When it comes to luxury, Mumbai hotels simply cannot skimp.  There is too much to offer in the city to hold back, and the guests here are pampered beyond their wildest dreams.  There are a million worlds at your fingertips, and whether you want to see them all, or just sample a select few, your stay will be made easy and pleasurable when you’re finding yourself at home in our hotels.   Mumbai is one of the largest, and oldest cities in the world.  It is a fantastic feast for the senses, with a million things happening all the time, and a million delicious smells from kitchens and restaurants all over the city.  The city is a spectacular place for people-watching, and celebrity hounds will find their taste continually teased.

Bollywood’s central city, Mumbai has scores of famous actresses who make their home here, and this is where you’ll find the famous Amrita Arora and her older and more well-established sister, Malaika Arora.  Both have very unusual and similar career paths, having been launched by MTV India at different times.  They were born to a Punjabi father and a Malaysian mother.  The bi-cultural background has helped them to gain special insights into their multiple roles.  Malaika has enjoyed a great deal of success on the screen, but has lately been focusing on her career as a model and television anchor.  Amrita’s film career is at the beginning stages, and her roles in such features as Jeet: Feel the Force and Heyy Babyy have earned her respect for the variety of characters she can play, and she is continuing to receive many offers.

One of the more fascinating, if not annoying, aspects of celebrity-hood is the gossip columns.  It is a nice kind of litmus test to determine the level of fame by the minutiae that is combed over in the daily papers over the lives of the rich and famous.  When Amrita was recently married, there was much discussion about the couple’s choice for the honeymoon.  They were both so well-traveled, they claimed, that they couldn’t decide where to go.  They settled on Mexico.  Then they settled on Hawaii.  Then they decided to go to Europe and visit five countries in three weeks.  With Europe as the winner, the actress got into her new married life and is ready for more Mumbai films.

A savvy traveler looking for a luxury Manhattan hotel will find so much to choose from.  The cultural hub for much of the world, this island is a leading importer-exporter for arts and entertainment, business, and hospitality.  It’s also one of the most influential cultural capitols of the world, setting trends in fashion, finance, and cuisine.  It also has entertainers who are capable of invading the consciousness of a nation.

Jerry Seinfeld is one such entertainer, whose New York roots show through during every one of the episodes of Seinfeld, the show that would shape a cynical and amused nation.  In the television show, there are occasional references to his family background, with mentions of an old family back in eastern Europe.  This is a very common U.S. story with similar themes and variations, and there are countless citizens who can trace a link between this country and an old world through the ship manifests from immigrant arrivals on Ellis Island.  But Jerry Seinfeld is a very funny guy.  And he’s been honored recently by the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation with a Family Heritage Award.

His first ancestor to arrive here was his grandfather, a Simon Seinfeld, who arrived on Ellis Island as Schimscher Senfeld, at the age of 15, and worked as a fish-seller on the streets of Brooklyn, until making his way through the Bronx, and then to Manhattan.  Seinfeld and his sister have been speaking with the press about their memories of how the family got to the U.S. from Ukraine or Austria (depending on the records consulted).  Much speculation and musing, then, can be made over the way a family’s journey of migration can be turned into something very culturally significant, wrapped in the disguise of a show about nothing.

Red. Packs a wallop. Physiologically, it increases the blood pressure, the heartbeat, eyelid movement, breathing increase, the production of adrenaline and the energy in a majority of people. Red instills feelings of intimacy and passion. Most major restaurants in NY Hotels will have a interior color of Red because it increases the appetite. It is also the color of Love. Red clothing on the female gender will get noticed more by the male gender. There are some negative sides to the color of red, like if one is in mediation or negotiations, red will sub-consciously cause conflicting emotions in the other party with which one is dealing with and hinder the progress or even stop the proceedings. Red cars are the target for most car thieves, basically for the joyride and not for the chop blocks. But, red can be a very helpful tool as for marketing, it attracts the customers’ attention.

The impact of red for the marketing of consumer goods explains the way the color vision is created in the human brain and really emphasizes the importance and relevance the color has for each individual and aid in the orientation of the everyday surroundings. An example is the difference the impact of the color of red has on Americans compared to the impact on the Chinese. Americans see red as a violent color and connotes a fierceness, where as the Chinese view red to has a soothing quality and brings up subconscious thoughts of peace.

Red is inspiring no matter what the culture one comes from. An energetic vibrant color a complex color and a powerful color. To understand its symbolic meaning one needs to only look and appreciate
natures most beautiful color either warning us to not touch or inviting us to eat it, smell it and simply look at it. Red, it’s a beautiful thing.

A Television, a working Ipod and a painting of a Seaside villa. This is what can be found when dumpster diving in any major city in the United States. Many people can even pick up abandoned furniture on the street, but the better finds are definitely in the dumpster of any Condominium Complex in a small rural town or even the back dumpsters of a New York USA Hotel.  Many who dumpster dive, go to the dumpsters behind grocery stores; they can find a lot of eatable produce. Even dumpsters behind bakeries will provide one with that day’s bagels.

What was once deemed a repugnant act, dumpster diving has gained a broad-based appeal among all parts of society. Due, mainly to the fact of this down-turn in the economy. Although the majority of people dumpster dive for just the possible thrill of finding something very valuable, there are others who dumpster dive for the necessity of finding food tossed because of it’s expiration date and other reasons like making the public aware of how much it is truly wasting with over consumption. They also bring awareness for the need of better recycling. Nevertheless, rummaging through the pungent ripe garbage isn’t always what describes a dumpster diver. A group in Singapore, called the Karung guni, take the art of dumpster diving to a whole new level. The group members go around door to door asking for garbage and any other unwanted goods. Truly, this is much better than digging through the putrid muck of the dumpster, but it doesn’t have the flare of anticipation and the build up of excitement in what will be found. And the great stories one can tell when at a party or a coffee shop about the particular find. Not only to tell the story, but to watch the surprised or disgusted look on the listeners face.

An new growing sub-culture which has popped-up is the ‘freegan’. The word is a combination of ‘vegan’ and ‘free’. The concept caught on even with meat eaters. It’s a way of life; people who have reduced their spending habits and live off consumer waste. The popularity of the freegan has moved into the corporate world, many business people disillusioned with corporate life and corporate waste and spending have left the corporate world and created what is known as simply living and have taken the gauntlet and have incorporated the freegan lifestyle.

No one will forget their stay in a Malaysian hotel.  Situated on the brink between old and new worlds, the traveler here will find curiosities and luxuries to fill their memory books for a lifetime.  There are fascinating urban delights, natural wonders, amazing works of art and architecture, and culinary explorations that are worth the better part of a lifetime pursuing.  And Malaysia, a cross-section of so many world cultures, has no shortage of interesting locals.

Antares is one very fascinating local figure.  His book, “Adoi!” released in 1989, sold over 13,000 copies, and was a volume of cartoons and satires of modern life in Malaysia, and this is one of his claims to fame.  He is more well known these days for his writings on the theatre, and his unique public persona.  He was born Kit Fong Lee, and has also gone under the names Kit Leee and M. Eeel, and the name changes are usually the result of a spiritual revelation.  In his late teens, he was an exchange student in New Jersey, and there came to learn about the beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlighetti, and the honorary beat, Bob Dylan.  This was a very eye-opening experience, and here he had to begin to reconcile the ideas of alternative realities in these writers and his native Malaysia’s split between nature and civilization.  He then decided to devote his life toward exploring and healing this split, and is a rather interesting writer on contemporary human experience.

He is also a fairly outspoken activist.  Kit “Antares” Lee has been very involved in the preservation of the environment, and in 1992 moved to Pertak, in the “wilds” of Malaysia, and there undertook to study indigenous knowledge.  He was particularly interested in studying the local shamanic traditions and relating it to his knowledge of world shamanic traditions. Antares is, of course, currently living in Malaysia, with his wife Anoora “Booboots” Chapek, and close to their children and grandchildren.