Zoocap

Jaipur offers some fantastic magic for visitors from any part of the world.  It’s a thriving and bustling metropolis, and serves as a major financial and creative center for the area.  It’s also one of the loveliest places in India, offering a splendid mix of the past and present.  Its architecture reflects many different eras, and the color pink came from a visit by the Prince of Wales in the 19th century.  There are also many amazing old temples and forts that are worth visiting to get a glimpse at the living traditions here, as well as the time long ago.

The whole area is designed after a mandala, reflecting the movements of the spheres, and the intention was so that all the citizens would be aligned with the cosmos, and able to fulfill their destinies on the earth.  It offers a splendid sense of well being in Jaipur.  Luxury hotels, then, are a wonderful way to get in tune with the energy of the place.  The splendid accommodations can afford you the possibility for seeing it with a spectacular sense of refreshment, and can show you what the good life really is.  There are many different definitions of luxury, and Jaipur offers a unique blend that should be sampled at least once in a life.

Aside from the architecture, and accommodation, the art scene here is also very advanced.  Last year at Banasthali Vidyapith University, they had the digital artist John Antoine Labadie teaching as the visiting artist in residence.  There are many people here who are working in the digital realm, and many artists as well, but few who can cross both disciplines, although it is a current of the future that is starting to show itself in traces.  Labadie‘s residency was further proof that art is moving ever into the future in modern Jaipur.

My first impression of Hong Kong is of skyscrapers shooting into the hazy sky. Then, when I was taken to the other side of the island, I was amazed that there can exist such exotic beach alcoves in proximity to the vastness of the neon sign topped scrappers. Plus, to add another dimension, someone told me that on a hilltop sits the biggest bronze Buddha’s on the planet. It’s the third largest Buddha known to be in existence. My mind boggles.

I had to confirm this with my own eyes, so yesterday, is when I began my spiritual journey to the Tian Tan Buddha. The Buddha is located on Lantau Island, west of Hong Kong Island, which can only be reached by ferry. I wish I could have reached it by the Mass Transit Rail, it’s one of the cleanest and most efficient public transport rail systems I’ve ever be on. But, not to change the subject, but the MTR is really worth mentioning.

I arrived safely via the ferry in Tung Chung on the island of Lantau. The second part of my journey was to take the cable-car up to see the giant Buddha. I calmly surveyed the jungle covered foothills below. I was expecting to see something like Table Mountain style capacity in the cable-car, fifteen to twenty people, standing room only and a box attached to hundreds of meters of cable, but what I found was an Austrian ski slope gondola system that stretched from the heart of a 30-story residential district, almost 6 kilometers over an opaque turquoise lake and heading into the jungle clan hills.

It was during the decent that I saw the big bronze Buddha for the first time. It’s on a hilltop, outlined by a grey sky. A sitting Buddha overlooking the valley before him.  As I climbed up the 250 steps to get to the base of the statue, I wondered how on Earth did this get here. As I walked about a bit, I was overcome by a sense of contentment. I was also wishing that there was one of those Hong Kong luxury hotels near by, like the one I’m booked at, well not so near, so I can visit here instead of the concrete jungle of Hong Kong Island.

I arrived in Amsterdam yesterday and I need to make this short, because this place is so unforgettably crazy. I rocked up at the station with no place to go, so I headed straight to the tourist office and told them what I was looking for. The guy behind the counter, just laughed and said ‘it’s Saturday night, there’s nothing available. I thought that was pretty unhelpful, so I struck out on my own. I walked for about an hour and came across one of the five star Amsterdam hotels, walked up to the registers desk, and they had a room available, not only did they have a room, but I got a discount. There was some kind of promotion going on, and I just happened to catch the tail-end of it.

After that, I caught the train ‘Amsterdam Centraal‘ and as soon as I stepped off, it was just crazy. So many people everywhere. I’ve always heard that Amsterdam is crazy, but to experience just how crazy, first hand, made me truly understand what people were talking about. I was 30 minutes into walking about and I was offered so many things, (I’m glad I didn’t bring my Mom, she’d be freaking out right about now). I just politely refused all of it. I found that Amsterdam has a plethora of T-shirt shops. I bought one, a bit expensive, but it will be my reminder every time I where it, just how crazy this place is.

After walking around for about an hour and seeing so many weird and unusual shops, I stopped in at a Coffee Shop. Every block had one and I ordered some fries. I hung our there for about 2 hours. People watching and having people watch me people watch. I then found an Internet cafe and found I had to order a beer and drink it while I used the Internet. It was compulsory. I found out, after being in Amsterdam for a few days, that request like the one at the Internet cafe are common.

After some more walking about, I bought a bottle of wine and a 6-pack of beer to drink during the rest of the evening. I ended up very drunk and all I remember was laughing on the train heading back to my hotel. The reason for the laughing was, that most trains will ‘beep’ just before a stop, but the Centraal Station cranks out techno music 10 seconds before a stop and then an overhead voice says ‘Ha Ha!’  I found that so very funny and it fit in perfect with he city.

Mumbai’s history is as rich and fascinating as the city itself.  The long periods of dynasties, to Islamic and Portuguese rule, and then British control, all the way up to India’s independence, and the events of the recent decades, speak of a city that has witnessed the history of the world.  It has also been one of its most active participants, and a visit here will remind guests about India’s contributions to world culture.  Mumbai is also a world unto itself, with one of the largest urban populations in the world, making up concentric circles of very lively cultures, all contributing to the creative energy of the place.  It is a place where one feels like they are an active participant in the living history of the world, and it’s a splendid and almost exhilarating feeling.

There are plenty of things for a traveler to do in order to enjoy their time to the fullest in Mumbai, and perhaps the first consideration is the lodging.  Being able to relax and find a sense of rejuvenation is very important, as the energy of the city not only gives to its residents, it also can demand a lot from you.  After a good night’s rest and a lovely meal, you’ll be ready to enjoy more of the great contemporary city of Mumbai.  Hotels can certainly give you the chance to rest before the adventures ahead.  If you’re up for the Hard Rock Cafe, or looking to see what’s going on with live music in general, there are plenty of excellent offerings here, any night of the week.

One of the local favorites is certainly Motherjane.  This is progressive rock with an Indian twist, where at times the local rhythms override the classic rock rhythms, in a nice back and forth that makes this an immensely interesting group.  They’re based in Cochin, and play all over Asia, to great acclaim from audiences as well as critics.  The sensibility here is of the head-banging variety, but they have a complexity that only groups like Tool or the like seem capable of exploring, making it a full experience.  There are also lyrics that speak of looking within, and other ideas not normally heard in metal or hard rock, and this is another aspect of the music that gives it an edge, and makes Motherjane well worth the long waits in line.

The economic struggles many people have faced in the last few years have forced some drawbacks on budgets and personal spending. This has also required that many people focus in on what their actual life priorities are and then plan their spending accordingly. This means that some people have made choices between enjoying a fresh smoothie or gourmet coffee in the morning or getting to keep their weekly manicure. Others have had to reorient more major life luxuries such as making the decision to buy a new car or take a summer vacation. One thing that remains guaranteed, however, is that people who love to travel, well, still love to travel, regardless of the economic atmosphere.

However, even when travel remains a major priority for people, some changes can still be made, such as figuring out how to travel for less money. Many cities and countries throughout the world have inexpensive or even free events and attractions that are perfect for individuals and families that are trying to save money but still enjoy experiencing other cultures and societies. Singapore is one of the places in the world were finding cheap or free fun is still possible. In fact, many people have a greater time at these events than at those that cost large amounts of money. Some of the ways tourists who are staying in one of the Singapore hotels can have a great time at little or no cost include an evening of outdoor dancing at the Far East Square, fishing or picnicking in Pasir Ris Park or taking a ghost hunting tour of the city.

Every weekend on Friday and Sunday evenings a crowd of line dancers takes over the Far East Square and get into the groove. This is a dance craze that is continually catching on and has become an extremely popular way to spend an evening. The Pasir Ris Park is a growing tourist hot spot and there are plenty of opportunities to ride bikes, kayak or canoe through the lake and also to fish. The park can be as calm and peaceful or exciting and adventurous as a person wishes. And for the really strong-nerved crowd there are various ghost chasing tours that occur throughout the city’s most haunted areas. Asia Paranormal Investigators are the perfect resource for guiding the non squeamish through these tours.

The Empire State Building is just one of the major cultural icons associated with great city of New York. There is also the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, as well as Central Park just to name a few. There is also the great tradition of the Great White Way, also known as Broadway that automatically comes to mind when one thinks of New York. Then of course there are the Yankees and the NY Jets that will be present in any sports oriented mind. Actually, almost every aspect of the city is considered to be a cultural landmark or social icon and New York has been incorporated into the nation’s mythological collective consciousness. That’s a major feat for any city, and New York is and has been up for the challenge. Enormous numbers of tourists pour through the city each year and it is guaranteed that they will be visiting the Statue of Liberty and/or The Empire State Building during their stay in one of the four star New York hotels.

Located at the intersection of 5th Avenue and West 34th Street, the Empire State Building is a 102 story skyscraper that was designed in the style of Art Deco. Completion of this major city and state landmark was finished in 1931 and for over forty years it stood high as the world’s tallest building and after the destruction and devastation brought on by the attacks of 2001, it again became the tallest building in New York City. It was designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous landmarks in New York City and is recognized across the world as a symbol for freedom and independence. It was given as a gift to the new country by the people of France after the war of independence. It was given as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was the sculptor of this iconic statue.

Recent years have proven that Singapore is a real force in the world for contemporary culture. It is a place where style and design are always at the forefront, and it has an unusually creative energy that seems to enter into the everyday flow of life.  It has a rhythm that is particular and unique, and very contagious, where new innovations are always developing at the speed of light it seems.  The many cultures that make up the island city state all have a turn at participating in the constantly changing fabric of things here, and this is reflected in the performing arts, the design, and certainly in the food.  As you’ll soon discover, Singapore is a wonderful place to get lost in the local culinary traditions.

It’s a very international place, with an international sensibility, and there are all sorts of varieties of food here.  Chinese and Indian influences are very strong here, of course, but there is also a magnificent selection of Italian restaurants.  The food here is excellent, prepared by chefs who are trained in traditional Italian cookery, as well as being great innovators.  There are plenty of fresh ingredients in Singapore to make dishes that are absolutely sumptuous, and the seafood here is magnificent.  It’s a great place for Italian restaurants, and it’s got a very significant Italian culture as well.

The Italian Cultural Institute in Singapore is a great resource for people of Italian descent looking to live and work here, especially if there is an interest in government offices.  They also have a fantastic number of resources for anything related to the Italian language, including classes that are offered here or online.  It’s part of a world wide network devoted to Italian culture, but it’s big in Singapore, and not just the language.  Italian style sometimes meets Singapore style with a happy marriage, as demonstrated when Emilio Bergoni visited to introduce Pupa’s new Techno-Romance line of eye shadows, merging technology and romance.  Singapore is a great place for these to meet.

Ideas, creativity, innovation.  These are three elements of business in which everyone at Next Day Blinds is aware.  This is something that is setting businesses apart from the others, in a day and age where competition is tough, and consumers are choosy and very spend thrifty.  This effects every aspect of how the company runs their transactions, designs their products and attends to their customer service policies.

At Next Day Blinds, customer reviews are just opportunities for finding solutions.  The generation of ideas from staff is a two part process.  First of course, is the thinking stage, also known as the Expansion Stage.  This is where the manager, or the person in charge of the brain storming session, gives their ideas in an attempt to prompt those in the meeting into a territory where other ideas will ensue.  Consider the television show, “House“.  This is what Dr. House does with his team, he throws ideas out there for them to take and run with, it is a going back and forth, a very interactive conversation.  This is a great way not only to come up with new ideas for designs in blinds for windows and doors, but a great way to go about solving challenges that customers, employees or the company may be encountering.

The second stage is called Convergence.  This is when the leader of the meeting selects certain ideas, and really hones in on them, chooses the best ones for the particular subject at hand.  Both stages of the process are equally necessary and important.  Depending on how complex of a situation is being solved, both of these processes may take a bit of time.  There are a few elements that can make this entire creative process move more quickly and painlessly.

One of the elements is to have a clear understanding of just what everyone is dealing with.  For Next Day Blinds, are they discussing new designs for vertical or horizontal slated shades, or are they speaking of windows or office partitions?  This sounds simple, but it is important to know exactly, and I mean exactly, what everyone should be focused on.  In this way, this company remains one of the innovative forerunners in the home design and window treatment arena.

Joe and David had been trying for months to start an alternative rock band with strong influences from blues and a little jazz. Joe is a stand up bass player and David plays guitar and sings. Joe can harmonize and usually sings some backup lyrics when the two play together. However, they had been looking for the perfect drummer and they also wanted an electric bass player. They also wanted a saxophone player, though they didn’t think they needed one to actually join the band and could occasionally access one for studio work. However, once they found a drummer, Steve, he quickly informed them that they were hardly in a position to be hiring musicians for every gig, which they would need to do if they didn’t have one in the band. This made sense to Joe and David who mistakenly thought that since the saxophone wouldn’t be on every song, they didn’t need one permanently. Despite the somewhat naivety of the two of them, they were both talented and finally put together their new band which they called Chances.

To celebrate their first month of practice David and Joe treated themselves to a weekend in Austin, Texas. They had actually been planning this for a while, but it was all the more celebratory after they had formed their band and begun practice. They had made reservations in one of the best Austin hotels over six months ago for the weekend that the Austin City Limits Music Festival would be taking place. They were overly excited about it because they had been wanted to go for years and this year they were finally able to and the Dave Matthews Band happened to be one of the headlining acts. He was one of their favorite artists and they were both inspired by him. They had even made an arrangement of the song The Space Between and had played it at acoustic nights and received many positive responses and had drawn some attention to themselves. However, they did not want to be a cover band and this was the only Dave Matthews song they allowed themselves to play in public. Meanwhile they had an amazing time at the festival and were awed by enthusiasm of the crowd and the talent on the stage. The left the festival more inspired than ever to create great music of their own.

Nothing beats a great night out at, having some dinner at a Baltimore restaurant, and then heading off for a stroll through the American Visionary Art Museum.  The museum focuses on art that is the work of self-taught artists who have not had formal training.  Visionary art is art that is a reflection of one’s soul and one’s own traditions and the unique way they make use of the materials and the world around them.  The curator of the museum states that sometimes the creators of the pieces do not always consider what they have created to be art.

Folk art is broadly defined as art created by the people, for the people.  However at the museum, they contain that folk art is based on techniques that are handed down through generations, and the art that they represent is from the individual, from spontaneous acts of creativity.  Visionary artists follow their own rules, and they create works based on their inner voice.  They look at possibilities, they see things that other people do not even know exist.

The American Visionary Art Museum has stated that their mission is to seek out visiting curators who have rich daily lives outside the world of art, those who know visionary artists when they see them.  There are more than four thousand pieces in the museum’s collection at any given time.  The permanent collection is housed on the first floor and the pieces are rotated in and out from time to time.  There is also a gallery on the third floor which showcases pieces that are on loan to the museum.  There is a barn filled with sculpture.

For those living life on a budget, a great time to visit the museum is when they are in the process of switching out exhibits.  While it may be a bit hectic with the staff moving pieces around, the museum still remains open to the public and offers a discounted admission rate.  The themes at the museum are always fresh examples of current human creations.  There is always a variety of works by a variety of different artists as they never put up one person shows.  This is a great place to spend the day or the evening, wandering through the works of so many talented and created visionary artists of the world.

I love going up to Duluth in the summertime it is the perfect escape from this city and the stress of my everyday life. I have been escaping to Duluth for a bunch of years now, maybe 6 or 7 and am always glad I went after wards. Coming home rested and relaxed and ready to get back to work.

Duluth is situated on the very western most tip of Lake Superiors blue waters. There in Duluth I find it really easy to reconnect with nature and unwind. The city is full of parks and open spaces for walking or running which I take advantage of every morning as I leave my Duluth hotels to begin my day and being located along the lake makes for an abundance of wildlife there.

One morning while I am there I like to rise early, before sunrise and take a drive up along the scenic North Drive to a look out and watch the sunrise over Lake Superior. After the sun rises I like to spend the rest of the morning exploring the beaches along the lake and if it is warm enough go for a swim. Sometime in the afternoon I like to head up to Hawk Ridge and watch the birds in the late afternoon as they prepare to roost for the night. In the evening I would go have an enormously delicious dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront.

On another day I’ll spend in the Great Lakes Aquarium. The complex is huge and house different freshwater displays depicting some of the various habitats around Lake Superior. The aquarium is a great place to see these enormous fish that like in the Great Lakes and I always have fun watching the kids in the aquarium when they notice these monster sized fish.

There were two things I had not done until my last visit to Duluth, the Sculpture Walk or visit the historic Railroad Depot. The Sculpture Walk is a park along the shore of Lake Superior where a number of modern sculptures have been installed. The Railroad Depot is an old historic railroad station converted into a museum dedicated to the railroads and railroad history in and around the Great Lakes region.

Goa brings out the funner side of life.  Not only is it a city of beaches and sun, but it is a city filled with people who have a considerable fondness for dance, music and other fine aspects of culture that make life worth living.  This is not just a way of life for the common person living in Goa, but it has been a way of life that is supported by the Government of the city.  Music education is supported by the public officials of Goa, for what is the future of music if the children of today are not prepared to play tomorrow?  Dance classes as well are government subsidized and many of the children study both at the Kala Academy Panjim.

One of the ways in which this education, and the desire for this education is promoted is through the Sangeet Sammelan Festival.  In this way, the people of the city are exposed to members of their own society who have “made it big”, such as the Konkani singers, and who are on their way to success, in the fields of dance and music.  This is the way for most people, in any field of study, to become filled with dreams…”if I could dance like that, play like that, paint like that, practice medicine like that, drive race cars like that…”  When one sees someone who was and is just like them, succeeding, it gives one hope.

The people of Goa who have been forming their own musical groups throughout the year are also featured.  In this way, the people of various neighborhoods are able to meet others who are interested in the arts.  Not only that, but many people from the country of India and those from around the world have begun to travel to Goa specifically to experience the festival and the city.  Five star hotels in Goa, restaurants, and merchants have been included in the festival and many offer special deals for this special occasion.  This is the perfect festival, meaning that the cultural and traditional elements of the culture are being reinforced and cultivated, at the same time people from outside the culture are able to witness, to be entertained and to support that tradition and culture.  The festival is one of the many fine reasons to visit the city of Goa.

Wow, Ibiza is an expensive place. Even more if you act like a poser, hire a convertible and stay at an Ibiza Town Hotel.

I went there originally to give support to a friend who was the warm up DJ for the opening party at Cream. When he was asked back to do one of the closing parties, we all hopped on a plane to come right back, but this time we stayed a week instead of a weekend. Costly, costly, costly, but so worth it. Especially hiring the convertible. We did more than just patronise all the bars and clubs, we actually explored the island. We saw all kinds of places that we wouldn’t have even know were here if we never even hired a car. We met all kinds of people, people we would have never gotten a chance to met without this car. I really recommend hiring a car we in Ibiza, there’s so much more to the island than just the clubs.

The hotel was great. Pool parties going on most of the time.We were really enjoying our time, hanging with the in crowd, until we realized that a lot of the people were posers and strutter’s just like us! We didn’t let that ruin our fun though, it only made our time even better.

With our convertible, we checked out Cala Moli and Sant Josep, they are secluded beaches. We found the best spots for sunrise and sunsets for much of our first day. That night, we decided to eat at Can Cans for dinner. The next morning, we drove out to Santa Euloria, an open beach with shops full of buckets and spades. We accidentally found a nudist beach on the east side. This we all agreed, was the most perfect place to watch the sunrise, so the next morning we got up very early, around 3:30am and we drove to the nudist beach. It was a dark and stormy morning, we could see the storm brewing in the distance. It was really ominous looking and we were all wondering if going to the beach was a good thing. When we arrived, thunder and lightning were striking all around us, but there was also a beautiful sunrise on the horizon. We’ve all never seen something so scary and beautiful at the same time.

Later, that night, is when we got to go to see our DJ friend spin at Subliminal. We had so much fun, it’s really great when you are close personal friends of the DJ, the perks are good!