Bob Travel

When one leaves their hotel, Melbourne Australia excitement and diversity.  There are many different districts and neighborhoods offering everything that is high class and sophisticated to everything that is urban and bohemian.  From the only purified seawater spa in St. Kilda to the funky boutiques and shops in Fitzroy, the city is a mix of culture that blend to make one fine whole, one incredible destination for world travelers.

For example, if one is searching for the finest and most tasty cuisine of Vietnam or Greece, Richmond is the place to head to.  This is a vibrant area that hosts many restaurants wherein in an all day restaurant establishment is often time fused with an incredible live music scene.  There are discount fashion shops as well as some of the best vintage and second hand stores in the country.  This is one of the sites of the early settlement of Melbourne, and as such there are districts set up wherein discounts can be found in the realms of fashion to fresh flowers.  There are also many locations to find rare objects of art and fine furniture.

Little Saigon is located on Victoria Street.  This is the heart and the soul of the Vietnamese population in Melbourne.  The wet markets start at Hoddle Street, and offer everything from fresh meat and seafood, to fresh produce.  The restaurants appear simple no white linen nor fancy silver, but the meals prepared by the chefs are tasty and delicate, not found in many restaurants.  This is an area that serves, fresh and fast…and healthy, all at an inexpensive price.

And the music scene in Richmond, well live music has found its niche here.  No one knows why the scenes pop up where they do, and many cities try to figure that out and plan for it, but there just is no plan, it happens where it happens.  One of the most popular venues for live shows in the city is at the Corner Hotel.  Big time artists play there as well as the lesser known newcomers to the stage.  For jazz lovers, Dizzy’s the place to go for quality acts and a good vibe.  One should most certainly find the time to visit this district in Melbourne, especially of food, and atmosphere and live jams is their thing.

Valencia is a city filled with jewels, one of them is the dry Turia riverbed.  This was once a flowing and steady river, but is now an incredible and popular site for runners, cyclists, botanists and music lovers.  This is a park containing many cultural structures and gardens and is close to and easily accessible to many of the best Valencia hotels and resorts.  This bed stretches seven kilometers, from the City of Arts and Sciences to the east, to the Cabecera Park on the west end.  Between there are stretches of beautifully maintained walkways and paths winding through the gardens and under some of the most charming bridges found anywhere in the country as well as the world.  Sitting in front of an amazing fountain is the Palau de la Musica which hosts many festivals and concerts.  This is just one of the works of the renown architect Santiago Calatrava.

There are many gardens throughout the riverbed.  The Parque de Cabecera is on the west end and is planned and designed exquisitely.  This is a nature and wildlife reserve as well as a playground for children.  There is a man-made lake that is fed the old river’s source.  There is also and outdoor amphitheater which hosts live concerts throughout the entire year.  This is a great section of the riverbed for walks and picnics and boat rides.  One of the oldest of Europe’s botanical gardens is found in this river bed in Valencia.  The University of Valencia started the garden in 1567.  Originally the garden started for the cultivation of medicinal herbs and plants.  It is now regarded by botanists world-wide as a masterpiece.  There is also a convention center, and another stage for live concerts and music.  The Jardin de las Hesperides is filled with sculpture.  Medicinal herbs grow abundantly here, as well as lemon and orange trees.  There is a system of canals that wind through the park and this is one of many perfect spots for picnicking and long, leisurely walks.  All of the gardens are open year round and for those traveling in Valencia this is one spot that should not be missed.

If you’re looking for a vacation in the lap of luxury, Ibiza hotels will suit all your travel needs.  With amazingly gorgeous beaches, scintillating food, and fantastic accommodations, you’ll find yourself bathed in relaxation.  You won’t miss the comforts of home when you’re made to feel more welcome than your wildest dreams.  There is a very strong cultural scene here, in part due to the interest of the counter-culture that has had their eyes on Ibiza.  And their bodies dancing.

The Rolling Stones took a very favorable vacation here here in the mid-sixties, and Pink Floyd found a rough and ready source of inspiration here as well, when they made the film “More.”  Since then, it has been a prominent recreation spot for a young generation looking for fun in a beautiful setting.

In 1974, Antonio Escotohado, a philosophy student from Madrid, bought a plumb spot of land for a song, and began a nightclub that has been a counter-cultural mainstay of Ibiza, Amnesia.  Amnesia’s original name was “The Workshop of Forgetfulness,” with the idea that this music venue would be a place where travelers and locals could go to forget the concerns of the world outside.  When he realized that the Greek word “amnesia” already contained the same meaning, the name stuck.

Amnesia has been a very important spot for island culture, featuring some of the most exciting dance music in Europe.  At the turn of the millennium, in 2000, the owners of Amnesia decided to make a gift to the island, and all the locals were given free entrance to the New Year’s Eve bash, and it was a night no one could remember.  It’s still an extremely vibrant hotspot, and it’s not uncommon for party-goers to find themselves parked in, because of the 3 am rush to get to the club and dance the rest of the night, and most of the following morning, away.  Amnesia is a regular host to some of the most brilliant parties in the region.  They have amazing dj’s who are at the top of their form, playing some of the hottest and most impressive Spanish beats on the continent, and their spinning styles take in a multitude of cultural traditions and put out new riffs on a growing techno pulse.  And the resulting rhythm is pure Ibiza genius.

Chennai is known of the land of priests and temples.  The religious traditions are reflected each year in the month of December.  The season’s music is underway at this time, and is one of the best times for a visit and a stay at one of the five star hotels.  Chennai  is a city with very rich cultural heritage.  The dancers of the city perform on the streets and in the various auditoriums, depicted stories of their culture, or just simply performing recitals.  Dancers renown the country often stop in Chennai to give master classes and lectures to all those interested in this form of expression.  Many international companies tour here as well, as with the world of dance, there is no need to speak the same language.  The language is just the dance, and all dancers can ’speak’ it.

Evenings out on the town are filled with dance and music as well.  Chennai has become a hot spot for trendy nightclubs and discotheques.  The city is become quite distinguished as the best cultural location in India.  Many clubs offer pop music to trance and techno as well.  And as the bars remain open until the wee hours, it is possible to just dance the night away, literally.  For those not so inclined for such a party, the theater in the city is spectacular.  There are some theaters that produce plays performed in English, as well as Tamil.  And the music concerts are varied, from street performers, to the Music Academy’s  finest students, there is always a show happening somewhere around this city. 

Festivals  are quite common, honoring and celebrating religious events, to the positions of the planets, to the agriculture of the land.  While this is a very cosmopolitan and progressive city, just about all of the festivals are religious ceremonies to a certain extent.  Thanks are given to bountiful crops, to the birth of children, and celebrations of the seasons passing.  In all, there is really no bad time to chose to visit, as something incredible and culturally is happening during each week of every year.