Bob Travel » Enviroment

Austin Leads in Green Power

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:10:00 +0000

For 8 years in a row, Austin leads the nations with its voluntary renewable energy sales, which is sponsored by the utility company’s’ ‘GreenChoice’ program . The National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports that Austin has out-performed the 850 green power programs that have been implemented in the United States; selling 765 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy, which can supply around 60,000 residential homes with electricity for one year. Austin has built more renewable energy ‘voluntary’ green power programs that is more than all the current mandatory programs.

The reason for Austins success of its voluntary green power program is because they pass on the benefits to customers, such as long-term stable energy prices due to the renewable energy sources like bio-energy and wind. Not only have well over 400 businesses subscribe to the GreenChoice product (about 84% of GreenChoice customers), and is also been very popular with many Austin hotels , it’s also becoming very popular in the residential market, mostly because of the predictability and stability of a green power supply over long-term contracts. As a result, Austin Energy has more customers in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership list of Fortune 500 than any of the other utility companies. You can count Whole Foods, Cisco Systems and Dell as some of those companies.

The Austin Independent School District and the Round Rock are ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the nation of the most renewable energy purchased by the K through 12 schools. Taxpayers also get a nice benefit because of the schools taking advantage of the fixed pricing by GreenChoice. For example, customers who subscribed to the 1st offering such as the schools, locked in their green power at 1.7 cents per kWh and now the current price is 3.65 cents per kWh, which the 1st offering customers are now saving $20 per month. Customers who want to manage costs and reduce emissions are making a difference in the way electricity is made.

Austin, again, will surely continue to lead the nation with their voluntary renewable energy, not because it’s a great program, but because of the people who live and work in Austin and their understanding about how in order for their children’s children have a bright future must first start with them.

Austin Leads in Green Power is a post from: Bob Travel

Singapore Leads the Way in Green Technology

Ginkgo in New York

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

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

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

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

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

Ginkgo in New York is a post from: Bob Travel

Rajasthan Sarisak National Park

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:36:07 +0000

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.

Rajasthan Sarisak National Park is a post from: Bob Travel

The Streets of Marbella

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:10 +0000

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 Streets of Marbella is a post from: Bob Travel

The Various Styles of Art and Architecture of Madrid

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:54:27 +0000

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 Various Styles of Art and Architecture of Madrid is a post from: Bob Travel

Biking in Barcelona

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:50:48 +0000

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.

Biking in Barcelona is a post from: Bob Travel

Dubai’s Unique Architecture

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:10:49 +0000

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.

Dubai’s Unique Architecture is a post from: Bob Travel

History and Art Represented in Delhi Landmarks

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

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

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

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

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

Volcano tunnels in Tenerife

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:21:02 +0000

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.

Volcano tunnels in Tenerife is a post from: Bob Travel

N3krozoft in Dubai

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:19:22 +0000

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.

N3krozoft in Dubai is a post from: Bob Travel