Bob Travel

“Here’s a good read, maybe next time we go we can stay at one of these. It’s called Luxury Hotels Melbourne Australia. Wow, they got some beauties,” said Caroline, practically whistling when she said ‘wow’. We had decided it would be easier to meet with the secondary school teachers we were interviewing for our video feature on education in Australia and the amazing new techniques developed Down Under to integrate the latest math and art studies into a program of study.

“Hmm, yeah, maybe. OK, those are nice. OK, now you’re killing me. Let’s go get something to eat,” I said. We had decided to venture out to the Melbourne Markets, full of open air shops and, hopefully, something to eat. Here we were at the Queen Victoria Market. Just like in the States, the Green movement has taken hold. At the market we saw solar panels that provide power for the Market, guides to water harvesting and how they do that to supply the buildings, and the general recycling program. Of course, the star of the show is the tremendous selection of fruits and vegetable and fresh meats and sea foods. We were hungry and popped in to Cafe Victoria and had a beautiful breakfast, a big free range organic egg omelet with bacon and mushrooms and tomatoes and nice toast. Fabulous. The whole experience was all so neat and tidy and fresh and friendly, we walked around the Melbourne and took it all in. It was like being back in the old world, dating back over one hundred forty years, and they once sold livestock back in the frontier days, and is considered a historic place by Heritage Victoria which administers and protects the historic buildings and archaeological sites of Victoria, Australia.

I’ve stayed in Melbourne and now I’m staying in one of the Luxury Hotels Sydney has to offer, and as far as walk-ability goes, Sydney has more highways, freeways and motorways which criss-cross both. I found it harder to walk around compared to Melbourne. Only because Sydney is busier and there is more traffic, but that’s because Sydney does offer so much more to do than Melbourne.

Like the beautiful Botanic Gardens or the Circular Qauy. Sydney has more of a ‘big city’ feel than Melbourne and they both have very distinctive inner city neighborhoods. Like in Sydney, the Rocks and Woollomoolo. Where as Melbourne has Carlton or St. Kilda. I must admit, though, they both offer top-notch restaurants. Melbourne is really good if you like Greek or Italian, and they have a genuine Chinatown for so authentic Chinese food.  All of Sydney’s restaurants are fabulous, maybe a bit more ritzier and pricier, but well worth the cost.

As far as the music goes, in both cities, I find the music scene a bit dull. If you’re really into the club scene or unique music venues, I recommend Brisbane. I know, it’s sad that Australia’s two biggest cities can’t get their acts together and bring in some decent music. Melbourne is okay for the pub rock scene, yawn. Sydney is good for dance, electro and hip-hop, but they are behind the times when it comes to bringing in what’s new and innovative.

So, as far as walking goes, Melbourne wins out with it’s cosier, more comfortable and safer walk sites that Sydney’s busier, hillier which makes walking almost a chore. I would choose Melbourne, if you’re looking for a walkable city. Plus, Melbourne has a better inner city public transport. Sydney is more geared as a car-oriented city.

The Balearic Island of Menorca can often be overshadowed by its two neighbors. Majorca is its slightly larger neighbor and is probably the most prominent of the four major islands. It has the largest population and definitely receives the largest amount of tourists every year. Ibiza is the island’s slightly smaller neighbor. It has a world reputation for its amazing nightlife and club scene. Meanwhile, beautiful Menorca sits back and quietly fascinates it visitors who are lucky enough to stumble onto it, or are aware of the island’s beauty and many diverse elements and choose to make it their vacation destination. Menorca is so greatly loved my its many tourists, that it is common for them to return again and again, making it their standard vacation getaway.

What is interesting about this island is that although it is not as large as Majorca, it has about as many beaches as Ibiza and Majorca combined. This is one of the reasons the island is so popular with families and all others seeking to enjoy water sports, sun bathing and great views. The tourism industry cultivates this family friendly aspect of the island and many of the luxury hotels Menorca are suited to accommodate a family environment. The southern end of the island is where most of the popular beaches and resort areas are located. The northern end is more prominent for its fishing villages. These rougher shores are less attractive to many who want to enjoy the pleasures of the warm sandy sand.

There are many other things for families to do and see on this peaceful and relaxing island. There are museums, major landmarks, great shopping opportunities and much more. There is also a thriving nightlife scene with entertainment options. The club scene is diverse and caters to crowds of all interests. There are large dance clubs, as well as smaller and quiet pubs. Most of the bars are open all day and serve light meals, appetizers and snacks. What is interesting about the clubs on this island is that they stay open until the last customer leaves. There is not a standard closing time. There are also casinos located on the island. Juegos de casino is one of the more prominent, and is an excellent place for all levels of gamers to come for fun, competition and possible earnings.

In 1953, Benidorm was an unknown seaside fishing town.  However, the mayor at the time, Pedro Zaragoza wanted more.  He got on his scooter, a Vespa of course, and road for eight hours to see General Franco in Madrid.  His goal was to convince Franco to take away the ban on the bikini style swimming suit.  They reached an agreement and the Zaragoza went back to Benidorm and proceeded to build one of the most successful and popular resort communities in the world.  More than five million tourists find their way to the city each year, many of the young and hip from Great Britain come to the beaches to play in the sand and sun all day, and to dance and celebrate all night.  It is so popular with British tourists as this incredible get away is just a short two hour plane ride.  The resorts and the luxury hotels Benidorm has built over the year have so much to offer, that some tourists come to the city and never leave the grounds.

The city is full of life, with tall skyscrapers and a bustling street scene, but while it is densely packed, it is not expansive, and should one desire wilderness and peace, the drive to the mountains and the inland countryside is just twenty minutes from town.  There are just thousands of bars and restaurants and shops, including tattoo parlors and shops of curious objects.  And during the top season, the entertainment is plentiful and is found in all forms, from late night karaoke bars, to cabaret dinner shows to opera.  The beaches offer many activities such as banana boat rides, cruises in ships with glass bottoms, catamarans and sail boats.  There are major theme parks located just outside of the city, perfect for those traveling with children.  In fact this is the site of the largest in Spain, Terra Mitica.  Many travel to the city all year long, but this city is jam packed with people during the months of July through August.  So for those wanting a little more peace than action, the winter months are still incredibly beautiful, and definitely less crowded.

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.

Barcelona Spain is recognized as one of the most prominent cities in the world. It is well known for its arts scene, architecture and various financial and commercial trading businesses. It has many lush parks that contribute to a relaxed, romantic feel to this historic city. It is also positioned on the Mediterranean coast, which provides for great views and water access. The luxury Barcelona hotels also contribute to a fabulous vacation, and the city attracts numerous tourists every year. There are historical buildings, which also serve as city landmarks and testify to the diverse and interesting history of Barcelona, was well as the rest of Spain.

Many of the buildings date back for centuries, some were even constructed during the era of the Roman Empire. There are various neighborhoods, or districts in Barcelona that are known for their particular architectural styles and historical relevance. The Eixample District is highly representative of the Modernist movement and it is where many of the buildings designed by the renown architect Antonio Gaudi. The Gothic Quarter is another area, which is commonly accepted to be the old town Barcelona. Many of these buildings date from medieval times, though some of them are ancient.

The arts scene is just as rich and diverse as its architectural scene. There have been a great number of artists that have lived in, been born in, or were drawn too Barcelona. There are many museums, and some of them have an international reputation. Pablo Picasso has a museum dedicated to his works. The theatre, dance, music and other performance oriented scenes in Barcelona are diverse and progressive. Madrid is another city in Spain that is rich in history and has an incredible theatre scene. The Teatre Lliure, Teatre Tivoli and Teatre Poliorama are just three of the many prominent performance companies the city can boast of.

There’s a chill in the air and on the misty hill slopes in Northern Thailand the roses are encouraged to grow. Some blooms are larger than apples and come in colors from red and orange to crimson and white. They are harvested daily and brought to all the flower markets in Bangkok. I learned this on one of my many business trips. Staying at one of Thailand Luxury Hotels, I would arrange to meet these growers of flowers and see how they cultivated their flowers.

I learned from a manager of a floral project, which was initiated by the Royal family of Thailand, that right now, it’s peak production season for roses. They bloom best between February and July. The elevation and the environment are extremely conducive for the roses. But, the manager did tell me that there are signs that the business’s which grow the roses and the carnations in Fang located in Chiang Mai, not too far above sea level, might soon dwindle because of the competitor growers in China’s southern Yunnan province.

Right now, apparently, there is a surplus of flowers in the market due to the flowers coming from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Plus, the flowers coming from this region are less expensive and the quality seems to be better. More and more flower shops in Bangkok are carrying only flowers from China. I can’t blame them really, they are cheaper and look better. I asked one shop owner about why she choose China’s flowers over her own countries flowers and she said she’s been in the flower business for over 25 years and she says that the flowers from China are delivered within 2 days of order. Plus, they stay fresher, longer.  I can see that Thailand’s flower business will be hurt and may even collapse if they can’t produce and deliver the same as China.

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 Municipality of Dubai is gaining a reputation as a premiere destination for international sports competition. Over the last ten years the region, which is more famous for its stifling desert heat and the many luxury hotels Dubai UAE, has committed itself to building state-of-the art facilities, such as those in Dubai Sports City, and to attracting international talent with large appearance fees and some of the richest purses in sports.

In 2008, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon became the world’s richest long-distance running event. Organizers offered $250,000 for both the men and women winners. There was an additional offer of $1 million for setting a world record. The race is held each year in January.

Golf is popular sport in the UAE. Both the Dubai Desert Classica and the Dubai World Championship tournaments are held each year. In 2009 the European Tour is hosting a “Race to Dubai.” A record $1.66 million will go to winner of this points race between the top 60 money winners that culminates at the Dubai World Championship in November. The total purse is a record-setting $10 million.

The richest horse race in the world has consistently been the Dubai World Cup. Held in March each year, the 2009 World Cup $6 million prize was won by Well Armed. Six other races, some with total prizes of over $21 million are held on the same day. These include the Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai Sheema Classic, and the UAE Derby.

Tennis stars gather in Dubai in February for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship. This is a hard court tournament featuring both men’s and women’s events. The Legends Rock Dubai tournament is part of the Outback Champions Series. It is held each November and has featured senior tennis players such as Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Michael Stich, Peter McNamara, ang Guy Forget.

Rugby is another popular sport in Dubai. In earl March 2009, the city was host to the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens. This included the first ever Womens’ World Cup Sevens which was won by Australia