I felt a bit moody in the middle of May in Manhattan. In the pre-dawn light where our small birder group gathered, the thickets were becoming less dim and a feeling of anticipation was beginning to fill the air around us. I was in a bird-a-thon, a fundraiser where I had to do more than just identify as many birds as I could, but I was voted the one in charge of our group which meant I had to listen and find the more stellar variety of species.

I planned for this fundraiser for over a year, making reservations at a Luxury Manhattan Hotel, doing research of Central Park so I’d know every nook and nanny, and studying all posted birder sightings in the park. No wonder, I was picked to lead this particular group, no one else bothered to do as much work as I did. Well, I am somewhat of a birder freak as my husband likes to call me. I just think I’m obsessive. Nothing wrong with that as far as I’m concerned.

I could already hear plenty of bird calls from where we already were, indicating there was a good migration during the night before. We entered the woods and began seeing birds right away. Tons of them. The ground was literally covered with Thrushes . We hit the bird jackpot. There were even plenty of warblers, a few orioles about, sparrows naturally, but it was the sheer amount of Thrushes which left us speechless. Or more like wowed.

We were still finding great birds when it was time for us to leave at 9am, and as we were heading out that’s when the real magic began. The birds began to sing. It was the Wood Thrush’s tuning up, then a Veery piped in and then a Hermit and a Swainson. Goosebumps appeared on my arms when I finally heard the Gray-cheeked Thrush. Unbelievable, was that a Bicknell Thrush was right next to it singing it’s like heart out. We didn’t want it to end, but we all managed to leave the park and head back to the fundraiser to see if we recorded enough birds which will help bring in the money necessary to keep a community center open for one more year.

Asia is a continent that holds many cultures, languages, and traditions, and one would expect the luxury hotels to be enormous in variety, but extremely high in quality.  It is certainly the case that our hotels set a very high standard, and raise the bar for accommodations in the world.  With a splendid combination of tradition and innovation, the hotels are always designed for rejuvenating the mind and the senses.  There is an enormous range of culinary delights available in every hotel, and some of the world’s finest chefs create new recipes and perfect traditional foods.  While relaxing and getting away from it all are high priorities, there are also top of the line technologies here, making sure that your ability to connect to the world at large will be continuous.  There are also excellent in-room entertainments, and the whole family will find something to love here.

Asia is a fascinating continent, with its many regions and cultures in various states of flux.  There are some recent developments in the global art world that make it suddenly much smaller, and Asia is revealing itself as a place not only of enormous tradition, but of enormous creativity.  Some of the most cutting-edge work in the world is being made by the artists in various parts of Asia.  There is an overall tendency to take into account the enormous variety of art from the classical era, and to recreate the work, and often with irony, in new manifestations that suggest new directions of thought and action.  It is extremely difficult, however, to generalize Asia’s constantly shifting movements, but there are attempts to cultivate understanding.  One of these is the Asia Art Archive Research Grant.

This award has a very impressive monetary payment, which is intended to fund works carried out in Asia over the year.  The award is just one of the many interesting programs carried out by the Asia Art Archive.  This group, based in Hong Kong, is devoted to the collection and promotion of information about Asian art in the world, with the intention to create dialogue across disciplines and across borders.  Its collection is one of the most comprehensive in the world.

There was a good reason I picked the Western Cape to be my next destination once I  checked into of one of the Best Cape Town Hotels, it’s one of South Africa’s premier tourist attraction. Table Mountain is there, winelands, pristine beaches, wonderful first class restaurants and the best night life.

Western Cape is situated on the south-western tip of Africa and is the meeting point of the very cold Atlantic ocean and the warm Indian Ocean. Cape Town is the Capital of Western Cape and dominating the view from where ever I looked is Table Mountain. It’s Cape Town’s most famous landmark.  I took the revolving cable car to the 1086 meter summit and had a grand view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I found the area between Table Mountain and Hottentots Holland consists of the Cape Town Metropole and enfolds pulsating cosmopolitan city life, forests, exquisite nature parks and beach playgrounds. I particularly liked Cape Point, the most southern most point of the Cape Peninsula. It was great to go on a diving tour of the 2 dozen or so shipwrecks.

I also visited Robben Island, South Africa’s version of Alcatraz. It can be an emotional journey to the former prison of Robben Island. This is where Nelson Mandela and all the other anti-apartheid activists spent most of their adult years. I highly recommend this attraction. Plus, I visited the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and did some shopping, ate a wonderful dinner and did some Clubbing. I headed back to my hotel room when I saw the sun was rising. Unbelievable, really. I didn’t want my stay in the Western Cape to end, I was really enjoying myself, the people whom I’d meet and the land itself. I felt a peace and at home here, well everywhere I went really.

My husband I are avid birds, so when we arrived in South Africa, we could hardly wait for our excursion to begin. Jet lag hit us right away, so it was fortunate, but reluctantly so, that our trip didn’t start until the middle of the next day. We managed to secure a Car Hire in South Africa and an excellent birding map from the local birding society and a bird guide called the Amajuba Birding Meander booklet.

When we awoke the next day, jet lag gone, we immediately took our car hire to KwaZula-Natal and went to the region called the Drakensberg, a prime excursion for international birders like my husband and myself. It’s a bushveld and wetland which made for a spectacularly wide and diverse bird spotting. Our bird guide book about this region told us there were more than 400 species, I doubt we’ll be able to log all 400, but we’d be happy to log as many birds as we see.

Our first sighting was really a thrill, the endangered Bearded Vulture, we spotted it riding the thermals around the towering peaks of Drakensberg. What a monarch of the sky. We hung out in the Lammergeyer Hide at Giants Castle Reserve, and boy what an experience. The reserve staff lay out Carrion to attract all the feathered carnivores. We spotted the Lanner Falcons, so beautiful, the black eagle, a few raven, and buzzards. But, what was most fascinating was Lammergeyer itself, wow, a soaring raptor with a wingspan of almost 3 meters! It was great to observe them flying high and fast between the peaks and actually see them drop bones while they were flying so they could shatter them on the ragged rocks below. Then swoop down to feed on the marrow of the bones.

We stayed there for 2 whole days before we drove back to our hotel room. We arranged to stay the night at one of the convenient establishments just for us birders. We managed to log just about 100 birds. One’s we only saw photos of, but now got to see in their natural habitat.

Ok, someone recommended I check out two places while I stayed at one of the Best Hotels New York City has, Patricia’s in Morris park and Willie’s Steakhouse. The someone happened to be my mother, I don’t know why I even took up on her advice, her tastes are completely different than mine, but I guess I though maybe she knew what she was talking about, since she grew up here and this was my first time to New York City.

I did check out Patricia’s first, and Mom was right, the food was fantastic, the service was a little slow, but I don’t know if it’s because they were short-handed, they only had 2 waiters for 20 tables, or if they always have only 2 waiters for 20 tables. Okay, the service really was bad, even the busboys ended up taking my order and finishing out my bill. I really felt sorry for the waiters, they must really need the job to put up with lack of help. Maybe I had the wrong Patricia’s, cause I just read the place mat and there does seem to be 2 Patricia’s. Maybe my mom didn’t know that, so she didn’t tell me the best one to go to.

But, after checking out Willie’s Steakhouse, I will now not give my mom the benefit of the doubt. Oh my goodness, this place reminded me of the ‘Night of the Living Dead’. I have no idea why she would even recommend this place to her worst enemy. No one was under the age of 50. They walked around like a bunch of leftovers looking for the one that got away. The food was awful too. I’m going to have to get my mom back for having me come here. Oh, and the music was so loud, probably because the 50 year olds were deaf. I wish I had brought ear-plugs. Oh, so many unattractive people here. My mom must be off her meds. I think I’ll tell her when I talk to her to thank her so much for recommending these two awful places that she needs to see her doctor again for more prescription drugs. My mom is wacko, really, wacko for even recommending either one of these places, really.

Formentera is a small Balearic Island located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. Although it is rather small it is still one of the four largest of this collection of Islands. Each of these islands, including Formentera attracts many tourists to their beaches and unique cultural aspects every year. Formentera, being the smallest of the four, is extremely peaceful and mild. It is a great place for a quiet and relaxing getaway and provides low key beach activities, as well as an opportunity for all of the major water sports. Wind surfing happens to be the best suited for this island due to the wind flow coming through its shores. Surfing on standard surfboards, and boogie boarding is also popular, as is scuba diving, swimming and water skiing. As is common to most beaches, pools and practically any body of water, sunbathing is an ongoing activity and some of the beaches are designated as nude, which some people prefer.

Since Formentera is small, it is possible to tour the island completely while vacationing there. The local population is extremely friendly, how could they not be seeing that their home is close to being a paradise. Formentera car rental companies are primarily there to serve the tourist population, and is well acquainted with standard needs and expectations. There are also many restaurants and night clubs to provide quality entertainment and great food. Some of them are there for the tourist population and close down during not peek hours. However, there are many that stay open all year. Mediterranean food and traditional Spanish dishes are common often are the favorites of locals and tourists alike. A nice falafel wrap is a healthy and refreshing lunch option for tourists on the go. Another popular activity for tourists is to take a ferry around the island, or to its next door neighbor, the island of Ibiza. Ibiza’s club scene is world known and an evening there may make an exciting compliment to the peace and quiet of Formentera.

Goa, India experienced a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, July 22 2009. Many cities in China and Northern India experiences a full blackout effect from this rare eclipse that in some parts lasted up to six minutes. This only occurs every few hundred years though partial solar and lunar eclipses are semi regular events throughout the world. The next eclipse expected to last this amount of time is not anticipated to occur until 2032. This rare aspect of the event contributed to the amount of people who traveled to the prime blackout areas from all over the world. There were cruise ships and even chartered plane flights that were scheduled to pass through these zones during the peek hours. And while Goa was not in the prime linear path of the event, many of the tourists staying in a Goa India hotel were happy to view the partial covering that occurred there.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in-between the earth and the sun causing a full or partial blockage. It can only take place during the new moon phase because it is during this time that the sun and moon are in conjunction when viewed from the perspective of the earth. At least two partial eclipses will occur somewhere on the earth every year, though full eclipses are less common. When they do occur it is almost always for a very brief amount of time and can only take place along the small area of the moon’s umbra. Throughout history, and even in some cultures today, the cause of eclipses has been attributed to supernatural causes. They can be extremely frightening for people when they are unexpected and there is no understanding of the astronomical reason for their existence. Whenever they occur, they are a cause for wonder and awe, and this rare extended eclipse is certainly an historic event, those who were fortunate enough to view it partially, and particularly fully are extremely fortunate.

Nelson Mandela is well known at an international level for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to society. Tributes to his work are found in most areas of South Africa and are a typical aspect of any visitor’s experience to the country. The boutique hotels South Africa often contain reminders of this great man and his dedication to the equality of humans and many contributions he made. Mandela was an extremely controversial figure throughout much of his career due to the great social change aspect and intention of his work. He suffered many oppressive circumstances and personal defaming attempts, though his legacy will remember him as one of the world’s great humanitarians.

There are numerous foundations, projects and monuments that celebrate his global inspirational endeavors and achievements. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is just one of these, and it was established on the basis of his main communication perspective related to honoring different ethnicities, cultures and religions. It began in 1999 and is committed to continuing the efforts and intentions of Mandela. It incorporates various technological resources to develop projects promoting equality and freedom of speech and self-expression.

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund is another agency, which lies close to the heart of his interests and efforts. The charitable organization was established in 1995 and incorporates an holistic approach to addressing the needs of children who suffer various issues such as the dislocation of refugees and the health needs of children with AIDS. It also offers resources and services to orphans and homeless children. The Fund also contributes to the creation and sustaining of other major institutions and built the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, which is located in the Gauteng province and first opened in 2007. It is one of four hospitals on the African continent that is entirely devoted to the needs of children.

Kent Ridge Park in Singapore takes full advantage of the natural vegetation and topography by how it was designed. I found all the various look out points which offered spectacular views of the islands like Pulau Duran Darat. The park was within walking distance from one of the Best Hotels in Singapore where I was staying on a business trip. This was a great treat for me because I’m a bit of a fitness buff too.

Kent Ridge Park offered the most number of fitness stations, about 20, I believe. All the fitness equipment pose a great challenge for me, which I naturally enjoyed. But, I also enjoyed the natural vegetation and the forest groves of Tembusu, Dillenias and Acacias. These groves were alive with sounds of birds and insects which broke the silence and serenity of the park. I also, besides working out, would stroll through the meandering dirt paths towards two ponds teeming with turtles and fish like the Japanese Koi. As a naturist too, I enjoyed the serene ambiance which the park also offers besides a good work out.

It was interesting to note that as a part of the Army’s adoption of the park as The Army Green Park, they mounted two decommissioned M114 artillery Guns and an AMX-13 Light Tank as a point of interest. Pretty contradictory really, compared to all the serenity abounding, but I must admit, I do like my military toys. I read a plaque installed at the upper carpark denoting and commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II and explained that one of the last battles for Singapore was fought on the very hill which covers most of the harbour. Apparently, the park is also very famous for the WWII relics and bunkers. There’s even a ‘history’ trail which I’ll have to explore on another day. But, in the meantime it’s crunch time.

The lakes of Udaipur are small but beautiful.  Although, I have noticed, many of such lakes supply their basic purpose of being a Water Body and delivering to the needs of drinking water and irrigation, they have also become places to visit and to have recreation. I was staying at a Udaipur Palace Hotel which is next to Lake Pichola. The state of Rajasthan is primarily known for its wonderful forts and palaces, but it’s the lakes I came to see.

There are quite a few lakes that are pristine and beautiful, like Lake Pichola is perhaps one of the most important, in my view, and the most beautiful lake in Rajasthan. It’s approximately 2 and a quarter miles long and about 1 and a quarter miles wide. This lake is man-made, carved out in the earth’s surface during the 14th century and was completed in the 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh. Then there’s Gadsisar Lake, it’s located in the dry regions of Jaisalmer. It has it’s own importance. It was once the major source of water being supplied to the city of Jaisalmer and there are several temples and shrines built all along the shores and even a yellow sandstone gateway leads to the lake itself.

But the second most important lake for the city of Udaipur is Fateh Sagar Lake. It too is man-made during Maharana Jai Singhs rule in 1678. But, the lake was destroyed by flooding. Later, it was reconstructed by Maharana Fateh Singh. Lake Pichola is linked to it by a canal via Rang Sagar and Swaroop Sagar Lakes. Irrigation was the original purpose of these man-made lakes, but today they are needed for drinking water. Often, the lakes become dry and becomes a mismatch of inflow and outflow of water. But, from what I can tell, the city of Udaipur is working diligently to keep the lakes inflow, but they seem to be always behind due to the ever increasing population and new construction. I do hope they somehow manage it though, Udaipur is too precious.

Gastric sleeve surgery is the new kid on the block of weight loss surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery is normally done before a patient can receive gastric bypass surgery. This is done because the patient is not in good enough health to undergo gastric bypass surgery. This surgery is also for patients who have found that gastric banding is not an option for them.

Before surgery: Before surgery the patient will have had several evaluations. These evaluations will have been done by a variety of people ranging from a bariatric doctor to a bariatric nutritionist and a psychologist. The surgery is not reversible. Patients will have to alter their lifestyle before surgery as well, for example they should stop smoking.

During surgery: During surgery, a bariatric surgeon will remove more than half, about sixty percent of the patient’s stomach. The stomach then becomes more shaped like a tube or a sleeve, hence the name of the surgery. The stomach that is left is secured closed with staples.

After surgery: If a significant amount of weight is lost, the patient will then be eligible for gastric bypass surgery. This is called having a “staged” approach to weight loss surgery, and gastric sleeve surgery is just one of those stages. The next surgery can occur anywhere from six to 18 months after the initial gastric sleeve surgery.

Other facts:

This procedure is really meant for those who are morbidly obese, who have a BMI above 60 or who are not in proper health to receive gastric bypass surgery.

Costs:

Gastric sleeve cost can be around $10,000. The surgery is still considered experimental. It’s very likely it is not covered by insurance. But the costs are radically different in other countries, making an entire industry called medical tourism. Other weight loss surgeries like lap band surgery abroad and other weight loss surgeries are much cheaper there.

The Mumbai hotels are excellent resources for various cultural aspects, in addition to providing the best in luxury accommodations. They provide excellent services in regards to information on ongoing events, festivals and general attractions. The city has a vibrant and thriving arts and entertainment scene, which draws numerous tourists every year. Previously known as Bombay, Mumbai has many historic architectural buildings that give it an overall sense of wonder and importance.

What began as a small fishing establishment, the metropolitan area now boasts a population of approximately 14 million people. This makes it one of the largest in the world. From the beaches to the culture and artistic representations, it has many interesting sites of attraction. Chowpatty Beach is just one of locations that provides fabulous views of the city, while offering great scenic vistas and plenty of relaxing and fun opportunities. It is the only beach in central Mumbai, which is why it has such incredible views. This also makes it a popular place for an afternoon break, and there are many people there at almost all hours. It’s a great place for a casual stroll, or to hold any celebration. Festivals also occur here.

One of the most spectacular building complexes is actual a railway station. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, also known as Victoria Station, provides some of the most ornate architectural designs in Mumbai and is considered to be one of the most beautiful stations in the world. The British built this railway station in 1888, and it contains a statue of Queen Victoria on its dome. It was also the queen that the station was named after. It is the headquarters of India’s Central Railways and one of the busiest in the country. The station took ten years to complete, and was worth the time and effort. It’s elaborately detailed ornate facades or only one of the structural elements that make it so prestigious.

The airport hotel is certainly another step in the evolution of world travel.  Here, the savvy globetrotter can enjoy the same luxuries that come from other hotels that meet the high standards in the world of accommodations.  They are a breed apart, offering something exceptional for circumstances when staying deep in the heart of the city aren’t an option.  For those who have decided that they want to have the good life wherever they are, airport hotels are another piece to the puzzle, insuring that short trips don’t necessarily mean compromising quality.  This is another movement forward in the history of travel.

In this same history, travel writing is something that really came into its own after World War II, and in the recent decades has become a very specific kind of literature.  There were also other epochs when travel writing was a popular form.  In the 19th century, there were lots of accounts of strange adventures in strange lands that was an outgrowth of colonialism and colonial thinking.  Before that, and in similar fashion, navigators would write about their adventures on the high seas, and before that…it seems that there was always another “before that,” and there is evidence to suggest that travel writing begins at almost the exact moment that writing begins.  The questions, “Where did you go?  And what did you see?” are elemental.

To pinpoint the moment when travel writing began, then, is rather difficult, but for the first widely read accounts of travel, we should probably look at Herodotus.  Born in what is present-day Turkey in 484 B.C. Herodotus was a friend of Sophocles, and saw the Persian War.  He traveled in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and his writing, books of history taken from these travels, add up to nine volumes.  The great Polish historian and storyteller, Ryszard Kapuscinski, wrote Travels with Herodotus, as a nod to this classic writer, acknowledging the similarities in his own work.  It is interesting here to note that Herodotus called himself the father of history, and also the father of lies, because he, like most writers, understood that writing is as much an embellishment than it is a factual account.

Dungarpur is a great place for birding. I was truly amazed at the number of different birds that could be seen and heard. I really wish I had a guide book which would’ve helped me identify all of the different types I saw. The Dungarpur palace itself had a huge bird sanctuary. It featured peacocks, ostriches and some other extremely exotic looking birds, which I still wish I could identify.

From Dungarpur, I hired a car to Udaipur. Known as the White City. Udaipur is small compared to other cities in India. There’s only about 500,00 people here. After I got settled in a Hotel in Udaipur, I went to see the City Place, which was a highlight for me. It’s built on the shores of Lake Pichola. It’s a massive piece of property that has 2 hotels, the private residence of the Maharajah of Mewar, some shops, museums and well preserved areas of the palace are open to the public.

Later that evening, I took a boat to Jag Mandir, an island palace in the middle of Lake Pichola. There was a grand courtyard with huge carved elephants. The restaurant, which seemed to be the original building from the 17th century was amazing. I drank some tea in the courtyard while I waited for a table to open up, when a group of Indian business men wanted some photos with me. It was so amusing, each man took turns standing next to me, while the rest snapped shots with their cell phones. But, I lost their attention when the Maharajah showed up!  We all rushed up to him to have our photo taken with the king. Now that was impressive.

The next day I traveled to Kumbhalgarh, which is this gigantic fort nestled in the lush mountains of Southern Rajasthan. I stayed in an old hunting lodge of the Maharajah, yes the same one I met the night before. My room was a little damp, well everything was really, due to the lusciousness of the mountains, but the place had a lot of character. I wish I would’ve had enough time to hang around to see the huge wildlife sanctuary and trek around for couple more days.

I came to Thailand on business first, but secondly, to do some birding.  I stayed in one of the Hotels in Thailand for my business, which lasted a week, but then booked a birding tour which only lasted 2 days and one night, I wish I had more time, but at least for those 2 days, it was well worth it.

The birds of Thailand are numerous and are known to be very colorful, also quite resourceful. I noticed a lot of the bird life in Thailand adapts itself well to the ever encroaching presence of man and all the other animals. The birds are taking advantage of the different food sources sometimes inadvertently provided by the tourist, like me. In fact, this reminds me of one of my experiences I had with a Pond Heron who was a regular fisherman at my pond back home and how he adapted to the loss of his natural habitat by making due with what fish I had in my pond.

A good example of what I refer to as adapting is while on my birding tour I got to see the Cattle Egret working alongside cows in a field on a local farm. The bird was in breeding plumage and it was so amusing to watch it wait for the cows to disturb some juicy bits, like insects and frogs. At the same farm the were some Common Mynah birds hunting around the gutters and eaves of the farm house. These birds work as a team and seek to flush out small geckos to eat. I watched one adept enough to steal fruit which was placed on an eating area outside when the farm owner turned his back to retrieve something on the ground. The Myna was so quick to gulp down that piece of fruit and fly off right as the farmer turned back around. The farmer not knowing he was missing some fruit from his plate. That made my whole trip worth while. The birds of Thailand, being resourceful, definitely helped me pass a relaxing 2 days with their antics.

I flew into Dubai to do a one on one interview with Dubai’s Prison warden about their new yoga training program. I managed to arrange the meeting in the lobby of one of the Luxury Hotels Dubai UAE has in order that the interview be comfortable and away from the Prison walls.

My interview was with the Managing Director of Central Jail. Apparently, Dubai Police are training prison inmates with yoga to help relieve the stress that build up from day to day and to aid them with a better outlook on their life and the world. Police authorities have organised several 10-day yoga training session for approximately 39 inmates on a volunteer basis. Most prisoners who have participated are drug addicts, inmates with chronic psychological disorders and some with insomnia were given special instructions and yoga techniques related to that disorder.

This project is the first of it’s kind being given to prison inmates in the Arab world. In India, most of the prisons there now have a 10-day Vipassana center where any inmate can volunteer to participate in. The studies show those inmates who have participated in a 10-day Vipassana do not have recidivism issues. I mention this to the Managing Director and he said that basically that is what their 10-day program is, it is Vipassana Meditation technique which is being taught. But, that the most interesting part about the program is that every prison guard, including himself had to first do the 10-day Vipassana. He then smiled and told me he was grateful to actually had the opportunity to participate, because he now knows what the true benefits are for all of his inmates. He told me it was a life-transforming experience and that he’s heard the same results from each prisoner who has gone through one 10-day session. Truly, this is whats needed in all prisons, not just in Dubai and in India.

In the world of four-star hotels, Bangalore offers a sublime local charm and flavor along with the already exquisite accommodations that come with the four-star rating.  Featuring the luxurious lodgings that meet or exceed the industry standards, four-star hotels strive to keep their guests refreshed, catering to all their traveling needs.  With impeccable cuisine, design, and service, guests don’t have to worry about the essentials, and can focus instead on the details that make a vacation memorable.  In Bangalore, there are many distractions to help create excellent memories for the whole family.  With a lively urban center, excellent restaurants and night life, and all sorts of activities that the whole family can enjoy, Bangalore is a fascinating place.

It is one of the few places in the world right now where the residents who have left are starting to return, and in record numbers.  The economic opportunities promised elsewhere have either leveled off, or the economy here has improved so much that it’s impossible not to come back again.  Either way, it makes for an interesting state of cultural flux, where generations are filling in gaps in experience, knowledge, and expectations of India’s present and future that don’t necessarily match memories.  Pushpamala N. is a contemporary Bangalore artist who’s work interrogates the past and present in an incredibly evocative body of work.

The work of Pushpamala N. is very distinctive.  Blurring the boundaries between subject and object, she herself appears as the photographic subject in her work, often in guises that are performative, an often very funny.  The images are icons, stolen from Indian history and legend, and pop culture.  Some of her more incisive works, which have attracted a god deal of critical attention from the international art community, are the ethnographic series she worked on with Calre Arni.  In these, Pushampala N. as the subject from a distant past, presents herself as multiple versions of Indian village women, sometimes with groups, sometimes with a husband, and often alone.  Accompanying these are other images where her skull is being assessed, and other various scientific measurements are taken, in the tradition of early anthropology.  The underlying message here, that the exotic woman is still an object of display, and the barbarism of the past is not behind us, is a potent one in the contemporary art world, and its reiteration in her work has a raw power despite the glint in the subject’s eye.

Travelers in India looking for four-star hotels in Delhi will find a world of splendor and luxury in our accommodations.  Set in one of the world’s most interesting cities, our hotels offer a fantastic combination of old-world hospitality and absolutely modern charms.  Featuring all the amenities and excellent service that meet or exceed the industry standards for four-star lodgings, there are many fine touches that make our hotels extremely distinctive, and offer an experience that will invigorate the body and soul.  There is an excellence in design that merges contemporary with traditional, and services that are top-rate, with a gracious and knowledgeable staff.  Restful nights and peaceful days here will keep guests relaxed as they set out to explore the city.

Delhi is an extremely diverse and fascinating place.  With the whole human comedy playing itself out, there are cultures and languages that mix freely in the streets.  There is a liveliness to the day-to-day activity that help make urban adventures extra-special.  For those interested in Delhi’s cultural worlds, there is an immense array of events to choose from, with live performance in theatre, dance, and music, to a stunning visual arts culture.  There are some magnificent artworks here that span centuries, but the contemporary art world is also very much alive.  One of the more interesting painters currently working in Delhi is the surrealist Vijender Sharma.

Born in 1962, and having received his master’s from New Delhi’s college of art, Sharma has been working furiously and with apparent great humor, throughout Delhi, India at large, and abroad.  His subject matter is distinctively Indian, taking on many figures and metaphorical icons from Hindu iconography.  He blends the images with details that are sometimes extremely contemporary, and always surprising, and creates works of art that are technically masterful, bold in color, and rather visionary.  In interviews, Vijender Sharma’s words are powerful and precise, and coupled with an infectious laughter.  It is as if he doesn’t always care that you get the joke, but he hopes you do, because to share it is even better than to hold it delightfully inside.  This same spirit informs his paintings.

For tourists looking for accommodations that rank in the category of 5-star, Lanzarote hotels will surely provide stunning answers.  The island, one of the Canaries, has a population of more than 170,000 people, which give this natural paradise a very lively urban scene as well.  Visitors are struck by the beauty of its sandy beaches almost as much as the surreal gorgeousness of its volcanic areas.  There, it is possible to stroll along the rocky edges of the water and find fantastic emerald green pieces of rock, take in the sheer magnitude of the strange natural formations, as well as enjoy a meal cooked by volcanic heat.  Add to this the sleepy fishing villages, and there is more than enough to keep a whole family enjoying a vacation that they will remember for some time to come.

Lanzarote also has its roll call of fascinating residents, and one of these is the illustrious Jose Saramago.  This nobel-prize winning author was born in Portugal in 1922.  He joined the Communist party in 1969, and has been active in a number of political causes, and has been an outspoken supporter of Chiapas’ Zapatista movement, all of which have made him both a controversial and popular figure in Europe and Latin America.  One of his novels, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, caused sufficient controversy that he left Portugal to live permanently in Lanzarote.  Author of over two dozen works, and over a dozen novels, most of which are translated into Spanish and English, he was finally awarded the Nobel in 1998.

In many interviews and public talks, Saramago maintains that, although now over 80 years old, it would be foolish to claim one knows anything about life.  This combination of absolute humility and conscience show themselves freely in his novels, and add a very hearty dose of the fantastic.  His brilliant work from 1997, Ensaio sobre a Cegueira, or Blindness, takes place in an unnamed city, where a faction of the population is taken over by a sudden and inexplicable blindness.  They are rounded up and placed into concentration camps, and the novel is told from the inside of these camps.  It is simultaneously a comment on oppression and power, and an incredibly bold and optimistic vision of human society organizing itself in the worst of circumstances.  His voice is profound and resounding, and it is no coincidence, perhaps, that he would live in a profound place.

The city of Melbourne is quite artistic, quite urban, with a variety of art galleries, cafes, trendy clubs, funky boutiques and luxury hotels.  Melbourne, Australia is the place to visit for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in culture, incredible and diverse architecture, fine seafood cuisine…a city-life vacation filled with charm and history.  However, should one find themselves in this part of the world, one would be forever grateful if they found their way to Tasmania.  Tasmania is the only island state of Australia, sitting just one hundred and fifty miles of the South Eastern shore of the country.  For those loving their vacation in Melbourne, but perhaps wanting a little bit of the rugged, un-disturbed outdoors, Tasmania offers a different side of Australia, that is just a boat cruise away.  And there are many reasons why, when so close to the island from the mainland, one should not miss this little island.

Science has proven that the air surrounding the island of Tasmania is the cleanest air in the world, team that with soil that is fertile and rich, and not only does it feel good to be there, the fruits and vegetables, and the wines produced, and the seafood caught is some of the healthiest and most delicious in all the world.  The seasons, while there are four distinct, they are mild.  For those wanting to do a bit of climbing, there are more than one thousand peaks to scale in the mountain ranges.  Almost half of the island is protected, providing many parks and animal reserves wherein one may catch a glimpse of some of the rarest species in the world.  One of the best ways to experience the island, and perfect for those with penchant for photography, is to simple walk it, to hike it.  For those enthusiasts, there is the famous Overland Track walk, which takes six days through some of the most scenic spots on earth.  For those just spending a day or two away from their vacation in Melbourne, there are more than sixty walks to choose from which vary in times and levels of difficulty.  Tasmania has something for everyone.

We stopped in Dubai twice, the first time was before we went to Ethiopia and then on our way back. We spent four days at the end birding in and around Dubai. What a wonderfully strange place. The desert scenery in the interior is surprising, but the fact that much of the coastline appears to be under constant construction, many of which appear won’t be complete any time soon. We stayed at a Five Star Hotel in Dubai was right next to another hotel under construction.

We managed to do some site seeing, our first spot was the Burj Al Arab. It was quite impressive when viewed close up. It looks immaculate and appears as if it was carved out of smooth white icing. One would actually had to pay big bucks to get in for a look inside, so we were content to stay outside. Then we went to the interior desert. Fantastic tan and orange colored dunes. No birds here, though if one finds a shrub or two there might be a Desert Warbler hanging around, for what we couldn’t figure out. Much of the interior looks paler and more rocky with scattered shrubbery. This though, makes a great habitat for the Desert Wheatears and, if you are lucky you might even spot the Great Hoopoe Lark.

We then saw the famous hotel at Ghantoot, sometimes the winter home for the Grey Hypocolius, we didn’t see any thought, but what a spectacular quiet atmosphere at sunset. Then we just drove around to see Dubai’s skyline. Many of the skyscrapers are unfinished and are most likely destined to remain that way until the economy improves. That might be a long wait. Our last stop, believe it or not was Dubai’s huge sewage plant. Basically because the treatment plant has ‘fields’ that are always green, well water and thus attracts a whole variety of birds. A bird hot spot if you will, where many vagrant birds are found socializing.

The job market is a tough place right now. And the unemployment rate is growing more and more. It can be difficult to find a way to set yourself apart from all of the job seekers out there. That is why this economy is so difficult. The people who are looking for work are highly qualified and some may even be experts within their chosen field. So needless to say that competition is quite fierce.  It’s time to buckle down and start thinking about how you can make the most out of your resume. You need to show your effective leadership skills and set yourself apart from the bevy of other applicants.

The first thing you need to think about doing is revamping your resume. If you are still using the same resume you used the last time you looked for a job, that could be the reason why you are not getting any call backs. Employers have so many more resumes they are looking through now for open positions, so you need to make yours stand out. Any kind of management development training or education that could give you the edge in a job interview or at any point in the hiring process.

Also think about how you can make yourself more marketable. The more skills you have the more intriguing you are going to be to an employer. Employers want employees who are well rounded. The more training you have the better. Consider what type of training you can get to make you more successful in the next pool of resumes. Sit down and think about why you are not getting call backs and do your best to change that.

At the end of the day, the job market is really tough. So hang in there, something is bound to come your way eventually.

New York is a great American city. It is a standard cultural icon and also house some of the best museums and theatres in the country. It is known as the city that never sleeps and it works hard to maintain this distinction. It is the career icon for many artistic genres and many people believe they need to work in New York City to be successful. In addition, it receives tourists from around the world who are attracted to the many shopping, entertainment and cultural experience opportunities the city offers. Broadway is one of the most famous boulevards in the world, and the theatre scene is internationally known. Any boutique hotel in New York is guaranteed to be filled with visitors who are in town for a Broadway show. Many film actors had a start in the theatre and also return to it after they have achieved commercial success in Hollywood. James Dean is another American icon, and he too had his career begin in New York.

James Dean was born in Marion, Indiana. He is one of the most famous American actors and is often considered to be an icon of the method acting system, though he only made three films in his short career. Before moving to California, he acted in New York, getting his first Broadway role in the production of See the Jaguar. His first film was East of Eden, in which he played the troubled youth Cal. This part brought him incredible respect from the community and helped to land him the role of Jim Stark in his next film Rebel Without a Cause. This is his most famous role, and the one that defined him in the national and historic eye. In this film he also played a trouble youth, which contributed to his recognition as the icon of this major national theme. His final, Giant, also starred Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Unfortunately, Dean died before the film was finished. Some of his scenes had to be dubbed over by another actor, and it was after the film opened that he became so nationally known and loved.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, India is the legislative and financial capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra. It lies at the mouth of the Ulhas River on the west coast and with over 14 million residents is considered the second most populated city in the world. There seems to be two distinct seasons, one humid the other dry. Both appealing, both attracting different types of tourists looking for different activities. Mumbai has become an exotic world mixture of cultures, traditions and beliefs. The entertainment industry is abundant here with the numerous festivals throughout the year. Theatre is very prominent and in the forefront with The International Film Festival and the awards ceremony for the Filmfare Awards, which is the oldest and most renown in the Hindi film industry. The Wadala neighborhood boasts the world’s largest IMAX theatre. Marathi, Hindi, English and other neighboring languages are spoken in the theatres, making it very easy to attend a performance you will understand.

Whatever your needs, select a Mumbai Bombay hotel where you will be pampered and spoiled by the ever attentive and friendly staff. The many fabulous restaurants, both in hotels and on their own offer the finest cuisine where you can experience savory and mouthwatering local dishes. The nightlife is exciting and plentiful with the many nightclubs and bars located throughout the city. You can party and dance all night as you take in this side of what to do. There are beautiful gardens, museums, art galleries, water parks, and the zoo all offering hours of entertainment and pleasure. In February, the Elephanta Festival is held, highlighting the many talented musicians and dancers. This annual event attracts participants from all over India and spectators from all over the world. The beautiful architectural designs of the ancient and modern buildings are drawn from many time periods. You will never be lacking for something to do when visiting Mumbai.

One of the aspects of Indian culture that tourists will notice upon their visit and their stay in the Jaipur luxury hotels, is the the city stresses the importance of scientific thinking, the idea the the logical mind is the part of the soul that supports the beliefs of religion.  This is evident in the Jaipur Observatory, the same observatory built by the king three hundred years ago upon his insistence that the stars and the night skies, that the study of astronomy held importance.  Jaipur is the site for many festivals and cultural events and religious celebrations.  To be in the Pink City during one of these events is truly spectacular, as the pale pink walls are the perfect contrast to the colorful parades and processions.  The people are dressed in their best, and decorated heavily with gold and silver bangles and necklaces.  March is one of the times of these such festivals, as the Elephant Festival takes place.  For not only are the people dressed in their colorful best, the gentle beasts are as well.

And any time of year is good for a visit to Old Jaipur.  This is a place for sweet tooths, where it is not fresh fruit in the markets and the stands, but some of the most exotic candies and pastries in the world.  There are so many different kinds of sweet treats, that one will simply loose count, especially in the shops of Laksmi Mishthan Bhandar.  This is not an area for those concerned with calorie or sugar content, this is an experience for those on vacation from every aspect of real life, including their diets.  And many of the restaurants in the area serve up food from various ethnicity’s, while live dance and music is performed or maybe even one of the elegant and delicate Indian Puppet shows.  Jaipur is city of many colors, set in a back drop of pink, and should be visited at least once in ones lifetime.

Bilbao is a Spanish city that is steeped in history, and it is pretty much written on the walls of the all the buildings, the restaurants, the museums and the luxury hotels.  Bilboa is also a city that was built over a span of seven hundred years, and the architecture and the various influences and designers set the background for one of the most stunning cities in the world.  It is culturally aware city, and extremely art driven.  From the Guggenheim to the Basque Museum, and centuries old paintings and sculpture to the archaeological artifacts and remains, the two comprise just a couple of the dynamic and vibrant locations and activities for tourists to soak up while on holiday.  Aside from the larger museums there are more than twenty smaller independent galleries that line the city streets, many of them with permanent collections as well as touring exhibits of the hottest and most talented artist of the modern and contemporary world of art today.

As as far as finding shows to attend in the world of performing arts, there is the Palacio Euskalduna, an Opera house that seats more than two thousands.  On stage here, as well as the long-running seasonal Operas, international bands and musicians perform, as well as the local orchestras of Bilbao and the Euskadi Symphony.  And as with the larger museums and smaller galleries, there are more than seventy five smaller venues in the city performing live shows as well as cinematic festivals and current films.  And many more are built as some of the most famous architects today have signed on to a variety of projects including, Calatrava, Gehry and Pelli just to name a few.  There are just around one million people living in the city today, and is  the force that is driving the economic and social development of the entire Gulf of Biscay region.  Carnivals and festivals celebrated in the region are celebrated in Bilbao, and there are certain festivals as the Semana Grande, and the Carnival that are geared especially for young children.  This one vacation spot that is perfectly suited for the entire family.

India has a very long tradition of arts and crafts, based on age old skills and attention to detail and techniques passed down through generations of artists and artisans.  Different cities have their specialties, and the city of Punjab is known throughout the country for their embroidered materials, scarves, pillows, bedspreads and table cloths are some of the pieces that tourists from other parts of the country as well as those traveling abroad, come to purchase and trade.  There are many India five star hotels located in Punjab, that make these global shopping trips a pleasure and a luxurious way to spend time in the country.  The Punjab artists are well known for their intricate design work using a multitude of colors.  One of the motifs used most often in the work from this region is the Phulkar motif.  This is to indicate flowers that are growing.  Many of the patterns thus contain these various floral creations.

This form of design combined with the vibrant colors has been one of the traditions of the artists for close to two thousand years.  References to this type is found in the ancient texts, the poetry of Wais Shah, the most beloved Sufi poet, and even in the scriptures of the Vedas.  The present design forms can be traced back to those in use during the fifteenth century under the rule of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh.  Many different forms have developed throughout the years.  The designs are placed on cloth that is hand-spun called Khadi.  The Punjab designs are specific and require a delicate touch and attention to detail which has been responsible for the works to be the most sought after and cherished.  Some of the pieces are so entrenched with the floral designs that the embroidery from Punjab got the nick-name “Bagh” which is the word for garden.  Every bit of the material is covered with flowers.  This colorful work can be found in the studios of the artisans in Punjab as well as in many of the open air markets throughout the city.

When one travels to a foreign country for business at a company or a private bank, Singapore has much to offer when the business hours are over and it time to relax.  One of the most popular and serene spots on the island is the Bukit Timah Reserve.  At one time the rainforest took up much of the island, but over the years the development and expansion of the city, has left just this primary area of the forest.  Many of the animal and the plants indigenous to the rainforest are of the largest numbers here on the Reserve.

And should one be visiting the country during the monsoon season, there is nothing quite like standing in the middle of the forest as a thunderstorm breaks.  The rains are loud, as they come down in large drops that are in turn hitting some very large leaves of the plants.  This is a rain that is meant to sustain the forest during the seasons of no rain, so there is an abundance, the ground is literally soaked day after day during the season.  It is an extraordinary natural wonderment and phenomenon to bear witness to.  There is also no point to run for cover, as the rains come fast and hard and one is soaked through in a matter of seconds.  It is best to just stand and soak it up as the surrounding one does.

The forests of Malaysia date back one hundred and forty million years, bringing them in at the oldest rainforest on the planet.  The largest trees which are the main canopy of the rainforest are the Tualang trees.  The earth on the lower levels of the canopy, rely on the leaves and branches that drop from the higher levels as they absorb the waste into the ground for the nutrients to sustain itself.  A healthy rainforest therefore, will often have a relatively clear floor.  The Bukit Timah Reserve offers tours and educational study programs for locals and day trips and classes for tourists wishing to learn more about the history, the ecology and the preservation of the forest and the inhabitants of that forest.

Surrounding each restaurant, coffee shop and hotel, Melbourne Australia has vast expanses of greenery, the parks and the streets are filled with flowers.  The gardens throughout the city are well manicured and offer an array of colorful displays, amongst the public sculptures, the gazebos and the fountains.  Many of the gardens are located close to the center of town, within walking or biking distance, and what is even more wonderful, the botanical gardens in the city are free to the public.  Many include, along with the more than twelve thousands species of plant and flower life, wildlife and bird sanctuaries.  One is able to tour all of the gardens, at a leisurely pace, in the course of one afternoon.

Melbourne is a happening and funky city, but once in a while, it is good to just get out and enjoy nature, the beauty and the serenity.  There is an observatory, rain-forest walks, an herbarium and lakes.  And throughout the summers, the Moonlight Cinema is an incredible way to watch movies, series of cult movies and the classics run through the season, and many bring picnics and bottles of wine and relax under the stars watching the famous movies of our times.

One can find information and maps for all of the gardens at the tourist center just next to the Shrine of Remembrance.  There are guided tours available as well.  All of the gardens are valued for their significance to the city, be it horticultural, historical or aesthetic.  They were placed in the Register of Victorian Heritage in 1999 and derived their names from the governor of the region, Charles Augustus Fitzroy.  James Cook was the early explorer who charted the coast of Australia, and his cottage from Yorkshire was transported to one of the gardens as a gift.  He was born in this cottage, and it remains with the furnishings of his time.  There is a green house that switches out colorful floral displays five times throughout the year, and and abundance of sculpture, included that which is carved as a bas relief of sorts in the Fairy Tree.  Beautiful, beautiful escapes located within the city limits, perfect for a time away for any traveler or resident.

In the world of 5-star hotels, Valencia holds a unique position.  Holding the biggest coastline on the western Mediterranean, there is a long and extremely fascinating history of contact with other cultures.  Having food and drink as a major export, there is a love of cuisine here that holds exceptional promise, and great rewards, for the curious palate.  Valencia oranges, of course, come from here, and so does paella.  There are thousands of recipes for paella, and different schools of thought on its modifications and evolutions.  Enough so that any conversation about paella will be endlessly fascinating, if not a bit heated.  Guests here will be treated to the excellent menus by our own chefs, 24 hour room service, and also the entire city, to investigate its food.

Visitors here are always dumbstruck at the incredible architecture.  There are sites that date back to the Roman occupation, and also the most cutting edge design for some of the newer buildings.  In between these ages there was the Renaissance, and Valencia was one of Spain’s most active cities in terms of artistic output.  One of its favorite sons is the playwright Guillén de Castro y Bellvis.  He lived between 1569-1631, and he is remembered best for his plays which rework and reinvent romances, epics, and adaptations of myths and legends.  Although he was a nobleman by birth, held government and military posts, and was even knighted, he died in poverty in Madrid, and charities paid for his funeral expenses.

His legacy is deeply felt, however, not only for the generous use of verse and romantic flights of fancy, as demonstrated in plays like El Curioso Impertinente, but also because the great Lope de Vega dedicated a play to him, Las Almenas de Toro.  Also, his plays inspired other works by Fletcher, and Calderón, and his Las Mocedades del Cid and Las hazañas del Cid were the first dramatizations of the El Cid story.  El Cid has, of course, great importance throughout Spain, but in Valencia holds a specific place in history.  Ask the locals.  It’s a good story.