AffairBoard

Thrushes in Manhattan

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.

Tags: Central Park, luxury hotels, Manhattan, Thrushes

Asia Art Archive

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.

Tags: Art Archive, Asia, luxury hotels

Western Cape Town

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.

Tags: africa, Alcatraz, best hotels, Indian Ocean, Western Cape Town

Birds of South Africa

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.

Tags: Amajuba Birding Meander booklet, Bearded Vulture, Birds, car hire, KwaZula-Natal, South Africa

Deadly Chillout in New York

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.

Tags: 'Night of the Living Dead', best hotels, Deadly Chillout, Morris park, New York, Willies Steakhouse

Formentera Beaches and Water Sports

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.

Tags: Beaches, car rental, Formentera, water sports

Partial Solar Eclipse Goa

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.

Tags: Goa, hotel, India, new moon, Partial Solar Eclipse

Nelson Mandela South African Legacy

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.

Tags: boutique hotels, Legacy, Nelson Mandela, South African

Historical park of Singapore

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.

Tags: best hotels, Historical park, Japanese Koi, Kent Ridge Park, Singapore, WWII

Lakes of Udaipur

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.

Tags: Fateh Sagar Lake, Gadsisar Lake, Lake Pichola, Lakes, palace hotels, Udaipur