Bob Travel

In the 16th &17th centuries European countries fought wars to determine who would control the spice trade. Because the value of spices far exceeded the value of gold, it’s easy to imagine the motivation of these countries. Fortunes were made and empires fought for world domination.

Spices have long been the principal export of Goa. The cultivation and export of Indian spices since the fifteenth century, is what put Goa on the map. Nowadays they are cultivated along with other crops like cashews, other nuts and tropical fruit. In the mountains east of Goa, in the Ponda region, a few spice farms can be found. The fertile slopes, with the cool at night, warm during the day climate, create the perfect conditions for cultivation.

Many spices were first used for medicinal purposes because they act as both appetite stimulants and digestives. The practice of Ayurvedic medicine relies on the properties of spices and chilies to treat many ailments. Spices can also help the body cope with long periods of heat, a characteristic shared by a number of varieties of the chili pepper. At the heart of Indian cooking are spices; black pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, just to name a few! Used liberally in all types of Indian cooking, cardamom for example, is found in a breakfast drink, one that’s made with milk, nuts and cinnamon. Cinnamon and cloves, instantly recognizable, are used the world over in the preparation of sweets.

Local companies run excursions to the Ponda region or you can hire a taxi for a relatively short ride from the five star hotels in Goa. The spice farms in the Ponda region all employ organic methods of cultivation. Many of the spices are grown alongside tropical fruits in a terraced fashion. Because cashew nuts are grown as well, it’s likely you’ll find a “feni” distillation area on the farm. Guided tours are offered and you may even be able to get a tour from an Ayurvedic doctor who can show you medicinal plants and explain the use of them. Some farms offer buffet lunches or snack- like items served on banana leaves. The local “feni” is also offered. There are some tourist attractions like elephant rides or watching men harvest the betel nut.

While it’s possible to stay the night in one of the farmhouses, it’s a relatively short ride back to “civilization”.

There are many options for those seeking exciting night-time adventures in the city of Bangkok. And while there are many bars and trendy go-go clubs for those wishing to dance and party the night through, most visitors and tourists find that there is much more to experience than the parties. Many hotels in Thailand and restaurants in Bangkok have nightly shows, a range performances that illustrated the cultural wealth and traditions of this magical city.

One such, ’show’, is the traditional form of martial arts, Muay Thai. This combines boxing with the art of self defense and was originally required training for those in the military. Today the sport is widely popular, a respected yet entertaining event, as technique and honor are combined with athleticism. This is an art form and is not remotely similar to the course boxing has taken in the United States. While extreme boxing is brutal and forceful, Muay Thai is steeped in the honorable traditions and the choreography of self protection and defense. For those attending a match for the first time they will be thrilled and entertained not only by those in the ring, but in watching the other spectators as well, as this beloved sport often creates enormous excitement in the stands.

In other venues, one can experience the rich performances involving classical Thai musicians accompanying dance performances of the very stylized form of Thai classical dance. The costumes are elaborate and gorgeous , and the movements of the dancers are slow and graceful, creating an intricate language without words. These are not just simply dance shows, but are dramas set forth that illustrate and express some of the most important stories and history of the society. No other city in Thailand rivals the nightlife, the concerts or operas or theater, of Bangkok.

The government of Singapore has made a long term investment in the economic future of the the city-state. A $100 million dollar investment that will provide and increase in tourism and the economic boosts for local businesses and five star hotels in Singapore for the next five years. Downtown Singapore has become the host of the F1 Grand Prix for five years, with the first historic race occurring last November. Historic as it was the first time the race had taken place at night, giving many countries the opportunity to watch the race live in their particular time zones, on a Sunday afternoon. This alone boosted the marketing and the sponsorships. Innovative lighten systems were created which brightened up the city streets by four times the amount of that which is seen during other night time sporting events such as football or baseball games. With the global economy struggling, the investment made by the government was and will continue to be a very wise decision.

Despite initial concerns over the inconvenience caused on the downtown streets in the days leading up to and following the race and the disruptions in regular traffic, the benefit of the race far out-weighed the initial cost of the investment and traffic jams. Last November the tourism industry in Singapore experienced increases on many levels, from increased airline sales, to sold out hotels rooms. Local retail and service industries were also made aware of the fact that so many people traveled to Singapore for the race and that they were willing to spend a lot of money in the stores and restaurants throughout the city. Party and convention venues benefited as well as the many corporate sponsors for the event. And the city of Singapore benefited in more ways than just economically, as this particular city and their government have been attempting to dispel the idea of old Singapore, the conservative and sometimes thought, to strict run of a society. The government is hoping that the rest of Europe and the world for that matter, will begin to see that along with the financial district and business corporations, there is much more to the city, and much more that is so much fun.